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Aug 31, 2010 6:35 PM
Well, a lot has happened since my last blog entry - I've been exposed to Australian wildlife (and seen my first kangaroo, finally!), travelled to the South Pacific and climbed a volcano, snorkelled with a dugong and of course have given several Rotary talks around Sydney. I'm planning to split this into two entries so it's not quite such a long post, and I thought I'd start with all things Rotary.
Invitations to talk at clubs have started to be regular now, which is great. I've met my...
Aug 24, 2010 7:30 PM
Poor Edvinas, only been in the country 3 days and already at his second Rotary meeting. We came to visit Sutton Coldfield Vesey and to hear the GSE team that had been to New Zealand on our behalf as I had not been able to get to any of their other talks. It is great getting around to clubs and having so many people to talk to and tonight was no different. We were well looked after during the meal and then our team did a good job with their presentation. It was great to hear how much they had...
Aug 23, 2010 12:45 PM
It was good to have Edvinas (our Youth Exchange student from Lithuania) with me as support as we went across to Stratford Club for me to give a presentation on my year as DG. It was good to be back amongst friends and for us to be made so welcome. Even after a year of speeches and presentations the amazing thing is how nervous I still get before I make a speech. Once up and into it the nerves went and I was able to relax into the talk. The DVD of the tandem dive went down well...
Aug 18, 2010 6:30 PM
I managed to get from work just a little late to these meetings. We are responsible for the children's charity funds and the District charity funds. A couple of the Past District Governors add their wisdom and experience to the trustees. Straight afterwards we moved on to the Executive meeting. It was a long meeting but one in which we covered many items including the Membership campaign and the Thanks for LIfe project. All present have the chance to contribute and take their responsibility...
Aug 18, 2010 12:45 PM
A nice welcome was waiting for me as I arrived at the club with the equipment to make a presentation. It was lovely to be back and to catch up with people who I met at many club events last year. After lunch (amazing I still get nervous before speaking) I spoke about the tandem dive Warren and I did back in May. It was very encouraging to see the positive response I got to the talk and the number of questions I was asked. It was also great to receive a donation that has taken our...
Aug 17, 2010 12:45 PM
It was great to return to visit this club and be back amongst friends. It was lovely to present Don, last year's President with the Club's Presidential Citation plus 2 other certificates related to membership development. We then had a really interesting talk on advanced driving - made me check everything I was doing as I drove home! A lovely time spent in Droitwich.
Aug 12, 2010 12:45 PM
Decided to give myself a birthday treat and go and visit the Lichfield Rotary Club. I have always received a lovely welcome here and today was no exception. People seemed genuinely pleased to see me which is always encouraging. A lovely lunch was provided by the venue and good conversation from those around me - what more could I ask for?
I was able to present Immediate Past President Peter Sharpe with the Club's Presidential Citation which was a great pleasure for me. It was the...
Aug 9, 2010 7:00 PM
Several Rotarians visited the Kenilworth Club tonight. 2 members of Meriden and 1 from Knowle and Dorridge. We were kept very good company by the Rotarians at our table. We heard an interesting talk on Nepal and the work of the Leprosy Mission there. I was fine until I had to look at the pictures of the deformed limbs - reminds me why I never became a nurse. The work they do is great and helps to restore some limb movement to those who have suffered leprosy.
I had the chance to present the...
Aug 6, 2010 7:30 AM
Althugh I had a long journey yesterday back from Stansted airport and seemed to have so much to do in the evening that bedtime was very late I was able to get up and drive across to Birmingham for the Breakfast Club's meeting. It was run today by the new members in the club so they took the roles of President, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, speaker and speakers' host. It was good to be back amongst some good friends and to have a relaxed breakfast with them (not a meal I usually take...
Aug 1, 2010 1:00 PM
A nice drive over to Goldicote Hall to join Shipston on Stour Club for its annual BBQ. The lovely grounds of the Hall made a lovely backdrop to the BBQ. As usual the food was great and the puddings something to die for - so much choice and so many opportunities to put the calories on. The weather held off and the sun did shine at several points during the afternoon. It was great to be with good Rotary friends and to catch up on their news. The club raised a good amount through its raffle and...
Jul 29, 2010 7:15 PM
It was great to see so many Rotarians from across the District at the charter celebration of the Alcester Alauna Club and for me it was good to take our German student along (he could taste the wines on my behalf and help me choose a few bottles to buy). It was different to previous charter events but had a great relaxed atmosphere to it. Those who wanted to taste the wines had plenty of choice (13, including a port) and walking around the warehouse there was plenty more...
Jul 28, 2010 3:45 PM
It is always great to have a student come back and visit. I took the long drive down to Stansted to be there to meet Jan Philipp, a student from our camp last year, off his flight from Dusseldorf. We got back in time to go out to a BBQ held by a church group. We didn't do too well in the first round of the quiz but then improved as the rounds went on.
The Thursday was spent relaxing around the home and then going to Alcester Alauna's Charter Presentation and wine tasting. As I was driving...
Jul 27, 2010 6:45 PM
A short drive took me from home to the Stonebridge Golf Club where the Yardley and Sheldon Rotary Club meets. It was great to meet up with old friends and to enjoy conversation over dinner. I presented the club with its Presidential Citation which I gave to last year's President. We then settled down to a fascinating and really informative talk by one of the club members on the Oberammagau Plays. It made us all want to go. The photos and description of the history of the plays was...
Jul 26, 2010 7:30 PM
A lovely warm welcvome is always given when you visit Henley-in-Arden Rotary Club and tonight was no exception. Family and guests from charities settled down to a nice meal and good company in the lovely surroundings of the golf club. The purpose of the evening was for the club to make cheque presentations to the chosen charities from last year. It was done in a really nice way. David, Club President, introduced each charity whose representative then gave a few minutes update on their work...
Jul 20, 2010 7:30 PM
The Corus Hotel in Shirley was the venue for the celebration of 50 years of Rotary and Inner Wheel in Shirley. A great number turned up to join the Shirley Club members (approx 115) for this evening. It was great to be able to chat to so many people I know from my visits to clubs and to be able to totally relax knowing I didn't have to make a speech. It was great to see Chrissy and Eric Dance there as well. We had a lovely meal and I had great company on my table. We had speeches from David,...
