My year as Rotary President - The good, the bad and the ugly

On the last night of October, the Satellite committee, through the vision of their 30 year old chairwoman, held their inaugural Halloween Spooky Walk in the local park. It was an unprecedented success with nearly 3 times the expected number of families attending. What can a young person bring to Rotary? They can bring a concept like this! Way To Go Team! Our club also joined in with neighbouring clubs to participate in the annual Polio Movie Release Murder on the Orient Express . Our little co-hort up here on the mountain raised more money than any of the larger coastal groups of our district with this event. Great Inter-Club Teamwork! We had wonderful attendance at a meeting visit to the Amiens Historical Site and it was refreshing to see our members getting out into the wilderness to support a fellow community group at a meeting with a difference. The month ended with The Great Debate  between Stanthorpe Lions and Stanthorpe Rotary. Both of these clubs face similar challenge...

October was quite a conventional month as far as Rotary programs go. We had a great Movie night at the local theatre to raise funds for Mental Health Awareness. The movie was (again this year) one for the oldies, being about folk in a retirement home but was a great night out. We also had two guest speakers on other meeting nights who delivered their talks in the traditional Rotary way at the traditional Rotary time and in the traditional Rotary venue. Attendance by members was good (although there were few guests along to see what Rotary is about) and the mood was friendly, calm and peaceful. It has made me wonder why I am advocating so strongly for change in our Club. It is far easier to toe the line and play by the established rules! BUT, then the emails have started to flow in from the honchos higher up the line. There are sweeping changes afoot at district level with the strong likelihood that we will no longer be District 9640 in a few years time. Why is this happening? Rotary...