Wensleydale Charter Night/Handover Dinner

Fri, Jun 19th 2020 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

In view of the Covid-19 restrictions, Charter night was virtual, using Zoom. This was the first Zoom Charter in District 1040, and was very successful. There were 48 “screens” and 72 guests from 16 clubs!

President Susan Rogers masterminded and hosted the evening, even organising "breakout rooms" to create separate groups of six people so they could chat together as they would at a table before the proceedings began. She was then able to "visit" each "table" to speak to everyone. This lasted for about 15 minutes.

Apart from the fact that everyone had eaten at home, though one or two were still eating, the evening ran much as it would normally, with the Object of Rotary" being read by PP Howard Binks, the Roll Call of Rotarians by IPP Dave Spashett, Loyal Toast by Susan Rogers, and Toast to Rotary by PE Adrian Jones.

DG Manoj Joshi then gave a Response to Rotary, confirming this was the first Zoom Charter he had attended, and congratulating Susan, together with the whole Wensleydale Rotary Club.

President Susan gave the Toast to Guests,then invited Anne Wall, President of Rotary Club of Northallerton Mowbray to read a poem "What is Rotary", written by herself.

Susan then announced a 15 min group chat, which took place at random, so we were suddenly "seated " with a different group of people from the first one. This again worked very well.

A speaker had been booked 18 months ealier but was not willing to take part in a Zoom meeting so, after trying to find a replacement without success, Susan took on the role herself, and talked about her experiences of learning to become a fully licenced private pilot. This was both interesting and humorous. Many listeners had left there mirophones live and unmuted, so laughter could often be heard.

Finally, the annual Handover took place with Adrian Jones handing over the President Elects jewel to next year's PE Ray Wilkinson, Susan handing the President's jewel to Adrian, and Dave Spashett handing the IPP jewel to Susan.

Final Toast was given by Susan Rogers.

The evening had begun at 7.00 for 7.30pm and finished at 9.30pm. No-one had to drive home (some would have had hundreds of miles to drive!) and no-one had to avoid drinking in order to do so!