Rotary Club of Rotorua

For years, Rotary's commitment to Service Above Self has been channeled through the Avenues of Service, which form the foundation of Club activity.

focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards. Observing each October, Vocational Service Month spotlights Rotary club projects related to this avenue, offering opportunity for clubs and districts to use their professional skills in service projects.
covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in the community.
encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. Rotarians can support International Service by sponsoring a project in another country, seeking international partners to support projects in their own communities, or by personally volunteering at an international project site.
recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities as RYLA, Roaractand Interact, service projects, and creating international undersatanding with Rotary Youth Exchange.

In the Rotary Club of Rotorua, these Avenues of Service are implemented in the following ways:

Club Service

The role of the Club Service Committee is to work closely with the President of the Club to ensure the smooth running of the lunchtime meetings and all other administrative activities of the Club.
The Club Service Director for 2016-2017 is Russell Burton, email: russell.burton@scionresearch.com

Vocational Service

As business leaders, Rotarians share their skills and expertise through vocational service, one of the Four Avenues of Service. Your vocational service efforts can play a vital role in improving the quality of life for those hardworking members of the community who need direction and expertise. By participating in any of a number of vocational service activities - mentoring, career days, vocational awards, business assistance, or even talking about your job at a club meeting - you can turn your experience into an invaluable resource for others.

The Rotary Club of Rotorua has an active committee committed to furthering the goals of Vocational service. Projects throughout the year include nurturing local secondary schools through activities such as an interschool speech contest, and recognition of Head Students - their roles and aspirations.

Workplace visits for Club members to local industries and work sites are arranged annually and are educational and usually very popular. Interesting guest speakers from a wide range of vocations give presentations at the Club's weekly lunchtime meetings. Club visits to local rural areas are arranged annually to foster a good rural/urban relationship.

The Vocational Committee meets regularly, and meetings are a mix of 'work' and fellowship. The composition of the committee changes annually. The Vocational Director for 2016-2017 is: Martyn Craven, email: mjcraven@xtra.co.nz

International Service

The activities of the International Committee of the Rotary Club of Rotorua include:

Group Study Exchange
The Group Study Exchange (GSE) programme of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The programme provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
For each team member, The Rotary Foundation provides the most economical round-trip air ticket between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district. For more information and application forms, see www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/gse or contact the International Director, Roger Willard. Email: roger.willard@aprarchitects.co.nz

Emergency Boxes
From time to time, the Club fills emergency boxes with clothing, tools and other supplies. These boxes are stored in Auckland, ready to be dispatched to disaster areas int Pacific Islands.

Rotary Friendship Exchange
RFE is Rotary's international exchange programme for Rotarians and their families. RFE provides participants the opportunity to experience other cultures by staying in the homes of Rotarians in other countries. The programme aims to advance international undersatanding and peace through personal contact across borders while developing interclub relationships for fellowship and service projects. See www.rotary.org/programs/rfe for more information. the Usual format is a tour of about 15 days with five home hostings. The group usually consists of five couples. International travel is at own expense with internal travel costs (eg minibus) shared. District insurance applies to Rotarians. For more information see the website of District 9930 at www.rotary9930.org and click on Committees and Programmes.

Youth Services

Some of the activities of the Youth Services Committee are listed below.

International Youth Exchange
The most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and peace is exposure to different cultures. The world becomes a smaller, friendlier place when we learn that all people - regardless of nationality - desire the same basic things: a safe, comfortable environment that allows for a rich and satisfying life for ourselves and our children. Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures, thus planting the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding. Administered by Rotary clubs, districts and multidistrict groups, the programme today involves more than 82 countries and over 8,000 students each year. For more information, and to download the application forms, see www.rotary.org/programs/youth_ex . For information on upcoming exchanges send an e-mail to Ann Nicholas. Email: annn@sigmaconsult.co.nz

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotary's training programme for young leaders, emphasises leadership, citizenship, and personal growth. Each year, thousands of young people take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programme worldwide. Young people chosen for their leadership potential attend an all-expenses-paid seminar, camp, or workshop to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice. Rotary clubs and districts select participants and facilitate the event's curriculum. Participants are typically working and between 18 and 24 years old. For more information see the website of District 9930 at www.rotary9930.org, and click on Committees and Programmes, or send an e-mail to: annn@sigmaconsult.co.nz
In Rotorua, applications are sought during December and January with the training programme taking place close to Easter each year.

