Richmond Rotary is celebrating 70 years of service to the community and pondering how to bring a younger generation on board for the future.
One of its longest-standing members, Allan Hunter, has been with the Richmond club for 52 years, joining his father and uncle as a member in 1973 because “it was just part of life”.
It has always been about service to the community – raising money by running events such as the Nelson Motorhome, Caravan and Outdoor Show and putting it back into the community where it is needed.
Last year the organisation raised $60,000, and in the past 20 years the sale of pea straw purchased from Canterbury has generated a net $200,000.
Secretary Debra Gibbs says the money is used across a range of initiatives, from youth leadership programmes and supporting students attending the national science forum and Outward Bound, to helping with school uniforms through the McKenzie Trust. It has also helped support the rural trust after events such as floods and has been involved in environmental projects.
Now, the Richmond group is at a crossroads as it works out how to keep supporting the community with an ageing membership.
“We need more younger people to take up the challenge,” Debra says. “We know Rotary has got to change – be more flexible for younger people in the community and businesses.”
Working out how to revitalise the club and entice younger people will likely be a job for a strategic planner.
Debra says members have huge pride in the club’s achievements over the years, both in the money raised and the individuals and groups that have benefited. Along the way, it has been a hugely social group focused on the community. The goal now is to ensure the club continues to serve the community into the future.
