Message from the DG

District Service Director Lili Teichman is working with ~20 clubs to adapt or start projects that will connect with volunteers from across our community; projects that are meaningful, hands on and convenient. Her Hands On Volunteering Workshop in July was expanded to accommodate extraordinary interest, and now a dozen projects are on the path to offering the volunteering experience that research tells us 3-in-10 Australian adults are seeking. Two Volunteer With The DG projects – all meaningful, hands on and convenient – have been run and saw fantastic Rotary participation, but also attracted a truly surprising number of new volunteers! They told me these projects were exactly what they and their friends are seeking, so we’re following up with them on continuing to participate, and bringing those friends. They’re keen, and they demonstrate that our approach is effective! Read more on what meaningful, hands on, convenient projects look like at growmyclub.org/service and stay tuned for an announcement on how we’ll support these projects to connect with more volunteers from across our community

District Vocational Service Director Sarah Overton is working with clubs to help them talk to these new participants about Rotary’s vocational advantage. Younger volunteers seek not just meaning, but experiences and mentoring that will develop soft skills and provide board and leadership experience. Rotary is the clear leader in offering this, because of the strength our experienced members already deliver in vocational service. Offering more opportunities for our Rotarians to mentor newer members helps engage and retain those valuable existing members. Our newly-introduced DG Mentorship Awards are already acknowledging the effective relationship between these motivated younger members and their experienced mentors, such as Carlton’s Danielle Schutte and Melissa McIntosh, Collingwood’s Wendy Tang and Bruce Shaw and Bacchus Marsh’s Reg Holloway and Geoffrey Camm. These were announced to great acclaim at DG Official Cluster Visits for Heritage and Westside, I look forward to presenting many more! Please share this link to nominate effective mentoring in your club and read more on Rotary’s vocational advantage: growmyclub.org/vocational

There are many dimensions to participating in Rotary, one of which is our much-loved club meetings. We’re also capable of offering other membership experiences, such as enjoying the fellowship of volunteering together. For many new volunteers, this may be their preferred experience. A satellite club provides new members the flexibility to shape the experience they prefer, while retaining your club’s weekly meeting format, and contributing to your club’s membership numbers. Our new District reporting system shows a significant number of Presidents are keen to find out more about satellite clubs, so District Membership Director Jonathan Shepherd is organising a workshop with RI Membership expert Barbara Mifsud, likely for late September, early October. Watch our District Facebook page for more, and visit growmyclub.org/membership

Your District team, across the board, has hit 2022-2023 running, determined to support your club to grow service, membership and fundraising.

And, it’s exciting to see how many clubs are already signing new members! Across the District, 31 new members have been added, as of writing. Congratulations to these clubs who’ve got the ball rolling for the year! I encourage you to keep working hard, keep trying new things, keep listening to what new volunteers expect.

Congratulations to these clubs and welcome to your new members: Malvern +5; Glenferrie +4; Camberwell, Chadstone East Malvern +3; Werribee, Point Gellibrand-Williamstown +2; Altona, Balwyn, Bendigo, Caroline Springs, Central Melbourne, Kangaroo Flat, Keilor, Keilor East, Kew, Laverton Point Cook, Richmond and Woodend +1

Many of our clubs are also finding new ways to make a difference for their community locally and internationally, and I encourage you to read the fantastic examples highlighted here on District website, as curated by District Club Service Chair,  Rosemary Waghorne. Such inspiring reading! Please keep sharing your club's stories in District Facebook and with Rosemary at networker@rotary9800.org. 

DG Official Cluster Visits have kicked off, with fun evenings spent with Heritage and Westside Clusters in August. Over 130 members and community partners joined in to celebrate the difference made to the communities of our Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Richmond, Bacchus Marsh, Caroline Springs, Melton, Melton Valley and Eynesbury clubs, and recognise the hard work by individuals who make it happen. Six DG Mentorship Awards were awarded and hands on volunteering projects were demonstrated, assembling over 200 meal packs to assist refugees and people in need. Fantastic nights of fellowship, celebration, collaboration and making a difference! I can’t wait to attend the many others already booked in! Check your club or District calendar, and keep an eye on District Facebook.

Voting day for Regionalisation Pilot for our Zone is fast approaching. As Governor, I will vote in accordance with the majority vote of our District’s clubs, so I encourage you to ensure you get to ask your important questions. Be sure your club has invited a Regionalisation Pilot representative to come and present. Contact PDG Grant Hocking for further information.

Lastly, International Convention lands on our doorstep next May, offering us all an amazing opportunity to experience the magic and buzz of celebrating and collaborating with Rotarians from around the world. The Convention itself is an unparalleled engine of purpose, innovation and inspiration, while the peripheral events certainly tick the fellowship box. To have International Convention on your doorstep and not attend will be something you regret. Just ask anyone who’s attended one! Ticket sales are now available in local dollars but prices go up in December! So be sure to get in now at convention.rotary.org/en/melbourne

I’m so proud of the work and progress our District team members and you, our members, have already made this year!  District is here to support you and your club to grow. So, yes: imagine, and imagine big! Then let’s work together to make it happen and make a bigger difference for our community!

DG Amanda