President's Night

Presidents Report Year End 2021-2022.

Given by Graham Dawson.

At the start of the year, we were still in the midst of a Pandemic, and we had to adapt to a new way of meeting and working together.  Zoom calls and Hybrid meetings became the norm but we managed to continue with our business, community projects and fund raising.  

We soon inducted three new members into the club plus our first civilian Honorary member.  I was also pleased to award two of our members with Paul Harris Fellowships. 

Despite the Pandemic, our outside community projects continued, such as providing assistance at the Vaccination centre, Food bank collections and environmental projects like Tree Planting, mulching, carrying out Tree surveys and working with the Bexhill in Bloom Group in Egerton park for which Bexhill was presented with a Silver Star Award.   

When the pandemic began to fade, we once again continued with our ongoing projects and fund raising such as Blind driving, Senior citizens Tea Party, Mock interviews, and several Youth projects which I personally have greatly enjoyed being involved with this year.

Despite the crisis our fund-raising efforts never waned, and the local community gave so very generously.  Who can forget the amazing Christmas collections with a two new Reindeers, Prancer and Rudolf, and the revamped sleigh illuminated against the night sky which help to raise so much money for local charities?  My thanks go out to the renovation team who put in many hours of work to get it ready in time for Santa’s rounds, Vernon Findlay, Perry Puddefoot, Raouf Oderuth for the amazing painting (Artwork) on the Reindeers, James Slinn and not forgetting myself.  

Apart from our amazing seasonal fund raising we found ourselves joining fellow Rotarians around the world raising funds for our friends in Ukraine who continue to suffer appalling atrocities today.  Once again the Local community gave so generously and more recently with Street collections, Golf Day and Race night we have raised almost £5300.  We also managed to send 170 shoe boxes packed with useful everyday items, out to Ukraine refugees.  

On the social front we continued with our regular social meetings and heard several interesting speakers.  

Despite a three-year gap we managed to finally meet in in Ghent, Belgium, with our sister club from Gouda for an amazing weekend of fun and fellowship. This relationship, I discovered, goes back to 1947.  (Before I was born) 

We have also increased our visibility and awareness in the local community by increasing our press releases and use of social media.  

As we come to end of another very challenging Rotary year with Covid we can look back on our achievements with pride in the knowledge that we have served the local communities, the charities, the youth organisations and our international projects well. 

I would like to give special thanks to our Honorary Club Secretary for extending his three year terms and giving me one more year….. with a little arm twisting from me. 

I would like to thank the Treasurer for all the extra work he has had to put in during the Covid year working out which members have NOT had to pay anything and, in some cases, having to give CREDIT back to members.  Which of course is unheard of from a Treasurer.

I would also like to thank all the committee chairs for their support, David Dixson (Social), Paul Frostick, (Community Service) Brian Cope, (Youth Services) John Meadows (International) Peter Halligan (Outreach) and Sue Day (Fund Raising) who currently has Covid and has had such a difficult year with illnesses, but she has been closely assisted by Vernon Findlay on Community Fund Raising and not forgetting his work running the Football Competition… which I might add I won the Wooden Spoon for….thanks to the numbers he chose for me). 

There are a few other members I need to give special thanks, Stephen White for the producing the quarterly magazine and his help with food bank collections along Graham Forster and Perry Puddefoot.   These members have and do continuously give service above self and deserve to be mentioned here tonight. 

We look forward to a new Rotary year with President Perry Puddefoot and his Team, I’m know he has some interesting projects lined up and hope that you will join me in wishing him and his team well as he takes us toward our Centenary year.  It should perhaps be remembered that it was on 12th March 1923, in the Devonshire Hotel, the inaugural lunch meeting of the Bexhill on Sea Rotary Club was held.  So I’m sure that will also be something to celebrate in 9 months time in Perry’s year.  The full club charter followed just 4 months after on 18^th July 23 which of course will be in James’s Year.   I ask you all to support Perry as you have supported me throughout this year and continue to make RC Bexhill-on-Sea one of the best clubs in the district. 

I have been proud to be the President of a club that has so successfully provided service to the town of Bexhill and internationally. 

Some news of a personal note – Some of you know that I am retiring this year, and that Debby and I have sold our house.  We will be moving to South Lincolnshire for our retirement to be nearer to my son’s families and grandchildren.  It is with regret that we will be leaving this fine club and transferring to another club in the next few months.  

Since our time here we have made many friends and enjoyed our fellowship with you all and hope that if you are ever in Kings Lynn neighbourhood that you will drop in and see us.  

We will look forward seeing you all at the 100^th Anniversary next July next year (if we are invited).  

On a final note, as an Island Nation, we are surrounded by water with a strong Shipping heritage, but a reminder that there are small ships and there are large ships, but nothing bigger and better than friendships. 

Could I ask that all RC Bexhill members and Honorary Member please stand. I would now like to ask our guests to join me in a toast to the RC Bexhill.  “The Rotary Club of Bexhill and all those that support it.”

Thank you all very much. I will now hand you over to the MC Robin Taylor.  

_______________.

Perry Puddefoot is our new President .