Membership
is open to present or former members of a Rotary Club or any person who is, or
was, the spouse or partner of a present or former Rotarian. Age is no barrier,
as quite a number who are towing caravans or driving motorhomes are in their
80’s, and one member celebrated his 90th birthday by skydiving and
commented, "it keeps you young!”
Prospective
members are encouraged to attend at least one rally prior to application for
membership. If a prospective member has a contact who is already an ICFR
member, attending a rally as their guest has its advantages. However, attending
as a guest is not an essential requirement. The fellowship is a very social
organisation and new members are quickly involved.
Presently
the fellowship has around 150 members from Kerikeri in the north to Wellington
in the south, including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s
Bay and the lower North Island. We do not yet have any members in the South
Island.
Weekend
rallies are generally held from a Friday afternoon until the Sunday afternoon
with many members choosing to arrive before or stay on after the rally. These
rallies have traditionally been held in February, April, August and November.
Over the past few years, prior to the February rally, a week-long Bush Rally
has been arranged – these rallies are generally held at Department of
Conservation or similar sites, off-power and with restricted facilities. They
are great opportunities to really get to know fellow members.
Informal
rallies, of two to three days are held in June and September. These events are
held at hot pool areas Miranda and Omokoroa, and by holding them mid-week, they
attract reduced camp site tariffs.
The
general format of a weekend rally starts on Friday evening with a 5 pm get
together with drinks and nibbles, then after the evening meal in your own
motorhome or caravan, have supper with allocated members which is a chance to
mix and get to know others at the rally. Saturday is an outing – either a
mystery bus tour or visit(s) to local attraction(s), and then dinner at a local
hotel, club or similar. On the Sunday morning, we have a meeting of the
fellowship at which we discuss any items of topical interest, decide on the
venue for future meetings, have area reports on the health and wellbeing of
absent members, have a sergeant’s session, wooden spoon etc. This is usually a
pretty light hearted affair, so it is always well attended. On Sunday
afternoon, members are free to leave, although it has become somewhat of a
tradition for rally organisers to arrange a delivery of fish and chips for
another evening meal together.
There
is no strict programme for a rally, so organisers are free to arrange the
course of the weekend. At most rallies attendance is around 35 to 50 vans
(70 to 100 members). A budget for each rally aims to break even.
The
organisation does not aim to make a profit and the fellowship does not become
involved in projects. Membership fees are currently $5 per couple or $3 for
single members.
The
website www.icfr.rotarysouthpacific.org
includes ICFR information and copies of recent newsletters.
For further
information, contact ICFR (NZ) Secretary Stewart Wright via email jandswright@xtra.co.nz / 027 244
7194.
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| Included in May Rotary Down Under magazine |
