President's Blog March 2014

On the 1^st March we could be found outside Trowbridge Sainsbury’s collecting on behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care. We all had a fun day wearing colourful jackets and big Daffodil hats and Councillor David Halik, the Mayor of Trowbridge, joined us for a while. Thank you to the people of Trowbridge for your generous support.

On the first Monday of March we progressed our 'Club Visioning' project. We are trying to develop a 5 year strategic plan to ensure the long term success of our club and are in the process of setting goals and objectives to guide our planning process. A follow up meeting is planned for next month.

It has been 12 years since Wessex Mead officially became part of the Rotary family, so to celebrate our 'birthday', Julia Davey organised a celebratory meal at the Dandelion pub, Bradford on Avon on 17th March.  A big thank you to everyone for making it a successful, enjoyable evening.

On Saturday 15th March Andrew Mullens represented our club at the Mayor of Trowbridge's annual Civic Dinner at the Civic Centre where he enjoyed a very nice 4 course meal and the chance to dance the night away. The mayor presented a Civic Award to sisters Sally Taylor and Avril Beresford for many years of dedicating their spare time to the town, he also presented the Town Enhancement Award to Julie Davis on behalf of Legal & General for the St Stephen's Place leisure development and to Town Clerk Lance Allan.  The event raised £1,000 for the mayor's charities "Storehouse Foodbank" and counselling service "Revival Wiltshire RASAC".  

The quarterly Rotary District 1200 meeting took place at  Street on 22nd March,  Ann Jones, Andrew Mullens and I represented our club.

The 24^th March saw our annual quiz night held at the Polish club. Although a smaller number of teams took part this year, everyone seemed to have lots of fun and the fish and chips bought from the Union Jack Fish Bar were extremely good. Congratulations to the organising committee.

Group 5 held their 25^th AGM and I as club president was invited to attend their celebrations. It was very heart-warming to see how well this charity is functioning after 25years and also it was a great privilege to meet some of the founder members who enlightened me on how it all began.

The 31^st March was our business meeting and also my birthday! Guest Steve Lloyd representing the Chernobyl Children Life Line, West Wilts joined our meeting and accepted our donation of funds raised by our 1940's Evening last November. This donation will help with the children on their visit this July/August.

I would like to add that it is a pleasure to belong to the Rotary Club of Trowbridge Wessex Mead and to see all the results achieved from the hard work and dedication that members contribute to the successful running of the club.