Australia/New Zealand Matched Youth Exchange
This programme provides the opportunity for Australian and New Zealand students, between the ages of 13 and 16 years, to experience living and attending school in each other's country for 16 weeks. For more information see the website of District 9930 at www.rotary9930.org, and click on Committees and Programmes, or send an e-mail to: annn@sigmaconsult.co.nz
Applications for the Australian Matched Youth Exchange programme are required by August of each year.

Science Summer Schools
The Rotary Club of Rotorua nominates students from local schools to two science summer schools:

The Waikato University Science Summer School that aims to provide Year 12 students, who will return to Year 13 the following year, with the opportunity of experiencing the wide range of science subjects available in the School of Science and Technology at the University. The School is held over 6 days in December. This is a residential course and all students stay in supervised accommodation at a University Halls of Residence.

The Genesis Research National Science and Technology Forum has an academic programme that is provided by the universities and technical institutes in Auckland. It offers outstanding students who will study at Year 13 the following year first-hand experience at an advanced level over a wide range of scientific disciplines. It is held over two weeks in mid-January. Students live in a University of Auckland Hall of Residence.
For more information on these two programmes see the website of District 9930 at www.rotary.org.nz , and click on Committees and Programmes., or send an e-mail to: annn@sigmaconsult.co.nz
Application forms are sent to High Schools and have to be lodged by early August each year.

Rotary Youth Programme Of Enrichment
RYPEN is a weekend camp for Year 10 students run by all Rotorua Rotary Clubs together with the NZ Army Territorials. Applications are sought through schools in August with the camp usually run in October. The camp is aimed at students that would benefit from team building and outdoor activities to gain self-confidence, and from listening to motivational speakers.

J R Mckenzie Youth Education Trust
This trust fund exists to assist needy students with school fees, uniforms and other school resources. Applications can be made at any time through the Rotary Club.

Lifelink / Youthline
The Rotary Club of Rotorua assists with the running of the Lifelink / Youthline organisation by supplying a management committee member and other assistance if required. The management committee member is rotated annually and volunteers from non-members are welcome.

Community Service

The Community Committee is a fundraising Committee for the Club. Some of the Committee's activities are listed below. Community Service Director is Richard Pryce. Email: rpryce@tomwake.co.nz

Time Capsules
The first Time Capsule was put together in 1992 while Gus Treuren was Club President. Tom Trott organised the filling and attaching of the capsule to the wall inside the security safe in the Rotorua Public Library, Haupapa Street, Rotorua. The capsule is due to be opened in the year 2042.

The second Time Capsule was buried on Friday 31 October 2003 in front of Pukeroa Uruawhata House, Amohau Street. Rotorua. There is a plaque showing the place of burial on a large rock in front of Pukeroa Uruawhata House. This was a 75th Jubilee Project for the Club. Members of the public purchased envelopes and filled them with photos, family trees, and other memorabilia. Peter Spurdle was the Club President. Garth Wilson organised the capsule project. The capsule will be opened on the Club's Centennial on 21 December 2027.

Food Banks
Periodically the Committee arranges for a fining session at the Club the proceeds of which are distributed to either the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul or some other organisation to assist with the maintenance of food banks in Rotorua.

Circus Quirkus
Every year the Club organises a performance by Circus Quikus in Rotorua. Members of the public and businesses donate funds which are used to provide tickets to attend a circus performance to underprivileged children. Considerable goodwill is generated by the Club to children. Surplus funds go to the Club for distribution to charity.

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