Scribe for Wednesday 17 October 2012

The DG, Dennis Shore,  was accompanied by his wife Linda and also ADG Gordon and his wife Sheila. The meeting room was set up in the old horse shoe style but with the wings far enough apart to hold a barn dance in the middle. Not only that but the head table was ultra spacious whilst the wings were rather cramped.

The other unusual happening was that President Jim wore a tie; a bright light blue number that seemed to match the one worn by ADG Gordon.

The meeting started on time and with authority, "I am the President and the Chairman" and Jim's second proclamation was that our Signature Project, the 3 tonne truck for Family Life, is now a reality with the donation of $25k from Freemasonry - thank you Garry!

Reports were short and not all need noting. Sue announced that we have been asked to support the 2013 Megaswim on July 5/6 and presented Kate with the award for being the swimmer who raised the most money.

Phil R.urged support for next weeks meeting - fellow lawyer Geoff Park will speak on wills. Phil W unashamedly engaged the DG with details of our support for the Centre for Adolescent Health and pressed for it to return to District Project status.

RLYA, RYPEN, reading in schools, Facebook, the Conference, the GOLF DAY, the Garden Fest, the Susie Harris Memorial Fund Movie Fundraiser, Nov 29, were all mentioned.

Don spoke of a meeting he had had with Suzy Jukes, niece of Brian and Joan Turner, who is raising money to help educate girls in Sierra Leone by wearing a school dress for a month. Don, after consultation with President Jim, challenged the club to raise over $600 to match or better an amount raised for Suzy by a Sydney club.

And so the fun started. Many members made significant donations amounting to $330 but then the Sergeants, just quietly and stealthily, went about their business and extracted $264.70 - it would have been more but our allotted time was, yet again, cut short.

The DG remarked that he had paid more in fines than he had at his previous fifty club visits combined.

And so to the DG; he spoke without supporting powerpoint and spoke with great ease, humour and passion. It was genuine oratory from a man who clearly felt at ease. "Live the theme" was his message, accept the challenges, revisit the core values and don't forget "Rotary - it's amazing."

There is no doubt that this man is a fine leader of our district and that 9800 will prosper with his drive and infectious enthusiasm. If you were not there I suggest that you might at least read the DG's message on Page 11 of the District Directory although that is a poor second to hearing Dennis speak. There is another brief tale elsewhere in this bulletin too - with pics.

In all it was a happy and fruitful night.

Roy "won" $2, but didn't take it and the end result for Suzy Jukes/Sierra Leone was $630.