I suppose the question of the week is what did you think of our trial run at The Trade Winds?  I thought on the upside was that it was almost like being home at Tompkins on Swan.  We were on our own, had heaps of “elbow room”, the audio / visual simply worked and if it had not have rained the parking would not have been too much of a problem.  On a very personal note they also provided a lectern meaning less for me to try and fit into the ever useful but always never quite big enough 60-litre container. The negatives are that we do lose money on the night and I thought that the meal needed a bit of an upgrade.  However, it did seem that our food preferences were catered for.

I suggest that the Board makes a recommendation when it meets in two weeks’ time.  In the meantime, don’t forget that we are back at the Kardinya Tavern this coming Monday with the highlight of the night being the induction of Barb Kitto.  It also means I get to dust off the chain of office and remember my lines.

What about our guest speakers Craig and Jade on Monday - they were simply awe-inspiring and emphasises to me that every journey starts with one small step, from two volunteers to more than 90 in such a short time.  Craig still finds time to work full time as a civil engineer and he comes across as such an unassuming person.  Full marks to Jade and the volunteers. I, for one, would find it quite daunting to be so up close and personal.  

I cannot believe where the month of July has gone.  If it continues in the same vein, the year will be over almost before it has started – which brings me to a very important point, we do need a President Elect for next year, and while we are at it, it would be great to also have a President Nominee for Rotary Year 2003-2004 to support District Governor Nominee Designate Patricia Schraven from the Rotary Club of Mandurah Districts.

​One more weekly meeting down and counting.  By the time it gets to my 52nd I should be word perfect and more than capable in handing the baton over.  All I have to do now is to remember to thank the member(s) who provided the after dinner snacks and to call for a volunteer for the forthcoming week.  So, a little belated but better late than never, thank you Giovanna for tonight’s snacks and to Heather in volunteering to provide next week.

 We were delighted to welcome  guest speaker Michelle Lennon and her colleague Adam King, and Barb Kitto (her 3rd visit).

​Whilst we continue to hold our weekly meetings at The Kardinya Tavern, we have a choice to reintroduce a weekly host to meet and greet us as we arrive and sign in, or we look after ourselves and find our own name badge and more importantly return it to the cabinet when leaving the meeting.  It’s quite a sight to see Carole struggling with the name tag cabinet but she cannot do everything, which I noticed this evening included helping the staff to serve our meal.  Do we need to reintroduce a host with the additional task akin to a maitre d’ in directing the waiting staff to the member whose meal is being served?  At the very least it is far better than in the earlier weeks when staff were trying to find meals a home by shouting out the name of the member and thoroughly disrupting the meeting procedure.
 
I, for my part, will try and keep the meeting on schedule and close by 8.00pm in order that we have time for fellowship but it’s surprising how time slips by and the 1 ½ hour simply flies by.

-nwm

Well, what a night!  Thank you everyone for the support, I really appreciated it and know that I and, more importantly, the Club are in good hands.
 
The evening had its ups and downs.  Firstly, I knocked my new beaut President’s name badge that promptly flew off my lapel onto the driveway in four pieces (actually three of the pieces stuck to the car door sill).  Good start for a President and obviously a sign — only for it to happen again during the meeting.  This time I was prepared and after the meeting IPP Gail found the magnets, this time clinging to the metal leg of a table.  Someone obviously still wants me to be President.
 
What a moment for me to be the first in District 9465 to acknowledge IPDG Wayne and Suzanne as guests at my first meeting.  I did feel for Gail who also re-joined the meeting without a speaking role.  However, like me, someone must have been looking over her as she and Colin won both the door prize and the joker wine.  I could sense a huge sigh of relief from the rest when Gail didn’t draw the Joker.
 
I thought our speaker, Neil Stanbury, was informative.  For some reason the Port of Fremantle was like a magnet to me when I arrived in Perth and I still have a useless photo taken with a Kodak camera, the one that had the blue square flash cube, taken from the footbridge over the railway facing the Port Authority Building.  Maybe I should donate it to our speaker for their photograph collection.  On second thoughts, no, it’s one of my early memories of Perth.
 
