Club visit to Rotenburg

Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 8:00 am- Sun, Sep 10th 2017 - 10:00 pm

50 Years of Rotary in Rotenburg

Rotenburg

The weekend of 8 to 10 September saw Rotarians and partners (eleven in total) visit our friends in Rotenburg to celebrate their 50th anniversary of the grant of their charter by R.I. We were joined in Rotenburg by a number of members of their other contact Clubs in Norway and Denmark, Assens and Ulefoss. All visiting Rotarians were hosted personally by members of the Rotenburg Club, an incredible feat.

Our weekend had been planned with typical German precision. Collection from Hamburg airport was followed in by a light tea, and then, in the evening by dinner with non-hosting Rotarian families, an opportunity for us to mingle with and converse with German, Danish and Norwegian Rotarians and families, (almost exclusively in English). Plenty of food and drink was consumed.

Our Saturday morning was spent at a nearby Country Park, Landpark Lauenbruck, devoted to a variety of farm and country animals. Our walk around the park was a wet one, very wet. Unfortunately, there was plenty of rain throughout the weekend, but brave Rotarians were up for the challenge, and after the walk we enjoyed a pumpkin soup lunch and a return back to hosts for a nap before the celebratory dinner.

The dinner celebrations were being held in a barn. The barn belonged to an old farm, partly closed, with the land being used to build residences and workplaces for those with varying levels of disability. Rotarians had spent many days decorating the barn with Rotary paraphernalia, banners, heaters etc. and 240 guests attended the celebrations. We were treated to a very enjoyable meal. There were many speeches, mostly in German, which, for those of us with limited linguistic talents, proved aa little difficult, but there was musical entertainment too – some singers, and a band provided scope for some dancing.

The journey back in a taxi was eventful – six in a small mini-cab.

We returned to the barn later on Sunday morning for a hearty breakfast, and an opportunity to say our goodbyes. There were flights to the three countries at various scheduled times.

Our journey back was somewhat frustrating – significant delays of our Eurowings flight meant that we were not back at Heathrow until after 10.00pm. I suppose it is some comfort we weren’t booked through Ryanair or Monarch.

Those of us who visited enjoyed a splendid occasion. Great friendliness and fellowship and it always impresses me how much our German friends all work together to ensure secure such a happy outcome for their guests.

Matthew had a slightly extended stay. He arrived a day earlier than the rest of us and departed a day later. This provided him with the opportunity to help with some of the jobs needed to get the barn ready, and put it back for use after the event. He will no doubt have benefitted from the experience of seeing just how organised a club needs to be to hold such an event.

For those of us who read German the local press recorded this historic event: see

www.kreiszeitung.de/lokales/rotenburg/rotenburg-ort120515/gemeinnuetzigkeit-verschrieben-8650393.html

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