September 2009
Sep 29, 2009 6:45 PM
Geoff Lockett managed to get me to the meeting just on time after I had been held up by a work meeting. It was lovely to be back amongst friends who made me and Geoff very welcome.
I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and what was especially good was being invited to speak almost straight after the meal. The meeting was run very tightly and we were all finished in just over an hour (which was a great blessing as I still had a presentation for work to do when I got home). The warmth of the...
Sep 29, 2009 1:00 PM
Although a few years since I have been to visit the club it was good to see many people I know. Kings Norton may be a relatively small club but it was great to see the amazing fundraising the club does. 2 cheques were presented to two charities, each for over £500, not a bad amount of work for a Tuesday lunchtime.
There was a very relaxed atmosphere and a lot of banter across the table which was great to see. My only disappointment was that I couldn't stay on after my speech...
Sep 28, 2009 7:00 PM
It was great to be driven across by Bill Bennett and to arrive amongst Rotarians I have known over the years and who have been such supporters of our Youth activities. Both Paul and I are very grateful to them for the hosting they have provided over the years to students coming on our camps (even when they had their own big events to organise).
We were made very welcome and the atmosphere was very relaxed. It was nice to be asked to make the speech early in the proceedings rather...
Sep 28, 2009 12:45 PM
It was nice to be able to work from home and not have a long journey to the office before this club meeting. It was great to have Judith Cule, past Inner Wheel District Chairman, at the meeting as well as friends I have known for several years in Rotary.
I am glad that there was a microphone as my voice was rather hoarse from the cold I developed last week. I did manage to complete the speech with a little voice left for questions (although some might have wished I couldn't complete...
Sep 26, 2009 7:00 PM
Paul and I were invited to attend the Conference of District 1080 held at a Country Hotel in a village near to Thetford, Norfolk. After dropping the two Ambassadorial Scholars off at Leicester for the Link Weekend we travelled across the country to reach the venue in time for the evening meal. The Friday evening had a dinner for about 50 people where we watched some Mollies ( a version of Morris Dancing)and listened to a fascinating talk by an eel catcher about life on the...
Sep 25, 2009 7:30 AM
You couldn't miss that it was the Macmillan Coffee morning on this morning as Birmingham Breakfast were obvious in the walkway through the Symphony Hall. As people came through the centre they were met by Rotarians with collection tins and could grab a coffee or tea from the club. The mayor and mayoress were there as well collecting from people as they passed through.
It was great to see Wendy Moore there as well as the members of the club and visitors from other clubs. It was a very...
Sep 24, 2009 8:00 PM
It was nice to be invited back to Arbury Club to see them induct two new members. I arrived early to meet Roger Coopey who was very generous in taking me through the GSE team briefing and debriefing meetings so that I can at least look like I know what I am doing when I meet with the team when they arrive.
The hotel put on a grand spread in the buffet - far too much for us but at least the staff would get a good meal that night. This club is a good advert for the effect of having a...
Sep 23, 2009 7:00 PM
Probably the meeting I most worry about as District Governor especially as a new element was added. I was grateful to Tamworth Rotary Club for doing all the room preparation, car parking and refreshment provision.
A new approach was tried in terms of giving those there the chance to have a discussion topic (this time on the environment). We had past RIBI president Rodney Huggins with us to give some input on the environment followed by some questions to discover.
Over 100 Rotarians were...
Sep 22, 2009 8:00 PM
It was nice to be chauffeured by Richard Grindal tonight after a busy day. A gentle drive over to Hopwood was enjoyed. The club meeting was in a nice hotel and the room used for the meeting was comfortable for the numbers there (except with the hot air coming from me when doing my talk adding to the temperature of the room it did get quite warm).
Well humoured conversations took place around the table and a good level of banter was heard. It is what is great about visiting Rotary clubs...
Sep 22, 2009 12:45 PM
My chance to sit with my husband at his own club (the longest period we have had to talk to each other for ages!). It is great to visit clubs that I have got to know over the years. Because of work commitments I had to speak over everyone's eating of their cheese and biscuits and leave before the end of the meeting.
A nice friendly club with people who have shown comitment to Rotary both in and beyond their club for many years. It was good to hear of the club's commitment to its...
Sep 21, 2009 7:30 PM
It was lovely to arrive here (after being chauffeured by John Clegg) to find Clement, a previous Ambassadorial Scholar, at the meeting. It was so good to see him back with us.
We were made very welcome by the members, including the honorary dog, and a good amount of discussion went around the table over the meal. What was nice was that some members came for the meal even though they had travelling to do that night or packing cases for the next day. They obviously enjoy being...
