My Rotary Moment - the internationality of Rotary

S.M.I.L.E. and the whole Rotary world smiles with you

-by Cathy Gourbault-Lawrence, Rotary Club of Papeete-Tahiti, District 9920

The polio walk: Hugh Lawrence, Cathy Gourbault-Lawrence,
Leanne and Mike Jaggs at the Polio Walk
during the Rotary International Convention 2014 in Sydney, Australia

Prior joining Rotary, when I was 2001 Junior Chamber International (Jaycee) world vice president, S.M.I.L.E. (Sharing Motivation and Involvement through Leadership Experience) was my motto that has now accompanied me for many years.

In my 12 years in Rotary, there have been many special moments that have been times of sharing involvement, passion and emotion, so at the end of the day, we all become stronger and wiser.

Everybody can live Rotary at the local level, but a Rotarian will truly experience the global picture of Rotary when experiencing the international dimension, so think globally and act locally.

Whatever the background, culture, and language we share, let us nourish ourselves with ideas, projects and positive energies through exchanging with Rotarians from other countries. It is like an injection of dynamic energy!

The very special Rotary moments for me, were when I started discovering Rotary outside the boundaries of my Rotary Club of Papeete-Tahiti, talking about projects, taking part in seminars, district conferences and Rotary International conventions.

I am different each time I come back from a district conference, an international meeting or an international convention. You feel so humble and come back to your club richer with special Rotary friends and experiences you will treasure forever.

I am fortunate to be part of Rotary District 9920 (the largest maritime district in the world that includes eight countries and the Rotary e-Club Francophone) which offer so many opportunities close to us.

On a personal level, I am above all lucky to be married to Hugh, who is a former Jaycee and a new Australian Rotarian, to share the internationality of Rotary at his Rotary Club of Seymour, Vic (District 9790).

These special Rotary moments embody the whole dimension of Rotary and enhance my pride of being a Rotarian.

My Rotary Moment - a perspective on Polio

Jennifer Scott administering polio vaccine drops in India

By Jennifer Scott, Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains, District 9685

 

I was five years old when I first heard the word "polio". I was seeing a doctor because my legs were not straight. Next to me in the waiting room was a boy with callipers. I asked my mother "will I have to wear those?" She said, "no dear, you don't have polio, you are not crippled".

The second time was only a few months later when my sister, brother and I were watching a children's television program. They talked about raising money for crippled children. We decided that we would put on a concert, invite all the neighbourhood children and raise some money. We ended up on television handing over a cheque. Little did we know, that we had handed the cheque to a Rotarian.

Fast forward to 1972. I was president of my Interact club. Our local Rotary club in Castle Hill asked us to act as companions at a weekend camp for the then Northcott School for Crippled Children. I discovered that this was the school that Rotary was raising funds to build when I was five years old.

50 years later, I am still involved with the eradication of polio, as a volunteer in India, placing those two precious drops into the mouth of a five year old child, and as donor to our Rotary Foundation.

Only six months ago, I found a book that talked about the Crippled Children's Society in Australia. I discovered that in 1928 the president of Rotary International asked Rotary clubs around the world to find the crippled children hidden away in shame, many crippled by polio. Rotary clubs were asked to assist with medical care, to help them walk again, and to give them opportunities though education and vocational training.

The great work of Rotary has been woven into my life. I wonder if those Rotarians in 1928 had the vision that India would be declared polio free, and that one day soon, the world will be free of polio.

But it is not over yet! In Australia today we still have 400,000 people suffering from the effects of polio, called post polio syndrome, and in New Zealand an estimated 10,000 people who had polio are still alive.

Bill Gates Snr summed up the work of Rotary when he said, "back when Rotary became involved with polio, most people thought that voluntary organisations were about tackling projects down the street or across town - not across the world. Rotary changed all that. You reminded us that there is no human problem so daunting that it can't be overcome by people."

My Rotary Moment - Rotary is a Family Affair

By Leanne Jaggs, Rotary Club of Manukau City Sunrise, Auckland, NZ

Peace Dance: Number two has also been brought into the Rotary fold: PDG Leanne, Brayden, Mike and Isabella (Izzy) Jaggs with then DG Ron Seeto at the District 9920 Rock ‘N’ Rotary Peace Dance in 2013 in Auckland, NZ

Rotary is changing and sometimes quicker than we realise. My defining Rotary Moment was having my wonderful District Governor (DG) year group 2009-10 accept that during our training lead up, I would be attending with our newborn son Brayden.
 

