Presidential Handover 2008.
As was fully expected, our Dinner Meeting on Thursday the 3rd of July, was a very busy “Do”. Following the last official duty of our outgoing President that is reported separately, Club members sat back to enjoy the handover of Office from President Barry to our Club’s new President, Adrian Baxter.
This year, as with previous years, the meeting was made slightly different in so much as in attendance were Carol Linaker and Jane Brewer, the respective Ladies of the outgoing and incoming Presidents. It was however with regret that due to previously arranged Civic duties our Town Mayor Councillor Pammi Taylor, who is an Honorary Member of our Club, was not able to join in on the celebrations.
The formalities began with outgoing President Barry firstly thanking Club members, family and friends for their wonderful support and help during his year of office, which he had enjoyed enormously. He concluded by wishing Adrian an equally successful year in charge of a fantastically vibrant and exciting Club. His year then ended as he formally handed over the Chain of Office to our new President.
Once President Adrian had formally presented his 5 Club officers and 6 Committee Chairmen to the members present, he was pleased to undertake his first “Official Duty”, that of inducting into our Club George Randles, as can be seen reported in our separate article.
Adrian then went on to briefly outline his main ideas on the forthcoming Rotary year advising that above all he would want Club members to enjoy being a member of Rotary, but most of all enjoy and be proud of being a member of the Rotary Club of Frodsham and Helsby. He also confirmed that he would wish the Club to continue with its support for Local, National and International Charities, Projects and Initiatives just as in years before.
Being conscious of the lateness of hour and not wishing to prolong the formalities longer than was necessary, he ended his presentation by simply urging all Club members to “Have a Good One” as far as all Club related activities are concerned.
Our photo shows President Adrian, happy with the presentation of our Club’s Charter Certificate.
Adrian, Have a Great Year in Office.
Our 1st New Member this Presidential Year.
Once
again, our Club’s efforts in recruiting New Members into the Club have
proved successful with the induction of yet another new Club member.
Following the Presidential Handover, the first order of the evening was to induct George Randles into our Club.
It was with pleasure that Alan Gardner formally introduced George to all present. He was pleased to introduce his friend and fellow Parish Councillor to our Club and its activities and commend George to those present as he considered that he would be an attribute to our Club and to Rotary.
Following the presentation, President Adrian inducted George into the Club and presented him with his “Membership Badge”, the Club’s “Year Book” and “Rotary District 1280’s Directory”. George thanked all for supporting his application to join the Club and advised he was looking forward to becoming involved in future Club projects and initiatives. Following on, George took the opportunity to promote an event organized by Helsby Community Sports Club and as a consequence was suitably fined later by the Sergeant-at-Arms for cheek!!!
As is our tradition, Alan then took George around the room and introduced him to all present on the understanding that the drinks would be on George for the rest of the evening!
George……………. Welcome to Our Club and to Rotary.
Retiring Treasurer of Frodsham Community Association Honoured
Cec Batemen thought he had been invited to a quiet dinner at his local Rotary Club but there was more to it than that.
Rotarian, Paul Harris Fellow, and founder member of our Club, Peter Wilde introduced his guest.
Cec started his service and team work as a pupil at the Choir school in Chester and as a chorister at the Cathedral. He then went on to Kings School Chester.
Then followed his first spell at the Midland Bank which was interrupted by two years of National Service in the RAF. Returning to the Midland Bank, Cec spent some time at Kirkham (near Blackpool) where he joined Round Table. He was moved to Frodsham to open a new branch of the Midland as the Manager and, on finding that there was no Round Table in the area he set about forming a club of which he was then the first Chairman. Many people in Frodsham are indebted to Cec for forming a club from which many of us obtained a great deal of pleasure and reward.
Cec later went to Winsford as the Manager of the Midland Bank and where he joined Rotary, becoming their President in 1984. Amongst other events he was greatly involved in their organisation of a Donkey Derby and it is no surprise that one is now run in Frodsham.
All this shows a dedication to local organisations yet he has still been able to dedicate a large part of his time to Frodsham Community Centre where he has been the Treasurer from inception and for the last 40 years.
It is worth considering the responsibilities of this post in some detail. The officers of the Community Centre are responsible for a complex building on which more than 70 organisations rely. By the law of averages some of these organisations will be difficult to deal with and the financial responsibility for protection, maintenance and updating of this important facility which Cec has borne for this last 40 years
Peter finished by asking the Club to honour Cec by presenting him with a Paul Harris Fellowship.
Our photograph shows Cec accepting the award from our outgoing President, Rtn Barry Linaker.
