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July 2008 Outgoing Presidential Bits & Bytes
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I had my Victor Meldrew moment of disbelief about the rapid
passage of time last month, and here I am finally typing my last missive as President. As I said when looking back at lunch on 25th June, time really does fly when you’re enjoying yourself!
I think it’s also worth saying, as a working member (pour encourager les autres), that the year has been less strenuous than I feared it would be before embarking on it. I know that my situation as a lone home worker with very flexible hours is not the same as that of someone who goes out to work, but, given the tremendous support that I have had from other officers and members who have organised events and deputised at meetings I have been unable to attend, I would say that Rotary really is the art of the possible, and I would encourage new members to become officers as soon as possible and ensure that the Club continues to evolve.
When I started, as a relative Rotary greenhorn, I set some fairly modest objectives, taking care not to fix what patently wasn’t broke. I had not previously had much experience of the work of the Community & Vocational and International & Foundation Committees, so I tried to attend most of their meetings to obtain insights into their work. Neither committee has had a lack of causes to consider, nor is there a need to go looking for them. I have been very impressed with the care and consideration given by both committees to requests for assistance.
The highest priority for all Rotary clubs is to recruit and retain new members. At the risk of sounding complacent, this challenge has been met in spades by the Membership Development Committee led by Rtn. Doug Scott and by members who have introduced new people to the Club. I was delighted to induct 5 new members during the year: Elaine Walters, Anne Busfield, Tony Lyons, Sophia Wilson and Nadia Cowdrey, all of whom have already started to
make an active contribution.
Of course during the year we sadly lost Rtn. Ron Raye, and Rtn. Marco Vismara’s own very sad loss has meant that he is no longer with us, but hopefully Marco will return one day, or continue with Rotary wherever he happens to be.
Marco’s parting gift to the Club was the establishment of a very rewarding relationship with the Hilton Foundation. At the start of my year, I was pleased to donate a cheque that had been raised in Past President John King’s year, by the hotel that Marco managed in Dartford, to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. I subsequently donated another cheque from the same source to Adventure Unlimited. Following Marco’s departure, Rtn. Anne Busfield has kindly continued our relationship with the Hilton Foundation, by inviting our Club to be the Brighton Metropole’s charity partner in the Hilton’s “Round the World in a Day” event on 29th June. We nominated Ovingdean Hall School and the Dame Vera Lynn Trust as local beneficiaries. I hope that we and these charities will help the Brighton Metropole to make this event a great success, so that the Hilton Foundation will want to continue its association with us in future years.
Of course, we shall not be able to continue donating to good causes unless we first raise the necessary funds. Also, as long established fund-raising events start to fade, it is important to revitalise them, or think of new ways to raise money. As well as repeating some of the old favourites this year: charity golf, Christmas collections, Rushfields, quiz night, our members organised and/or took part in some profitable new events: Hike4Hospices, the Heart & Soul jazz evening, B&H Albion bucket collection, which I hope we shall repeat and make even more successful in future years.
Other events organised by members, that did not raise funds, but which have helped our local community and raised the profile of Rotary include: Youth Speaks, another old favourite, and Young Chef, a new event that was very successful and looks like being even more so next year. The latter also resulted in the recruitment of one of our new members, Sophia Wilson, and has created an opportunity to establish an Interact club at the school where the competition was held.
Other activities in which our Club participated during the year include hosting the Group Study Exchange students from Mexico for a day and raiding Rotary clubs in Haywards Heath and St. Helier. Unfortunately, I was unable to go on either of the raids, which I understand were very enjoyable.
Which brings me to what happened during my last month in the Chair. On 4th June, we had our Club Assembly. After inducting our newest member, Nadia Cowdrey, who we hope will one day organise a black tie fund-raising charity ball, something she has done very successfully before, I handed over to President Elect Pat and her team for next year who outlined their plans. Apart from making history as our Club’s first lady President, I think we’re all in for a treat, with fun being very much on the agenda.
