Our first meeting for 2022 was a Teams online meeting.
23 of us joined in, including our guest, Gerard Hogan.
As we all know, it is a busy time of year – and I thank you all for joining us.
Thank you, John McDonald, for your invocation, which was very appropriate with the recent occurrences around Tonga – and the Toast to Rotary International.
Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all those in the Kingdom of Tonga and surrounding islands effected by the volcano eruption.
Neil Henderson gave us an update on the book fair. All is going well, with everything now in ‘the shop’ and set up well underway. Set up was completed Tuesday afternoon.
Doors open Friday morning 9am. Despite the hot weather the first day of trading was very busy with sales of nearly $3,000. Hopefully the hot weather forecast for the remaining days will not deter book lovers
Greg updated us on the Motor Show. Planning is progressing well, and vehicle registrations have commenced – which is great news!
All registrations are online this year, through TryBookings.
Richard Hawker is coordinating the volunteering roster for this event.
Please contact Richard with your availability on the day, there is many tasks to fill!
John Oswald gave us a fascinating insight to fossils he has found on and around our local beaches, in the sandstone, and some interesting information surrounding fossils in this area.
John mentioned the large and very powerful telescopes being used in discovery and how these are being used by scientists plotting history, and historical events of ‘yesteryear’.
Kithbrooke Park has closed all their facilities for a period of time. This means we are unable to use the community room there.
The meetings we were scheduled to have there, will now be online – using Teams, until we are once again able to meet face to face.
As has been mentioned previously, we will not meet for the next two Mondays –
24th we will be cleaning up after the book fair, which will involve a lot of member volunteering.
And the 31st will be no meeting due to everyone’s involvement and commitment to the book fair.
Last week, Maggie was feeling unwell. I was sorry to hear this, and we certainly hope she is feeling better.
To all other members, partners and friends of the club who have had health challenges over recent times ---- we send our very best wishes.
Gerard Hogan has joined us at several meetings now and is keen to get to know members a little better. Margaret McPherson has also joined us over recent months, and volunteers at many of our events.
Given the world we are now in, and us having to meet on Teams, our face-to-face contact is not what it used to be.
I have mentioned ‘phoning each other for a chat previously – but how about calling a few people for a coffee date?
This is a great way to catch up …… and if you arrange a date, as well as catching up with our members --- don’t forget to give Gerard and Margaret a call!
I am sure there is (many) other ways we can all keep in touch and get to know each other.
If you have an idea, thought or suggestion ---- call a few people …… and go for it!