Saturday 4^th August 2012

This afternoon we joined President Bill Hyde and many members of the RC Leeds along with Partners and other family members at the Grassington Bowling Club for an afternoon of ‘Fun’ Crown Green Bowling. Part way through we broke for an Afternoon Tea of Cake, Scones with Jam and Cream thanks to many of the Ladies who supplied the very enjoyable Cakes etc..

After playing 3 or 4 games and the ‘Awards’ Presentations we departed and made our way to Skipton Golf Club for a very enjoyable evening meal with many more members and partners joining us. The evening was topped off by watching Jessica Ennis complete her Heptathlon Gold Medal with a magnificent performance in the final 800 meters heat on the Golf Clubs TV.

Many thanks to President Bill and all the members and families who made it such an enjoyable event along with raising over £500 for President Bill’s Charities for the year.

Thursday 2^nd August

RYLA 2012 Week 2 End of Course Evening Hebden Hay. After the usual admin of signing certificates set on with Youth Opportunities District Chairman Trevor Woodward to cook the burgers and sausages on the BBQ. Stayed fine whilst we cooked but then unfortunately the heavens opened and we had to take the food inside and take cover.

Following the awards presentations we moved to an amazing show of many of the Rylarians talents both solo and group, well done to you all.

Another big thank you to ALL who helped make this year’s RYLA events such a magnificent success.

Early start this morning for yet another trip down to RIBI in Alcester for an LDTC Meeting. Very good meeting with plenty to report back to General Council on RIBI Assembly planning and other programmes.

Hard drive back home to Yorkshire on Yorkshire Day for a very good visit to RC Bradford Blaze this evening. Good evening of fellowship and fun with some interesting if challenging questions. Thanks to President Gerald and all the members for a very good evening.

Monday 30th July

Actually made my own Clubs meeting tonight. 

Excellent talk on Micro Loans by Peter Warburton (RC Skipton). Very good project with plenty of opportunities for all Clubs to participate.

Welcomed 5 visitors from RC Mirfield.

President Elect Bill in the chair

Friday 27^th July and a very early start, 5:30am, to drive down to Alcester for RIBI Conference Committee Meeting this morning. The programme will be released in the next couple of weeks along with Registration Forms and Links. With what is already released plus the few things still to be completely finalised this promises to be an excellent RIBI Conference and to make it even better its being held here in District 1040 in Harrogate 12^th - 14^th April 2013. Keep an eye on the RIBI Web Site and book early. www.ribi.org  

Thursday 26^th July and a much better trip this time to Hebden Hay and the final afternoon and evening of the RYLA Course Week 1. Arrived and after a bit of admin, according to tradition assisted, or otherwise, District New Generations Chairman Trevor Woodward BBQ Burgers and Sausages for the RYLEE’s and Guests. This was followed by an amazing evening of entertainment all organised by the RYLEE’s but involved all those involved in the week’s activities. This week’s course participants had come together very well as a team as can be seen by the picture below, having their BBQ meal together. Can’t wait to see what next week’s participants have to offer.

Wednesday 25^th and a trip over to Holmfirth for the Official Ribbon Cutting of their new amazing bench sited just across the road from their venue The Old Bridge. Due to the major accident and the extended closure of the M62 took me 2.5 hours to travel the 23 miles to Holmfirth but by leaving at 4pm just made it for the 6.30pm ceremony. Followed up by an enjoyable evening with the Club along with visitors from Glossop and Leeds. The rear panel depicts all the projects the Club is involved in.

Tuesday 25^th July evening visit to RC Haworth & Worth Valley. President Mike and all the Club Members made Edith and I very welcome. Good meeting with a Club Viewing of the D1040 Why Rotary DVD. Well received by the Club. Followed by a good discussions on membership and fund raising.

Last night saw a very pleasant evening with the members of RC Denby Dale. Good to hear about the hands on work they are doing at two local Railway Stations keeping them tidy and the gardens and planters looking good. Thanks to President Richard and all the members for an excellent evening.

Very enjoyable afternoon with President Arthur and the members and families of the Rotary Club of Pontefract, along with members of their Inner Wheel Club at their annual Presidents BBQ. Good fellowship, good food and it stayed dry with some sunshine!!!. Held at the home of Brian & Jean Skidmore thanks to you both for your hospitality and all who provided the wonderfull salads and deserts.

Great night last night, Thursday, with RC Horbury and Ossett Phoenix at the Kirklees Light Railway at Clayton NR Huddersfield. http://www.kirkleeslightrailway.com/

Opportunity to have a guided tour round the Workshops and the Royal Mail Sorting Carriage both very interesting.

However the highlight of the evening was the chance to make a small boys dream come true and drive a steam train. Great fun only half a mile up the track and back again but still felt like taking the Flying Scotsman from London to Edinburgh!!!! Well you can dream can’t you!!! J

Thanks to President Mike and the entire Club but in particular Bob who made the whole evening possible.

Two Club visits today Monday 16^th. Lunchtime with RC Dewsbury and President Mavis’s first meeting as Club President since handover. Very pleased to see a potential new member there and full of enthusiasm for Rotary and the Club.