Sep 21, 2009 4:10 PM
Christmas may seem a long way off but it is certainly never too early to start preparations. I drove over to see PDG Peter Isherwood to discuss the joint Carol Service to be held on 13th December at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry.
I knew asking Peter to arrange this event was a great idea as he is so organised and has so much musical knowledge and resources available. We were able to choose possible carols for the congregation to sing and others for the choir.
The challenge was choosing...
Sep 21, 2009 12:45 PM
After leaving work later than I wanted but with David Rees good directions around the road closures in Stourport I did manage to get to the club just in time. It was nice to see a full room of friendly faces. I spoke whilst people were still eating their puddings as the meal took longer to serve than expected but at least it helped to keep the weight off as I obviously didn't have one.
Here the raffle prize is always some eggs from Syd's farm which is always a popular choice. Although...
Sep 19, 2009 9:30 PM
Approximately 80 people came out early to the Arden Hotel for the membership seminar. It was lovely to see so many clubs represented. Ray Burman came and started our session for us in an amusing way which led onto a good discussion session around the tables. After coffee Tony Cotton came to talk about the Formation of New Clubs which was then followed by another discussion.
The good thing about today was the discussion between people. I hope they got a few ideas from each other and...
Sep 17, 2009 7:00 PM
This was a lovely evening for me. Although I don't play golf, it was nice to see people having enjoyed a day around the golf course come together to spend an evening of fellowship together. The event was held at the West Midlands Golf Club which I have to admit only having been to previously for their tribute band evenings. It is a lovely venue with the club house overlooking the fountain, lake and feature hole (on an island in the lake).
I have to admit the working out of the...
Sep 17, 2009 11:00 AM
A lovely day was spent at Moxhull Hall Hotel for the Inner Wheel District Rally. Inner Wheel members gathered for refreshments in the hotel and its lovely grounds and had the chance to meet the Association President who has beenvisiting the District for a few days.
It was lovely for me to meet so many ladies from various clubs and I felt very welcome. Lunch was lovely and was served in a large conservatory made to look like a marquee. I normally don't eat all of the courses but I...
Sep 15, 2009 10:00 PM
This is such a friendly club and the welcome was as lovely as ever. Never left for a moment to stare at my feet or twiddle my thumbs but someone to talk to all the time...even an attempt at a curtsey. It was nice to be joined by 2 members of Rugby Rotary Club (even if the IPDG has already heard me speak).
The conversation was lovely and focussed on the local communities in the area. What came across at this club is a real enthusiasm for Rotary, care for one another and a desire to serve...
Sep 15, 2009 8:00 PM
Having attended the club's Last Night of the Proms on Friday it seemed strange to be back with the members this evening. However, conversations just picked up from where they ended on Friday and it was lovely to be back with everyone. The club meets in a lovely venue and I certainly felt very welcome.
The delay in the serving of the meal (we had more there than planned so more meals had to be made - they must have forgotten I was coming) meant the majority of the business could...
Sep 14, 2009 7:00 PM
I only just got home from work in time to be collected by Geoff Lockett for our visit to Great Barr Bromwic. Although small in numbers tonight what was noticeable was the great amount of work the club undertakes and the projects it supports. It was great to see the loyalty of the club to a project it started several years ago and even with large sums of money to find the total commitment to its playground project in Serbia.
Again it was nice to see a prospective member...
Sep 14, 2009 1:00 PM
Managed to get lost on the ring road but fortunately early enough to not be late. It was lovely to visit a club I was AG for several years ago and to still be remembered and welcomed by everyone.
It is nice to see this club growing in membership and with potential members at the meeting as well (and by the sounds of it my speech didn't put them off joining). It was a nice relaxed meeting and it was good to see the club developing new fundraising ideas and different people taking the lead on...
Sep 13, 2009 3:00 PM
Paul, I and Andrew Page met with 2 outbound New Generations students from Bewdley who are hoping to go and spend between 10 and 12 weeks in Brazil working in veterinary practice and in South Africa working at a children's home. Both students prepared a presentation in advance of the meeting - both were very good and only needed a little tweaking.
Their mothers were with us as well so that they could talk through their daughters' experiences and needs in advance of their trips.
It was also...
Sep 13, 2009 10:30 AM
Paul and I were asked to join the DGE's from RIBI this morning to share our experiences of the International Assembly (DG training) in San Diego last January. We drove across to Stratford to meet with them.
Unfortunately, for me it was a day that I did not feel very well and the hot room did not do much to make me feel better. I am not sure that Paul and I added much to the proceedings but it was interesting to see the group 'following on our tails' formulating their plans for next year...
