B & F Meeting 14/06/2016

A clear challenge to members to prepare to embrace unfamiliar but vital radical changes needed to secure the future of North Wales oldest Rotary Club was made by Senior vice-president Rod Brocklehurst in a keynote address at Faenol Fawr. Outlining his programme ahead of being installed the club’s new President for the 91st continuous year of its existence next week, he urged members to recognise the fact that Rhyl was an ageing club that must adapt or die. Enumerating the many innate strengths the club possessed, he said flexibility and commitment were essential ingredients in creating a solid and confident foundation and a start was about to be made with the bold decision to switch from weekly to twice-monthly meetings starting next month. The incoming President pledged that Rhyl would maintain its life-long support for both local and international charities, included among them his own nominated charity Hope of Homes for Children, in which destitute young persons would be taken out of their appalling despair and squalor and found homes and stability with families, chiefly in Eastern Europe and Africa. The noble Rotary motto of Service Above Self, he said, would remain the over-arching motivation for the vast majority of people wanting to become a Rotarian, but this did not preclude providing enjoyment, fun and fellowship in fullest measure. Junior vice-President Keith Roberts spoke of his plans to further develop a successful vocational programme while past President Mike Howarth ran through a variety of appealing trips and visits being scheduled right through to 2017. International chairman John Hickerton underlined the transcendent triumph of Rotary in tirelessly working to eradicate polio from the face of the earth, a most noble and worthy cause which he would be enthusiastically backing in his twin role as Foundation Chairman. Community Service chairman Hari Hughes reported receiving numerous expressions of appreciation following the recent successful elderly persons outing to Brenig and splendid tea at St Ann’s Hall on returning home, before guest visitor Assistant District Governor Bob Maskall of Bangor warmly congratulated Rhyl on their proud record and resolute intention to acknowledge the imperative of invoking changes to help keep the Rotary flag flying. Despite being beset by difficult multiple challenges, in common with many clubs throughout Rotary worldwide, he said no-one should underestimate the importance of fellowship which Rotary provided in great measure. He readily pledged his full support for the success of the positive and constructive plans he had been so pleased and encouraged to hear about.