From President Bruce
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| President Bruce |
Howard Tong's input was clearly apparent, and his enthusiasm and drive clearly underscored the whole event.
Two themes ran through the conference. One was looking toward where future Rotarians will come from, which meant getting a better understanding of the X and especially the Y generations, how they think and communicate.
The other was the path from personal success to service, with emphasis on making actions count. The key speakers here were Sir Ray Avery and Neville Jordan.
Both men have had truly remarkable lives from very difficult beginnings. Neville Jordan highlighted the influence of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship which by chance changed his life, such that he set off as an entrepreneur who in effect generated companies via his subordinates worth around a billion dollars.
The Wairakei resort is obviously a very comfortable and convenient venue for a conference, but given most of us never stepped outside all weekend, I really wonder whether the significantly increased costs associated with travel to a venue well outside our district is justified. This may have explained why PN clubs were so poorly represented. There were none from Takaro and Milson, but with 4 from Terrace End, we had the best proportional attendance. From Katrine - notes from Conference
“The Group Lead by President Bruce of Katrine, Allan G, Dennis and their partners headed for Wairakei on Friday.
They attended the Friday night Opening and dinner and then got into the conference proper on Saturday.
There were a number of very good Speakers that gave you a lot to think about especially what generation you belonged to.
There were a number of static displays to look at during the weekend and it was good to catch up with members from other Clubs.
On the Saturday night we all dressed as Gangsters and their moles, complete with machine guns that our President had made and went off to the dinner and dancing. Great evening was enjoyed by all.
It must be noted that during the Conference DG Howard gave reference to the great Book Terrace End had produced and gave it as an example to other clubs.
The last sessions were on Sunday and finished at lunch time when we departed.”
“The Group Lead by President Bruce of Katrine, Allan G, Dennis and their partners headed for Wairakei on Friday.
They attended the Friday night Opening and dinner and then got into the conference proper on Saturday.
There were a number of very good Speakers that gave you a lot to think about especially what generation you belonged to.
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| The opening powhiri was spine chilling! |
On the Saturday night we all dressed as Gangsters and their moles, complete with machine guns that our President had made and went off to the dinner and dancing. Great evening was enjoyed by all.
It must be noted that during the Conference DG Howard gave reference to the great Book Terrace End had produced and gave it as an example to other clubs.
The last sessions were on Sunday and finished at lunch time when we departed.”
Finally from Dennis ACTIONS COUNT
Three excellent speakers
Three excellent speakers
Michael McQueen - 29 - from Sydney but divides time with New York
Kept hearing about Generation Y, so decided to research it, and has become an expert in Generational Change. Termed his company Nexgen. He is Generation X.
All either “builders all baby boomers” with some generation X–like Ben and arm Katrine! Most of our children are Gen X Generation Y – technology proficient – all things done technologically/seek instant results and gratification! Micro Wave oven still takes 1 minute 55 seconds too long!
See expectations as ‘pressure’/never say “you should…” – implies an expectation. Truth in Generation Y is grey not black and white / will ask why about everything but do not answer with anything such as – that’s how we always… or traditionally…“because I’m your mother.”
For Rotary: Be prepared to change the way we do things, engage them with stories about Rotary that have some tangible conclusion or result.
Sir Ray Avery – Pharmaceutical Scientist, Entrepreneur
Hope you have a read of the very recent article in Evening Standard by Tim Brown.
Superb speaker, witty, funny, self-deprecating––and brilliant example of ACTIONS COUNT. English childhood spent in foster homes, orphanages where he witnessed child abuse, and early teenage years living rough in London. Grabbed chance to improve himself, to become educated and successful but did not ‘like himself’ and took off for NZ
when 23 years old.
His greatest work, among many notable achievements, has been to develop laboratories in Eritrea and Nepal making intraocular lenses for a fraction of the previous standard cost, which has enabled the work of Fred Hollows to continue.
New Zealander of the Year 2010, Blake Leadership Award 2010, and many earlier awards, he was knighted at the beginning of 2011.
Hope you have a read of the very recent article in Evening Standard by Tim Brown.
Superb speaker, witty, funny, self-deprecating––and brilliant example of ACTIONS COUNT. English childhood spent in foster homes, orphanages where he witnessed child abuse, and early teenage years living rough in London. Grabbed chance to improve himself, to become educated and successful but did not ‘like himself’ and took off for NZ
when 23 years old.
His greatest work, among many notable achievements, has been to develop laboratories in Eritrea and Nepal making intraocular lenses for a fraction of the previous standard cost, which has enabled the work of Fred Hollows to continue.
New Zealander of the Year 2010, Blake Leadership Award 2010, and many earlier awards, he was knighted at the beginning of 2011.
Neville Jordan - Electrical engineer like Sir Ray he had a tough childhood. Father was 60 when he was born, and he was 13 when he found his father dead at home.
He went to Canterbury University and qualified as an engineer, worked for Civil Aviation but saved to pay off his student bond and left.
As a Rotary GSE member he visited NASA and this decided him to strike out on his own, building MAS Technology Ltd (Microwave Communications) up to being able to float it on NASDAQ stock exchange. He has served on many Crown owned company boards, has been President of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and has created a foundation to support students who would not normally be able to afford fees but have shown promise.
TE Memorial Education Trust is a microcosm of this type of funding.
