Twilight Meeting - 5:30pm - Handover

Time for Change

Oswestry Rotary Club has emerged from the pandemic and appointed Joanna Banks as its President for the Rotary Year 2022-23.

Jo takes over from David Griggs whose initial year in office in 2020-21 saw him retained for a second term in 2021-22 when the effects of Covid took hold.

David had arrived back from a Rotary Friendship Exchange to Australia and New Zealand shortly before the first lockdown only just in time to assume the Club's Presidency in July 2020.

During a difficult period, David oversaw the Club's move to meeting online via Zoom with speakers taking part from all over the world with an audience of members and friends signing in from this country.

In a regular Club lockdown newsletter, David kept members entertained with stories of his teaching and football coaching exploits, encouraging members to dust off their creative writing skills and join in the team effort.

With restrictions on the Club's usual Rotary activities, David made sure that the Tree of Light campaign took place each year maintaining support for local charities.

Recently, as Covid restrictions have eased, David looked to the future and guided the Club's decision to change its meeting times to a Monday at 6:00pm to encourage working people to stop off on their way home from work and join the Club.

New President Jo praised David for his efforts at steering the Club through the pandemic and looked forward to reviving Club projects such as the Mock Interviews (which took place last month for The Marches Academy Year 11s) and LifeLine, the life-skills project for Year 6s from local primary schools, which is planned to return this September at Park Hall.

Jo said: "I am looking forward to my year ahead and will make sure that we bring back all the projects that are so popular, and develop some new ones.

"There are always opportunities for new members to join with us and lend their time and skills.

"If people are considering joining, they should look at our website www.rotarycluboswestry.co.uk, our Facebook page or email rotarycluboswestry@gmail.com to come along to a meeting and join in with us."

Non-fuzzy photos from Ian Haigh