Saturday, 12 April 2014

29th Charter Celebrations USA Visit

Last week we celebrated the 29th Charter of our Club. What a fantastic evening it was. All I got to say is that it was a superb team effort by the whole of the Club led by none other than John Astell. Thank you John for leading the organisation to a most successful Charter and the most memorable evening of my Presidential year. Superb! 

Thank you to all who supported it as well. All 120 guests and our DG Peter and wife Carol. Superb speeches but the best part of the evening was Rtn Stephen Woolley's most entertaining speech on his adventures (or misadventures) in law during his misspent youth. Very funny and enlightening at the same time.

Photo: Charter 2014
DG Peter, Wife Carol, Me, wife Gail, PP Stephen Woolley

A proud moment of the evening was when we were able to present a cheque for 500 GBP to former Derbyshire footballers Barry Butlin and Roger Davies for Derbyshire Children's Homes. A very worthy cause that provides Summer holidays for children from needy backgrounds.


Photo: Here are some photos from our 29th Charter this past Friday evening. Thanks to everyone involved and special thanks to Gary Dundas for taking these lovely pictures.
BArry Butiln, Me and Roger Davies


Photo: Charter 2014
Stephen Woolley in full throttle entertaining us all

USA Trip So Far

Two days after Charter I was off to the USA and my first stop was in Monticello, Minnesota where I had lunch and fantastic fellowship with the Montecello RC. We exchanged banners as well as greetings. Thanks for allowing me to attend lunch and Monticello RC will live long in the memory as they are shining examples to us all on getting things done the right way and to the highest of standards.
Photo: Just had a great lunch and fellowship with Monticello Rotary Club in Monticello, MN. Exchanges banners and had a good time.
I love exchanging banners! Lol
Thats it for now. Until next time - YIR - Greg


Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Catch-Up Time / I'm A UK Citizen!!!

Well, it's been a very long time since my last posting. About a month or a little more. What can I say, life has been very busy and sadly the day job got in the way of spending time blogging. But now I have a little time on my hands between teaching lessons I thought I would at least give you an update on our meeting last night.

CHRIS HILL - Flautist
Chris Hill came to our Club. This 15 year old young man is a flautist of incredible talent. He not only has his Grade 8 at Distinction on Flute but also his Diploma and Licensure and all of them at Distinction level as well. Oh, by the way, he plays saxophone and has equal qualifications in that instrument. Yes, that's right. All at the age of 15 years old. Chris also made it to the 2nd round of the BBC Young Musician of the year this past school year.

It was a night to remember as Chris gave us the history of the flute from when they were made out of human bone to today's high tech models and everything in-between. Chris also played short extracts on each of the 9 flutes he brought and showed us the different characteristics of each model. 


Thank you Chris for a very enjoyable evening about the flute. We all learned a lot, enjoyed your sense of humour and your passion and professional presentation.

I'M A UK CITIZEN
Believe it or not a few weeks ago I became a UK citizen. Yup, after 17 years they finally let me in. I am very proud to have made the step forward and I now am a dual citizen so I can vote for two world leaders and make a real mess of the world. LOL

My thanks to everyone from the Club who came out and supported me at the ceremony or afterwards at the Holly Bush pub in Makeny. 


Well, the day job just got in the way again. Got to go teach. Next edition will have a report on our Ladies Night and other events of the past month. I will also do a separate blog on our Charter night coming up this Friday evening at Trent Lock Golf Club.

After Charter night I will be doing a presentation at District Assembly on FB and Twitter. Then, it's off to America for three weeks where I will be visiting friends and family and hopefully the occasional Rotary Club.

Time to teach!