Spent the evening with RC Bingley Airedale. Committee Meeting’s night with the individual Committees sat at table together for their meal and then for a session afterwards discussing the years events ahead. Very interesting to be able to sit with a couple of these Committees and then listened to feedback and updates from them all, really showed the Club has a very good mixed programme of events and Fellowship.

Many thanks to both Clubs for their welcome and fellowship.

Saturday 14th July saw our first General Council Meeting down at RIBI HQ in Alcester. Our first GC is a very new experience but none the less interesting and in many respects enjoyable. We started at 9:00 am and finished at 4:30 with a 15min Coffee break in the morning and just 25mins for lunch. A file of papers about 1inch thick arrived about 1week earlier all had to be read and the salient points extracted. It is assumed at the meeting that all have read all the papers so this speeds things up as no report is read out just the discussion and decission points are raised.

Lunch with President Patsy and the members of RC Batley. Batley is the Mother Club of my own Club so have a good relationship with them. As at all Clubs made very welcome. Good discussion followed my bit led by PP Clive on Membership and the next steps in moving the Club to increase its membership. Some good suggestions on moving towards a Satellite Club at the local Retail Park. The Club has an ALL Femail team this year. Is this a first?

Last night, Tuesday, I visited the other Club involved in the weekends very successful Dragon Boat Races at Pugneys Country Park, Wakefield Chantry. President Graham and all members made me very welcome, as all the Clubs I have visited so far have done so. A fun lively meeting with plenty of fellowship and business mixed to make a very good evening. One thing I have noticed so far is that all the Clubs I have visited have been warmly welcoming and enjoyable meetings. All Clubs are different but all come together to offer the same warm welcome to visitors.

Monday 9^th July - Week 2 begins with a visit to RC Huddersfield. Unfortunately the meeting was cut short as part way through there was a downpour of biblical proportions caused a ‘slight’ leak in the glass roof with water pouring in. Staff running round with dozens of plastic buckets and pans. As somebody said it’s not many DG’s bring the roof down. Congratulations must go to the Club however on a great Dragon Boat event on Saturday.
The evening saw a trip through to York to RC York Ainsty. They were holding their Handover a week late as the venue was closed due to a major accident outside the venue closing the roads for several hours last Monday. Good handover with incoming President Stephen taking the reins and several presentations including a PHF for Jim Murrison and a 5 Avenues of Service award for Don Wilson, many congratulations to you both.

Friday and Saturday were busy days. Friday I visited RC Bingley. A good Lunchtime meeting with Rotarians and Partners from the Rotary Club of Gerrards Cross & Chalfont St. Peter, District 1090. They are set to have had a very good weekends entertainment and fellowship and the weather has been as kind well as kind as we can expect this ‘Summer’!!!. Many thanks to President Mike and all the Members for their sponsorship donation of £100. The trip to the meeting was interesting as at one point had to drive through about 100 meters of flood water on Canal Road Bradford.

Sad news today as the Dragon Boat Races at York on Sunday have been cancelled as the River Ouse in York is in flood and considered too dangerous to race on.

Saturday the Rotary Clubs of Wakefield Chantry and Huddersfield manage to hold their Dragon Boat Races at Pugneys Country Park Wakefield. Great day of some exciting racing with good weather, well until the final race when it did rain but stopped in time for the prize presentations. Well done to both Clubs and all the teams who entered and together made for a very good event with plenty of fellowship. Each team seemed to be well stocked with Drink and Food with many BBQ’d lit and turning out burgers and hot dogs to order.

What to do with the free Sunday… Well it was our British Hillclimb Championship Meeting at Harewood Speed Hillclimb this weekend so I got the Orange Overalls out and had a great day on Quarry. Glad I did it was a good day with some very good times and sunshine!!!

Week One completed and thoroughly enjoyed. Visited 4 different Clubs but all have things in common, friendly, good fellowship and all working hard to support their local communities and those communities around the world that need the help.

If the rest of the year is as enjoyable I am really looking forward to it.

Breakfast this morning with President Trevor and the members of RC Leeds White Rose. Good meeting with the added pleasure of being involved in the induction of two new members, Sue and Nadine, a warm welcome to you both and please enjoy your Rotary.

Well done to the Club for its recent excellent performance in the Dragon Boat Races held in Leeds. All dressed as White Roses!!!!

Today saw the start of the Club Visits. Lunchtime with RC Ossett and President Frank a fellow member of the District Ukraine Team. The Club was in my group as an Assitant Governor, Inner 9, always a friendly Club and as usual made very welcome. This evening Edith joined me and we visited RC Castleford. The evening was their handover when President Audrey passed the mantle to I/C President Alan. A small club but with Big Service. The members are determined to bring the Club back to its great days again.

Well the new Rotary year has started. Last night we had a very successful Handover Dinner and Disco at York Racecourse. 179 Rotarians and Guests attended.

Today, the first day of the New Year, I have had the pleasure along with Edith of attending the District’s Team bound for Mawansa in a few days’ time goodbye event. The team was well briefed by PDG John Phillip and his wife Rotarian and the new President of RC of Mirfield Chris. The team is 20 strong and will spend 3 weeks of true Hands On Rotary working on many different projects including Water, Health Care and Literacy. This is the teams 2^nd trip. Well done to them all and good luck.

It is my intention to use this Blog Site to record my year as Rotary International District 1040's District Governor for the Rotary year 2012-2013 starting on 1st July 2012.