Founded 1916; R.I.B.I. Club No. 13

                   Presidential Address, 7th July 2008 by Robert Mansfield, President 2008-2009

INTRODUCTION

I am honoured to succeed to the Presidency, particularly so at a time when the Club's stock is high. I should like to begin by recognising and paying my own tribute to all that Immediate Past President Derek Goodman has inspired and led the Club, with the active engagement of others in the wider community, to achieve in his year. He has given unstintingly of himself to that end: in fronting the magnificent effort on behalf of the Bone and Tissue Bank, in attending to the minutiae of running the Club?s business, in bringing in new members, in representing the Club externally and in dealing with a number of sensitive and difficult matters during the year. In this instance those well-worn words ?a hard act to follow? have the resounding ring of truth.

Incoming RI President Dong-Kurn Lee has chosen as the Rotary theme for 2008/2009 "Make Dreams Real". His particular concern is for children throughout the world, and he emphasises the well-established Rotary priorities of food and clean water, healthcare and schooling. This sets an important part of the context for the programme for the Rotary Club of Leicester in 2008/2009. So do the changing face of the city of Leicester, and the changing profile of its population. And so do the established traditions of this Club, which we must continue to build on and to develop.

The foremost challenge facing the Rotary Club of Leicester is membership. We all know it. The issue is not just about numbers, either. We must make further progress to improve the gender balance of the Club and we must recruit more members from the communities that are barely or not at all represented here. If we succeed in this we have every prospect of renewed growth, and of being at least 100 again by the time of our centenary.  I'd also like to see the Club strengthen its links with the leading institutions in the city and with other service organisations, with which we should be closer.

We have great opportunities to make dreams real this year, at home and abroad. Some of this will happen through well-established community service projects, some through our link with the Rotary Club of Guimaręs, Portugal, some through new ventures. I have chosen CLASP, the Carers Centre, as my charity for the year. CLASP need to realise the dream of moving to new premises where they can give a better service to the unseen army of thousands of local carers, young and old, in Leicestershire. In addition, District 1070 calls upon every club to support Macmillan Cancer Support.

PROPOSED CLUB PROGRAMME FOR 2008/2009

Proposals for a programme for moving the Club forward in ways that should prove both stimulating and, I hope, enjoyable are set out below, under the leadership of the Club's Committees and their Chairmen. Although the Committees all have clear remits, this is not meant to not encourage "silo" working. Someone wise said recently "Rotary Clubs are here to run projects, not committees". Everyone should feel free to approach any Committee with ideas or offers of help, and should be ready to respond when invited.

100th Special Project: Chairman, John Nisbet

The Committee will continue the challenging task of identifying a suitable project through which the Club can once again make a really memorable contribution to local amenities for the benefit of the people of Leicester and neighbouring areas, and then, with the support of suitable partners, bringing the project to fruition. A possible project is under exploration, though there are inevitably all sorts of complications to be resolved.

Benevolent: Chairman, Peter Collier

The Committee will continue its very worthwhile work of finding and evaluating opportunities to make "Make Dreams Real" locally through financial donations. The Committee's capacity to do this is largely dependent upon members' generosity in contributing to the Club's charitable funds. The Committee will continue to promote the benefits of making tax-efficient donations to the Club's Benevolent Fund through Gift Aid.

Club Service: Chairman, Hilary Stafford

The CCommittee's primary role will again be the organisation of the social life of the Club. We shall continue the traditions of having Family Days around Christmas and in the Spring, and of having Charity lunches in support of the Club's international efforts.

The Committee will be in charge of organising events to raise funds to support the development of new fit-for-purpose premises for CLASP, the Carers Centre. It is hoped that these events will include an evening at the new Curve Theatre, thereby enabling us to combine pleasure with the serious business of fund-raising. Club Service Committee will organise, working as appropriate with the Fellowship Committee, at least one social event that brings the Club into closer contact with the city's Asian communities, and a Christmas celebration. I have also asked this Committee, with the support of the Club Secretary, to assist me in organising a memorable host hospitality evening on Monday 22 June 2009 for Rotarians attending the RI Birmingham Convention. I have invited the Rotary Club of Leicester de Montfort to join with us in hosting this event.

Community Service: Chairman, Mark Simpson

This Committee will continue the Club's well-established support for Sailability (along with Rotarians from other clubs), Calvert Trust, RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), Kids Out, Stroke Awareness (in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Leicester de Montfort), and our various Christmas activities, and will explore other opportunities for us to increase the scope of our involvement in the community. We shall consider how best to take part in the District 1070 project in support of Macmillan Cancer Support, after hearing from their local representative as a speaker.

Fellowship: Chairman, Gillian Childs

This Committee will have responsibility for social events, in particular those involving other Rotary Clubs and outside organisations, including Soroptimist International of Leicester (whose 75th Charter falls in 2009) and Inner Wheel. The Committee will ensure that periodic invitations are extended to the Club?s widows and appropriate arrangements made for them.

The Committee will be responsible for the Club?s participation in District Minor Sports. We shall continue to support other Clubs' Charter events and I have suggested a return to a more "hand on the shoulder" approach towards encouraging members to attend these events.

Foundation: Chairman, Michael Kellett

The Club will again provide financial support for Foundation to the equivalent of US$100 per member.

