RDU magazine online

FROM WHERE I SIT
by Bob Aitken
Managing Editor
Rotary Down Under

In the wake of Rotary's Magazine Month - April - it's timely to ponder the future of our World Magazine Press. It is especially so this year as we approach Rotary International's triennial Council on Legislation scheduled for Chicago in June this year. Various motions relating to the future of Rotary's regional magazine network will be put to Council. The intent of the motions vary from abolition
of mandatory subscription as a condition of membership, to replacement of hard copy magazines with electronic communications. With membership numbers still the greatest challenge in Rotary, effective communication is absolutely vital as we reinforce the value and quality of Rotary service around the world.

The Rotary International Board of Directors acknowledges the Rotary World Magazine Press as the only direct means of contact between the R.I. Board and the individual members of Rotary in all Rotary clubs. It's worrying to consider the impact on the Rotary world, should any of the destructive "anti-magazine motions" succeed. Our recent reader survey confirmed once again that about one-third of Rotarians do not read their Rotary regional magazine.

It follows that such Rotarians do not take their Rotary membership seriously. If magazine subscription was optional and we lost one-third of our subscribers, the price would be forced unreasonably high for those who take membership seriously and need the magazine to maintain contact with the Rotary world outside their own club and District.

Similarly, technology is not yet sufficiently advanced to allow hard copy magazines to be replaced by electronic delivery.

*Computer screens are far from suitable for sustained reading.
*Most home computer mail boxes would have insufficient capacity.
*The cost of downloading and printing a magazine at home is prohibitive.
* We would not have hard copy magazines with which to promote Rotary.
*There is still considerable cost in providing electronic magazines. Those who use technology regularly think everybody else acts as they do. Recent research proves this is not so.

Phoenix Research in New Zealand last year found that 49 per cent of adults use the internet regularly which is defined as once a month, and only one in 10 of this number is over 60!

We also need to remind ourselves constantly that in many parts of our Rotary International world, computers are still a luxury item. It's a sad human trait that we often move to destroy valuable resources before there are suitable alternatives.

Hard copy magazines are still the most valuable communication, resource and education tool avail-able for the benefit and well-being of our organisation.

NEWS BULLETIN

Asia Pacific Breakfast: Tickets are still available for Rotarians keen to attend the Asia Pacific Breakfast at the R.I. Convention in Osaka in May. Hosted and organised by the Philippine College of Governors, the breakfast will be held in the Events Hall on the Third Floor of the Osaka Convention Centre - 6.30a.m. for 7.00a.m. on Monday, May 24, 2004. Tickets are available from the Rotary Down Under offices in Auckland, N.Z. (telephone 9 35 999 61) and Parramatta, Australia (02 9633 4888) at $US35 each. Tickets may also be purchased from R.I. Past Director Bill Boyd (9 534 7730) and PDG David Oliver (9 378 0114) in New Zealand; and R.I. Past Director Ken Collins in Perth, W.A. (08 9385 0471).

Rotarians aces as donut makers: The recent Scout Jamboree in South Australia proved once and for all that Rotarians can do more than run barbecues when it comes to catering.

From District 9520 Governor Graeme Dodsworth comes news that the Rotary clubs of Mount Barker and Blakiston combined resources to tender for and operate a donut-making machine for the 14,000 Scouts and sup-port personnel.

The project was a real winner, demand being so strong from the hungry hordes that the Rotarians were forced to purchase a new donut machine and buy the entire supply of donut mix available within Australia. A profit of some $15,000 was a fitting reward for the excellent service and hard work.

Child protection workshop: In yet another first for Australian Rotary, District 9690 Governor Elect Lloyd Roever conducted a successful Child Protection Workshop to ensure his District 9690 team is well prepared for the 2004/05 Rotary year.

Some 120 Rotarians attended the workshop at Blue Mountains Grammar School. Keynote speaker was Commissioner Gillian Calvert who said Rotary's proud reputation of exemplary work with young people can be protected adequately with a clear demonstration of duty of care. She said that by signing the Working with Children Check, Rotarians are able to show they take child protection matters seriously.

Other speakers included Rotarians involved with developing a Child Protection Policy by the District Child Protection Committee of Past President Jennifer Scott (a solicitor), Past President John Heslop (a former senior police officer) and District 9690 Past Governor John Wakefield (a former senior police officer).

Invercargill parties for 80th: Long-serving member Keith Watson (soon to celebrate 50 years of Rotary service) was the Rotarian chosen to cut Invercargill's 80th birthday cake at a special celebration in Flanagan's Restaurant on February 24.

District 9980 Governor John Henderson was a special guest and presented a personal message from R.I. President Jonathan Majiyagbe to the club and a commemorative certificate to President Eddie Bremer. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dunedin, Invercargill was the sixth Rotary club chartered within New Zealand and has made many outstanding contributions to its community. Three club members have made unique contributions to the recording of Rotary history in N.Z. Fred Hall-Jones compiled the (continued on next page

Rotary at a glance
Rotarians, 1,211,054; clubs, 31,828; Districts, 529; countries, 201. Rotaractors, 173,765; clubs: 7,555; countries, 156. Interactors, 212,888; clubs, 9,256; countries: 114. Rotary Community Corps, 121,854; corps, 5,298; countries: 73. Down Under there are 1,198 clubs and 35,711 Rotarians in Australia and Papua New Guinea and 251 clubs and 10,047 Rotarians in New Zealand and the Pacific Nations.