The boundaries were pushed when I had to attend the Rotary International Director’s Training Weekend in 2008 when Brayden was only four months old, so I was still breast feeding. The funniest part was I wasn’t the one having to leave the room - it was my husband Mike who had the job of rocking Brayden to sleep. I didn’t miss any of my training, as I was armed with my “hooter hider”. My year group and all of the presenters were amazing. Once they got over the initial shock, and understood this was the way it was going to be, it was like this wasn't unusual.
 

It was the start of an amazing journey. Brayden attended so many meetings, he even got his own Rotary badge. The joke during my official club visits, was that even as a baby, Brayden was 100 per cent attendance, so if he could do it, so can you!
 

It even got embarrassing when I turned up to a meeting without him, as everyone was always asking after him. This was a special part of why my year as DG was the best of my life.
 

The way Rotary embraced our family situation and still does, is why I stay part of this amazing organisation. Don’t get me wrong, it is a constant juggle of family, Rotary and work, especially having two Rotarians in the family now, but with the help of everyone around us, we make it work. Many ask how we do it, and my answer is, “As long as the balls don’t fall down at the same time, we will be ok.”
 

When I put my name forward to become DG, the Nominating Committee were dying to ask if I was thinking of falling pregnant, but they couldn’t do so. My sincere thanks to our District 9920 and also my DG year group for believing that family wouldn’t get in the way, but actually enhance the Rotary spirit.

Rotary Moment: Rotary Rebuilding Communities in Christchurch

- By District 9970 Governor John Rickard

Rotarians along with all the other residents of Christchurch suffered much disruption to their lives and businesses since the first earthquake on September 4, 2010.

These disruptions will continue for many years yet as Christchurch rebuilds its infrastructure including roads, water, sewers and electricity, while it repairs and rebuilds houses. The rebuild cost has now climbed to $40 billion and this estimate is still rising.

I am continually amazed at the good work that Rotary continues to do around the city. Some Christchurch Rotarians have had to either vacate their houses while rebuilds are carried out, or else wait for a complete demolition and rebuild of their homes.

While there has been a loss of some Rotarians in the 16 clubs in Christchurch since the earthquake, these losses have been almost entirely from members moving out of the city for work opportunities or health reasons.

Since the February 2011 earthquake our Rotary District 9970 has received and distributed nearly $2 million through its charitable trust so this trust is now winding down.

However many needs still remain so Rotary is active throughout the city in many ways.

All of the city clubs managed to continue their normal fundraising activities and support of many organisations and groups, either financially or with hands-on input.

The combined clubs of the city last year also joined an initiative started by Ashburton Rotarian Walter Van Der Kley, called “Colour Me Christchurch”. It involved planting bedding plants and wildflowers on empty building sites around the central city with signage at each site identifying it as a Rotary project. This project will continue next spring.

In November last year Rotary District 9970 was approached by the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) to become a partner in an exciting new project, aimed at supporting communities in the city, named the “Rotary Neighbourhood Project.” It will involve developing locally initiated projects that contribute towards improving wellbeing and building resilient communities and neighbourhoods.

CERA recognises that local communities in Christchurch need access to help and finance to rebuild the communities that have been badly affected by the earthquakes. They see Rotary as an organisation with the knowledge and ability to assist.

We have set up a project committee, accessed funding, set up a charitable trust, and developed advertising material, and application criteria. With applications being accepted for grants ranging from $100 up to $4000, it is anticipated that the cost of the project over the four to five year expected life of the project could be in the vicinity of $300,000 to $400,000.

We hope that as other funders involved in the Christchurch rebuild see the results of the work we are doing, they will assist with funding.

The opportunity for me to work alongside these Rotarians in Christchurch as they develop these projects, while at the same time, working and living in a city under massive structural development, has certainly shown to me that the core values of Rotary are alive and well in our city.

These projects are also giving our Rotary clubs in Christchurch a great opportunity to promote Rotary as an organisation that is actively rebuilding our communities, hopefully leading to an increasing awareness of the role of Rotary clubs in our communities and an increase in membership numbers.

We are already seeing the first signs of this happening.