Last week Tahir gave us something to think about with his address on Diversity and Inclusion. Going along with the idea of inclusion is a concept of partnership.
On Saturday New Zealand commemorated / celebrated Te Titi o Waitangi, much has been said about the Treaty, but I understand it to be an attempt between two cultures to form a partnership. As in all partnerships though there is a need to continually work together, not necessarily for a common goal but mutually accepted goals. Those mutually accepted goals can and should allow for Diversity, and when mutually agreed create an environment of inclusion. I heard a number of positive comments along this vein at the Porirua celebration where the three local cubs had an information stand showing Rotary.
Rotary gives us opportunities to create and grow partnerships, community and social, between clubs and within the club, between individuals and nations. This year we will be partnering with a few Rotary clubs. In early March Porirua Rotary club will be joining us for a meeting, next week we will be joining the Karori Rotary club and in May all the clubs in our network group will be holding a combined meeting.
On a personal note, my partnership with Rotary began around 1978 when I joined the Porirua Rotaract club then on moving to Gisborne the Rotaract club there in 1979. I later joined Gisborne West Rotary, transferred to Mt Victoria Rotary and finally ended up here at Tawa Rotary. I use the term partnership because I have benefited from Rotaract and Rotary and I would hope that they have benefitted from me. Going even more personal I met Mary through Rotaract and on Sunday we celebrated 40 years of married life. A partnership that has always included the Rotary family in some form, included a faith and included the diversity of those with special needs.
Going back to Diversity and Inclusion, partnerships based on acceptance and understanding will overcome exclusion and marginalisation, but it something we all have to work on.
Let's do Rotary together.
