PDG Ian & Jean Simpson
2011-2012 Theme
RI President: Kalyan Banerjee
PDG Ian Simpson Photo Albums
PDG Ian & Jean Simpson
Report to Rotary District 9700 – 2011-12 Highlights
A successful year of Rotary service to our local and international communities. A summary of achievements is presented for major programs, projects and activities.
RI President Kalyan Banerjee’s visit on 22nd May was a first for our District. The schedule included: dedication of Parkes as a Rotary Peace Community; tree planting in Rotary Park, Grenfell; visit to the Peace Monument, Mayoral and Rotary Receptions in Wagga. Around 450 Rotarians and friends from 30 Clubs attended the functions and the ‘Service Above Self’ Award was presented to Alok Sharma of Wagga Rotary for the ‘Darkness to Light’ Eye Program in India. 16 Clubs qualified for the 2011-12 RI Change Maker Award.
District Conference hosted by Young Rotary with over 400 Rotarians and friends and 37 Clubs attending. 26 Rotarians and partners attended the 2012 RI Convention in Bangkok.
Membership The District has 40 active Rotary Clubs. In 2011-12, best estimates are that 143 new members joined Rotary, with around 60 resignations and 13 member deaths (a gain of 70 members). At 1 July 2011, the RI District membership was 1146 and with a concerted membership drive the official membership increased to 1184 at 30 June 2012. The challenge is to grow to 1200+ members to avoid being ‘Redistricted’ by the RI Board.
Rotary Public Image and Awareness The District participated in the Multi-District Rotary PR Grant for a 20 week TV advertising campaign and development of a social media program. The District also arranged for Rotary advertising space featuring ‘END POLIO NOW’ on the 15m sides of a Wagga based long-haul transport that will travel SE Australia for 6 to 8 years.
Rotary Foundation Programs Successful Group Study Exchanges with a D9700 Team to D1010 Scotland in September 2011 and our District hosting inbound D1010 Scotland & D5770 Oklahoma Teams in March 2012. Grenfell Rotary - awarded a District Simplified Grant of US$3,500 for improvements to BBQ/picnic facilities in Rotary Park. Polio Plus – Club donations of $70,126 increased to $100,126 with the addition of $20,000 from District Designated Funds (DDF) and a Matching Grant of $10,000 (50c in each $1 DDF). Annual Giving - $82,822 and included 317 Centurions with Boorowa & Orange Daybreak Rotary achieving 100% Centurion membership.
District Service Projects Senior Constable Judith Crawford of Trundle, nominated by Parkes Rotary, was a finalist in the NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards. The District Vocational Service Excellence Awards at District Conference recognised: Rtn Peter Gissing nominated by Wagga Sunrise Rotary for services to Pharmacy; David Hopkins nominated by Cowra Rotary for services to the meat industry; and Jeff Hort nominated by Orange Daybreak Rotary for service to the mining industry. Cowra hosted a successful RAWCS Eastern Region meeting. The Nepal Friendship Project coordinated by Bathurst and Orange Daybreak Rotary Clubs is developing into a high impact District RAWCS Project. Temora Rotary hosted a District Interplast Dinner with 85 attending from 9 Clubs. Wagga Surgeon Dr James Masson was speaker and presentations followed in Wagga and Griffith.
New Generation Programs All Clubs and the District have been active in supporting youth.
The Youth Exchange Program has four inbound students and nine outbound students.
Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment, hosted by Wollundry-Wagga Rotary, had 55 participants sponsored by 18 Clubs.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, hosted by Parkes Rotary, attracted 31 participants.
Boorowa hosted Model United Nations Assembly with eight teams. 14 students were selected for the National Youth Science Forums in Canberra, Perth and New Zealand.
Young hosted the 2011 Southern NSW finals of Science & Engineering Super Challenge with 500 students from 15 schools and in 2012 the Challenge was held in Forbes, Wagga and Young.
Rotary Youth Driver Awareness held programs in Bathurst, Cowra, Leeton, Orange, Parkes and Wagga attended by an estimated 2,600 Year 11 students (est 75% of District Year 11 students).
District Administration The District is building a new website / database through the adoption of the ClubRunner technical software package.
Partners Project for 2011-12 Presidents and Partners, Assistant Governors and Board raised $7,500 for the purchase of: 55 ‘Street Swags’ for homeless people in District 9700; and, 350 simple Home Water Filters for provision of safe drinking water to the village people of the Luro region of Timor Leste.
Dream Cricket introduces primary school students with a disability to the game of cricket. Eight successful Dream Cricket clinics were held in Bathurst, Orange, Parkes, Cootamundra and Young with around 400 children participating. Coordinated by a network of enthusiastic cricketers, this project is the District ‘legacy’ for 2011-12.
Throughout 2011-12, individual Clubs have demonstrated their support for the Rotary Theme of ‘Reach Within to Embrace Humanity’ through a range of humanitarian projects and activities.
My thanks to the District leadership team, Clubs and their members for support throughout the year.
Ian Simpson
District Governor 2011-12