Club Assembly 2014

President Elect Ronnie McLean led a detailed presentation of the service programmes for the forthcoming year 2014/15 at the Club Assembly Monday 2 June 2014. He wished to emphasise during his year the basic ethics of Rotary membership and the 4 Way Test and highlighted the handy yellow card that is available to members to simply explain Rotary to others.

He noted that membership would be at the forefront, major emphasis would be placed on fewer projects to ensure they were done well and fundraising combined with social events. He dew attention to District Governor Phillip Beggs's 2 new District Projects which the Club would be supporting and concluded he was excited by the developing relationship with Youth Action and that he would be taking a further look at the survey results.

Membership:

PP Maurice Brooks highlighted Retention and Recruitment, that RI has targeted a 10% increase over 5 years and that PE Ronnie has a goal of a net 2 increase in membership. He pointed out the new members' categories - Full, Prospective, Corporate and Friend; the associated leaflets available and the publication support for members with the website, weekly update and Club Roster.

International Service:

Ken Taylor noted that ongoing projects would continue to be: Rombo, ShelterBox (event to be organised in City Hall grounds) & AquaBox (under Convenor Gordon Millington) and that the Club would support District Project 538 which involves Rotary and Gorta working together in Kiptulwa, Kenya to solve water problems in the area by purchasing water tanks for the school and tanks and guttering for the family homes whilst also securing and protecting existing water springs. It is named after a school in Kenya that has 538 children. Club target £500. He:

• thanked all members who have supported this year for their time and generosity;
• suggested a convenor is assigned to each project to allow the work load to be more evenly spread
• asked that members consider becoming involved to ensure existing and indeed new projects continue to be supported as they should and
• hoped 2015 would see a continuation of all the good work.

Community & Vocational Service:

In Brian Clement's absence, Secretary Rosemary gave his report, advising that Community Service this year would focus on support for Mitchell House with the Christmas Party and other possible opportunities to be discussed. They would look into supporting SOSBus in ways other than on-hand support at night time as it was now a very late finish. The Club would be supporting the District Daisy project to provide a playground at the newly built "Daisy Lodge" situated outside Newcastle Co. Down in partnership with the Cancer Fund for Children. The Cancer Fund for Children has been providing practical, emotional and financial support to children, teenagers and young adults with cancer, and their families for many years and now offers an all Ireland service. The cost of this playground is estimated to be £26,000 – Club target £500. Vocational Service programme would continue to help Youth Action in the 'Get Set to be Hired' initiative and providing help with mock interviews.

The Rotary Foundation:

PP Derek Baxter highlighted the RI Six Areas of Focus noting that any application for a grant or scholarship must support at least one of them. He highlighted the RI Global and District Grant Scholarships, the World Peace Fellows and Vocational Training Teams Scholarships together with the opportunities to support the Fund financially. The Club currently has 1 Benefactor and 4 Sustaining Members. He noted the primary contact for visiting Global Grant Scholars is PP Bryan Johnston and that volunteers are needed to:

• recruit World Peace Scholarship applicants
• promote funding for Polio Eradication
• extend Sustaining Membership

Youth Service:

Using the George Bernard Shaw quote: "Youth is too precious to be wasted on the Young!" PP Eric Rainey stated that it was hoped:

• to develop and encourage the Club's partnership with Youth Action through 'Get Set to be Hired' pack and project and other Youth Partners e.g. FASA,
• offer "Interview Skills" and mentoring opportunities to schools etc ...as appropriate,
• actively support the District Youth Leadership Competition through PP Brian Ferguson together with other District Competitions which will be promoted through the website and weekly report and to respond to and encourage any response,
• provide support for the incoming TABU visit and
• continue to offer active support and encouragement to Rotaract (involving them as fully as possible in Club activities ) whilst also encouraging their unique "independence".

Communications:

PP David Boyd highlighted the new Rotary & Club identity which will be used in all paperwork and rolled out in the website over the coming months. Current member communications would continue weekly with all Club information available on the website. Press releases would be sent when appropriate and emphasised that communications are member dependent asking all convenors to Think Communications! - advise him of events, what happened and take a photograph!

PP David also noted that the incoming TABU visit would take place last week of March 2015 with member input needed in preparations starting in September to set up the Programme.

Concluding, PE Ronnie pointed out that this 2014-15 year 2 Conferences were being held in Belfast and asked all members to register and attend. He stated that he was looking forward to being President but that it was 'your' Club not the President's and would only be successful with the effort of all.

ADG Garth Arnold gave pertinent comments reflecting each of the presentations and brought greetings from District. Highlighting the new 2014-15 theme of "Light Up Rotary", the RIBI President 2014-15 Peter King and the 2 District projects promoted by DG Philip Beggs he wished the Club well for the forthcoming year and offered his support in any way.