Of course the night would not be complete without a mention of PP Tom Slater.  With the ups come the downs, and it was a sad day for the Club in accepting his resignation after almost 30 years of service.  As the new kid on the block, I had no idea of his Rotary involvement and I thank PP Ian Pittaway for putting together at short notice an overview of Tom’s Rotary involvement.  
 
So, my first meeting is over and only 51 more chalk marks to put on the blackboard until it finishes next year.  I know that I am really going to enjoy my year as President and with your help and support, I will get through.  There will be some challenges, of that I am sure, but taken one step at a time, the journey can be enjoyed.
 
The Club’s first task is to accept DG Colin’s challenge to create one new Club Project this year.  I have some ideas, but let’s all put our heads together and see we what we can do.  Without spreading ourselves too thin, I think we can manage one more major headline project and I believe there is a local project, waiting to happen, that will enable us to accept DG Colin’s challenge.
 
Yours in Rotary
Pres. Neil

Neil Stanbury, Manager Corporate and Community Relations Fremantle Ports will be the Guest Speaker at the Attadale Rotary meeting on Monday July 6.  Neil will be sharing a bit of history about the port, and many other facts and emerging shipping trends. Neil will also share some terrific photos that people don’t often see.

Attadale Rotary’s newly elected President Neil McKay and all members will make visitors most welcome.

Current Venue:- Kardinya Tavern Bistro  (South Street, Kardinya)
Bistro entrance and parking at rear.
Time:- 6 for  6.30pm
Meal order to be placed on arrival.
If attending please send email to - carole.maxwell46@gmail.com by Sunday, July 5

'IF YOU'RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT CLAP YOUR HANDS' 😀👏😀👏
Thankfully Covid-19 restrictions had lifted enough in Western Australia for us to be able to meet in person on this important night and there certainly was a lot of happiness and clapping taking place at the recent Attadale Rotary Club's Changeover meeting.

Club members and friends showed their appreciation for the many great things that had been achieved during the past year with President Gail McCulloch at the helm. It was also wonderful to have District Governor Wayne Milnes and Suzanne as well as District Governor Elect Colin Burns and Sandra attend on the night. The evening commenced with Past President Ian Pittaway reading a Grace he had especially prepared for this important occasion. After a delicious meal President Gail went through all the projects the Club had been involved in over the year and she thanked her husband Colin for his constant support, patience and help which allowed her to devote her time to being President.

A highlight of the evening was the induction of Shelley Konig into the membership of the Rotary Club of Attadale and the Global Rotary Family. Heather McNaught will be Shelley's mentor and Keith McNaught her sponsor. Past Presidents John Sharp, Colin McCulloch and Ian Pittaway said it was a privilege to present the Past Presidents' Award for the Rotary year to Jim Calcei for all his Rotary work during the year. It was especially wonderful to see all Jim's large family present for the occasion. Another wonderful part of the night was President Gail announcing that Kerry and Abby Parsons were being recognised as Paul Harris Fellows in appreciation for the way in which their lives demonstrate a commitment to helping people in need, here and around the world, and for providing educational opportunities for young people. It was special that DG Wayne Milnes and DGE Colin Burns were able to take part in the Paul Harris Fellowship presentation.

Patricia Robertson was presented with an Honorary Membership badge to thank her for her service and contribution to Rotary over the years. Patricia had previously been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship and is currently on the committee of the National Youth Science Forum.

District Governor Wayne Milnes proposed the toast to Rotary International during the evening and John Sharp proposed the Toast to Partners to which Greg James responded.
​
It certainly had been a year with the perfect theme of 'Rotary Connects The World' and President Gail wished incoming President Neil McKay and Giovanna all the best for the coming year where 'Rotary Opens Opportunities' and with a formal ceremony Gail inducted Neil McKay as the new President of the Attadale Rotary Club for 2020-2021.