INDUCTION CHARGE OF A District Governor
Distinguished guests, ladies, Gentlemen and my fellow Rotarians It is now that very special time where I call DGE Iven to come forward.
Iven Mackay you have been chosen by the D9800 District Nominating Committee, and approved by Rotary International board, to assume the high office of District Governor for the year 2010-11 as we believe you possess the quality of leadership and you have the full confidence of your fellow members.
You have served your club, the Rotary Club of Toorak, and this District as a member of the Board of Directors with distinction.
During your Rotary career you have served in many leadership positions and you have demonstrated to us that you have an excellent knowledge of all aspects of the constitution and by-laws together with a thorough understanding of the operation of this District its management and administration.
Your have personally showed great commitment to Rotary International and we are also confident that you will uphold the high traditions of our District and that you will give of your best at all times in the execution of your duties as District Governor.
You have undertaken to give the time and effort necessary to lead this District as Governor for the year 2010 -11 and you have indicated that you are willing to continue the great work of those who have preceded you.
You have attended the Zone Institute and the International Assembly as part of the District Governor induction training in your preparation for your year of office and your future plans and objectives have been exemplary.
We, the members of Rotary District 9800 pledge to you our support and loyalty during your year as together we strive to achieve the ideals of Rotary Service.
I now have great pleasure in presenting you with your lapel badge and the Regalia of Office; as I induct you as the District Governor of D9800 for the Rotary Year 2010-11.
Could I please ask all present to stand and congratulate our District Governor Iven Mackay.
DG 2010 Changeover Luncheon Held at Crown Palladium of 27th June 2010
Thank you MC PDG Greg Ross,
Well this is it – the big changeover, how quickly it has come around. It seems like only a month or so ago we all gathered at Melbourne Park to see off Jim Studebaker and now it’s my turn. It was a memorable evening last June, one Pauline and I will never forget.
I believe that last year’s changeover function was the start of an outstanding year for Pauline and I and a year that I must tell you a little more about before we handover to DGE Iven.
As I prepared for the handover today and contemplated what I should talk about I was reminded of what a wonderful year this has been for the District, our Clubs but especially for Pauline and myself. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve our great organisation, Rotary International, as the District Governor of the biggest and best District in Australia.
The journey to District Governor is long one and quite demanding at times however the reward is great. I would not have missed this opportunity for the world.
I must admit that today I will be handing over with some reluctance because I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve this District and I don’t really want to see it end. However I realise we need to move on; to bring forward committed Rotarians with new ideas and the enthusiasm to serve.
So; this afternoon before we go I would like to give you a quick snapshot of our year starting with a short Year in Review followed by a few thank you’s; to all those who have helped along the way and then finish up with the announcement of this year’s District Awards or more commonly known as the R’Oscars.
Time is a bit tight so sit back and enjoy our year of 2009-10.
Hopefully if all the technical bits work it will be short, sharp and hopefully interesting.
Firstly you will all be aware of our world President John Kenny’s theme of The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands. What an amazing theme it was too. It wasn’t the usual or expected two or three word theme message of recent years, this year we actually got a full sentence to play with.
And what an outstanding theme it turned out to be; and one I believe was great for every one of us 532 District Governors’ in the world to work with.
Why because this theme is timeless, it can be mentioned at any time at any place in any situation where Rotary is involved and still be relevant and meaningful. Because Rotarians and Guests the Future of Rotary will always be in our hands regardless of what is going on in the world around us.
You may have noticed I have mentioned the theme in everything I have written or spoken throughout the year because to me it was very important to highlight our future; just as important as those exciting club programs and projects.
Last week saw the formal handover of the District Board and District Leadership Team (DLT) to the incoming officers for Rotary Year 2010-11. It was terrific to see the incoming team, led by DGE Iven Mackay, so enthusiastic and ready to get “out there” and do some serious building and bridging. It was a great pleasure to welcome the new Board and DLT members. The handover meeting also gave me the opportunity to thank the outgoing team for the wonderful support they have provided this District and to me personally over the last 12 months.
Looking at the year I believe we have had a very good year with nearly all of the goals we set have been achieved.
To steal a recent very popular phrase of our Immediate Past Prime Minister – I am very proud of the following.
I am proud of:
• An overall increased in membership and the chartering a new Rotary Club (RC of Melbourne Park) and the Interact club of Aitken College.
• Increased our profile in the community,
• Maintained our annual giving to the Foundation, in spite of the Global Financial crisis (GFC),
• Supported the polio challenge,
• Were recognised for the quality of scholars we sponsor and support,
• Were involved in an outstanding GSE exchange with District 2203 Spain,
• Were innovative in our approach to New Generations; with the introduction new programs and activities,
• Focused on Clean Water and Sanitation and made Literacy a priority in our own community and internationally,
• Highlighted the need to put our “Vocation” back into our service ethos,
• Improved our administrative processes both at Club and District level,
• Improved our communications and message delivery systems,
• Revised the way our future leaders are trained,
• Presented the best District Conference ever, and
• Made the Rotary experience enjoyable for everyone.
