21 January 2004
Hello fellows & happy New Year to all.
Welcome back to another term of Rotary community service and fellowship.
It will be obvious to you all by now that it has been necessary to relocate to the Bowling Club for this week, 21 January and next week, 28 January 2004, at very short notice this was due to incomplete building work at the Golf Club. Whilst other alternative locations were considered the Bowling Club offered to accommodate us at very short notice which I accepted and I appreciate their invitation.
Thanks to Eric & Pauline Khu for organising the dinner at Bortoli’s Restaurant in Burwood on 7 January. I was out of Sydney at the time but I understand those members who did attend had a nice time.
Last week was a great night of fellowship at the annual bowls night at the Bowling Club. We enjoyed are delicious BBQ very capably cooked by Kevin Fruend and Allan Petersen and I thank them for that. There was a varying degree of bowling skill on display and some suspect scoring decisions during the evening however I believe everyone was a winner. Also, John Leftwich was in Sydney and called in during the evening to experience the bowling “skills” of Strathfield Rotarians.
On Monday 12 January I met with Kevin Beltrame, Rod McDougall and Stephen Taylor to progress planning of the bike ride at Sydney Olympic Park to be held this year on Sunday 2 May. Bert Houston and Euan Watson will also be joining the Committee to assist with the event. This is a major fund raising event and we will be doing everything we can to make it a success. Whilst those members mentioned above form the planning committee every member will have a role to play in making this event a success.
Last Thursday night Kevin Beltrame and Karen Catalano and Burt Houston and Carole took a trip up to Springwood and dinned with our Club’s three Rylarians. The leadership camp is now completed and I look forward to presenting our candidates with their certificates in February.
It’s only 4 weeks until the Annual Golf day and Niall King will be telling us more about this. Please assist Niall to make this event successful by giving it your attention and compiling any with requests from Niall.
Also for information of the recently elected new Board members and other office holders please note the date of the District Assembly will be Saturday 3 April 2004 at Meriden School Strathfield.
Congratulations to Brian & Janet Johnson whose daughter was married last Saturday, I trust the day was successful for them.
Finally, don’t forget your half-yearly dues are due for payment now, please see Treasurer Allan. The Club is committed to pay Rotary International dues by the 3rd week in January and so it is vital for cash flow management purposes that members attend to this.
Keith