Week Six

Here we are in August already, the height of the Summer holiday season, roads full of cars going hither and thither full of happy children going for a day out, why is this relevant to a District Governor's Blog you may well ask?
Monday 5th August:
Travelled down to the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) Head Office in Alcester, near Warwick in Warwickshire. Not an easy journey at the best of times. A38 onto the M42 around Birmingham and then cross country.

The necessity for this journey was to enable me to fulfil another of my Rotary responsibilities as the Liaison Governor on the RIBI Leadership Development & Training Committee (LDTC). The meeting started at 10.30am, normally an easy time to arrive, but the cars with happy children in do not respect normal peak travel times!
The meeting proved to be a very interesting one, covering all the training and development issues associated within RIBI including the RIBI Annual Assembly, both looking back to 2013 event and forward to 2014 Assembly. The meeting finished at 4pm.
Followed by another rush to get home I then set off to a joint visit of the Rotary Clubs of Retford and Worksop Dukeries together with club members from Ashbourne, Hope Valley, Worksop & Bolsover.

Indian Team Leader
Dr Shantanu Abhyankar

This Joint Meeting at Ye Olde Bell, Barnby Moor (on the old A1) Retford, was to say farewell to a team of Rotarians and partners from the Indian Rotary Club of Wai who had been in our District for a few weeks as members of a Friendship Exchange. I was greeted warmly by President Roger Stenson took me through to the hotels magnificent banqueting suite and introduced me to the Leader and all the members of the Indian      Team, all dressed in their wonderfully colourful ethnic costumes!

Dr Rupai Abhyankar
Husband of the Leader

Mohit Abhyanker Son of
Shantanu and Rupai
He gave his presentation in perfect English!

The evening commenced with the Indian Team each giving short presentations in followed by individual and group recitations and culminating in the whole team singing and dancing. During the buffet style banquet meal which was greatly enjoyed by all, we were shown a PowerPoint illustrating scenes from the Teams home area.




              After the coffee an exchange of banners was followed by the Indian Team inviting members of the audience to join in their traditional dances, much to my relief the Indians were particularly urging their hosts to join in! As the photographs testify the evening was a superb example of Rotary Fellowship at its best!

Tuesday 6th: A very different evening when I visited the Rotary Club of Hucknall at their Hq. The Horse & Groom at Linby, a small village  in rural Nottinghamshire.

Presenting the Theme Banner
to President Ian.

President Ian Young and President Elect Jack welcomed me and my driver for the evening John Carr. The Horse & Groom is like a cross between a small Coaching House and a traditional Village Pub. The Club meeting room bears a strong resemblance to an old style bowling alley, or perhaps a Chapel, a very cosy atmosphere prevailed, enhanced by the group of friendly members.

Thursday 8th: At another Derwent Group Club. Our only District Club in Leicestershire, Castle Donington at their home, Donington Manor Hotel right in the centre of the village.

President Ray receiving the Theme
Banner

When I was their AG I remember they met in a small cafe just up the road from the Hotel, just as well they have moved as I don't think their current membership could have all fitted in the Cafe.

Banter with IPP Sukh Atwall!!

President Ray Webb and many old friends welcomed and greeted me warmly, the lovely atmosphere I remembered from the Cafe days has transferred untarnished to this larger venue and reflects on all the members both old and new.


 Sunday & Monday 11th/12th:

Back down to RIBI HQ again for the two day General Council Meeting (RIBI Governing body). My first experience of this august body in action.
I don't know what I expected but it was certainly a unique and different experience. The best thing about this experience was meeting all my cohort of fellow District Governors in RIBI, and of course enabling Carol to meet the partners (although they enjoyed a day shopping in Warwick). We all also had a superb meal together on the Sunday evening in a convivial setting of a country hotel enabling us to exchange stories of being a DG and also hearing about some of the highs and lows.