Rotary Year Reviewed

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7193, 27 June 1933, Page 11

Rotary Year Reviewed

REPORT OF PALMERSTON NORTH PRESIDENT.

Tho annual report of tho president (Mr W. G. Black), and aims and objects committee of tho Palmerston North Rotary Club, states: —

"The major activity rccommonded by your committee and successfully carried out by tho club was tho provision of a library, recreation material, Christmas gifts and regular entertainment for the Weraroa Boys’ Training Farm at Levin.

"The outstanding event of the year was the conference of the 53rd District, held in Palmerston North, which was opened by his Excellency, the Go-vernor-General, Lord Bledisloc. Tho entire arrangements for tho conduct of the confcrcnco and tho entertainment of the visiting delegates and their ladies went off harmoniously, thanks to" tho chairmanship of District Governor Harry Valdcr, and the perfect organisation of tho conference secretary, Mr Gordon Priest. The congratulatory references from the visiting clubs were many and sincere, and this should be a real pride to the members of the Palmerston North Club, who have for tho second time hold a Eotary conference in Pnlmorston North, successful both in point of numbers and the standard of addresses and discussions. A pleasant interlude in the conference proceedings was our weekly luncheon, when we entertained, as guests, the Governor-Gen-eral and all the visiting delegates. "Our efforts to assist the Y.AV.C.A. board of management were again continued, and our advisory committee of three members to thisboard has rendered considerable service. A canvass for subscribers to the organisation was conducted by our members, tho annual street appeal was again supported, and refunds of insurance and reduction of mortgage interest were also obtained, representing in all a rovenuo of approximately £IBO. The amount cf £2O set aside by the club last year for tho Y.AV.C.A. in its support of deserving and necessitous cases w-as not required and is no longer a liability to the club.

“Many minor activities were also recommended by tho committee, in particular would I refer to the Boy Scouts’ camp at Po'hangina, and to tho visit of the young Australia League on two occasions, when billeting, transport and general arrangements for their public concerts were largely provided by our club members. Again this year no children’s Christmas treats or contributions to tho Mayor’s Fund were recommended, but the sum of £25 was voted to the Governor-General’s AVintcr Relief Fund with the qualification that it be allotted to Palmerston North. “Tho programmo committee, in accordance with tho aims and objects plan, preparod its half-yearly programme of addresses closely in accordance with the six objects of Rotary, many addresses of a vocational nature having been given by Eotarians and a wide variety of international subjects were provided. One of the recommendations made by the aims and objects committee to tho programme committee was the arrangement for periodical interchanges of club visits. AVihilst I personally visited many of the adjacerft clubs early in the year, the only club visit we wero able to arrange was one front the AVcllington Club. This was so successful and showed members the high value which these meetings hold for Eotarians, that I trust more. of them can be arranged in tho coming year. “I desire to record with deep regret the loss by death of Eotarian V. T. Dibble, who during the tomi of his membership proved himself a true Eotarian and a most reliable and efficient secretary. AVhilst recognising the merit of every member’s servico I feel I will be pardoned for making particular reference to the following members whose services have played such an important part in the Tccont growth and success of tho club: Eotarian J. C. Young, for two years chairman of tho programme committee, who has spared himself no effort in providing a regular, varied and instructive programme for our weekly luncheons; Eotarian E. T. Jaggard, for several years chairman of the classification and membership committee, who has been chiefly responsible for tho growth in the club’s membership; Eotarian G. G. Priest, who assumed the secretaryship on the death of Eotarian Dibble and has rendered invaluable and ungrudging service to tho club and the board of directors and the fullest co-operation with me in my duties as president; Eotarians A. E. Mansford and K. G. Chamberlain, two of our more recent members, who are to be congratulated on the servico they are rendering to the community, the former as Mayor of Palmerston North and chairman of the Central Distress Relief Committee and the latter as secretary of the Central Distress Relief Committee and tho Boys’ AVelfare and Employment Committee.

t( Another substantial increase in our membership lias been recorded during the year in spite of the difficult conditions 'which have prevailed. This is intensely gratifying to me and with such strength of club membership and its loyalty to Eotary ideals, I feel confident for the future of our club. Times and conditions are changing rapidly, and we seoan to bo at the dawn of a new OTa whore quiet conlidcnco and unremitting effort are required. Our membership of Eotary can be justified if we will only continue to wort together in good fellowship and readiness to grasp our unequalled opportunity for constructive service to our community. ’ ’ “Beference .must, be made to the continued energetic leadership of our president, Eotarian W. G. Blade, which at all times encourages members of the club in their duties as Botarians, ” states the secretary’s annual report, which adds:'“The present Organisation of the club has been very largely due to his efforts. “The average luncheon attendance of members lias been 84.3 for the year, which is slightly better than that of the preceding term. The membership has reached the satisfactory total of 98, a net gain of 11 on that of the previoiis yeaT. The net gain during the past two years i® 28 members,”