BULLETIN. Induction of Rotarian Peter Howell as President

Transcription

1 BULLETIN Induction of Rotarian Peter Howell as President Peter Howell was inducted as the President of Wrexham Rotary Club for the Year 2014 to 2015 at a lunchtime ceremony on Tuesday, June 24th. The retiring President, Peter Tompsett, in his penultimate action as President, thanked the members, committee members and Officers of the Wrexham club, particular the Secretary, Pene Coles, for their help and support during the past year. He appreciated that it had been a difficult year, with the membership numbers continuing the decrease, but nevertheless, he stated, the club had been able to fulfill its obligations and continued to support local and national charities. Lunchtime meetings had continued to be enjoyable with a regular attendance, although he regretted that speakers were not always found. A number of interesting talks had been given by our own members. Finally, Peter Tompsett ended his year of office by transferring the chain of office to the new President, Peter Howell. President Peter Howell thanked the retiring president for his work and enthusiasm during the past year and recognized the difficulties that many Rotary clubs were facing. He informed the membership that he had already taken steps to recruit more members by writing to a selection of leading professionals in Wrexham inviting them to become Rotarians and highlighting the opportunities membership provided both locally and nationally. He had also appointed a small team to review meeting arrangements and all activities and functional roles within the club during his presidential year. Peter Howell said that he wished Parkinson's Disease and Malaria in sub- Sahara Africa to be his nominated charities for 2014/15. Speaking from the floor, Rotarian Glynn Pryce thanked the retiring President for his hard work and affable approach during his year of office. This was greeted with applause from the members. Keith and Meriel Samuels President Peter Howell then invited Keith Samuels PHF to step forward to be inducted as his Vice-President. Keith s appointment was greeted with acclaim. Peter Emerson 1

2 THE HEART OF VOLUNTEERING On Saturday June 7th AVOW held an event called The Heart of Volunteering,on Queens Square in Wrexham. The 3 Wrexham Rotary Clubs were represented by our 3 Presidents, Graham Arthurs,, Hwyell Williams, and Peter Tompsett who were on hand to talk to passers by about Rotary in the hope that we could recruit some new members. District Governor Molly Youd was also there as were Wrexham Rotarians, Peter Howell, Mike Kagan, Pene Coles and Thelma Bamford. Thelma had organized a tombola to attract people to the stall. Glyn Pryce sent his apologies. However, the weather was awful, and the event was not as well attended as we had hoped. Mac Tompsett and Robert Godfrey kept our spirits up with cups of hot coffee from nearby Starbucks but I did start to wonder as rain dripped down onto me, whether it was all worth it. However, despite the fact that we only managed to make 27 on the tombola and we did not manage to recruit any new members, it was definitely worth it because we took the name Rotary out to some of the people of Wrexham and this President Peter Tompset and Councillor and Mrs Roberts, Mayor and Mayoress is something that we must keep doing so that people will understand what Rotary is all about. Pene Coles VISIT TO HESWALL ROTARY CLUB ON 27TH MARCH The President and several members of the Rotary Club of Heswall were welcomed to a meeting of our club on 18th June last year when there was a very useful exchange of experience and ideas. President Peter Tompsett, led a return visit to the Heswall club on 27th March this year when further informal discussions took place and a delightful lunch was enjoyed at the Heswall Golf Club - with superb panoramic views of the Dee estuary! Further combined meetings are envisaged. 2

3 CLUB ASSEMBLY ON MAY 27TH 2014 Incoming President Peter Howell described his plans for the Club in 2014/15. He placed emphasis on increasing membership, particularly in the 40 s to 50 s age range. He formed a small Special Group, chaired by Past President Mike Kagan, to review all aspects of how we run our club and to report recommendations to the Club Council. As well as declining membership, provision of speakers at Tuesday meetings needed urgent attention. With regard to declining membership, a letter, signed by Peter Howell, was mailed to 41 professionals and business heads in the Wrexham area. As a result, at least 4 persons have expressed a keen interest in being considered for membership. Two applications have already been circulated to members and are being processed. With regard to Speakers a new arrangement has been sanctioned by Council where Club Service Committees are tasked, in monthly rotation, to make arrangements for speakers, and for what happens at each Tuesday meeting ( other than Business Meetings ). The Special Group will monitor progress and will continue to assess the workings of our Club with the aim of proposing improvements to the Club Council. ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT President Brian Davies represented the Rotary Club of Wrexham at the signing of the Armed Forces Community Covenant in April In the 12 months since then huge progress has been made in identifying forces veterans in Wrexham and North Wales and, with the aid of large grants, a veteran contact and information service is being set up to further the progress of ex- forces welfare services in the region. FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE AFCC - PAST PRESIDENT BRIAN DAVIES REAR 2ND FROM LEFT 3

