PR Resources to your Club's 'door'

All Clubs should have recently received the 2010-2011 Public Relations Kit.

It has four parts:

1) Using the kit,
2) Doing PR,
3) Resources for PR, and
4) RI Resources. Contents

This is a great resource that every Club should put to good use.  Add comments to this Blog posting on how you intend to use it.

Wanganui - an old Club with a new vision

President Sharon and I spot Jenny
with camera at the ready

What another great visit.  Following a very quick meeting with the Board we had a very full lunch-time meeting with the Rotary Club of Wanganui.  A Club chartered in 1924, Wanganui has a fine history.  President Sharon reported on the fact that a recent Club Visioning exercise has left the Club with some exciting future prospects.  A revitalisation of the Club's programme has the Club looking at new ways to serve the community.  Here is a Club with the highest number of Centurion members (18) and with a very generous spirit.  When I was having lunch a member came up, having heard about the Personal Emergency Pack, and order 16 straight off!  It was great to have not only PDG Duncan McKee and PDG Stuart Frame in the meeting, but also DGE Bob and Margaret - in fact this is Bob's Club and I am sure they will be as supportive in his year as my Club is being with me and Jenny. It was so good to get a photo with PDG Stuart who told me he has just recoved from a knee operation and is ready to get back out on the golf course!!

PDG Stuart Frame holding
the Taupiripiri

President Sharon Duff

AG Judith meet up with us for the second time today and her support is appreciated.  Following the meeting three of the four mayoral candidates for Wanganui spoke.  I am sure they heard the message loud and clear that Rotary is actively and passionately involved in building Wanganui's community.  
The rain continued to fall outside as we rushed to the car.  We now have completed 30 out of the 60 Club visits - and loving every minute of it.  

Up early for Wanganui Daybreak!!

DG Howard with President Lindsey

Robery Gaskin thanking the DG

It was an early start after meeting the Board last night.  The rain did not dampen the spirits as we met in the Oggies Cafe at 7am.  Served a wonderful breakfast and an opportunity to meet the members and to discuss the challenges Clubs all face - the need to embrace change - but to do so in a consultative, controlled way.  As RIP Ray says, we must continue to question our practices and to change the way we do things in order to make our Clubs bigger, better and bolder.  Thanks Wanganui Daybreak - and also for the interest shown in the Rotary Personal Emergency Pack - details of which have already been sent to all President Lindsey's members.

Members meeting before breakfast

AG Judith Timpany

Timely and for all Clubs to consider for their 'own'

Events in Christchurch have reminded us all of the need to be prepared.

This Personal Emergency Kit is an ideal gift for friend and families.

Refer to my earlier Blog for details.

Christchurch Earthquake - An update

An update:
I sent the following note to RIP Ray Klinginsmith yesterday so he can pass to the relevant quarters in the Rotary world.

"Dear Ray

As you my have heard, Christchurch suffered a significant earthquake on Saturday 4 September that has caused last scale damage. Fortunately there has been no loss of life. Rotarians from overseas have been contacting me via Facebook to ask how they can assist.

Can I ask you to please communicate to Rotarians internationally that they are able to contribute to the relief of the community by depositing funds as follows..
Payments details:

• Payments to RNZWCS Ltd (Rotary New Zealand) – Christchurch Earthquake
• Direct credit to Westpac Bank Corporation – Wellington, New Zealand: 

Account Name: RNZWCS Limited
Account Number: 03 1702 0192208 02
Swift Code: WPACNZ2W (for overseas deposits)

Many thanks – another opportunity for Rotarians to Build Communities.
Regards
Howard

Stuart Batty (RNZWCS) responded to a question as to where the money would go, stating:
It is too early to say exactly what the money will be used for.
Rest assured that it will go to those most in need as we would expect if we were sending funds overseas to Rotary clubs/districts.
We will work with DG Margaret and other agencies.
At the moment most Rotarians in the city are suffering some sort of trauma themselves as a result of going through the ordeal or loosing property to some degree. Some will have had major losses.
In true Rotary spirit, we will be good stewards of your dollars.
Individual Rotarians wishing to make a donation should be advised that they are tax deductible as RNZWCS has donee status.

Rotary Global History Fellowship

For all you historians - this is for you.

And also for those interested in Paul Harris and his sayings and activities.

You can subscribe to this monthly Bulletin

Note - there is a RGHF Institute in Auckland in 2011

Timely resource for a nation in shock!

In light of the recent adversities surrounding the Christchurch earthquakes, it is timely that the Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt is now able to supply a first response kit in the form of a “Rotary Personal Emergency Pack” (RPEP) to the wider Community.
This initiative has been endorsed by our District 9940 Governor Howard Tong as well as the Hutt Valley Emergency Management Office.
The RPEP kits are seen as not only providing a personal safety aspect in all forms of natural disasters but also as a means to have Rotary’s name at the forefront of Disaster Relief.
The kits are light enough to be worn with ease and roomy enough to add other personal emergency items including a pair of sturdy walking shoes.
These can be left in the car, house, office or even taken when enjoying the many forms of outdoor interests.
Please take time to read the attached brochure and call any of the listed contacts.

Make your Actions Count by providing a Rotary Personal Emergency Pack.

Find out details by clicking below:
An Emergency Pack developed for today’s situations

Christchurch Earthquake

We are all stunned by the earthquake that struck Christchurch this morning.  I have been in touch with DG Margaret in District 9970 and she and Brian are fine.  I have asked if there is antything we can do to assist the communities.  We feel a little powerless to do anything here in Wellington.  If we find anything where we can support, I will post the information on the Blog.

Scenes from the Earthquake

Let's get ACTIVE with our planning!

Good news - more time to enter the 2011 District Conference competition. 

There is still time to create your ‘Gang of Chicago’ and to enter the Conference competition. Your Club could win a free registration for a couple to the 2011 District Conference and 20 points towards the Porirua Cup awarded at the Conference for the best display of the Conference theme. The closing date is now 30 September. Here is the form to use when submitting your entry. I hope your Club will participate. 

Use this form to complete and send to actions.count@ihug.co.nz

To learn more about the wonderful line up of speakers already organised for the District Conference, go here - http://www.rotary9940.org.nz/cms/district-conference.

September - let's focus on New Generations

September is New Generations Month, the perfect time to think about how you can strengthen your club’s participation in the Rotary Youth Exchange program. A strong program promotes world understanding and involves the next generation of Rotary in advancing peace.

Read the Youth Exchange E-Newsletter here...

What is a Blog?

Thanks for visiting the DG Blog.  What are the ways you can use this in your Club?

 You can....

• Read it
• Use it for your Club's Bulletins - copy and paste it into your Bulletin
• Report on it - print and read at your weekly meeting
• Comment on it - by making a comment at the bottom of the Blog posting
• Follow it by registering as a follower
• Add to it - by sending articles and pictures to me
• Link it - in your Bulletin have an active DG Blog link so members can make easy reference to the Blog

The purpose of the DG Blog is to provide....

• Daily updates of events noted by DG - visits
• Thoughts and musings of the DG
• Contributions from Bulletins of interest
• Highlighting Club activity/projects/achievements
• Posting info that is needed in a more timely manner - eg Pakistan updates
• Human interest stories
• RI Newsletters received that can be added value to Clubs/Presidents

Join the many who are using this resource for your own Club

Regards

DG Howard