SUCCESSFUL YEAR.

Wairarapa Age, 7 July 1936, Page 6

SUCCESSFUL YEAR.

MASTERTON ROTARY CLUB ACTIVITIES. BUSINESS AT ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting and social evening of the Masterton Rotary Club was held in the Savage Club rooms on Saturday. In addition to Rotarians and their wives, a number of past Rotarians and other visitors were present. A very enjoyable time was spent in social games, dancing, bridge and community singing. Supper was also provided. During the evening, the annual report and statements were presented, and reference was made to the club activities throughout the year by the president, Mr. F. E. Wells. Mr. Wells expressed his grateful thanks to all club officers and members for their loyal cooperation, which had made his year of office one that he would look back upon with very pleasant memories. At the close of his remarks he handed over the gavel to the incoming president, the Rev. E. J. Rich, and placed upon him the president's chain of office, wishing him every success in the year before him. The new president was duly sung in by the club, after which he expressed appreciation of the honour accorded him in electing him president for 1936-37, and said he hoped that the new year would find the club maintaining its traditions and extending its sphere of influence. It had been a great experience for him to enjoy the fellowship of the members in the past, and he felt the Hub had a great contribution to make to its members in this direction alone. He referred in eulogistic terms to the work and personality of the retiring president, and on behalf of the club presented him with a past president's jewel, which would always serve to remind him of his year of office. The presentation was followed by the singing of 41 For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

■ The annual report stated “The memJ bership of the club at the close of ■ 1935-36 was 24—an increase of one over ■ 1934-35. During the year five new Rotar- . ians were elected—Rotarians A. Even- > den, F. C. Yule, N. C. C. Shepherd, F. J M. Whyte and N. Lee—and four Rotar- ■ ians resigned, Rotarians R. F. Frank- ■ lin, W. L. Free, A. M. Scott and F. C. ■ Yule. Two of the resignations were i due to removals to other towns, one to ; loss of classification and one to inabil- • ity to meet the attendance require- • ments. The attendance for the year , was 76 per cent., as compared with 80 i per cent, in the previous year. As in J previous years, our attendances have i been affected by members going abroad, i and others who have been unable to at- , tend for lengthy periods owing to sicki ness or other causes. During the year • rules were drawn up covering the holdi mg of the Attendance Cup, and it was [ decided that the captain of the team , having the highest percentage for each i month should hold the cup for the foli lowing month, same to be on his table • at every luncheon. Certain members [ who were unable to attend regularly i were not included for the purpose of ! c ® n ?P“- t * l1 g attendance cup records. The i club has met at luncheons regularly i throughout the year on Thursdays, ex- ‘ cepting during the recess from before i Christmas to the end of January. The | directors met regularly every month, excepting January, at the residence of the president, and in addition three «P e Sjal meetings were held. President U. E, Wells and Rotarian 8. L. P Free attended the District Governor's Assembly during the year, and the latter Rotarian was the club’s sole representative at the District Conference in Auckland. Attendance at the conference is a valuable experience which all Rotarians should seek to gain, and it !? rge numbers will be able to attend the conference in 1937 M„ SItS ™ ceived fr <>m the Wellington and the Dannevirke clubs. The Wellington members’ visit was on the oc- ,‘? e P reeentati oa of the Longuet Shield to Solway College. The principal spurts mistress and prefects of the college also attended the club’s luncheon on that occasion. On the octhT oB m«et :the Daunevirk ® Club’s visit the meeting was transferred to the spe““with n a Ver?r “•>°y < “ ble ‘ime was spent with our visitors. A return visit th“ft N aid v y a f6W ° f ° Ur members in orded J ear ’. a good time bei “g ret “ embers also vilited !>7 011 tbe occasion of the inter-club forum held there in Being ThiS 7“ a ver ? “terret white? * a “ d was very wortb“The club activities in the past year nn/ maDy and varied - Tb ® major li«h the club was the establishment ot the Crippled Children’s Society in Masterton and district. A separate organisation has now been formed, and is proceeding with the work of assisting the cripples in our midst. Several Rotarians retain influential positions on the committee. Thirty cases were reported, nearly all of whom had been interviewed. The club voted £5 os towards the preliminary expenses, and also by means of the sale of some copies of Mr. List’s book, ‘The Briton at Home,’ were able to make a further donation to the society’s funds. The directors wish to return thanks especially to all speakers and entertainers at club meetings throughout the year, to the club pianist, Rotarian T. V aughan, and his able substitute, Mr. C. . Kerry to the sergeant-at-arms, Botanan W. J. Rew, and the club reand 7’ H - A - B - Dunderdale, and to all club members who have lovally supported them in the conduct of ton C fn \,. Ap P reciatlon is expressed, ChuhF • LOW and the Wellington tnV? help ln many ways ’ aud t 0 District Governor Stanley Poster, whose interest in the club’s welfare was both encouraging and helpful.”