Official Visit of the District Governor

There is an old Chinese proverb that says that ‘when the wind of change blows some build walls and others build windmills’. We in Rotary need to build windmills as we deal with the challenge of change where the value proposition for people joining Rotary is being questioned. 

In essence we have a choice of considering two future scenarios for Rotary in District 9455.  The first is business as usual where we will continue to lose members and the number of Clubs will decline.  Our ability to do projects will be reduced and our impact significantly weakened.  The second is a Bright future scenario where each of our Clubs have developed a vision for their future and are implementing a strategic plan focused on club development, increased humanitarian works and marketing and promoting our work.

Delivering a Bright Future scenario in our Clubs will not happen in just one year we need to develop and implement changes over a number of years and in this regard the District is committed to supporting strategic change programs over at least the next three years.

Charles Johnson is a member of the Matilda Bay Rotary Club and is the 2018/19 District Governor of Rotary District 9455.  He was a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship in 1982–83 and became a Rotarian in 1985 serving twice as a Club President and as an Assistant Governor.

Charles is a town planner with over 35 years’ experience working in local government and in the State Government and in the private sector. He has held executive planning and development positions with the City of Subiaco and the City of Wanneroo. From 2001 to 2008 Charles was the CEO of the City of Wanneroo.  In July 2010 he established himself as a consultant in his business ‘Planning Context’ which has a policy research and governance focus.

He is a former Board Member of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and is currently Presiding Member of the Central Metropolitan Development Assessment Panel.  He is a life fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Past President of its WA Division.