In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand In Gear - Issue 3 | Page 4

HEADS UP
“What
a great
read!”
WITH JANICE HUGHES
DISTRICT GOVERNOR
It’s a little paradoxical. Just as my time
as 9980’s district governor starts to
seriously count down, the tempo is well
and truly winding up even further.
We’re full steam ahead putting the
finishing touches on our annual
conference, organised and hosted by the
talented and dedicated dynamos at my club, Wanaka.
Can’t wait!
And, in one of the most exciting developments this year,
the Dunedin Next Rotary Generation (NRG) team has
just officially chartered. What
a milestone. As I write this,
we’ve just had an absolute
blast at their awesome
Mexican-themed fiesta. New
president Susanah Walker
is just amazing – smart,
innovative and passionate;
and her team is, similarly,
intelligent,
caring,
and
focused.
lengths to share the Rotary experience, role modelling
what ‘Service Above Self’ means. This edition is fair
brimming with accounts of phenomenal 9980ers who
are leading the way, and taking our teens and young
adults along with them.
Our stories
When you read these accounts, just keep in mind, all
of these stories are from one, single, solitary – and
relatively small – Rotary district. Ours.
Making sure your stories are
shared and celebrated has
been at the very top of my to-
do list this year. It has been the
non-negotiable, because I have
heard, for so many years, that
we do such good things, but no
one outside those involved really
knows about them. It is so very
important to me that your stories
are not only told, but told well,
so that they honour the extreme
lengths to which so many of you
go to serve Rotary’s goals and
ideals.
One member who couldn’t
make it was one of NRG’s
Susanah Walker and Janice Hughes
newest
recruits,
Robbie
Francis. Read on, and you’ll find out the incredible
Our experiences, and the stories that carry them, are
reason why she wasn’t able to join the party. Just one
what keep us engaged … well told, they are also what
of Robbie’s many accomplishments is setting up The
pique the interests of others, the very people we want
Lucy Foundation, a social enterprise, which partners
to join us, be it as
with Mexican coffee farmers. The celebration for NRG’s
Rotarians or project
official launch doubled as a fundraiser for this wonderful
partners.
cause – hence, the Mexican theme for the night … and
“I just looked
I knew we were
our spicy In Gear cover.
at your
stepping a wee bit
first news
outside the box with
Congratulations on
magazine and
In Gear. But, I have to
was amazed.”
admit, I’ve been quite
a great PR program.”
blown away by the
John Hewko
reaction to our new
Rotary International CEO
district magazine, the
stories from which have
Well done to Susanah, all the Next Rotary Generation
also been shared via Facebook, as well as on district
team, and to the Rotarians who have nurtured NRG
and club websites. Your projects, your contributions
from its earliest days, especially the magical past-district
and your perspectives have resonated, not just locally,
governor, Rotary Club of Dunedin’s Jonathan Usher, and
and even nationally, but around the world. We have
Dunedin Central club president Derek King.
had amazing feedback from all corners, and I wanted to
share that success – which belongs squarely with all of
I also want to make a special mention of the many other
you who have taken the time to share your experiences
Rotarians through our district who dedicate countless
hours to our young people, and go to extraordinary
so generously with In Gear.
Page 4 | In Gear - Rotary in southern New Zealand - District 9980 | www.rotarydistrict9980.org