It was good to see around 80 in attendance at our Christmas meeting, including spouses, partners, families and friends. A good time was had by all – including a couple of members we thought we had got rid of!

As President Ian hasn’t mentioned it in his notes, our very grateful thanks to Liz (and Ian) for the use of their excellent ‘facilities’ although this was the last time they will make their home available for this function.

Bradley Dubois was inducted into the Club and presented with his Rotary pin.

Our inimitable John Bishop once again regaled us with his comments as he ably guided us through both the business and the fellowship of the evening.

 

“This was our first get-together for quite some time, with special thanks to John Bishop, Bev Herron, Bev Robinson and their club committee team. Thanks also to our on-site parking warden Roger Gordon and our guest Santa Claus all the way from (somewhere unknown) but near Cambridge…

 

I remember during last year’s Christmas holidays I was preparing my list of priorities for my incoming Presidency year, with an anxiety of entering a new Rotary year, I had many great thoughts but with a year of Covid-19 many of our plans have had to be postponed or carried out but not as planned. This has caused many an internal conflict as we all like to meet the goals we had set for ourselves and our club.

But the interesting thing about this year is that we can see how people react to this type of situation, how material things are no longer so important and how priorities can change in matter of days.

 

I guess one major beneficiary of this virus has been Planet Earth, Nature has finally been able to breathe from humans, and society has had time to better understand how fragile we all really are. As Rotarians we have witnessed from one day to the next, the need to re-focus goals, and to reprioritise events from 2021 into 2022.

 

2022 is going to give us new challenges and new learning, just as our way of life will change, our club will also have a need for change. Somehow, we need to accept and return to as near normal lives (which includes club meetings) and I will do everything I can to ensure this happens, to see us all back together to continue those plans we all made last year.

 

Thank you all for all your support over my first six months, and for remaining strong and continuing to support our community. I’m very proud to say I’m a Rotarian but especially proud to say that I’m a Cambridge Rotarian.

It’s people like you that make Christmas so special and meaningful. Have a great Christmas and enjoy the support of each other’s company.”