4 THE TITANIC EXPERIENCE AT THE CROSS LANES HOTEL ON 29TH APRIL Eighty members and guests enjoyed a pleasant dinner and a very interesting presentation on the Titanic disaster 100 years ago. Mr Malcolm Jones of Chester was fortunate to have been able to go on the special commemorative voyage to the location of the sinking where there was a memorial ceremony. He brought along items from his collection of Titanic memorabilia which those present were able to inspect. It was a most interesting and enjoyable evening in spite of some temporary difficulties with his projection equipment. The event raised 505 which was shared between the club and the North West Cancer Fund. The accompanying Raffle raised 209 for Club charities. OTHER RECENT EVENTS & SPEAKERS 11TH MARCH - Gill Atkinson from Coxey Accountants talked on changes that have taken place in professional accountancy practices and procedures. 6TH MAY - Tony Cotton, Past District Governor, gave a talk on initiatives for expanding Rotary through greater flexibility in membership arrangements including corporate memberships and forming Satellite Clubs. 10TH JUNE - Hilton Roberts from Gresford gave a very interesting talk on campanology with illustrations, using a 2D model, of how bells in English church towers operate and we were introduced to the computation of bell combinations used in various peals. 6TH JULY - New President, Peter Howell, represented the club at the mayoral annual visit and service at St Giles Parish Church. Vice President Keith Samuels also attended with Meriel. They also represented the Wrexham Stroke Club. 22ND JULY - New member, Rotarian Thelma Bamford, gave a very interesting talk on the running of her small, 8 cow, dairy farm with illustrations of the challenges faced each month in the farming year - all achieved in spite of the bureaucratic encumbrances emanating from DEFRA and the EU. 29TH JULY EVENING - Stan Moore, former senior lecturer from Glyndŵr University, gave a most interesting after-dinner talk at Cross Lanes on Famous American Welshmen. President Tony Coxhill and several members of Nantwich Rotary Club attended as honoured guests. Tony carried out introductions and gave a short address about the club, which has just celebrated its 80th anniversary since it was chartered. Three new prospective members of our club also attended and were warmly welcomed. 4

5 CANAL BOAT TRIP FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS MULTISPORTS CHARITY ARRANGED BY THE COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE 5

6 Stroke Club Rota 2014 Members are asked to participate in this Community Service task. It involves about two hours of your time. Rotarians are required to pick up and convey members of the Stroke Club to the Cunliffe Centre (or other venue as advised by Keith Samuels prior to the evening) by 7.00pm and return them to their homes at 9.00pm on alternate Wednesdays. Contact numbers for Rotarians are: Cheryl Furney-Brown telephone or Keith Samuels telephone Collecting: Mrs. Connie Jones Mrs. Janet Coulthurst 9 th July Peter Tompsett Cunliffe Centre 23 rd July David Gittins Cunliffe Centre 6 th August Tony Burdge Ramada by 9.50a.m. Return approx 4.00pm 20 th August Peter Tompsett To/From Cunliffe Pub 17 th September Cheryl Furney-Brown To/From Lord Moreton Pub 1 st October David Gittins Salvation Army Citadel, Rhosddu 15 th October Tony Burdge Cunliffe Centre 29 th October Peter Tompsett Cunliffe Centre 12 th November David Gittins Cunliffe Centre 26 th November Cheryl Furney-Brown Ramada Hotel 3 rd December Tony Burdge Cunliffe Centre Please note the members who require transport are: Mrs. Connie Jones, 14 Cambridge Square, Ty Gwyn Estate, Wrexham LL11 2YG Telephone Mrs. Janet Coulthurst, 37 Cardigan Road, Borras Park, Wrexham LL12 7TS Telephone Will drivers please telephone either Mrs. Jones or Mrs Coulthurst on the above telephone numbers on the morning of the Stroke Club duty and they will advise on whether they need to be collected or possibly not due to changes in arrangements or illness. Rtn. Keith Samuels will have a copy of this rota. 6