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Ian Riseley's January Message

Juliet and I send New Year greetings to all our Rotary friends.

As the new calendar year commences, we move into the second half of the Rotary year, and there can be a temptation to think that we are in wind-down mode. However, there is much that we need to do before this Rotary year finishes.

Most districts have yet to hold their conferences, so please support your Governor and the organising committee by attending this important event. You will have fun and also learn much about what is happening in Rotary locally and throughout the world.

Your District Governor Elect will soon be returning from the International Assembly in San Diego. Expect to see a DGE fired with passion for Rotary and carrying a message from President-Elect Wilf and Joan to all Rotarians in the District. Offer your support by attending your District Assembly, accepting whatever district role you are offered for 2008/09 and helping generate and maintain additional enthusiasm. Your DGE deserves your support, and Rotary in your district will benefit if you provide it.

If your visiting GSE team is in your District this half of the year, go out of your way to say hello and make them all feel welcome. This is your chance to be an ambassador for Rotary in our zones.

Recent Rotary News

This has been a busy time in our part of the Rotary world.

In November, Director Ian convened two very successful Rotary Zone Institutes. The Australian Institute was at Jupiter's on the Gold Coast, and the New Zealand Institute was at Waipuna in Auckland. The number of attendees was very high and the feedback was extremely positive. Sincere thanks to the organising committees, headed by PDG John Henderson in Australia and PDG Bob Young in New Zealand, and to all those delegates who supported the events.

Past, present and future District leaders should start planning to attend the 2007 Institutes, which will be held in Ballarat and Wellington in November.

The Philippines part of our Zone joined the South-East Asian Institute in Jakarta in December, convened by RI Director Noraseth Pathmanand from Thailand. Director Ian was pleased to attend and take part.

Past officers of RI are encouraged to attend a Rotary Institute in another Zone, as it gives a better understanding of the true internationality of our great organisation. If you are interested in knowing the dates, venues and convenors of all Zone Institutes in 2007, contact Director Ian.

In mid-January the 6 th annual Philippines Conference on Rotary Concerns was held in Bacolod City on the Island of Negros, and Juliet and Ian attended, with Ian presenting a keynote speech. Congratulations to the Chairman of the College of Philippines Governors PDG Rudy Estrellado and the head of the organising committee PDG Dave Villaneuva on an excellent event.

Honour for our President

We congratulate our RI President Bill on receiving the Queen’s Service Award in the New Zealand New Year honours. In his typically modest manner, Bill paid tribute to Rotarians everywhere when acknowledging our congratulations.

Director 2008/10 confirmed

On 1 st December 2006, the nomination of PDG John Lawrence of Queensland was confirmed as a Director of Rotary International from Zones 7 and 8 for the period 2008/10. John will officially be voted into office at the Salt Lake City convention. Sincere congratulations go to John and Janet.

In Memorium

It is with sincere sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Past RI Director Sabino “Benny” Santos, who died in mid-January. Benny was an inspiration to all Rotarians who knew him, and he will be sadly missed. PRID Rafael “Paing” Hechanova was the official representative of Rotary International at the funeral.