Rotary Engagements since July 1
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Well – home stretch – awake at 4:00 a.m. – can we keep
the standard up for the third day in a row?
Funny how when everything you planned comes off to a higher standard
than you’d dared to hope it just more pressure on the next session.
It’s traditional for us to have a service on a Sunday
morning & typically based on a Church of England model. We chose to focus on Compassion and featured
hymns that had that concentration with readings to match, including those from
the Hindu, Sikh, Islam and Jewish faiths.
Led by Rev Canon Graham Drake, a family friend of long standing who had
been with the conference all weekend we provided a thoughtful , much appreciated
and very well-attended service – all in all a great start to the morning.
Moving into the plenary sessions proper we began with our
annual awards for best website (Banbury Cherwell), best bulletin (Maidenhead
Bridge), best conference attendance (Langley & Iver) and new additions of
best photo and best presented project from our photo competition, both of which
were won by High Wycombe, who seemed very pleased to be chosen.
We then had Richie Gray, the Chairman for 1090 of our Rotaract District - Rotaract is the part of Rotary aimed specificaly at the 18-30 age group, with none of the connotations implied (well maybe a few?). Richie's done a super job this year encouraging the existing Rotaractors to be a vibrant group, and encouraging them to spawn new clubs. He urged all Rotary clubs to actively work in spreading the Rotaract gospel and start new Rotaract clubs in their areas Great stuff Richie!
And so on to another star turn.
In 2009 Larry Snodgrass was taking his
regular home trip from New York to Charlotte where he then lived when he was
one of those who lived to tell the tale of US1549 which hit a flock of Canada
Geese on take-off and was forced to land in the Hudson River.
Everyone survived but the personal story of
what it really feels like to be in that position was just terrific.
I’m just so pleased that Larry & Carol
were able to come to Europe for their first trip to share the experience.
RI President’s Representative Ed Futa returned to the stage
and was fulsome in his praise for what our team had achieved at the conference –
thank you Ed, we loved having you with us and would be pleased to welcome you
back any time.
Following Ed came our President of Rotary International
in Britain & Ireland Nan McCreadie.
Nan’s a first – the first lady to hold that office and I’m delighted to
have had the pleasure to serve as one of her District Governors this year. She spoke passionately about the need for us to
take Rotary forward, not to be stuck in old habits, to embrace change and leave
Rotary in better shape than we found it.
And finally (well not quite finally as there was a bit of
a surprise for someone right at the end) came our chance for some light
entertainment with a serious twist.
Past
RIBI President Ray Burman can be relied on to leave the audience with a smile
of their face but yet to take away a serious message about our movement, what
it stands for and what it delivers.
And
deliver he did.
Finally we got the conference team on stage to be recognised
for what they are – probably the finest conference team 1090 has ever seen. Oh,
and a little surprise for our conference chairman Jean Charmak – we were delighted
to present her with a double sapphire Paul Harris award (Paul Harris founded Rotary
in 1905 and the award recognises significant contribution).
And there we are, done for 2014 conference – I thought it
was just outstanding, but then I would say that, wouldn’t I? Thanks to CPS who built a superb set (to a deisgn by our own Phil & Marius) and did
all the AV superbly, and thanks also to the Riviera Centre for making it all
happen seamlessly around us – we were never conscious of you, but we knew you
were always there for us – another great team led by Viki & Simon.
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