Rotary International Director Elect Jennifer Scott AM outlines a new path forward for Rotary South Pacific in 2024-25.
During September and October, I spent seven weeks walking the Chemin Le Puy, an 800 km Camino through France to the Spanish border. It certainly gave me time to think about the challenges we face in our zone, Rotary South Pacific. I also had to watch where I was walking as most days were quite challenging as well!
What has the Camino got to do with Rotary South Pacific? Both are tough challenges. The next few years, if we are prepared to put in the effort, will probably feel like climbing a mountain, experiencing treacherous rocky ascents and muddy, slippery forests. And occasionally taking the wrong turn and getting a little lost.
But if each of our clubs follow a plan, and can visualise their destination, we can succeed. So, my challenge to you is to start and keep going until your club reaches its destination.
Our membership decline is simply a symptom of our club experience and our reputation in the community.
So, let’s seriously plan, and then start the journey (although I know many clubs already have) to turn our clubs around, because they are the lifeblood of Rotary. The magic formula is quite simple:
- Are our members experiencing, and being a part of, meaningful service and projects that are making a real and sustainable difference?
- Our meetings. Are they fun? Inclusive? Relevant?
- Our leadership. Do the leaders actually lead? Provide direction? Are they implementing the club’s plan? Are the leaders fair, responsive and inclusive?
- Does your club and/or region give you the opportunity to develop new skills?
- Are you making connections – building friendships, feeling welcome?
PICTURED LEFT: Conference Chair PDG Ingrid Waugh. (Photo: Stuart Forsyth). PICTURED RIGHT: Conference Convenor RI Director Elect Jennifer Scott. (Photo: Stuart Forsyth)
I have distilled the focus for 2025-26 to ‘Together, We’:
- Connect
- Share
- Grow
CONNECT
- Connect with your current members, nurture them, engage them.
- Connect with prospective members, find out their interests, their skills.
- Connect with your community. Connect with the media.
- Connect with Rotaract clubs.
- Connect with the youth in your community.
SHARE
- Share your ideas.
- Share your stories.
- Share your projects with others. Rotary doesn’t need to do it all. We need partners.
- Share your passion. We tend to talk only to other Rotarians about what we do, why not change the audience and share Rotary with businesses, other NFPs and associations.
- Share the workload.
GROW
In this way, you grow your clubs and therefore your membership:
- Grow your volunteers.
- Create new clubs in the community.
- Grow your projects by making them bigger and more sustainable.
- In the end, you are growing peace within your communities.
The message hasn’t changed, the need hasn’t changed, the ‘why’ for Rotary hasn’t changed. That’s why we need to grow our membership.
Together, We Connect, Share and Grow Rotary
The 2025 Rotary South Pacific Conference theme is ‘Together We Connect, Share and Grow Rotary’.
Let me introduce the team:
- Ingrid Waugh – Chair
- Tony Monley – Treasurer
- Kathy Monley –Registration
- Liz Courtney – Lead Learning Facilitator
- Lindsay May – Showcase and Sponsorship
- Bronte Barber – Rotaract
- Roslyn Teirney – Marketing and Social Media
- Alan Eyes – Regional Council Representative
Together with Districts 9620 and 9640, this amazing team will create an exciting and impactful conference for all Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and alumni in the South Pacific (Zone 8).
2025 Rotary South Pacific Conference
October 31 – November 2, 2025
- Twin Towns Conference & Function Centre, Tweed Heads, NSW
- Stay at the Sebel or the Mantra and enjoy a Rotary discount
- www.facebook.com/groups/27434079646207099
- rotaryzone8.org/sitepage/2025-zone-8-conference-gold-coast-australia/welcome