President's Blog June 2014

June started with Trevor’s member night; a social evening of pizza & cake held at his home we have nicknamed 'the cottage in the sky'. The following week we split into our new committee groupings and discussed the forthcoming events in detail.

Our annual President's Night took place at the Trowbridge Rugby Club on the 14^th June. It was a relaxed South African themed evening with good traditional South African food cooked by Kalahari Kitchens, followed by a disco. A very big thank you to the organising committee, especially Julia and Liz, for their hard work and thanks also to Nando’s Trowbridge for their sponsored raffle prize. The charities supported from the raffle this year were Top Kids and Wiltshire Carers.

Our club visioning follow up session was held on the 16^th June, a very productive session, we are now well on our way to formalising our five year strategic plan.

On Tuesday June 17^th, I as Club President, attended the 1^st VASEC meeting which was held in Chippenham. I found it a very informative meeting, Wiltshire Council is resurrecting the disaster committee to include local volunteer groups who could be of assistance in the event of floods or disasters.

On June 18^th, I was delighted to be one of the judges for the Trowbridge in Bloom 'Little Bloomers' Competition. Year 6 pupils from primary schools across Trowbridge competed in teams of three to speak at the town hall on one of two questions about environmental issues.

On the social side, our friends at Chippenham Rotary held a horse racing evening with a difference. Jockeys bought their rides, bets were placed, wooden horses were moved with the roll of the dice. Lots of laughter, an entertaining evening which we think we may replicate next time our French Twinning Club friends are over.

Melksham Rotary Club held their President Night & Handover celebrations on 22nd June. Dressed in our finery, we enjoyed several authentic Indian curry dishes alongside good conversation and some live music.

With the end of the Rotary year fast approaching, I wanted to say thank you to all our club members for their support throughout my year in office so on June 22 ^nd   I hosted an evening of supper and skittles at the Lamb. There were some dubious techniques and lots of laughter but I think more practice is needed if we hope to succeed in the Rotary District skittles League this coming year!

The last Monday in June is traditionally our club handover evening where the new President takes up office, but with our incoming President away on holiday we took advantage of the lovely summer evening instead! A walk along the tow path from Bradford on Avon to Avoncliff and back, enjoying the local wildlife with refreshment at the pub halfway made for a very pleasant evening.

I have had a really memorable and interesting year but now it is time to hand over to Ann Jones the Presidency of The Rotary Club of Trowbridge Wessex Mead.