District Conference 2013 - Scarborough & More!

Another packed week of Rotary activities combined with the day job makes for an enjoyable and exhausting time. It is hard to imagine that last weekend I was in Scarborough enjoying the District 1220 Annual Conference with fellow Rotarians and their wives/partners in a jammed packed weekend of seminars and entertainment. 

I certainly didn't expect the Conference to be so much fun. After all, when one hears the word "conference" one is not exactly jumping up and down with excitement. But, this (District Conference) is so different than your average conference. I am so glad I went and I intend to go next year as well. Already Secretary Tony is looking into accommodation for October 2014. And, whilst we are talking about Tony I must thank him for his perfect planning of our every move throughout the weekend and arranging our dinners out as well. Without Tony we would not have been half as organised as we were.

I am certainly most thankful to everyone who went and your company and fellowship throughout the weekend was very much appreciated. Such great conversations... Thanks!

The 'gang' at District 1220 Conference 2013. We do scrub up well. Lol

Much of the focus of discussion was on membership retention and attracting the next generation of Rotarians. After hearing some of the talks I am even more convinced that having a Facebook and Twitter presence is more important than ever and that our Club did make the right choice for its own future to have both FB and Twitter as a way for us to communicate to the outside world and the next generation of Rotarians.

One of the talks was on Generation Y. How very interesting to hear someone put into words in a logical manner what I experience on a day to day basis as a teacher. Whilst we may find it difficult to understand Generation Y's ways... we can't stop trying to communicate with them. I don't care if people write Generation Y off. I feel they have so much to offer and the world of Rotary will be brought forward to new heights.  

Enough about Conference. I'll be talking to the Club more in depth about it at our Business meeting on Monday evening.

THIS PAST MONDAY'S MEETING

Derby Rowing Club

Mark Davis

We welcomed Mark Davis who is a Dispensing Optician for over 30 years in Spondon and enjoys working and talking to his many clients.

Derby Rowing Club is very much part of his life having started rowing at the age of 14 at the Derby High School. He rowed for just 3 weeks but being just 4 ft 1in (124cm) he became a Cox. Having coxed teams for many years he moved onto coaching.

The role of a coach is to prepare the athletes to perform at their maximum and beyond and this linked to team building it most important. In training it hurts and in competitions it is agony but winning is bliss and the pain is then so much less.

The role of the Cox is to inform the crew what is going on, to motivate, he needs to be heard but is not noisy all the time and to go out with a game plan

Mark spoke about the boats which are 60 feet long and how much they cost which is between £12,000 and £25,000

Having been a past captain of the Derby Rowing Club he is also a Vice President and Trustee and has built up lots of friendships and respect with the members over many years.

Thank you very much Mark for your inspirational talk.