DISTRICT GOVERNOR PETER SHEPHEARD

Rotary District 9800 Governor Peter Shepheard attended the Rotary Club of Bendigo's Tuesday lunch meeting as part of his pilgrimage around the area this week. Peter is staying over locally for the week to visit the Rotary Clubs of Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, Bendigo Sandhurst, Eaglehawk and Bendigo South. Local Community Group Leader Alison Bacon, of RC Eaglehawk, also attended.

After introductions and normal club business DG Peter took to the floor and the assembled members and guests got to hear a bit of history about where he came from and what had him committed to the Rotary Club of Altona and subsequently roles within District 9800.

Peter's work history, starting at AMP, to Blockbuster Video, to Crown Casino and finally to the Queen Victoria Market, seems to have set him up with the confidence he exudes in public speaking and a focus on detail.

Whilst updating us on how District 9800 is performing and what’s new from Rotary International he also touched on his belief that Rotary clubs should be aware of their members’ needs and generate a sense of community within the Club, wherever possible, so they have a feeling of belonging and are comfortable.

Peter also shared his belief that there may be opportunity in revisiting Rotaract as a means to generate interest among younger people.  Perhaps as a means of moving from Interact to Rotaract to Rotary as a pathway to growing Rotary in the future. He also suggested that Clubs could view a Rotaract membership as a subset of the Rotary Club where Rotaracters might meet monthly but also attend a Rotary meeting on other weeks.

All good food for thought as Rotary Clubs worldwide have similar issues with membership.  However, our Region has recorded our smallest decrease in membership of the past few years.