THE SERBIAN VISIT in April over the Easter period went very well after a hectic start, on the Thursday with major traffic jams on the M 26 and M 25 “nothing really new there” caused us all in the party collecting our visitors to be delayed. We managed to collect everybody and after all meeting up in the airport coffee lounge departed to respective hosts and all were safely delivered by mid afternoon. Various activities were arranged including a tour around Rochester with Sandi Digby in charge. The dinner on the Saturday night at Cobham Golf Club was a great success thanks to Saifu for organising it.      

STROKE AWARE at the end of April had slightly fewer customers than the previous year but everybody went away sure in the knowledge that they were still breathing and had a pulse. Those with higher blood pressure than normal were referred to their own doctors. This is one of Ruth’s main causes and also helps to make the general public aware of Rotary

THE PRESIDENTS NIGHT theme this year was a BARN DANCE and it was held at Bucklands Farm out at Cliffe. The District Governor Norman Jones attended and proposed the toast to the club. All had a great time. and the group “SMALL TOWN ROMANCE” were superb and taught all of us the rudiment of square dancing, which requires quite a lot of effort, Apparently if you get really hooked on Square Dancing you can become abnormal it can lead to Line Dancing A very tasty buffet was laid on by Jill Osenten and her team ably assisted by Leng Bradley. Ruth had a big hand in organising the do.

BOULES NIGHT at Hazelwood House. Bob Burge was once again arranged a splendid evening with the Inner wheel. Fortunately the weather held good and all managed to compete. The INNER WHEEL were victorious this year and won 6 – 3. They were presented with the slip of paper promising them the TROPHY when Niall can find it. Bangers, Mash and Beans, followed by lots of different trifles and assorted sweets all made by the ladies of the INNER WHEEL. The raffle went down very well and £293.00 was raised for the evening, which will go to Wisdom Hospice.

KIDS OUT

What do you intend to do with that Fork

KIDS OUT, what a special day this is. 27 pupils from the Abbey Court School with their carers attended this year and all were given special KIDS OUT T-shirts and Baseball hats, yellow this year.  MONKEY BIZ had put in some new equipment since last year so a hectic morning up and down, in and out all the apparatus, slides, chutes, tunnels and ball pits. Both kids and Rotarians tried them all out and then a hot lunch was provided for the kids most of whom had special dietary needs which were catered for. A buffet was supplied for the carers and Rotarians and it was far more than could be eaten. More sliding and chuting to work down the lunch then time to pack up. Some of the kids did not want to leave and who can blame them. The staff once again excelled themselves in making it a very special day and a Community Award will be presented to them very soon as an appreciation of their fine efforts. Once again it was Saifu who had organised it and I shall be assisting him next year.

ASCOT. Sally and David Howells arranged that all the Rotarians and friends had their day at Royal Ascot. We were picked up by coach at various points in the Medway Towns and Gravesend. The raffle that had started at the club and finished on the coach raised £259.00 for the International committee funds. We arrived at there just before noon having had light refreshments of wine and cake on the way. Picnic hampers out as soon as we arrived as well as umbrellas for the occasional shower that passed overhead as we lunched by the coach. Tickets and race cards handed out by Sally and into the Silver enclosure ready for the Queens arrival. Some were lucky enough to get a spot on the rails while others disappeared under cover to listen to the various bands. The ground in the enclosure varied from soft in some places to very very soggy in others. Mostly there were light showers between races but we had a very heavy shower between the 3^rd and 4^th races caused two young ladies to shelter under my umbrella and press in very close. I had no winners in the races until the last when I remembered the two young ladies and put a tenner to win on” ENJOY THE MOMENT” it came in first after a very close race. Your president Ruth who had also backed it did really enjoy the moment

THE FUTURE

September

A visit to LORD NELSON at Chatham Dockyard, No mast climbing this year so Jason can relax. It is a great opportunity to see the work carried out by the JUBILEE SAILING TRUST vessel and in our president we have an expert on hand to show us the ropes. It is also hoped to Run our Annual Triathlon at Hoo. The Triathlon Committee will meet this Friday to set wheels in motion

October

A visit to the Kraljevo is planned to help them celebrate their Centenary.

See Diary under Events for further details.

Rotary Foundation

Sustaining Member.

Why not become a sustaining member and give a sum annually to the Club. The minimum cash contribution is equal to $100 per month paid by bankers order. The effective bank rate is held for the year and as the rate against the dollar is very good at the moment a greater return for your pounds is not to be sneezed at.

Benefits of a Sustaining Member               

It is recognised as part of the Annual                  Program Giving for the Club and District.

Accumulate your own “Paul Harris” credits which will allow should you wish to present a “Paul Harris Fellowship” to a person of your choice.

Rochester Rotary will receive recognition of your giving to use the credits for PHF.

You will be able to track your giving through your own bank account.

Finally there is a “sustaining member pin if you would like one.

Your chair for the Foundation Committee “Nigel Capon” will be able to help with the details. “Bob Burge” Foundation Chairman can also help any member who would wish to contribute to this fine way of as he has extensive knowledge of this subject

From the Secretary

A reminder that any member who wishes to cancel their Friday Lunch should advise me by Wednesday night at the absolute latest. “The rules say Wednesday lunchtime.” If you E-Mail ask for a read receipt so I can acknowledge. If you phone and get my answer phone then again ask me to phone you so I can confirm I have received your call our try my mobile which is the club directory.

The Future of Rochester Rotary

We must expand if possible recruit younger members. It is amazing where you can find people who have no idea about Rotary. Ann Waters got me involved at 7 o’clock in the morning at the Gym. I had never heard of Rotary until then. The membership committee is looking into ways of increasing our membership. Publicity is only one of the ways to do this and the Roadshow at Bournemouth was a new and innovative way of doing this. Self Publicity is also an option, in Grenada there were signs about what Rotary had done for the local community 

Lets hope for the future

The Editor

Having been asked to do the Newsletter I had to think long and hard as I was following in illustrious footsteps. As a plinker and plonker on the computer it would take a steep learning curve to find all the different aspects of using word, cutting and pasting and all the other little things that can help or sometimes hinder.

Here we go with my first one and I can only hope you find it interesting. Articles and comments will be appreciated as will photos that can brighten up the sheet. My computer went down just after accepting to post and I only got it back last week with a new program.

SPELL CHECKER

Eye halve a spelling chequer

It came with my pea sea

It mainly marques four my revue

Miss takes eye can knot sea

Eye strike a quay and right a word

And weight four it two say

Weather eye am wrong oar rite

It shows me strait a weigh

As soon as mist aches are maid

It nose be fore two late

And eye can put the errors rite

Its rarely, rarely grate

Eye halve run this poem threw it

I am shore youre pleased two no

Its letter perfect in its weigh

My spell chequer tolled me sew!!!

Richard