Rotary Sunrise Rockers Rock Brisbane Institute and Jonathon added the Magic

Brisbane Insitute was a Rotary Institute for the districts of New Zealand and Australia that happened to be in Brisbane ... Where Else!

As the New Zealand representative on the Institute Committee, PDG Beryl Robinson said, "There was a determination by the committee to make sure both sides of the"Ditch" were involved and seen to be involved and that certainly happened!"

The band has it all - music and a challenge!

In front of almost 700 Rotarians, partners and Rotaractors, the Sunrise Rockers from the Rotary Club of Rotorua Sunrise added not just a unique New Zealand element to Institute but also set the tone at the beginning of each business (plenary) session ... we were there to have fun, be informed and inspired and that was well delivered.

The house was brought down when spontaneously the New Zealand contingent, both Rotarians and partners, got up on the stage for a rendition of Pokarekare Ana



Some of the NZ contingent







Also from New Zealand was Assistant Governor Jonathon Usher (of the Rotary Club of Dunedin, 9980) who well represented the theme of the Institute "The Magic of Rotary" with his many magic tricks ... just amazing.  Jonathon was also one of the Future Leaders Seminar participants.

"Drinking this prevents streaking"

Rotary Rockers to Rock Rotary Institute in Aussie

From small beginnings three years ago playing at their club changeover night plus occasional gigs to raise funds for their Rotary club - the Rotary Club of Rotorua Sunrise - they are now about to depart for Australia to play at the large international conference that is Brisbane Institute.  At the Institute they will play to an audience of around 700 about ten times over the three days, adding a special New Zealand element to this combined New Zealand - Australian event. 

The Sunrise Rockers members are:  Piripi Curtis (lead gitar), Roger Cunningham (bass), Monty Morrison (rythm guitar), Noel Lambertin (drums) and Andrew Marton (guitar and lead vocals).  Their invitation to perform came after they were "discovered" by the Rotary Down Under Board in 2010 as the Board travelled to the Rotary Institute in Tauranga.

Future leaders seminar is proving popular in strengthening districts

Rotary Insititutes are informational meetings held for past, present and incoming officers of Rotary International, their guests and any others invited by the Convenor (RI Director Stuart Heal).  The next Zone Institute is being held in Brisbane Friday 25 to Sunday 27 November and is preceeded by training days for District Governors, Governor Elects, Governor Nominees, District Trainers and ...

Take a room full of enthusiastic Rotarians, add a mixture of shared ideas and inspirational addresses, sprinkle liberally with a desire to make a difference in Rotary, and you have the perfect recipe for the 2011 Future Leaders Seminar - an exciting innovation thanks to the vision and foresight of Rotary International Director Stuart Heal and the  immediate past, current and incoming District Governors of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.

This will be held on Thursday 24 November at a venue immediately adjacent to the Institute venue.  Nominated by their districts, these future Rotary leaders (at all levels of Rotary) will get a focussed, unique insight into the international world of Rotary while addressing key topics through faciliated discussion with like-minded peers. 

Future Leader's Seminar Convenor, PDG Cathy Roth noted that by nominating suitable Rotarians to attend, districts were ensuring they had strong, knowledgable and capable leaders now and into the future.

The vast majority of districts throughout New Zealand and Australia have enthusiastically supported this initiative and the numbers attending  the Future Leaders Seminar are now well over 100 and growing. 

The October issue of Rotary Down Under magazine will have an article on this topic - Institute opened to future leaders (page 19)