President's Day and Handover 2017

01.TablesGeneralPresident Ivan concluded his year at his President's Dinner held 26 June at the Royal Belfast Golf Club. Always the highlight of the Club's year and this year's extremely convivial evening proved to continue that tradition being greatly enjoyed by the 63 members and guests. After drinks in the bar areas President Ivan welcomed all especially District Governor Elect Garth & Anne Arnold, President Belfast West Rotary Club Des & Jayne McFall President Elect Rosemary's daughter Karen Mbayo and District Assistant Governor Roland Bailie.

After dinner a Paul Harris Fellowship was awarded to CT Hogg recognising his significant contribution to the work of the Club over the last 44 years. His citation, made by Past President Brian Clements reflected on his regular attendance, support and loyalty to the Club and, in particular, his eloquence, intellect and wit as a public speaker particularly if a very special guest needed to be introduced, thanked or entertained. He pointed out his prowess as an after dinner speaker made him one of the country’s finest who was always in great demand; his successful career as a merchant banker; service with the UDR and his extensive service to the wider community including St John’s Ambulance, NI War Memorial, Junior Chamber and Deputy Lieutenant for Belfast concluding that “Clarence Thomas” Hogg MBE, JP, UD, DL, was a very well deserved Paul Harris Fellow. Thanking for the Award, and for once almost bereft of words, CT felt the Fellowship was "undeserved" but he would treasure it.

19.PPBrianPHFCitation 21.PresIvanPresentsPHFtooCT 22.GarthPlacesPinonCT 23.CTResponds

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7 members played golf in the afternoon and President Ivan presented the MacNab Trophy to a worthy winner with a Gross 73 - Tim Browne.

15.PresIvanWelcomesAllAddressing the Club, President Ivan emphasised what a huge honour it was to have been “your 105th President” thanking all for the trust placed on him 3 years ago. He reflected that he had thoroughly enjoyed his Presidential year ( which had passed in a flash) representing the Club in various guises and of his 3 main areas of focus he had:

He reflected on his particular highlights: the Charity Golf Day, abseiling the Europa with PPs Gordon Millington and Ken Morrison, the District lunch hosted and fronted by the Club, with Foundation Trustees Chairman Kalyan Banjeree and the Ruby Paul Harris presentation to PP Gordon Millington. He highlighted that just under £20,000 has been donated to the causes we have chosen to support which is just short of £300, raised by and/or contributed, per member.

24.PresIvanReviewsYearThanking all members for their efforts he also particularly thanked PP David Boyd for his help and commitment to the Club finances and TABU as well as the TABU team of PPs Brian Byers and Brian Clements, Chris Warnock and Brian Gillespie; Eric Rainey and Walter Rader for co-ordinating the massive Youth Services team and invaluable work carried out with Youth Action; Billy McCoubrey for all his excellent camera work and for membership recording; John Williamson for looking after the Bag Fund and Charity Draw and all members of council.

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He also extended particular thanks to his wife Judi, Jenny Boyd, Secretary Crawford and PE Rosemary for all their support and presented flowers to Judi, Jenny, Lisa-Jane McIlveen and PE Rosemary.

 

25.IPPwithTopTeam2017Wishing her every success he handed over the Chain of Office to President Rosemary who invited VP Mark Davidson to accept the President Elect Jewel and welcomed Karen Blair as Vice President.

26.NewPresidentRosemaryIn her inaugural address President Rosemary congratulated “a most successful President on an outstanding year” she noted Immediate Past President Ivan's leadership had been exemplary and would be a hard act to follow but that she would “do it her way”. She reflected that there would be new young faces round the Council table mixed with a few more experienced Rotarians and that she would be following last year’s plans with an emphasis on promoting Foundation Sustaining Membership. She thanked those who had influenced her early years in Rotary - PPs Bryan Johnston and Courtenay Thompson - and Doris Houston and Eileen Kennedy for their friendship and support and stated that she was delighted to have the honour to be the 2nd woman President of the Club.

27.GarthAndPresRosemary28.PresRosemaryThanksIPPIvanWithYearBookPresident Rosemary wishing DG Elect Garth a very happy and successful year in office advised that the Belfast Club would proffer unstinting support and expressing delight that AG Roland would be with us throughout the coming year concluded the evening by presenting Past President Ivan with a record of his year as appeared in the weekly reports.

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