On Tuesday 4th September, RIBI President John Minhinick and his wife Sheila visited our Club at Howfield Manor, Chartham. Apart from 37 of our Members we were delighted to welcome a further 20 Presidents, Presidents Elect and other members from 11 other Clubs adjacent to the Canterbury area.
David Wilkinson of Sittingbourne Invicta gave a pre lunch presentation of their Caterham Car Project where they purchase a kit car from this well known manufacturer and enter into an agreement with a local school to sponsor its building.
During an excellent lunch the Officers of the Canterbury Club gave short but detailed presentations of the work of their various Committees.
This included a report on the donation that International had recently sent to the Philippines following a communication concerning a typhoon that had recently struck the area from the son of Rtn. Richard Kemball- Cook (District Chairman of Polio Plus). Richard’s son was involved in another project there when the typhoon hit the Islands and was able to give a firsthand report of the damage.
As an example to our commitment to Health Promotion Community Services were to run our annual Prostate Awareness Day in mid September at the Whitefrairs.
The Treasurer explained how the Annual Subscription was divided into funds for the Canterbury Club, District and Foundation. There was also a briefing on our Millennium Scholarship trust fund and our Fund Raising activities which include the annual Duck Race on the Stour and the Top Choir Event now entering its 4th year. The extensive visits and activities of Vocational Service were outlined by President Robert.
Finally immediate Past President Harry Cragg presented a paper on our Pentangular grouping with five Rotary Clubs on the Continent now in its 39th year. The major project that was jointly funded by all the Clubs was the refurbishment of the Dodi Papase Hospital in Ghana.
R.I.B.I. President John then gave a very interesting address to the meeting on many aspects of his year especially the need to keep Rotary fresh and forward looking. He emphasised how important it is to recruit new members and then retain them as the membership is both aging and failing to replace those that leave for other reasons.
Rtn. Harry Cragg then proposed a Vote of Thanks to President John and DG Stewart on behalf of all the Clubs attending.
photos by Roger Bickerton
click any image to enlarge
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From left: Geoff Goodban (Canterbury President-Elect), Jim Gascoyne (Canterbury Sunrise), John Minhinick (RIBI President), David Pentin (Canterbury Forest of Blean), Robert Boyd-Howell (Canterbury President), Ken Berkin (Hythe), Stewart Grainger (District Governor), Pauline Goldsack (Asst. District Governor), Colin Hamer (Ashford Earlybird), Himansu Basu (Northfleet & Ebbsfleet), David Bateman (Romney Marsh – behind H.B.), David Wilkinson (Sittingbourne Invicta), Steve Hiscock (Ashford). |
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| RIBI President John Minhinick with his wife Sheila and Club President Robert Boyd-Howell | RIBI President John Minhinick addresses the members of Canterbury and representatives from 11 local Rotary Clubs. |
