Only 9 months to go and we will be embarking on a year of Going WILD about Rotary!

It was an exceptional experience in the first week of September at the Penrith Panthers Entertainment Complex for training, development, networking and preparation with the Governor Elect Training for the Australian, NZ and Pacific Islands - 27 District Governors Elect. This was followed by two days of Rotary presentations and speakers on many of our key programs at Rotary Institute.

I am now, even more so,  looking forward to my year leading our District but in doing so I have pushed the launch button to the confirmation of the District, Committee and Club leaders in our District.

 

I am now working hard to confirm Rotarians who will lead our Clubs as Presidents Elect, lead our Clusters of Clubs as Assistant Governors and roles supporting the clubs locally by being part of our District committes to support our Clubs, and to lead and chair our District committees.

I am inviting our current leaders as well as those confirmed in Club and District roles for 2017/18 to attend a two day AG, Chairs and Committee member workshop in Palmerston North on the 5th and 6th of November. The first stage of providing continuity for this Rotary year into next years leaders of Clubs and Committees. Presidents Elect as confirmed are also invited to attend as a pre President Elect Training session before heading to Auckland next year in March.

This will create our team of District and Club Leaders to power up our Rotarians, our Clubs and District for doing Good in our Communities and to support our Rotary International programs throughout the World.

We all have a responsibility personally and in our Clubs to look to build Rotary in NZ towards the future. This to ensure capability, succession for our District Leaders and District Programs. Like; our Rotary Australia New Zealand Student Exchange, RYPEN, RYLA, Rotary Youth Exchange, Interact, Rotaract, and Rotary Clubs

I am looking to reinvigorate and reintroduce to our District a program that I lead 20 years ago. As a Group Study Exchange Team Leader to Florida in 1997, I gained leadership skills in Rotary and provided my team members with the experience of a lifetime!

So, I am looking to reconnect with my District Governor Elect in Florida and have a team from our District head to Florida in April, 2018 with the Florida team exchanging to our District to be here for District Conference in Palmerston North in May, 2018.

I proudly represented DG Martin at the chartering of the RC of Port Nicholson's Interact Club. What I saw in the Interact Club membership was the future of Rotary.

Therefore, I believe the focus in our District and Clubs with our Club Membership Development ably lead by PDG Deb Gimblett, our programs across the youth sector and our Interact and Rotaract Clubs - is our future. We must strive to remain contemporary, relevant and energetic to our membership, Clubs and commiunities. The youth and next generations are the key to the future of Rotary.

The youth in our District our challenged to rise up to my vision for our District to Go WILD about Rotary! - Only 9.2.GO.

Mitchell Brown
District Governor Elect
Rotary Club of Takaro, Palmerston North
District 9940