As I have written in Networker it is mind blowing when trying to recall all the wonderful works completed by our 70 clubs over the past 52 weeks. I am delighted to report that all of the clubs in our District have really worked hard, to the best of their ability to achieve their goals for 2009-10.
We continue to work in developing countries, to provide safe water, hygienic sanitation systems, improved nutrition, better health and literacy programs. At home, all of our clubs have engaged with their local communities in many and various ways with great success.
We have also generously supported our own global charity – The Rotary Foundation. The programs of our Foundation are wide, diverse and far reaching, all designed to foster peace and goodwill throughout the world.
At this point I would like to recognise Foundation Chair Chris Don. Chris has done an outstanding job as District Foundation Chair under very difficult circumstances. With the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) as just one of his problems.
Could Chris please come forward and accept a small thank you from the Board in recognition of your 4 years of outstanding service as foundation Chair. Chris has an outstanding committee of dedicated Rotarians and we ask him to pass on our sincere thank to them as well.
We have increased our membership in the District and significantly improved the image of Rotary and Rotarians in our community. I would like to acknowledge the work of Board members Loryn Clark, Membership Director and Pike Peters Marketing for their work in these areas – they both have had a very productive year.
We have met the goals set by our world President John Kenny when asked us for support of Water and Sanitation, Health and Hunger and Literacy – It certainly has been a great year. My thanks go to Alan Seale Chair International and vocational Chairman Adrian Nelson for their support of our international and vocational programs and activities.
To my Board of Directors and the members of District Leadership Team (DLT) thank you for all your efforts in providing outstanding support to our clubs and also providing the necessary assistance and guidance to our committees throughout the year. The assistant Governors, lead by AG rep Chris Wong, have done everything possible to make this year a great success – thank you all.
However, I would like to single out two people who I believe have given outstanding service “above and Beyond Service” to this district.
Could Bernie and Marjorie Gerlinger please come forward for special recognition.
First to Treasurer Bernie
Bernie has kept our financials well under control………..I would have spent far more if it was not for Bernie. The members should be very thankful of the work of this year’s treasurer – thanks Burnie.
To Secretary Marjorie Gerlinger
Marjorie has been an outstanding contributor to this District over many years. Her work over the last 3 years while being involved in the area of District Administration has been wonderful including, District Directory, Design of letterheads, badges, Stationery, Presidents and Scretary’s training material and not forgetting the District Admin Manual just to name a few. She has been a great support to me personally and I sincerely thank her.
A very big thank you Bernie and Marjorie
I would also like to pay a very special to tribute to the outstanding work of our Perth Conference Chairman PP Ross Smith and his team of Rotarians and Partners from the Rotary club of Werribee for delivering the best District Conference ever. Thank you everyone at the Rotary Club of Werribee.
There are several Rotarians whose work I would also like to recogniseand they are as follows:
Our Networker team: Clarice aka Gordon Cheyne, Pike Peters, Philip Archer and his staff at Archway Group, and to Ron Stark for the weekly Delivery of the Networker Magazine
District Photographer: Bronwyn Fanning – the everywhere girl
Our Awards Committee – Lyndon Joss, Barry Wills, Pike Peters and Philip Archer
To the Chairman of Club Service Peter Lamping for doing lots of good stuff, he was always available to help me out with those difficult jobs and especially to Rotarian partner Barry Mullen for producing our Awards Brochure.
To Rotarian Andrew Ingram our communications officer who managed our Email Alias System. Well done.
To the Presidents, the Clan of 2009-10, I thank you for your leadership and the stewardship of your Clubs over the last 12 months. You can look back with pride at the achievements of your club in your Presidential year. It has been a wonderful experience getting to know you all personally.
To the Rotarians, Partners and Families of District 9800 a very big thanks for your work throughout 2009-10, without you we could never achieve our aim of Doing Good In the World. Without committed members there would be no future.
To Pauline and my family – a huge thank you. As mentioned earlier this is a very demanding job and it does interfere with family life however all my family have been very supportive and tolerant of my Rotary commitments. In fact the grandchildren won’t believe their good luck now that their Pa is back.
I would also like to mention that Pauline attended all DG Club visits and many of the formal functions. She tells me she enjoyed every one of them.
Thank you Pauline you can now take a well earned break.
To the incoming Leadership Team and the Club Officers of the 70 clubs in our District congratulations and welcome. Your commitment to Building Communities and Bridging Continents is appreciated.
Now as the 2009-10 year ends and we prepare to hand over to the incoming team could I once again remind you all that no matter what happens:
The Future of Rotary Will Remain In Your Hands.
Colin Muir
District Governor
