Speaker Immediate Past District Governor Richard Greenwood

Richard said that he didn’t have a prepared talk he just worked on the principal “I'll figure it out when I get there”.

He is a member of Bradford West where the oldest member is aged 99 and still enthusiastic. He has been in Rotary for 15 years. He said that he still works – his background is in the steel industry. He sold his wire manufacturing business in 2005 but still sells steel to GM in the USA. Everything he sells come from the far east.

Because he was still working, when he was District Governor he didn't go to many clubs. The highlight of being DG was going to Orlando for 3 days intensive training. He said with tongue in cheek-that modern Rotary is too conservative. and that RGBI head office was very plush with 16 to 18 staff.

His view on the North Star project was that we would not be able to increase membership in the UK and Ireland to 60,000 by 2028 despite $800,000 funding towards the project from Rotary International. His view is that because of declining membership Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland will end up having to merge into the European Head Quarters in Zurich.

He is not on District Executive as a past DG would normally be as he had a significant argument with other members of the committee. As nobody else had volunteered he was going to be DG for a second year but at the last minute a new volunteer was imposed on the District without a member vote.

The newish club Adventurers now have 33 members. This club meets by video conference calls and has members spread throughout District 1040. They also have 7 Corporate members. A corporate member pays just one fee but can send up to 4 employees who can be actively involved to fit to people's work and social commitments. Bradford Royal Infirmary with more than 7,000 employees is one of their Corporate Members.

As there is not going to be a District Conference in 2026 the Adventurers are organising a Bradford Showcase. Between 800 and 900 people used to go to District Conference but now this has dropped to 300 and is still falling. So, District looked for different venue and 70% of voting members voted for Bradford. But this is not happening hence the Showcase. None of speakers at the event are being paid thus finance for the venue and other costs are coming from tickets sales. The speakers will not be talking about Rotary but about other things.