PRESIDENT’S BLOG

JUNE 2010

In July 2009, I wrote my first blog as President of the club and, now, here I am writing my last. I’ve kept my resolution to blog monthly. I’ve enjoyed telling the web about our club and only hope it has been enjoyable and useful to those who have bothered to read my pages. It was good to hear from former member Cliff Cane now about to become VDG in 105SW, former member Keith Davies now living in Vancouver and Charter member Ray Griffiths’ daughter Avril. Thank you for making contact and keep in touch!

May proved to be the busy month it had threatened to be! We celebrated our 37^th Charter Anniversary on 14^th May at Holiday Inn Ewloe. They looked after us very well. We had 108 at the event including our DG Frank Marnell and Paula, the retiring Mayor of Flint Paul Cunningham and Joan, President of Rotary Mike Holt and Margaret and former High Sheriff Nick Bankes and Sherri. I was able to make the presentations that I had mentioned in last month’s blog.

There was no peace for the wicked! Next night, with colleagues from the club, I attended Ellesmere Port Charter Night. On Sunday, I was addressing a training session about Treasurers and their duties.

Monday night, we had a meeting of the delivery van drivers to plan the following Saturday’s plant delivery rosters and schedules.

Wednesday saw 44 members and ladies at our house for a thank you party to express my appreciation of the support I have enjoyed from the club this last year.

The weather was kind and most of us stayed out in the garden in comfort rather than crowding the kitchen as we do at Christmas! Thanks especially to Marian for spending two days preparing for the event and to David for running the bar.

Friday night was spent running around supermarkets collecting trays for the deliveries: by 5 a.m. on Saturday, the first 12 members were at Flint High School to offload the second and third lorry loads of plants: (first was Friday night!): by 6 a.m. all the packers were arriving and the first two vans were on the road by 6.30. By 7 a.m., Marian had arrived with the traditionally well acclaimed hot pork pies from Hulsons, Mold. Thanks to the packers, the regular drivers’ knowledge of their routes  and the experience we have picked up over the years, the project was virtually complete by 2 p.m. This is our major fund raising project each year and the latest results suggest it will long remain so.

Just when I thought I had time to take a couple of anadin, Lion Terry called a Youth committee meeting at Lion John Filce’s house. It was good to see John and Joan looking so well after their difficult 3 or 4 months. Thanks for the traditional hospitality!

Can I take the anadin now? No! Webmaster David wants my blog. Oh well……

Perhaps if I’m a good boy, they’ll let me sign off next month. If not, I wish incoming President Lion Peter McCracken and Pauline a happy and successful year and I thank them for their constant companionship and support during the year.

If anybody out there ever reads this blog, can you tell me where I put the anadin?

 John Gregory