A commitment to working with our community for a better future for all
A passion for providing a helping hand up
Bay of Islands Rotary has a very positive community reputation and strong community links that enables us to deliver successful projects in the following areas:
Fundraising and event activities
While we do lots of hands-on projects, many need some level of funding so we both run our own fundraising activities such as the hugely popular sausage sizzles, but also collaborate with other events performing roles such as marshaling in exchange for contributions to our funding. Note that funds received go through our club Charitable Trust.
Youth and Young Adults
A top priority for the club is supporting youth with a focus on providing youth with opportunities to grow themselves as leaders.
Within Rotary there are some very well recognised leadership programmes such as the Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN) for secondary students and Rotary Young-persons Leadership Awards (RYLA) for young adults among others.
Supporting education
We have close links with the schools in our area of coverage. Projects include things like Usbourne Pictorial Dictionaries to Year 5 students in 12 local schools or sponsoring candidate(s) to the highly respected Rotary National Science Forum in Auckland.
Protecting our Environment
We all benefit when the environment improves. The projects the club engages in are varied whether tidying up a roundabout or adding a bridge in a park through to teams helping on a regular basis with the walking and cycling tracks near Russell and Paihia.
Project Outside of our Region
Rotary is the founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the club supports this annually with a donation. We also contribute to various Rotary Rotary programmes providing disaster relief, especially in the Pacific such as Shelterbox and Emergency Response Kits, but also in other ways such as club teams helping the Hawkes Bay Recovery efforts. Additionally, we do projects into the Pacific to help with specific needs whether water and sanitation or supplying used clothing to poor villagers and much more.
Other community
There are many good causes locally where, just as others volunteer to help us, we put our hands up to help them. Examples are regular support for local foodbanks, helping with Daffodil Day fundraising.
Some of of our projects are just for the fun of it like the family-oriented Beach Dig and Sandcastle Competition in January each year.
An array of resources
Being a part of a supportive community and part of Rotary internationally we have access to a wide range of resources. Here are some ways that you can assist us:
Volunteering
- All Rotarians are volunteers
- Our diversity of members bring their life experience and vocational skills to our projects
- We welcome casual volunteering, just contact us
- Our approach is do what you can, when you can
- Every project has several stages and types of volunteering and a lack of experience is no barrier – learn a new skill while meeting new people.
- Contribute a skill such as helping with IT or organising fundraising – what can you offer?
Sponsorship
- Financial support in general or for specific project needs
- Goods in Kind donations (eg. project materials)
- We have occasional need for expert assistance such a plumbing and other trades
- And very occasionally the no-charge loan of specialist equipment or storage access
- If you have a skill or resource you might be willing to make available, contact us with your offer.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”
Elizabeth Andrew
Author
Watch, Read, Listen
We are always keen to hear from you