District Governor Elect Philip Archer introduced his incoming District 9800 Leadership team for 2020-2021 in the first ever District Assembly via Zoom. DGE Philip has assembled an impressive team to take the District forward into Rotary's Centennial Year Down Under.
The theme of the Plenary Session emphasised the importance of diversity in Rotary, diversity in membership, diversity in club structures and diversity in the ways we engage members in the work of Rotary. 'Rotary is the most successful volunteer organisation in history' said DGE Philip, and there is huge opportunity to make service through Rotary available to more people by being flexible in our styles of membership and meeting arrangements. Plans to engage business leaders more effectively with Rotary are in place, with quarterly business events planned. Finding a membership model that will enable busy business people to engage regularly with Rotary will include engagement models that make less demands on time-poor people, but nevertheless provide opportunities to experience Rotary, and to contribute to the community through Rotary. Clubs could consider establishing a 'Satellite Club' that meets say once a month, at a different time convenient to the target membership, and has just one major project on its agenda. Greater emphasis on the basis of Rotary, Vocational Service, will be a hallmark for the coming year.
The excitement of the forthcoming Rotary 100 Years Down Under celebrations in 2021 is building. District 9800 Program Leader Hugh Bucknall of the Rotary Club of Melbourne gave an enthralling presentation on the wonderful programs coming together for 2021, including the Rotary Give Every Child a Future program, the End Trachoma project, the Rotary Baton Relay to connect every Rotary club in Australia and New Zealand, working with schools to install 100 Peace Poles across both countries, the Rotary Safe Families initiative and a Rotary Peace Building Symposium in April 2021.
Specifically aimed at incoming club leaders and new Rotary members, the Plenary session was followed by break-out sessions where attendees had the opportunity to attend sessions specific to their new role to equip them for the year ahead.
The messages were clear. The is enormous opportunity in the year ahead for fulfilling service in our Centenary Year in Australia and New Zealand and securing Rotary's future for the next 100 years. And the District can look forward to an exciting year ahead under an impressive new leadership team.
And that all fits in perfectly with the theme for 2020-2021: 