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| Principal of Riverhills School, Sarah Allen and Brittany Lemi |
Words: Peter Woodcock, of Rotary Club of Pakuranga, NZ
How
can a Rotary club capitalise on special ‘International Day of …’
occasions,
provide opportunity for networking, strengthen ties with Rotaract,
support a local charity, promote membership as well as give everyone a
very entertaining night out?
Rotary
Club of Pakuranga’s Community Director Sylvie Wilkinson found the
answer.
International Women’s Day was the ‘excuse’. Getting Pakuranga Rotaract
Club on the organising team, engaging two prominent Auckland women as MC
and speaker, inviting local professional women to take part and
encouraging fellow members and partners to join
in, provided all the ingredients for a very significant occasion.
The
Waipuna Convention Centre in Auckland, New Zealand provided the setting
for the
special event held on Monday February 29. About 40% of the 140
participants had no connection with Rotary. With stunning wall panels
and table runners, designed and painted by local school children
brightening up the room, the scene was set for an evening
in which the achievements of women, both in New Zealand and overseas
were acknowledged and celebrated.
Celebrity
chef and radio host, Helen Jackson, provided continuity as MC. She
interspersed
her duties with heart-warming but also challenging stories related to
the Guardian Angels Charitable Trust which she co-founded in 2004. This
trust provides practical assistance to needy families struggling with
the care of terminally ill child. Referrals
come from Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland. Through sale of the
art work, along with donations delightfully solicited by Rotaractors,
Sylvie presented the Trust with a cheque for $3000.
The
buzz of conversation during the carefully planned networking spells
testified
to the value of bringing motivated and successful people together in a
fun filled setting. There were substantial prizes for the best dressed
ethnic and historical woman, as well as spot prizes personally presented
by the various corporate women guests. Business
cards collected for a prize draw (cleverly designed to capture
potential members) showed a huge range of occupations and services.
Highlight
of the evening was the address by Diane Foreman who gave a very
personal
account of her life experiences from solo-parent in a receptionist job
to CEO of one of New Zealand’s largest companies, the title of NZ
Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009, Companion of the New Zealand Order of
Merit in 2011, and No. 11 in Forbes’ magazine list
of Power Business Women in Asia in 2014. Her story, together with her
expressed desire to promote women in business, could not help but make
an impact on all present. As one seasoned Rotarian remarked,” That was
the best Rotary function I have attended in
all my years in the club”. Yes, with a little imagination, Rotary can
capitalise on special days, promoting our local community, Rotaract and
our Rotary organisation.