On 11th June, Caroline Lower from the Martlets Hospice talked to us about the current state of that organisation and future plans. We have supported the Martlets significantly over the years, and will be doing so again via this year’s Hike4Hospices. I was pleased to give Caroline another cheque from our Club after her talk.
On 18th June, our speaker was unable to attend, so we had a fellowship meeting instead, at which we discussed what types of fund-raising and social events members prefer to attend. Members generally expressed satisfaction with events that we already organise on a regular basis, provided that the cost is kept down. Some new ideas were proposed, which President Elect Pat duly noted.
On 25th June, I looked back at my year, and said pretty much what I’ve written above. By the time you all read this, we will have had our last event of my year on 29th June, assisting the Hilton Foundation with its Round the World in a Day. I started my year with a walk, and shall be ending with one too. There is a kind of symmetry to that, a bit like a classical sonata, for the musically inclined. I hope the weather will be kind; soave s’il a vento!
Well that’s my lot. Thanks once again to all of you for your support and my very best wishes to Pat and her team next year.
Rhett Bartley |
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Incoming Presidential Jottings
It is with some trepidation, humility and excitement that I enter into a year as your first lady President. I am very conscious of the honour and trust that you have all bestowed upon me and I will do my utmost not to fail you.
My sincere thanks go to Rhett on behalf of the club for guiding us through the past year with such success. We have been so fortunate as a club in all our recent chairmen. It is not easy in today’s society to run a thriving and expanding club.
My warmest thanks also to all the officers who have agreed to serve over the coming year, particularly Brian Edgerton as Vice President, Sue Maund as Treasurer and Campbell Boyce as Secretary. The wealth of experience and support given by all our officers is second to none and I know that they will lead us all safely through.
I hope that this will be a very busy, enjoyable and eventful year for everyone with good speakers, fun occasions and even greater success in our fund raising activities. One thing I can be sure of is the warmth and friendship and support of the members of Brighton Rotary.
I thought the turnout for the visit of the Assistant Governor, Duncan Anderson on the 4th June was excellent and the Committee Chairman and members most impressive. I could not have wished for a better presentation so that others could appreciate our club. We know what we are capable of, but it is pleasing when others can see this so ably demonstrated. Maybe we will get a mention in the district magazine. You never know your luck.
Incidentally the next meeting of the Rotary District 1250 Council on 9th July 2008 at the Business and enterprise Centre, Forest School, Horsham at 7 p.m. All are welcome, not just our voting representatives, so please feel free to get involved and impress the District with our support.
Our first enjoyable event is the fun golf evening at the Dyke Golf Club at 7 p.m. on 7th July which Jim Groves is kindly organising. Two legged rabbits like myself are made most welcome in the fun putting event and their efforts duly rewarded. This will be followed by dinner at the club, hosted by Rhett and myself to mark our change-over. Do come if you can and bring your partners and friends. It was great fun last year in spite of the cold wind.
August sees our first big fund raiser assisting in the Hike for Hospices on 16th and 17th August. Brave walkers like Rhett and Eric and their wives will need our willing sponsorship and the rest of our club will be greatly needed by David Pierce who is organising stewards to cover our section the walk on 16th August. This Hike raised some £40,000 last year to split between the four Sussex hospices and as overheads will be less on the second year and publicity spread, like fame, more widely this should achieve even higher returns.
John King is very kindly organising a trip to Hever Castle on 11 September. The castle is uniquely lovely in its moated setting and the surrounding grounds are very beautiful. Places are limited so apply early to avoid disappointment.
Another date for your diaries is the evening of 18th September when Hobbs ladies’ fashion store in East Street is hosting a private viewing of their collection. Everybody is welcome. Tickets will be priced at £5 and 10% discount given against purchases. Wine and light refreshments will be available. The store have offered three raffle prizes of vouchers for £100 and two for £50 to start us off. All members, friends and partners are welcome to advise, enjoy the refreshments, fund purchases or buy for themselves.
Your comments and ideas throughout the year will be most welcome to keep up the momentum of a fun, lively and expanding club.
Pat Drake |
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