The Club will play an active part in hosting the incoming Group Study Exchange Team from the USA in the autumn of 2008, and will actively search for a suitable ?medically qualified? candidate to join in the return visit in 2009.  I have asked Michael and his committee also to take charge of organising our support for the RI Convention in Birmingham in June 2009, other than the hospitality evening on 22 June to which I referred earlier. The Committee will also make appropriate preparations in readiness for the Student Link Weekend in September 2009.

International: Chairman, Roger Bowden

The Committee will continue to develop our links with the Rotary Club of Guimaręs. In particular, with the Club's blessing, there will be fund-raising events to obtain our contribution to the joint project to provide two sensory rooms for some 300 sufferers from cerebral palsy, half of them young people. We plan to seek matching grants for this joint project. We shall welcome and afford hospitality, as required, to visiting Rotarians from the Guimaręs club, and we may expect to carry out at least one supervisory visit to the joint project.

The Club will continue to respond to other needs overseas, these efforts to be funded in part by charity lunches during the course of the year, and will look to the Committee to take a lead in prompting action as appropriate.

Membership:  Chairman, Clive Smith

The Committee will spearhead efforts, involving other members of the Club as appropriate, to sustain and increase membership. The emphasis will be upon enriching the Club's gender and ethnic mix, in response to the rapidly changing profile of Leicester itself. The Club needs to attract at least ten new members during the year. The Committee will advise on putting in place appropriate mentoring and other arrangements for new members so that they are adequately supported and encouraged.  Whilst maintaining our traditional proven methods of attracting new members, it is clear that we must also try out new methods of approaching potential members who are outside the "comfort zone" of existing acquaintances.

The Club will also through the good offices of Vice-President Patrick Boylan and Michael Archer continue to provide support and guidance to the new Formation Club in Leicester and will try to steer its prospective founders away from becoming an exclusively Asian enterprise. Provided that it meets the standards required by Rotary, we wish to see the new club chartered.

Topics:  Chairman, John Dean

John has already been active in arranging an attractive and interesting list of speakers. With the support of his Committee he will look to maintain an appropriate balance between representatives of bodies looking for the Club's support and other speakers who can keep us abreast of topical matters locally and nationally. The quality of our speaker programme remains an important part of our recruitment toolkit.

Visiting:  Chairman, Derek Hole

The Committee will maintain sensitive contacts with members who are unable to attend the Club?s meetings, and will keep Council and/or the Club informed about their circumstances.

Vocational:  Chairman, Graham Moore

The Committee will organise an attractive programme of visits during daytime and evening hours. The focus will be more upon local attractions than outings further afield. I have asked that the programme include local "cultural safaris".

Youth Opportunities: Chairman, Moira Bartlett

I have asked Moira and her Committee to build on the sterling work done in 2007/2008 by expanding the range of activities and the number of participating schools. One aim is to see the foundation of an Interact Club. She is likely to need the support of other members of the Club at peak times.

Webmaster: Patrick Boylan

We know from our experience with the Rotary Club of Guimaręs the competitive edge to be gained from having an excellent website. (They sought us out as a twin because of its liveliness and professionalism.) I am most grateful to Patrick for agreeing to continue as our webmaster in what really should have been a fallow year during which he prepares for his future presidency.

Bulletin Editor:  David Brunton

David will continue the high standard the Club has come to expect of its Bulletin, and will welcome contributions great and small from members to support him in this role. I have asked David to continue for the time being the allocation of Club members to rostered duties, though more on this in a moment.

Public Relations Officer: Derek Goodman

I am indebted to Derek, who eminently deserves a year off, for agreeing to undertake the role of Public Relations Officer. Having raised the Club's public profile during the past year, I look to him to sustain the momentum ahead.

Club Officer for Children and Vulnerable Adults: Michael Marvell

I am grateful also to Michael for continuing in this important, but not always very visible, role. It is incumbent upon all those involved in organising activities with vulnerable people of all ages to seek his capable advice.

Other Matters

It became apparent to me during my preparations for 2008/2009 that some of the Club's administrative arrangements were in need of review. There are two parts to this, of which the first is planning. District 1070 calls for information about appointments and targets well before they have been considered by the Club. Our timetable makes it difficult for us to join in planning with other service bodies when they are formulating their plans. And it feels rather like "jumping the gun" for our incoming committees, especially where there is a change of leadership, to start vital preparatory work before the summer holiday period is upon us - by which time it is probably too late. We have recently agreed steps to bring our first business meeting into better alignment with the Rotary world outside. I have asked Patrick Boylan to lead further work to improve our constitutional provisions for planning. Proposals will come to Council and to the Club in due course.

The second area is that of rostered duties at our weekly meetings. Our Hon. Secretary has kindly prepared a short paper setting out the shortcomings in our present arrangements and offering some suggestions. This matter now needs input from those with long enough memories to understand the original reasons behind our traditions and open enough minds to recommend change where that is appropriate. I have asked Brian Groves if he will take a lead here, working with Bob Collins and others as his thoughts develop.

Conclusion

Derek Goodman has very properly thanked the Club for supporting him during his year. It will of course be largely the response of every member of the Club that determines the success of the year to come. My thanks in advance to all those who have agreed to take on leadership roles. I ask you all now to endorse this programme and to give it your 100% backing and, at times where that may be helpful, the benefit of your advice and guidance.

Robert Mansfield

Return to Rotary Club of Leicester home page

© 2008, Rotary Club of Leicester. The titles "Rotary" and "Rotary International", and the various Rotary logos and images  are © Rotary International Inc. and Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland.  Website last updated: 7th July 2008; Club Webperson: Patrick Boylan