2020/21Handover Mtg
Hand over Mtg
Good Evening Everyone,
Thank you for electing me as your President for the year 2020-2021. The year 2020 has been very bizarre & dreadful for the whole world, with so many lives lost to coronavirus. I think we will be engaged in supporting the needs in that area of community and as Rotarians we are best placed to help our local community to get back on its feet.
My journey into Rotary began in Singapore in 1992 where meetings were American style and business focused, with limited Fellowship time allocated. The club had quite a few women as Rotarians.They were more efficient than the men when they took up office.
When I moved to UK, I transferred my membership to the Rotary Club of Addiscombe & Shirley in 1998. Rotary at that time was quite formal.My club was a single gender club till 2006,and one had to ask permission from President to remove your jacket. There was of course more time devoted to Fellowship and I made several good friends who I still keep in touch with.
In my past experience as a Treasurer for 6 years and as President in 2007-2008, I still believed that the primary function of Rotary was to support charities through fund raising, at which we were very effective.
Moving to Midhurst and joining our Rotary in 2017, was an eye opener and was a completely different experience, I recall Adrian Moore asking me to join the 'Tree of Hope event' and assist in car marshalling. It was a dark and cold winter night and standing around having a glass of hot mulled wine was a revelation on how plugged in to the community this Rotary club was. Everyone was so warm and welcoming and I quickly made many friends, helped out in events and gained experience.
When I was asked to be a President, I was very surprised considering I am a relatively new member. Perhaps everyone felt I have now been re-branded as a Midhurst Rotarian !! It was therefore with some trepidation that I have accepted, but welcome it as an opportunity to learn more and contribute to our local community.
I now have a few thank Yous to make as I start my year.
First to Peter Nightingale,whose advice I will need considering his long experience in Rotary. Last year, every time I was giving a lift to Peter, my tiny car was automatically designated as AIR FORCE ONE. Peter you will continue to ride the AIR FORCE ONE for one more year as a perk of being Immediate past President, and in part-exchange for your valuable advice.
Secondly, to John Fitch who accepted my request to stay on as honorary secretary for the Third year. (Jo, I will make sure John gets home by 9.30 PM after our dinner meetings !! )
Thirdly, Paul Mellings who agreed to my request to continue as Treasurer for the 6th year running. (Paul, Jeanette will not mind you getting home after 12 midnight, the later the better!! ) as I need your inputs and advice as well.
To have a successful year in Rotary, I know, we must have a good programme, therefore we have, ‘Three Wise Men’ for whom I am very grateful,Peter Shaw & Julian Goodale and Alan Austin behind the scene.
Let us continue to ENJOY Rotary and fellowship with our partners.The International theme for this year is 'Rotary opens opportunities'
*(I have attached here some photos,(1) When I became a Rotarian 1992 in Singapore
(2) President
Addiscome & Shirley 2007-2008,(3) Addressing Rotarins in Belgium
You will notice I had a lot of hair which has progressively disappeared the longer I am in Rotary. It was also black in colour. !!!)*
Finally, please feel free to correct me if I make mistakes as I feel being President is a learning experience and I enjoy learning. Also, you may need to make allowances for my English. It is not my native language and is now further complicated by my learning French.
If things go wrong, REMEMBER, you all have to take some share of the blame for choosing a weird guy as your President ) added to all this, I have created history by becoming the First President installed on Zoom. !!
Thanks Once again.
Rangesh Nallan
Adventure Holdings & POT Media
United Kingdom-Singapore-Ghana
Mob & Whats App +44 78 999 00 330
*-* these photos have now been deleted
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2020-21 News from M&P
back Rangesh Nallan takes over Presidency from Peter Nightingale and Gill Nightingale takes over from Sian Mitchell