Connection and Connectivity - first and foremost

Our new 2026-2027 club President, Lynne Guy spoke to us on Thursday to give us an overview of her theme for the year. She told us it was Connection and connectivity, first and foremost. And secondarily Service, membership, friendship and fun. 

She gave us a fun introduction to her talk,  quoting from Lewis Carroll, “The time has come the walrus said to speak of many things: Of shoes-and ships-and sealing wax-of cabbages- and kings- and why the sea is boiling hot -And whether fish have wings”. Perhaps to President Lynne's own wonder, the audience rapport was instant, as we all chimed in! President Lynne had achieved instantaneous connection with the club! 

President Lynne discussed her goals and suggested how we might achieve them. 

1. Starting first with a goal to introduce more activities that improve connection, fellowship and participation both within our club and with other clubs.
2. Secondly, to offer more ways to recognise and acknowledge members for good works, dedication and achievements.  

3. The third goal is to address membership, both to seek out ways to bring in new members and to make sure new members and all members alike, continue to feel included and connected.  

   

4. Lynne's fourth goal is to make sure we continue our service as a Project Based Club, highlighting our club's major projects in recent years such as the Orokonui Valley walkway, the West Harbour cycle and walk pathway, and our current ambitious Rotary Park project. Lynne recognises how important these projects are for bringing our members together with other Rotarians and members of the public.  “Every working bee and community project is an opportunity to promote ourselves and we need to maximise these opportunities. Our membership group is working hard to create new ideas, and we must always to looking for opportunities to attract new members. Any ideas you have would be welcome.”

5. Finally, Lynne discussed the the up-and-coming Charity luncheon on the 24^th September. The funds raised will go directly to two community projects led by the Rotary Clubs of Dunedin - children’s play spaces at the new outpatients building and the continued development of Rotary Park. Attendees will have the opportunity to gather for a 2-course lunch and to hear an address from the Prime Minister on the priorities shaping the future.  Lynne told us that hopefully this will be an annual event with the PM of the day and will become one of the most significant civic gatherings on the southern calendar.  It's a project that “ fits neatly into my theme for the year of Connection –connection within our club, with other clubs and within our Dunedin Community.”  Lynne emphasised that we all need to get behind the project, especially with just 12 weeks to go. We need help with items for raffles and the auction, ticket sales and selling tables, and identifying companies or organisations to whom we could be selling the sponsorship packages to- Lynne suggested we 'make a list of companies or organisations we know, and approach them in co-ordination with organising committee members heading up this part of the project  Sarah Warhurst and Peter Gouverneur. 

   Lynne concluded “CONNECTION, SERVICE, MEMBERSHIP AND FUN. I may not be able to achieve all that I am setting out to do, but I hope I will be able to make the Rotary 2026-27 year an enjoyable and successful experience for all.” Click on the links to view President Lynne's full presentation slides and speakers notes

   Thank you Lynne for your presentation and for sharing your goals for this Rotary Year!