President's Report - Peter Godden
It is my great pleasure to present my final Report for the 2007/2008 year and to record my appreciation to the Club for the privilege granted me to lead the Club.
The year has passed very quickly, and it is difficult to believe that 12 months has passed since John O’Connor handed the reins over to me.
I particularly wish to thank all Directors and Office Bearers for their help and assistance during the year, and to all members of the Club who have also assisted in all manner of ways, both great and small. Without pre-empting the individual Directors’ Reports I would note the following highlights:-
- Successful fundraising events included the Annalisa Kerrigan Concert, Garden Expo and Book Sale. These events have enabled us to donate a substantial amount of money to local, national and international causes, as shown in the accompanying Donations List.
- We have a stockpile of beds ex McKay Nursing Home and Jan Alblas Hostel, which will hopefully being going to Vanuatu with the assistance of our donation to RAWCS towards the cost of a container.
- In conjunction with the Garden Expo we were able to have an official opening of the Gazebo which we provided to the Botanical Gardens as our 75th Anniversary major project. I would hope we will be able to give continued support to the Botanical Gardens to ensure that they continue to grow in stature. I am confident that the Garden Expo is helping to raise the Community profile of the Gardens.
- The Club has been able to meet the challenge raised by District Governor Ian Dyball to donate to the Polio Plus Challenge. Hopefully the scourge of polio will soon be a thing of the past through the intervention of Rotary.
- Despite losing several members during the year we have managed to grow the membership overall. I suspect that the promotions carried out in conjunction with our 75th Anniversary are bearing fruit, throughout this zone in particular. Membership is going to be a continuing challenge for Rotary Clubs over the foreseeable future and it has been encouraging to see a good response to the surveys instituted by Terry Balla. I find it a great encouragement that our Club can cater to such a wide age group and cross-section of the Community. It is certainly something we will need to be mindful of for the future.
- We have instituted a Club survey to seek the views of the Club, and hope that that will provide guidance for incoming President Steve Beaton and his Board.
- Great work has been done by the programs Committee led by Dick Howard, the Bulletin Committee led by Jim Wilson & by the Catering Committee led by Bernie Barnsley.
Finally I wish to record my thanks to my Wife, Val, for her support and encouragement during the year, and to wish Steve and his incoming Board all the best for a 2008/2009 Rotary year.
Peter
