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Mar 8, 2010 7:30 PM
This was an evening that didn't quite go according to plan..... A touch of diary amnesia meant that Ryoko was still on Campus in the middle of Birmingham when I checked to see if she was nearly at Warwick Parkway railway station! I really must learn to be a little more specific with my messages as an attempt to save as much time as possible and head into Birmimgham to collect her by car resulted in Ryoko travelling to Birmingham New Street station, while I waited at Selly Oak.... Needless to...
Mar 7, 2010 3:00 PM
A pleasant drive to Fentham Hall resulted in a lovely organ concert. I have only ever been in the small room before so was pleasantly surprised to see a large hall with a stage and the place already full when I got there. Friends from Halesowen and Rowley Regis and Yardley and Sheldon Rotary Clubs also came as well as Chrissy (Inner Wheel Chairman)and Eric Dance. We made a group of almost 30.
The organ came up from under the floor of the stage and we were entertained for...
Mar 7, 2010 3:28 AM
Paul and I had a lovely relaxing evening at Hagley Community Centre with the Stourbridge Rotary Club. Approximately 100 people came to listen to a superb trio of musicians and singer. All of them were great musicians independently and as a group were superb.
The songs got your feet tapping most of the night and people were singing along as well. A fish and chip supper was much appreciated. We were well hosted by the Rotarians on our table and had a great evening. We look forward to attending...
Mar 5, 2010 7:30 PM
Henley in Arden Golf Club was the venue for the Race Night. The room was full and people were certainly there to enjoy themselves. The organiser of the races was a great guy who entertained all evening and certainly had us all laughing and smiling most of the evening.
I am not sure if I can say that I had a successful evening as I lost money on races and whenever I owned a horse it seemed to fall or come in last. Mind you Paul seemed to choose the horse that led the race until the last few...
Mar 4, 2010 7:15 PM
I managed to not get lost tonight and found the venue easily for a change. Both of our Ambassadorial Scholars gave a talk to the club members and their guests giving insight into Japan and what they have learnt about our culture and country. They also told us about their studies and future intentions.
The club had several guests and partners come for the evening which was great as it gave the students a good sized audience to speak to and gave a great feeling of fellowship in the venue.
The...
Mar 2, 2010 5:15 PM
As RYLA approaches it was useful to have a meeting to talk through where we are regarding funding, numbers participating and the organisation of the events. It was great to hear that we have more volunteer helmsmen which takes the pressure off those who have previously had to cover many weeks.
The UK RYLA is planned to include a Young Carer (who has become a Carer because they have turned 18) on each trip and with the great support of clubs what looked like being one week of the UK...
Mar 2, 2010 2:45 PM
It was good to support the Henley in Arden Rotarians as they attended the funeral of their member Denis Cox. As he had a small family it was especially good that his Rotary friends were there. It was great to hear a minister speak about someone he knew with such warmth as did one of Denis' friends.
The family were grateful for the attendance of his Rotary friends and conversation continued at Wootton Hall where friends, family and fellow Rotarians mixed and shared their memories of Denis....
Mar 1, 2010 7:30 PM
Although only a couple of days since I last saw the Solihull St. Alphege Rotary Club members at their Boxing Evening I took the opportunity (with Paul) to go and hear a group of them talk about their trip to South Africa. You always get a great welcome at the club and tonight was no different. 6 members from Solihull Club also came along for the evening.
The party of 6 who went on the trip shared the history of the Wheelchair Foundation, details of the wheelchair donations...
Feb 27, 2010 7:30 PM
The Moorings was the venue for the Rotaract Annual Quiz. It was well attended by several Rotary Clubs (at least 7) which was great to see. Some rounds were easier than others but often the easier ones were the ones that in most quizzes I have attended over the years are the hardest. Consequently, our team, made up of me, Paul and David and Sue Butler, did not play our joker on the correct round - in fact we ended up playing it on our worst scoring round!
I managed to win a...
Feb 27, 2010 10:30 AM
Stratford College was the venue for the District Young Chef Final. 7 young chefs brought their produce and utensils with them (with their families in tow). 3 judges spent the morning watching them and giving them advice as they cooked a 3 course meal. Attention was not only given to the cooking but also the presentation of the food and the table.
We were able to watch on a tv screen what was happening in the kitchen as the youngsters cooked and were able to take a look around their...
Feb 26, 2010 7:15 PM
Admittedly I was not sure what to expect at this event. Over 450 people (mostly non-Rotarians) came to the National Motorcycle Museum to have a great time (and they certainly did). One lucky person went away with £1000 and several others won great raffle prizes.
The venue put on a good meal and several presentations were made by the club, one to a local school and £2500 to our Thanks for Life campaign. This was a combination from the club and Solihull School where the...
Feb 24, 2010 7:15 PM
Officers for next year came together for the Training seminar at the Arden Hotel. David Butler took us through the theme for next year and his priorities and areas of focus. After the input from David, the Assistant Governors and Chairmen split into 2 groups to look at their roles specifically. Some officers gave input from their roles' perspective.
It was strange to be at the first meeting that specifically focussed on next year. Made me realise how quickly time goes - it doesn't feel like...
Feb 23, 2010 7:30 PM
Club members, partners and guests including 2 visitors from Nuneaton Rotary Club met at the club meeting place with the snow falling (although fortunately not laying). As the expected speaker was a student who unfortunately was ill I stepped in and offered to do the talk I had done at another District's conference about my experience as a host parent to Youth Exchange students. It at least filled the speaker's slot for them and it was nice for me to see the faces of all our students up on the...
Feb 22, 2010 7:15 PM
It was great to meet up with a few members of Paul's Rotary Club to plan the Frog Racing evening for the trip of the Lithuanian New Generations Exchange Group who will be with us in April. Whilst Paul and I will take them to Scotland for a week and take them to the RIBI conference they will have the chance to visit a few clubs and a local school. The Bedworth Club is hosting their leaving event on the 19th April at the Bedworth ex servicemen's Club.
The purpose of the evening was to sort out...
Feb 21, 2010 12:30 PM
A lovely drive through snowy scenery took us to Droitwich Spa for the charter lunch of Droitwich Spa Rotary Club. As usual we got a great welcome from the members and a lovely afternoon was had. Several of us had banter about the football matches on that afternoon and Paul kept the Villa fans up to date with their scores throughout the meal through receiving updated messages through his phone (I got the West Brom ones through my own phone!)
We had a lovely lunch followed by a...
