President Bryan's 1st Presidential Report

Looking forward to the new Rotary year 2025-2026

Looking forward to the new Rotary year 2025-2026

It is a huge honour to have been elected by our Club to be President for the coming Rotary Year. 

I have a difficult act to follow – President Steve led us through a great year and we all thank him for his leadership and for everything that he has done for our Club - we look forward to his continuing input and support.

As Rotarians, we are all totally dedicated and committed to do anything that we can to help others and to follow our ethos “Service above Self”. Unlike many other organisations, we are not in Rotary for personal gain or to further our own interests. The Rotary International motto for this year is “Unite for Good” – we will!

As Rotarians, we are proud members of one of the largest and most recognised charity organisations in the world and ensure that we support global causes as well as, especially, our own local charities. We are all unpaid volunteers.

We are a relatively small club but a very active one and my aim and objective is for evolution – not revolution. We should continue to support as much as we can:

• TPSA Prostate testing evenings with feet on the ground to help with the organisation and running of the event – contributing funds if we are able

• Local schools youth programmes and Rotary initiatives.

• Local projects such as library book delivery, driving duties for the elderly and food bank support.

• End Polio Now campaign through Rotary and the Gates foundation.

• Small international projects where our Club can help make a difference.

• Identify other, often local, charities that so need our assistance.

We will also continue to provide volunteers to help charities with their events. – we will provide marshals for the Torbay Half Marathon on behalf of Rowcroft that will help them to raise funds. We will also continue with a highlight of the year - standing outside Morrisons supermarket dressed as daffodils to help raise funds for Macmillan!

We will continue with our vital major fund-raising events such as the Sports Personality Dinner and a Charity Golf Day as well as other events so that we have funds to achieve our objectives and all members need to offer to help if they can – especially with “boots on the ground” - often more difficult than just making a financial donation - but so important for success.

We are a very welcoming Club and it goes without saying that we always want new members – but achieving this is not easy. The Rotary organisation has many ideas but we should concentrate on personal contact and promoting Rotary and our Club at our major fundraising events. We all should carry our Rotary visiting cards!

We do have fun and enjoy each other´s company and we will try to organise a few vocational/leisure visits. I hope to continue with our support to the Children´s Hospice South West and arrange a visit to their hospice in North Devon. On a lighter side, a visit to a gin factory or similar could also be on the cards.

We are fortunate to have many Rotary clubs in Torbay and Teignbridge and we should continue to work together and support each other. Our participation in Bay Sports is always enjoyable.

My personal work and involvement with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities children means a lot to me and I would hope that we can arrange some special occasion for them – possibly together with Wetwheels.

We have a tradition of arranging a “Presidents Weekend” and this year’s was very memorable. Perhaps we can consider a special city trip – watch this space!

I am looking forward to a wonderful year and know that I can count on your support. Our committees are the beating heart of our Club and I am grateful that the Chairmen and members were happy to more or less stay where they were, for the Club Officer roles. Although I was forced to give up my caring role as Sergeant-at-Arms, I am sure that my successor will be as fair and understanding as I was!