Club Blog May 2015

With two bank holidays in May, we only had two Mondays available for meetings so these were taken up with New Committees and our monthly Business Meeting with meal. The Rotary year ends on 30th June with the new club officers taking up their posts usually in the last week of June, but at TWM we form our new committees in May so we are able to start planning for the year ahead, as the current year projects and events are usually organised/completed by now. However, no formal meetings does not necessarily mean a quiet Rotary month!

On Monday 4th May at 7am, 6 members met at Clarendon sports centre to marshal the first leg of the Hot Chilli Triathlon, the swimming competition. The Hot Chilli Tri closed its bookings at 250 competitors so we had a very busy morning counting laps, 24 for the Big T Long (600m) or 16 for the Big T Sprint (400m). It was a pleasure to be able assist in such a well run event and we look forward to doing it all again next year.

On the second bank holiday weekend, 7 members went to France to visit our 'twins', the Rotary Club of Rodez-Espalion. It was a fun filled long weekend, we had a tour of Toulouse, and visited Saint-Geniez-d'Olt to follow the transhumance of the cows festival, when decorated cows are taken up to the mountain summer pasture. A winery tour in Estaing was fully appreciated by all, and the ruined castle in Espalion gave us great views and a sense of the history of the region. We also visited the Musée Soulages in Rodez for a taste of French contemporary art, and then there was all the food and wine... wow, we were very well looked after indeed!

In preparation for Rotary Young Chef Competition Club Final, Lavington School held their school cook-off in May to select their two finalists to compete against St Augustine's Catholic College and the John of Gaunt School. TWM event organiser Caroline was asked to be a judge, and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, especially sampling the two course meals the 8 students dished up. Great food, the other schools have some strong competition.

Melksham Rotary Club held their 50th Charter Celebrations on Friday 29th May, and a few of us attended. We dressed up in black tie and had a lovely evening at the Kerry Suite at Bowood. Melksham Rotary has been twinned with the Rotary Club of Guingamp in France for 48 years, so it was lovely that visitors from Guingamp joined them for this special celebration.

After a late night with Melksham Rotary, President Ann had an early start on Saturday 30th May as she, with 3 other members, were 'gate greeters' on the purple gate at the Bath & West Show. Their main duty was to give out the rotary branded wrist bands to help identify lost children.

May also brought the District 1200 Assembly meeting, attended by two of our members. An interesting assembly address was given by incoming District Governor Bob Acland, based on the theme 'Challenges are Opportunities', before Bob introduced his Service Chairs for the forthcoming year.

Gosh, for a short Rotary month, Trowbridge Wessex Mead were very active!