Face-to-face with Rotary’s future

The Regional Council at their in person March meeting.

It was wonderful to have the Regional Council’s first ever face-to-face board meeting on 12 March. Not only did we have many productive discussions, but we also had an opportunity to spend some quality time together as friends.

It was a great chance to meet our newly appointed Corporate and Administration Lead Alan Eyes from Auckland, and Treasurer David Carruthers from Melbourne. They both have a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and I am delighted to have them on board.

Together, the Regional Council took some time to review what we’ve achieved to date, while also assessing our immediate and ongoing challenges.

A lot has been accomplished in the Pilot since the Regional Council was formed late last year! For instance, the selection of Rotary Specialists is underway, with applications currently being vetted by a dedicated team. Clubs have been placed into Rotary Community Groups (RCGs) and are now beginning the process of electing their Leaders.

While so much has already been achieved, we have many exciting milestones ahead on our journey to create a stronger Rotary.

Each Portfolio Lead on the Regional Council is currently reviewing applications for their Committee Members, and assessing if there are any gaps in skills or knowledge that will need to be filled by looking for additional candidates. We are tremendously grateful that so many Rotarians and Rotaractors from across Zone 8 have put themselves forward to be Committee Members, the strategic thinkers who will help propel Rotary in our region on the path to success. We are truly impressed by the quality of candidates, the depth and breadth of their expertise, and their passion for serving Rotary.

Expressions of interest are now being sought for Rotary Community Leaders (RCLs), facilitators who will support clubs to achieve their goals. RCLs will also act as a key bridge between the Regional Council and Rotary Community Groups, ensuring the Council keeps the needs of clubs at the heart of everything we do.

We are also in the process of appointing a Lead for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) on the Regional Council, who will be instrumental in ensuring DEI is an integral part of how we serve you.

Our current focus is on finalising the goals and strategies for each Regional Council Portfolio, which we will review in April.

I look forward to keeping you informed of our progress!

Dallas Booth AM

Regional Council Chair