The following is a report given by each committee at our recent Forum evening. These are half yearly reports which tell us where we are up to and where we are heading for the latter half of the Rotary Year. They also update our Annual Strategic Plan.
Special Project
We have done the ground work for our shared project with Invercargill North Rotary Club for the BBQ, Shelter and Cycle Trail Information Boards. At this point we are shifting this project to other members of this committee and the Service Committee. Having said that it will be a project we hope all will be involved with.
We are also asking committee members for signage ideas that would be useful around the Te Anau Basin and in town that can enhance the work Rotary does as well as help with community information and usage of community areas.
We would also like signage on projects we have undertaken in the past such as Frank Fisken’s Garden and the DOC Bird Park.
These all fulfil our obligation to this year’s International Rotary Goal of spreading the work and information of Rotary Clubs.
Membership
The goals for this committee were to increase membership in total by three, establish an Alumni list of past Rotarians on our website and to establish a list of ‘Friends Of Rotary’, publicised on our website. There has been interest from past Rotarians and from members of the public to be involved in working bees and the odd social occasion.
These goals too promote the Rotary recognition in our community and encourage more participation. All of these things have been started and we hope to have further updates from Craig over the next few months.
One such way to continue to advertise Rotary within our area could be to host an event for past Rotarians and ‘Friends of Rotary”
Service Committee
This committee has been responsible for finishing last year’s Bird Park project, organising a very successful New Year’s Eve, Roadside Rubbish Project and the ongoing maintenance of the Roadside Beautification Project.
They have recommended the purchase of high vis vests to be worn when Rotarians are working in the community.
They have worked on the Excell seat, and are planning a Cemetery Gate tidy up, working bees on the BBQ/Shelter construction soon and a firewood project to help and benefit from a corporate entity [RJ’s] in our area.
Club Administration
We have had very successful social occasions within our club and in the wider Rotary Community over the last six months at least every six weeks. These have included Changeover, trip to Winton Rotary Cycle Trail outing, a show in Invercargill, auction night, Xmas Party, potato competition, Rotary social evening with Invercargill North, Car Rally/Scavenger Hunt and we have our upcoming Central Otago weekend at the end of this month.
After that we have District Conference in April, our fund raiser Corporate Dinner in May [aim to raise $10,000] and Changeover again in June. At both of these events we could send out invitations to past Rotarians, Corporate Friends and ‘Friends of Rotary”.
Suggestions for activities are always welcome and participation in these activities is great for club morale and inspiration.
New Generation
There are a number of activities that we organise, support and are of an ongoing nature such as Trade Grant, Life Education Bus, plus grants for youth in our area to attend conferences, science fairs, sailing leadership adventures and literacy in schools and Rotary sponsored prizes.
We have a student for the Rotary District/National Speech Competition this year and they have instigated Fiordland College Head students to Rotary evenings once a term. This gives them an appreciation of what Rotary does in our community and throughout the world. Undertaking an environmental project with one of our local schools is also worth looking at.
Foundation
We have had a film evening dedicated to raising money for the International Polio Eradication Programme. We have also put up a display in our Public Library to create public awareness of this important International Rotary Project.
A shared District Project Funding Application has been submitted and we hope that a Global Funding application can also be initiated this year.
We have committed to give funding for a teacher in Nepal and this will be taken to the next Director’s meeting.
Ahead this committee is ensuring we meet our target giving to Rotary International $130 p.p. They are also considering a funding project at present such as a “lamb drive’ or something similar.
Public Relations
There are ongoing promotions of Rotary in the Te Anau Trader and at times in the Southland Express.
We would particularly like a Rotarian to step forward and help put our activities, events, photographs and story on Rotary Showcase and set up regular items for Rotary website/Facebook page.
Photographs are an excellent way to publicise Rotary. Please could you all remember to take them, share them, give them to our Public Relations committee who will in turn give them to Steve, or cc both in. This is our easiest and quickest way to show the community what we are up to.
Other Activities
Our Rotary Chip Van has had a successful year.
Our sergeants have been doing a great job as has Shane in the fields of fines, amusement and letting us know what’s been going on undercover.
Steve [Club Historian] has told us a bit of history and as we approach the last few months he may share more and he would be grateful if you in turn shared photos and events with him to record for prosperity!
Our new phonebook has also been a great success after being let down by Telecom. Thanks to Alan and his diligent committee and to Don for assisting with developing the database with us.
We are on target to reach our Rotary Goals for this year. Thank you all for your work to date and what you’re undertaking in the last part of this Rotary year. Together it all becomes possible and with participation we all reap the rewards.
