Rotary look to young

BY JESSIE COLQUHOUN

Steele Gibson is out to prove that Rotary clubs are not just for old people.

The 30-year-old is the youngest member of the the Rotary Club of St Johns and is trying to encourage more young people to join.

"What people think of Rotary is not actually what it is.

"I always thought it was old men and women sitting around. I couldn’t have been more wrong."

The Glendowie businessman was first involved in Rotary 10 years ago when he was nominated to go on a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards course, a week-long leadership camp for 20 to 24 year olds.

Since completing the course, he has had a varied career working mostly in managerial roles.

Four months ago, in the middle of the recession, he started his own business – something he says has been "a lot of fun and hard work".

He is also a former world champion smallbore rifle target shooter and an avid mountain biker.

Mr Gibson got involved with Rotary again last year after a chance meeting with the 2008 club president led to an invitation to a meeting.

"They kept inviting me back, so I kept coming back and then they asked me to join.

"The meetings are really casual – none of that stuffiness you’d associate with it."

St Johns Rotary is part of Rotary International, an international service organisation with men and women all over the world who have fun making a difference.

Club service director Beryl Robinson says the club is looking for more members.

"We need more hands to make a difference.

"We’d love some young members who want to give back to
the community and enjoy doing it."

She says St Johns Rotary has a reputation for being "a fun, lively, lots of laughs club".

It is also a big supporter of events in the community and at an international level.

Mr Gibson says the last fundraising event he was involved in raised $9000 for a water project in Samoa.

"It’s probably a misnomer that it’s all bake sales and sausage sizzles outside a supermarket," he says.

"There’s massive projects that go on that people aren’t aware of, that I wasn’t aware of."

The club is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month with a dinner for members, past members and people directly associated with the club.

It is also hosting an interest meeting on Monday. Anyone wanting to find out more about Rotary can email stjohnsrotary@gmail.com for an invitation.

• St Johns Rotary has breakfast meetings with a guest speaker every Thursday from 7am to 8.30am at the Remuera Golf Club.

For more information about attending a breakfast meeting or becoming a member contact Colin or Beryl Robinson on 021-652-802, email stjohnsrotary@gmail.com, or visit www.stjohns.rotary.org.nz or www.rotary.org.nz.

– Jessie Colquhoun is an AUT journalism student

- © Fairfax NZ News