Max Bosselmann is a vestige of the golden era of service clubs.
The Thames resident this year celebrated 60 years of continuous membership in the Thames Rotary Club, and he has no intentions of slowing down.
“I’ve always had positive vibes about Rotary,” Max told The Profile.
“We do everything we can for the good of the community, the good of our people, and the good of the world, really.”
Max’s introduction to Rotary was as a teenager, when he and some classmates were invited along to a club meeting as a reward for passing their School Certificate qualification.
In the following years he learned much about the organisation’s values and its impact on the world, and in May, 1966, Max became a member himself.
“When I first joined, and for many many years afterwards, we always tried to avoid publicity – we used to try and do things behind the scenes,” Max said.
“Rotary has changed in that respect and we now like the public to know what we’re about – we bought bright yellow shirts with Rotary emblazoned all over them.”
Max considers himself a “link to the old days”.
“There wouldn’t be another member that’s done more than 30 years I don’t think. I can remember grabbing an old Rotary bulletin one day and starting to talk about some of the things we used to do in the old days, and you know five minutes later I think half the club was asleep,” he joked.
“[But] each year I’m amazed at how much we seem to be achieving by just nibbling away each week. It’s a tribute to the people that are in Rotary: they’re capable, they’re intelligent, and they’re motivated, and they make things happen.”
Max has fond memories of the many civic improvement projects he was a part of over the years, including the refurbishment of Moanataiari School’s Thomas the Tank Engine, the Kauaeranga Valley Model Dam, and the recently completed rail trail shelters.
Max and his wife Carole also had a large part to play in the development of the Thames club’s International Student Exchange programme. The couple hosted many students themselves, forming lasting friendships.
Over the years Max has also served in every post the club has to offer – with the notable exception of Song Leader. He has been awarded the club’s highest honours: a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition and the Rotary Sapphire Pin.
Max said his ability to serve for so long was due in large part to Carole.
“She never joined [Rotary] but she has always been right behind me, and right behind club projects,” he said.
“She’s a life member of the bowling club and we would have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years with the annual charitable bowls tournament.”
These days, membership in service clubs were in decline, but Max said he is hopeful for a resurgence.
“With the loss of Lions, Lionesses, Jaycees and Round Table – service clubs are not fashionable… today,” Max said.
“I’d love Rotary to return to 30-plus members… When you’re bigger you’re more effective.
“Rotary is changing rapidly in an attempt to modernise itself and appeal to younger people with different skills and attitudes…
“As I see it we have to move with the times and I hope and expect all the effort being put in in this area will bear fruit.”
