Posted by David Button on Feb 23, 2024
If there is one thing I love about the people I meet in Rotary, some of them are willing to have a go at anything once they have plugged into the support network of the club. Let's face it: our club only gets better when we all support each other, especially in areas where we have only limited experience. We grow by mentorship, guidance, and encouragement, which creates a community where we collectively contribute to each other's development and success.
 
Michelle Oliver-Rodrigues is one such person who seems to have a remarkable capacity to courageously face challenges head-on. At this week's meeting, she pulled off her Behind the Badge presentation with style and meaning. Michelle is powerfully motivated, and I like that in a person. Since Marta has stepped aside as the program director due to work pressures, Michelle has jumped into the role without hesitation.

The position of Program Director has traditionally been a challenging role within our organization. The task of consistently sourcing engaging and entertaining speakers for 40 weeks of meetings is undoubtedly a demanding endeavour. In a dynamic and diverse community like ours, members naturally seek presentations that not only provide valuable insights but also captivate their interest.

Recognizing that the quest for entertainment often takes precedence over the potential for chance opportunities, the Program Director faces the ongoing challenge of striking a balance between informative and enjoyable content. It's no small feat to keep our meetings not only educational but also engaging, ensuring that each session contributes meaningfully to the overall experience for our members.

However, it is within these challenges that the true essence of the Program Director's role emerges. Beyond the quest for entertaining speakers, there lies an opportunity to curate a program that not only aligns with our members' preferences but also introduces them to diverse perspectives, fresh ideas, and unexpected opportunities. By embracing the intricacies of the position, the Program Director becomes a key architect of our club's intellectual and social landscape, shaping an environment where learning is not only enlightening but also enjoyable.

So, taking this into consideration, I would like to invite all members to engage with Michelle in a productive way to build our Club program so that there is hardly a reason to miss a meeting. Michelle has already bounced out of the blocks with this:

Hi everyone March 9th is International Women’s Day. I’m trying to weave this theme into the first two meetings this month☺️
 
6th March- Barbara Scanlan from St. Vincent de Paul will be giving us a talk on Vinnis and The Berwick Soup Van. The work she and her team do is simply awesome! 
 
13th March- Our very own Wendy Moseley will be giving us a Behind the Badge presentation🥳 Looking forward to hearing all about you Wendy😊 
 
I would also love it if our lovely ladies would say a sentence or two about themselves. For instance, something new, something not many in the club know about you. Something that drives you- a passion, hobby, interest. 
Something that grinds your gears- something you’d really like to see changed. Anything really… let’s make the 13th all about us 😉
 
Oooh. And could we all wear green on the 13th ? Just a bit of fun coz St Paddy’s day is on the 17th.
 
Ps: I was hoping to make 13th a partners night ..but we’ll probably need more planning for that, so maybe soon 😊
 
 

 

 

 
 
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