Rotary Club of Durham

From Outgoing President David Grey:

Today I step down as President of the Rotary Club of Durham – a Club which I believe is an axiom for success and achievement – not just in this District but internationally. There is a great deal of evidence which stands as testimony to the good work of this Club and its members both at home and abroad.

The Club has grown through an intelligent process of evolution (not revolution), we have embraced change, welcomed the challenges presented to us and remained focussed on, and loyal to, the principles and precepts of Rotary.

One of the most important decisions we made was to welcome female members. This has manifested itself today with the installation of our first female President.  I am confident the Club will go from strength to strength under Margaret’s leadership and management. You have my full support Madam President.

In retiring to the back benches I thank my senior vice president and junior vice president most sincerely for all their support and friendship and for ensuring the club has enjoyed a marvellous year of fellowship and special events.

I thank all those who have made the time to accompany me on visits to other clubs both in and around our group. It was a useful exercise as well as a very pleasant one. It also reassures me we are doing things pretty well right.

I thank the committee chairs most sincerely for their hard work and commitment. You take the slog and the brick-bats -  but have no doubts -  the success of this club rests firmly in your hands.

To the Secretary, treasurer, officers of the club and council members I will remain eternally grateful for your support, encouragement and wise counsel. You work, often unseen and for long hours, in the background - But without your valuable contribution the club could not function as effectively as it does.

To my proposers I would like to say thank you for getting me into this mess in the first place – I’m not quite sure how you did it but you certainly succeeded.

If I have missed anyone out I apologise. I have left my main thanks to the end -  and that is to all the members of the Rotary Club of Durham. It is you who make the club what it is - and I charge you not to fail in your duty to ensure that continues for a long – long time to come.

---

From Incoming President Margaret Anderson:

Before I give my address to our Club I would like to thank President David for your encouragement, support and guidance you have shown me during my posts of Junior and Senior Vice. You are greatly respected and admired and have certainly led our Club forward. I THANK YOU for that.

I would also like to thank everyone who has agreed to hold office, chair a committee or take a seat on Club Council this coming year. Your efforts are vital to the smooth running and success of our Club and the ability for us to achieve our aims and objectives.

I would like to thank you all for the honour you have conferred on me in becoming your First Lady President. I have always felt very proud to be a member of the Rotary Club of Durham and even more so at this very important time in my life. I will do my utmost in continuing to take our Club forward.
I believe we have a good, lively, formal but fun Club. I do not see the point in changing things which are working well. I believe there is room for improvement but that can only benefit us all. I do not intend to report in great detail the specific aims and objectives I outlined at Club Assembly a few weeks ago. They are on record on the website and I hope you find time to read them and support the direction in which the Club is moving.

My main aims are to introduce more fellowship into service and fundraising events and to encourage all Rotarians to participate more in the Club programme. Fellowship is very important in Rotary. Rotary is about enjoyment and helping those less fortunate than ourselves, and as we all know ‘Service Above Self’ is our motto and should also be our ethos.

We are all responsible for our Club. We are all volunteers in Rotary but our Club cannot run by itself.  We are not just a luncheon Club!  We need members to chair committees and to run for President, to help identify new members, sponsors for fundraising events,  helping with the sleigh, and adding their names on the car park rota when the board is passed round every Thursday. We  can all do something!  No matter how little that is.  It could be just welcoming visitors from other Clubs, finding them a seat and enjoying fellowship with them, or joining me in my future visits to other Rotary Clubs.   So please - participate in our Club programme!

The District Conference this year is to be held at the Gala Theatre, it’s in Durham on our doorstep and if the Conference last year is anything to go by, it will prove to be a wonderful social and fellowship Rotary experience.  I would welcome both your support and your company over the weekend.

So finally, to finish off, can I leave you with an adaptation of the famous words of John F Kennedy ‘Don’t ask what Rotary can do for you, ask what YOU can do for Rotary’ 

---

See a report of the Handover Meeting here.

---