I know you’ve heard me say this before, it’s always a great time to join Rotary, right now, it’s a really great time.
From celebrating our centenary over the last two years where we’ve reflected on our enviable legacy to looking to the future next Rotary year when 25,000 of our friends come to town for the Rotary International Convention.
This is all happening at a time when we’ve seen people connect with their communities in ways they’ve never done before. In the last couple of years, people all of a sudden met their neighbours, they looked out for each other in new ways, in many suburbs, there was a sense of community for the first time. People don’t want to lose those connections, if anything they want to keep building on them.
We’re already seeing a restlessness with our Rotary members and community partners to get back out and do hands-on service.
Statistics continuously tell us that in Australia 6 million people volunteer each year, the largest demographic of those volunteers being 30-45 year olds. These people are passionate about the environment, equity and want to get their hands dirty, literally! That’s a huge number of people who share the values of everyone in this room and together over the coming 15 months, we can tap into this opportunity to build stronger projects, partnerships, and ultimately communities.
In January RIPE Jennifer Jones announced the theme for 2022-2023 and it couldn’t be more fitting especially for Rotarians in our District. As one of the best calls to action, Jennifer is emboldening us to Imagine Rotary and what’s possible for our clubs, for Rotary and for ourselves.
The logo has a special connection to us in D9800. The logo was designed by Indigenous Australian artist Riki Salam in celebration of the Melbourne International Convention. As you’d expect from our dynamic, incoming International President-elect, it’s packed with symbolism - it’s very Jennifer but it’s also very us for 2022-2023!
The last few months have seen the 2022-2023 District team deliver a 2 day in-person Presidents capability weekend for 75 people, a 2 day online conference for 300 incoming leaders hosted for the first time by all of the Victorian and Tasmanian Governor-elects. We’ll also held a District Leadership Strategy Session and Assistant Governor Capability Session, with another PETS and District Assembly to go - it’s been a busy time!
Our Greenhouse platform which launched in August for incoming leaders to share ideas and collaborate in preparation for their year has now gone global and continues to grow.
The biggest piece of advice I received early on in this journey was to get the team right. I’m so incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing team. We have huge diversity across many dimensions, with everyone bringing a fresh, professional and modern approach to how we do Rotary. Special shout-out to David Carruthers, incoming District Treasurer - my very first team pick 2 years ago - who recently led a seamless District board approval process for the 2022-2023 budget. Thank-you David for your time, talents and sense of humour. I love that laugh!
Finally, I look forward to seeing you all at the District Changeover lunch on Saturday 25 June, at Hyatt Essendon Fields. This year it’s a Melbourne hosted event - due to our club being the home of the incoming District Governor - and a time for hundreds of Rotarians and friends from across our District to recognise the achievements of this year and to welcome in the new team and direction. As we know, It’s going to be a massive year and I look forward to your support at the Changeover event as I officially begin my role as District Governor.
Mandi Wendt DGE
30 March 2022
