CLUB PRESIDENT’S REFLECTIONS ON THE LAST ROTARY YEAR 2006/7
It was my privilege to lead our club in the Rotary Year 2006/7, which was our Golden Jubilee year.
It was truly a memorable year in every respect with all our committees being very active and providing us with a full year of excellent fellowship and achievement.
As Club President the highlight for me has to be January 20th 2007, our Golden Jubilee dinner organised so well by David Feasey, Gordon Johnson and with considerable support by our vigilant Club Secretary Paul Addis.
The evening at the ABode Hotel Canterbury was significant in so many ways, with a very distinguished top table which included our local MP Julian Brazier and his wife, Pat Todd the then Mayor and his wife and Rodney Huggins, Past President RIBI and his wife.
The wonderful reception that my wife Jan and I received as we entered the hall will live with us forever.
Apart from that I recall a superb day in July 2006 when we had a sponsored dog walk, organised so thoughtfully by our Community Services committee chairman Roger Baker. It was followed in the evening by a wonderful Barn Dance. Our Vocational Services Chairman Ray McDonagh worked very hard to make it a huge success.
The Tea Dance at the Marine Hotel was very successful and will hopefully continue – thank you to Alec Crichton for organising that.
Our Christmas collection raised almost £5000, one of our most successful collections ever.
Mike Bantin climbed Mount Kilimanjaro raising over £1000 for Rotary Foundation and winning everyone’s admiration for his stamina.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Kent Music School concert beautifully organised, as ever, by Kim Foster. I suspect that as my vote of thanks plumbed the depths of humour almost to the level of the Orchestra conductor, I may not be given the opportunity to do it again!
Paul Downes and Ted Rooney achieved great success in the BT swimathon.
The Thai project in Mai Hon Song, overseen so carefully and diligently by Kim Foster was virtually completed in this year.
Our Charity Golf day organised superbly by Peter Thomason was a huge success and probably our biggest fundraiser.
I suspect however that the Whitstable Races started this year by Roger Baker will at some stage in the future be a very significant event for the club. Roger worked very hard to make this event the success it was and I know that it will grow in stature. From tiny acorns....!
These are some of the highlights of a very memorable year. We now have President Mike Trotter in place and I know the good work will continue under his guidance.
My sincere thanks go to all Committee Chairmen and all club members for such a wonderful year, but most of all to my wife Jan without whose support I could never have contemplated taking the Presidential chair.
JERRY MILLS IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
It was truly a memorable year in every respect with all our committees being very active and providing us with a full year of excellent fellowship and achievement.
As Club President the highlight for me has to be January 20th 2007, our Golden Jubilee dinner organised so well by David Feasey, Gordon Johnson and with considerable support by our vigilant Club Secretary Paul Addis.
The evening at the ABode Hotel Canterbury was significant in so many ways, with a very distinguished top table which included our local MP Julian Brazier and his wife, Pat Todd the then Mayor and his wife and Rodney Huggins, Past President RIBI and his wife.
The wonderful reception that my wife Jan and I received as we entered the hall will live with us forever.
Apart from that I recall a superb day in July 2006 when we had a sponsored dog walk, organised so thoughtfully by our Community Services committee chairman Roger Baker. It was followed in the evening by a wonderful Barn Dance. Our Vocational Services Chairman Ray McDonagh worked very hard to make it a huge success.
The Tea Dance at the Marine Hotel was very successful and will hopefully continue – thank you to Alec Crichton for organising that.
Our Christmas collection raised almost £5000, one of our most successful collections ever.
Mike Bantin climbed Mount Kilimanjaro raising over £1000 for Rotary Foundation and winning everyone’s admiration for his stamina.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Kent Music School concert beautifully organised, as ever, by Kim Foster. I suspect that as my vote of thanks plumbed the depths of humour almost to the level of the Orchestra conductor, I may not be given the opportunity to do it again!
Paul Downes and Ted Rooney achieved great success in the BT swimathon.
The Thai project in Mai Hon Song, overseen so carefully and diligently by Kim Foster was virtually completed in this year.
Our Charity Golf day organised superbly by Peter Thomason was a huge success and probably our biggest fundraiser.
I suspect however that the Whitstable Races started this year by Roger Baker will at some stage in the future be a very significant event for the club. Roger worked very hard to make this event the success it was and I know that it will grow in stature. From tiny acorns....!
These are some of the highlights of a very memorable year. We now have President Mike Trotter in place and I know the good work will continue under his guidance.
My sincere thanks go to all Committee Chairmen and all club members for such a wonderful year, but most of all to my wife Jan without whose support I could never have contemplated taking the Presidential chair.
JERRY MILLS IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Jerry Mills
