I'm talking with Rotary Club of Hutt City members on 7 August 2025 about their business membership of ROTABIZ. In particular I'm asked to talk about the role and use of the ROTABIZ website, which sits on the Flightdec platform.

I see a central part of ROTABIZ as a return to the roots of Rotary, started by Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905. The initial goal was fostering fellowship and friendship among professionals, but it especially included the use of commercial knowledge and experience to assist the community.

Has Rotary lost some of that vision? I think it has, based on the declining membership and lack of diversity in many clubs, but ROTABIZ possibly presents a way back to the former ideal.

My message will be that ROTABIZ, and the individual members, need to "stand for something positive" and that something should be to use commercial knowledge and experience to assist the community.

You might say, "doesn't Rotary already do that?" Yes, Rotary clubs generally support a number of community good-causes, especially with fundraising, but ROTABIZ, in my opinion, has the opportunity to look at the wider needs of the local community and use knowledge and experience for more strategic purposes.

I certainly hope ROTABIZ exceeds all expectations.