Business meeting

This was our last Business Meeting of this Rotary Year, so we concentrated mainly on the year ahead. Our new member, Hilary Terzeon, was welcomed but sadly President Francis had to announce the resignation of Philip Smith after 24 years of membership. For most of that time he acted as Bulletin Editor, with a year taken out when he was President. In view of all he has done for the Club over the years it was agreed he should be made an Honorary Member.

Arrangements have not yet been made for the meetings on second Thursdays after August.

Deposits have been paid for the hire of Danbury Village Hall for our Autumn Jumble Sale and for tickets for the Senior Citizens’ outing to the pantomime at the Chelmsford Theatre. Volunteers are still need to take responsibility for these and other events during 2024-25, including the Chelmsford heat of Rotary Young Musician and the crocus bulb project with local schools.

As was reported previously, we intend to support Sanctus by joining the Sanctus Centurions but the charity has put that project on hold for the time being.

The highlight of today’s meeting was not the business session but the very welcome attendance of Mumtaz Ahmed of the Rotary Club of Sahiwal in Pakistan (see photograph). He was accompanied by his friend Shamsad Ali (Rotary Club of Rochdale) and Shamsad’s son Shazad Ali.

Mumtaz spoke to us about the long relationship between our two Clubs, particularly when we supported several of their projects with Sahiwal schools. He exchanged Club banners with President Francis and also gave a Sahiwal Club banner to our member Mo Sadiq, who spearheaded our end of the Sahiwal projects.