District Conference 2013
by Phil Simon
Pictures by Phil Simon
Conference Delegate Phil Simon reports:
"With the Conference for District 1100 being held in Torquay this year 10 members of our Club with 8 partners decided to make it a weekend away.
"We travelled down on Friday morning and met up for an enjoyable relaxed lunch at The Coombe Cellars, Newton Abbot. We then headed towards Torquay and the Conference hotel "The Grand". Some of us even managed to get to the first afternoon sessions of the Conference.
"In the evening we had dinner in the hotel and then went to the Casino Royale night. The money raised at the gaming tables went to Rotary Foundation, and a prize for the person who won most at the tables. As usual Fishponds and Downend entered into the spirit of the event with everyone dressing-up: a good time was had by all at the tables and listening to the band.
"President Derek set a fine example and attended the first session on Saturday morning. This was just as well as he was able to receive, on behalf of the Club, the Attendance Cup (winning it 3 times in the last 5 years), and the prize for the Casino night on behalf of Dave Powell.
"Most of us managed to attend the remaining sessions of the day listening to inspirational speakers and ordinary Rotarians doing extraordinary things. A visit to the Hall of Fellowship to view, again inspirational, projects being undertaken by Clubs throughout the District was well worth the effort. Unfortunately a scheduled headline speaker for the day had been called to Iraq, but was more than adequately replaced by a young man who has already achieved many of his life goals through his determination.
"In the evening, after sampling wicked gin and tonics mixed by our President, we all attended the Conference dinner dressed in all our finery. Whilst the food and music was not to our taste we did not allow this to get in the way of enjoying ourselves as the photographs demonstrate. We also showed our own determination by being the last to leave the hall after most had departed a few hours earlier.
F&D@Conference.2013
(Clockwise top left to bottom left): Papal blessings by Pete Lawry, Fun-filledTony Bryant, Musical chairs by Mike Goodman & President Derek James, and Best of friends Ron Aspbury and Marcia James
"On the Sunday morning we attended Conference in the anticipation of seeing one of the headline speakers. Unfortunately although he had been able to successfully navigate to and from the North Pole he was unable to distinguish Bournemouth from Torquay. His stand-in performed admirably at short notice.
"We managed it back to The Grand Hotel for lunch and then to make our weary way home.
"Conference reminded us that we need a final push to achieve world eradication of Polio. Many Clubs in our District are undertaking extraordinary projects, and that one Rotarian is not alone but belongs to an international community that can, and does, achieve so much that is positive in the world."
more Speaker's Corner A summary of recent Speakers we've enjoyed. (for a list of future speakers please see further below)
more F&D had the boules to do it!
more Air ambulance services in the UK do not benefit from local or central government funding! We are proud to help.
more A visit to RC Kingswood - to listen and learn
more Proud to support such an exceptional charity
more F&D Members visit our Twin Rotary Club and eat lobster
more Rotary Young Muscian - providing the opportunity for talented young people to sharpen their skills in the crucible of competition.
more Our 8th Annual Ciderfest
more A surprise Christmas Panto
more The District Assembly - for the Incoming teams in Rotary Clubs
more F&D regularly support Foodbanks though gathering of emergency food batches and by assisting with Foodbank Supermarket Collections.
more RC Kingswood organise a Burns Night each year and F&D are happy to support the event, this year was no exception.
more The Stroke Association lead this potentially live-saving event which is delivered nation-wide by service clubs such as Rotary.
more We support RC Yate & District in their fundraiser for UK Flood Disaster Fund
more Skittles Season 2013-14 ends
more The Powell's throw-open their home for a Christmas gathering
more An annual event that draws great support from the good folk of Emersons Green
more We put up the tree and later we took it down again .. but this was the actual event in between.
more As the quiz was held on our meeting night we made a Club Visit to the quiz fielding 3 teams.
more F&D help with Macmillan after-event clear-up
more Our last Weekly Meeting of this calendar year and an important one!
more F&D help out at a local event
more Skittles Season 2013-14 continues
more F&D Members help the East Bristol Foodbank
more F&D support Macmillan Cancer Support Event
more F&D support RC Yate & District Event
more The second skittles match of the new season
more The first skittles match of a new season
more A social evening for Club Members and doing a little bit of fundraising as well
more F&D support fundraiser for local charities
more Helping our and partying on
more Our latest F&D fundraising event in support of Bristol Sailability
more District Quiz 2013-14 First (and last) Round ;>(
more Our scatter to Keynsham
more A visit to the East Bristol Foodbank
more Marshaling and helping-out at the Bristol Clubs Run for the Future
more Helping to keep children from going to bed hungry
more We not only listen to guest speakers but sometimes we become guest speakers
more Marshalling in support Children's Hospice SW
more A scatter night visit to Cirencester
more The DG @ F&D
more More plants sold!
more Hands-on ladies night
more F&D members drink tea in support of a neighbouring Rotary Club!
more F&D on the road with a boat and a shed load of books!
more A night out to nourish the soul
more Helping out at a neighbouring Rotary Club Event
more Fundraising family fun
more The result of all our fundraising is what we give to charity
more F&D Sports - fellowship and fun with a competitive edge
more Providing the opporunity for young musicians to hone their skills in the crucible of competition.
more The culmination of a year's work on show
more Our easter-time fundraiser, bringing chocolate to the community
more Joint event with RC Yate & District, Kingswood, Keynsham Keynsham Chew Valley and Chipping Sodbury
more F&D Host G.S.E. Team on a visit to Lacock
more RC Yate & District St. Valentine's Night
more RC Kingswood Burns Night
more Members of F&D visit our Rotary colleagues in Yate
more F&D President holds a Christmas Party
more Our President holds a late-season BBQ
more F&D Announce future Club Presidents and Officers
more World Water Works - the Water Survival Box F&D support 'The BigGive Christmas Challenge'
more Great fellowship in action ... and a guest speaker
more F&D entered a team (We didn't win)
more Hedge Planting Great local community work with school children
more A Club Fellowship Supper Pasty Night
more F&D Help-out with Downend Fireworks Display
more Part of the Rotary Young Musician competition, our President provides a report
more Our most senior member Reg Tully is awarded the PHF as he retires from the Club to become a Friend of Rotary
more Auction of works of art to raise funds for the Facing Africa Noma charity. Art donated by illustrators and artists, some of which had been used as illustrations in well-known books, have so far raised over £6,000. Lots not sold are still available.
more Sponsored run to raise funds and awareness of Prostate Cancer
more The outgoing President's Handover Dinner
more The Mangotsfield Show is a well established local fete which F&D have supported for many years. The Club take a stand to sell produce and plants in which to raise money for Club charities.
more Boules Tournement, Saltford - F&D v Keynsham
more Skittles Final at Slimbridge - F&D v Gloucester
more F&D host Great Western Air Ambulance at District Festival of Rotary
more The first ever Downend Business Community Spring Fete and we were there
more The Club visit B.B.C. Radio in Bristol
more Five Local Rotary Clubs cooperated to put on the "Kenny Ball Concert"
more 50 Years of Fishponds & Downend Rotary. We celebrated our 50th year with a fun night at the Bradley Stoke Hilton on 4th May 2013. Thanks to Pete T, Phil S & Mike G for the photos.
more F&D on the road and having fun
more F&D Members support RC Calne (District 1200) and also have some fun
back Events and projects that the Club has been involved with