It was an honour and privilege to be invited for lunch with Rotary International Director Dr Jessie Harman.

Extract from article published in LinkedIn by young Rotarian PP Romala Duncan, Social Media Coordinator - Rotary District 9940, Past President of the Rotary Club of Awapuni and Past Chair of the Rotaract Club of Massey University.

Dr Jessie Harman is the first female Rotary International Director from Zone 8 which encompasses Australia, the Pacific Islands and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Jessie’s first experience of Rotary was as a participant of RYLA in 1987, and she maintains an active interest in Rotary’s youth and leadership programs to this day. She is also keenly interested in membership development, and is co-author of ‘101 strategies for recruiting and retaining members’. Continuing her interest, Jessie was until recently Chair of Rotary International’s Membership Committee – a standing committee of the Board of Rotary International.

In her working life, Jessie was Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Partnerships) at Federation University Australia, prior to establishing her own consultancy. She holds a number of independent directorships.

Paul Harris Fellow Recognition

Adrienne Murray received the Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) triple sapphire pin for her significant contribution through the leadership roles she held such as member of the District Board, the Public Image and Communications Committee and the District Rotary Foundation Committee. At different times, and sometimes overlapping, over more than ten years of service to our District, she has been variously District Secretary, District Newsletter Editor, Assistant Governor and Rotary Foundation District Grants Chair.

As well as being heavily involved in Club and District work, during the pandemic Adrienne still found time to launch and lead the One Million Masks campaign to provide quality facemasks to those in schools in vulnerable communities.

And to cap it all off, Adrienne was inaugural Chair of the Rotary District 9940 Wellington Regional Children's Health Fund Charitable Trust which successfully coordinated fundraising of $400,000 to fit out whānau rooms for families, children and visitors. Under Adrienne’s leadership, the Trust is also coordinating fundraising for a portable scanner for the hospital.

Contribution to Rotary Foundation

Rotary Foundation relies on the generosity of clubs and individuals to allow Rotarians to achieve our mission of advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

Individuals give financially to the Rotary Foundation in a number of ways – they may commit to providing NZ$100 per year as Centurion Club members, they may commit to giving US$1,000 a year as Paul Harris Society members, they may establish a named endowment of US$25,000 or more so that the Rotary Foundation is able to improve the lives of others in perpetuity, and they may make bequests to the Rotary Foundation. If a bequest is for more than US$10,000 they may become members of the Bequest Society. In our District we have 9 Bequest Society members with bequests ranging from US$10,000 to more than US$100,000.

It was great to witness the acknowledgement of the only New Zealand members of the Arch Klumph Society – Arch Klumph being the founder of the Rotary Foundation - PDG Stuart and Vivien Searle from the Rotary Club of Pukekohe in District 9920. In our District, we have 11 Major Donors who have given more than US$10,000, and in some cases more than US$25,000 to the Rotary Foundation. PDG Anthony and Nicky Scott were welcomed as new Major Donors.

This level of giving indicates the high regard held for the work of Rotarians through the Rotary Foundation to improve the lives of others.

Among the attendees at the lunch was past Governor General and member of the Rotary Club of Wellington, Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Susan. Sir Anand is a recipient of Rotary International’s highest award, the Rotary Award of Honour, which is given to heads of state and other dignitaries who have made a significant contribution to international understanding and goodwill.

It was wonderful to remember how fortunate we all were to be able to serve others around the world through Rotary and our amazing foundation. Most importantly, it brought us together as Rotary members to continue our efforts to serve our communities, enabling us to work together on projects and helping us to work together to accomplish amazing successes.

As a young Rotarian, it was a great experience to be thankful and appreciate being a part of Rotary and the impact Rotarians have on the world by contributing their time and resources.

I am thankful to my husband David Duncan for supporting me in my Rotary journey.