Julie Mason- A Journey to Rotary Leadership
Julie has worked for 20 years as a principal in 3 schools. She is currently the principal of Baden Powell College, which has approximately 1800 students, 180 staff, 50 volunteers and a budget of over $12M per year. The school is very involved in community activities. Julie has represented the region on study tours of the education systems in the USA, China and Italy. She has been nominated as Principal of the Year by her staff.
Julie has been in Rotary for 19 years and has had a wide variety of Club roles, including president, secretary, sergeant, bulletin editor, and director of new generations and club service. She has also had numerous District roles, including Assistant Governor, Director of AGs and District Chair of International Service. She has worked with many Rotary leaders and found them a source of inspiration. She will be going to San Diego in January to be trained along with all DGEs from across the world.
Julie spoke of several experiences in Rotary that are very special to her. The first was participating in the World of Difference program in Cambodia. This was a “life-changing experience” and brought to life for her the international service work of Rotary. Another was leading a group of young people on a Group Study Exchange to England. A third was establishing an Earlyact Club for 11-12 year olds at Baden Powell College. She has been impressed by the desire of this age group to make a difference. She spoke of projects the Earlyact Club has done to tutor younger children in literacy, to raise money for a school toilet in Bangladesh, to dispose of litter in the school yard, and to send books and boxes to Cambodia.
Julie listed 5 goals and aspirations for her term as District Governor: 1. Serve and support clubs; 2. Encourage more females to embrace leadership opportunities; 3. Foster more links between Education and Rotary at Club level; 4. Inspire people to join a Rotary Club; 5. Use media to showcase Club and District achievements.