Paul Wright - new Rotary district governor.
Rotary district governor Paul Wright first joined Rotary in his early 30s to help improve his business contacts while living in Invercargill.
More than 30 years on, he says hoping to increase his networking skills was probably not the best reason for linking up with the international organisation.
"I re-joined Rotary when I arrived in Rotorua - I wanted to get more involved in helping the community - which was a far better reason," says Paul, a Rotorua Rotary North member and newly-appointed District 9930 governor.
"I like Rotary because there is a mix of good people involved who have leadership skills and are there for the common cause to do good.
"It's nice to get in and help communities quickly the way Rotary can do with humanitarian causes after natural disasters."
Paul's new role as triennial district governor sees him administer 55 Rotary clubs between the Bombay Hills and Waipukurau, liaising with the 12 assistant governors in each area.
The role requires plenty of time on the road.
"It's a big task connecting with all the clubs, and coaching district president-elects - it will be full-on.
"I have visited 21 clubs so far and hope to have visited all 55 by October," he says.
In spite of Rotary's profile in the community, the organisation experiences similar membership issues that beset other volunteer service clubs and groups.
"While Rotorua has remained steady, membership has declined in Western countries in the past decade, while increasing in Asia," he says.
"My role as district governor will be to encourage retention of members and create and encourage new memberships.
"There are more options for people to be involved in now - when I joined in 1985, no one was mountain biking, for example."
Paul says he was fully aware his new role would be time-consuming.
"My wife, Tups, and I decided to take the role on to enjoy the tasks ahead.
"I'm lucky she keeps the house running while I can focus on Rotary."
Paul, who is principal rural fire officer at Pumicelands, says it also helps his employer is sympathetic to his Rotary commitments.
Paul says the opportunities Rotary provides for youth advancement is another reason he enjoys being part of the organisation.
"All too often we hear how bad youth are - it's nice to able to give opportunities to young people through scholarships, leadership courses and watch their development."
Rotary's biggest challenge for the future is attracting membership.
He does not think joining in your 30s, as he did, is ideal.
"It's an age when people have pressures of family, mortgages and work careers to overcome.
"I personally think a person is more settled in their 40s when the family has left home, the mortgage is under control and you aren't necessarily chasing career options - that may be a better age to join Rotary."
The founding objectives to provide a humanitarian service and encourage high ethical business standards should not be overlooked, he says.
"We need to look at what the community wants and what do the younger generation want, which would attract them to join."
He says Rotary will progress if the clubs retain their autonomy and make their own decisions.
"We need to be flexible, but at the same time retain Rotary's traditional 'four-way test' - truth, fairness, goodwill and friendship, and benefit."