"In this year alone, we've provided 300 community grants, totalling $2.6 million, and helped 40 students pursue a higher education, with $281,000 in tertiary study awards.
"We in the trust feel very proud to have been able to serve Rotorua for many years.
"We want the funding we have injected into Rotorua - $90 million over 20 years - to inspire people and create positive change," Mr Hall said.
At the end of a short annual meeting, former Rotorua district councillor Bob Martin and Lakes District Health Board member Mary Burdon questioned Mr Hall about the trust refusing to change its stance on term lengths for trustees.
Mr Martin asked if the trust was going to consider introducing term lengths in future, while Mrs Burdon said some of the trustees should be collecting a pension.
Mrs Burdon praised the work of the trust but said they needed to think about its future.
"We need new people coming in." Mr Hall said trustees had considered introducing term limits this year, but had decided against them after a poll of Rotorua residents did not produce enough of a majority to go ahead with the change.
But Mr Hall said the issue would be looked at again in future. "We are very conscious of succession planning in the trust," he said.
Trustee Paul East has been advocating for the introduction of term limits because during the last trust election no one stood against any of the incumbent trustees, who were all re-elected unopposed.
Guest speaker at the event was former promising rugby player Darryl Sabin, who against his father's and doctor's orders returned to the rugby field after a serious concussion, only to suffer an almost catastrophic head injury which left him unable to speak or walk during his first game back.
The injury almost claimed his life on Anzac Day 2009, but Mr Sabin fought back and now tells his story around the country as a motivational speaker.
*See tomorrow's newspaper for an in-depth look at what the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust has done for our city.