Sep 12, 2009 7:00 PM
The Metropole Hotel was the venue for this dinner and dance. It was great that this was not just attended by Rotarians but by people from several Birmingham agencies who had played a significant part in the Convention and its success.
The evening was well organised as you might expect from anything run by Brian Fuller. The meal was good and the band for entertainment was also good and enjoyable. People got up and danced and appeared very...
Sep 12, 2009 10:30 AM
A bright and early start for the members of Nuneaton Rotary Club as they set up a blood pressure day ion the Ropewalk shopping centre. Members and NHS staff combined to put on a good display and offer the chance for members of the public to get their blood pressure taken.
It was very rare that someone wasn't there to have their pressure taken, even the Mayor and Mayoress came and had theirs taken - it was great to see them supporting the Rotary Club's efforts.
The majority of peple's...
Sep 11, 2009 7:00 PM
What a beautiful setting for this event - Wroxall Abbey Estate. A gothic style house with beautiful gardens and the weather just set this off nicely. The dining room was set out beautifully and all tables had Union flags on them to get us in the mood.
The food was lovely and the dining room was a wonderful place to watch the sky change colour as the sun set. A relaxed atmosphere supported the whole evening and everyone really enjoyed themselves.
We were then...
Sep 10, 2009 7:00 PM
Droitwich Spa Saltway may be small in numbers but they are large in commitment, drive and service. They were supported by representatives from 9 Rotary Clubs and the mayoress this evening for their Shelterbox presentation. 2 members took a little while to get the tent up before the evening began (all good practice for the event in the town on Saturday) but it was worth it as it gave us all a better undertsanding of what the tent looks like and the resources sent out with it.
David (from...
Sep 10, 2009 12:00 PM
A very sad day for so many of us as we said goodbye to a great friend and man in Rotary. It was hard to believe that I had only seen Brian a couple of days before he died looking so healthy and doing so much for us in preparation for the visit of our GSE visitors.
A packed out church was a great testament to Brian's popularity. Many had stories to tell and it was good for us to show our respect and love for Brian to Wendy and the family. His fellow DGs turned up in their green...
Sep 10, 2009 11:15 AM
It was wonderful to see so many people coming together to celebrate the life of PDG Brian Moore. There must have been 400 at the church service held at St. Nicholas' Church Alcester. His son, a family friend and Rotary friends paid tribute to Brian to a packed church. Brian would have loved to see so many people gathered together and it shows the high esteem he was held in and the love people had for him.
Many of those at the service went on to Ragley Hall for refreshments and a chance...
Sep 8, 2009 12:45 PM
I had a lovely drive through the countryside from Nottingham to Atherstone and got there in plenty of time. It was nice to be welcomed by every member.
This club has done so much to support Troop Aid and encourage other clubs to do the same. This has been a really worthwhile project and one that conversations today suggested could be extended to allow clubs to give more support to individual soldiers.
A relaxed atmosphere where conversations went across tables so no one was left out. A nice...
Sep 7, 2009 7:30 PM
It was great to be back with a club that I have come to know very well over the years. Both David, my chauffeur for the evening, and myself were made very welcome. It is the first meeting I have received a cheer as I was introduced and again when I stood up to speak - embarassing but it did make me feel really welcome.
The conversation around the table and the general banter was great. This is definitely a club with a lot going on - loads of events and projects to sign up for.
A large...
Sep 7, 2009 12:40 PM
A real show of chivalry - President Colin drove over from Nuneaton to collect me for the club meeting and then brought me back home afterwards although he had to go back to where we had just been.
It was lovely to have several people coming up and talking to me prior to the meeting and it was good to have conversations with friends I hadn't seen for a while.
Having not spoken at a club for over a week it was strange to get back into the speech mode so I felt a little rusty but...
Sep 6, 2009 12:30 PM
I spent a lovely relaxing afternoon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens at Edgbaston Convention's Extravaganza. The first thing that grabbed your senses was the Country Music (which as a keen country and western fan was great) and the number of people line dancing to it on the lawns of the Gardens -whether they were expert or novice. There wasn't a moment at any point in the afternoon when a group weren't up dancing.
There were several other charities there with their stalls...
Sep 5, 2009 7:30 PM
President Kala of Coventry Phoenix said that my club would continue to support Zoe's Place this year. What was great about this evening was that her own family pulled together so many friends and contacts who made this a wonderful evening. I surprised myself with the amount of Indian food I could eat (or rather the heat of it). The colourful spectacle of stunning saris, beautiful dancing and a good cause as well made it a great evening. It was great to see people gathered (over 300)...
