President's November Message
In October we have had a couple of health scares for our members, together with a couple of members having scares in relation to their employment circumstances which has resulted in the membership rallying together in concern for their fellow Rotarians.
I am pleased to report that the majority of these issues, particularly the health ones, appear to have remedied themselves without hopefully lasting detrimental effects.
November brings our very own District Governor and I look forward to a positive meeting on the 7th with perhaps some fireworks carried over from the 5th of November!
On behalf of the Club I send my congratulations to the grandfathers in our Club who have had new additions to their families!
Have Fun!
Amanda
District Conference
You were all aware of my attendance at the District Conference at the end of September/ beginning of October and my reticence at attending on my own.
The event was attended by approximately 500 Rotarians. Many of them attended with their partners (which with the benefit of hindsight is an excellent idea!).
Left to right:
Eileen Waterston, Tom Findlay, Mrs Tom Findlay,
Michael Jamieson, Lis Burke, Rob Burke, Amanda Millar
I drove to Aviemore on the Friday afternoon; was greeted by yellow T-shirted Rotarians from the Westhill Club who did a marvellous job in organising the Conference.
The facilities at the McDonald Highland Resort in Aviemore were excellent. My room was very comfortable and had Sky Sports television, much to my displeasure when Liverpool were beaten 2 – 0 by Bolton on the Saturday afternoon! (A good day for Harry!)
I found Friday evening’s dinner reasonably enjoyable although I was seated next to a gentleman with ideas about women more in keeping with the 18th century than with the 21st.
The Fellowship on the Friday evening nonetheless was excellent although I would suggest that the Conference Organisers may well have benefited by not having only two single members at a table for 12, particularly when it appeared from the list of delegates to be in excess of 20 members who were attending partnerless.
Saturday morning was very efficient and informative. We received talks from Cancer Research Institute, Barnardo’s and Project Scotland to name but a few. All of these were very interesting and worthwhile. It was helpful to gain some additional information and meet some of the faces behind the dictats that we occasionally receive.
Saturday evening put all the local Clubs together and I enjoyed the company of the President and Senior Vice President from Perth St John’s and Tom Finlay from Perth Club together with their associated partners and members from other Clubs. It was a wonderful evening and very enjoyable.
I would recommend attending at least one Conference to all of the members, particularly when it is in Aviemore and not perhaps as far away as it could possibly be. The facilities were amenable for uses other than simply Rotary and there was great Fellowship.
Thinking it was a Rotary devoted weekend (which of course it was) counselled me against going with my partner. It is not something I would do again. The weekend is geared up to facilitate partners and encourages the greater fellowship within Rotary.
As I am sure it has come as a surprise to all of you, not least myself, I did enjoy the Conference and would go again.
I am aware that Donald is looking to inveigle members to attend the RIBI Conference in Bournemouth and perhaps we could join or compete with our St John’s colleagues in numbers then.
Amanda