Learning all about Rotary operations

Rotary and Rotaract members joined forces at the weekend to attend a training session provided by their District Governor, Leanne Jaggs.
The training took place at The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa, in one of their new conference rooms.
The session had been requested by Rotarians during a formal visit by the District Governor to the Rotary Club of Rarotonga in September 2009.
DG Leanne visited Rarotonga as part of a 2009 tour of some of the seven Pacific Islands which are also included in District 9920. The others are Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia and Kiribas.
Although some members have been with the club for several years, the operations of Rotary International and the District organisation remained a mystery.
One of the important focus areas the DG raised was how other District 9920 clubs could assist local projects.
The Rotary Club of Rarotonga Club has sister clubs in Auckland City with whom they can collaborate to source funds, equipment and personnel to support projects that respond to community needs.
Over the last five years, the Rotary Club of Rarotonga has been able to take advantage of contributions from Rotary International and Rotary Clubs from New Zealand, Australia. Canada and the United States.
These clubs have willingly offered services and equipment. Overseas Rotarians have sometimes paid their own fares to get to the Cook Islands where they have delivered gifts, both financial and in kind, to community groups on Rarotonga and the outer islands.
The Rotary Club of Rarotonga has been very grateful for this global network of support.
The recent revival of the Rotaract Club of Rarotonga was evidenced by the attendance of eight of its members at the training session.
The President of Rotary, Mike Pynenburg, was pleased that so many of the Rotaract members took advantage of the opportunity to meet their District Governor.
They learned not only about the roles and responsibilities of Rotaract membership but also about the networking opportunities and contacts that are available for any community projects that they may be planning in the future. DG Leanne encouraged their use of the District and global network.
DG Leanne was accompanied during her visit to Rarotonga by her husband Mike, their son Brayden and her parents who celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary during their stay on Rarotonga.
DG Leanne’s father, Stuart Searle, was himself a former District Governor of District 9920. He last visited Rarotonga during a formal visit to our Rotary Club during his term of office twelve years ago. - Rotary media release

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