Involvement in a wide range of projects allows Plimmerton Rotary to appeal to many people and grow its membership

President Peter Cox, DG Martin, Denise Garcia, and Alison Cox

We are visiting six Clubs this week and I am behind on my posts, so it is a real pleasure when a Club does an excellent write-up for me in their newsletter.  I believe David Pine is the author and, despite it being his birthday, he still attended with his wife Margaret for our visit earlier this week.  Thank you David for your dedication and it was great to see Margaret again as she taught all six of our children at Tawa Central Kindergarten.  It was a pleasure to meet many Plimmerton Rotarians who we have come to know over the years, including PDG Graeme and Christine Blick, AG Chris Garrett (Kapiti/Horowhenua) and many more.   Plimmerton is the second largest Club in our District, with 66 members.    

RIYE students Gaëlle & Laurie meet at Plimmerton Rotary

And here is David's write-up:  "Speaking at the Club on 9th August, Rotary District Governor Martin Garcia applauded the efforts of the Club, not only for its growth but also for the wide array of projects in which the Club was involved. “Your principal project is the creation of the pathway around the Pauatahanui Inlet, but you are involved in so many other things as well, from speech contests for young people, and sponsoring university students in Cambodia, to supporting the Shine literacy project in Porirua, and helping rebuild shattered lives on the Fijian island of Taveuni. The list is a long one and you should feel immensely proud of what you continue to achieve.” 

The name of my grandfather's boss really is
on this chain - T. C. List in 1933.

Rotary had been founded on principles which remained entirely relevant today. “These include service both to the local community and on a worldwide scale; friendship and networking; a reputation for high ethical standards and fairness; and leadership. You are all leaders. You get things done, you make changes happen, and you support and mentor young people through such events as the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and the international Rotary Youth Exchange programme. You are helping to make your community stronger, helping all sectors of the community feel connected and involved.”

Internationally, Rotary had achieved what many thought would be impossible: the total eradication of polio from the planet. “In 1985 there were 350,000 new cases of polio reported in the world. This year there have been just 17. That’s right, just 17. Rotary did that.”Mr Garcia urged Club members to help members of the community understand what Rotary was all about. “We need to be better understood, to keep growing our membership, to create new partnerships within the communities we serve, and to fund raise more so that we can do more good.”