Opportunities through membership

Each member contributes their time and skills working on projects as part of a team. Your skills may include leadership, project management, organisation and people management, creativity and innovation, communication, technology skills - and most useful of all, a desire to lend a hand.

Projects vary from small to very large depending on the club's resources and availability of members. Even small projects can have significant benefits to our community. For example:

• Providing mentoring for young people in problem solving techniques, leadership skills and stress management to help them cope with a world of great expectations coupled with high unemployment
• Being a mentor for a senior leader of an emergency services organisation to pass on your professional or business skills and leadership experiences and styles
• Involving ourselves in projects that beautify or conserve our community's environment, demonstrating our commitment to future generations
• Volunteering for a local or overseas project that would utilise your organising or professional/trade skills for the benefit of others
• Assisting those less able to cope in our society due to temporary or permanent disadvantages, showing compassion and working to prevent a "them and us" attitude which can divide our society

Often these projects require small amounts of time and money and yet they enrich the lives of many in our local communities. Rotarians believe it is important to use our talents to bridge the gap between those with less than our-selves; to bind our community together and create common goals and aspirations for a better society.

Larger projects may be initiated to fund the work of skilled professionals assisting those in need both locally and internationally. Rotarians are facilitators; we provide the will to make things happen and then we use our energy and skills to ensure the success of the project. Sometimes this requires the raising of funds through a variety of means such as:

• Organisation of major events eg. a charity auction, an exhibition etc
• Recruitment of sponsors and benefactors
• Application for available grants from the Rotary Foundation and government funds

Each club determines its own focus and the members agree on the projects to be undertaken. You will be able to contribute your specific skills and talents to these projects and thereby achieve success as a member of the team.