Gravesend Rotary held its outgoing President’s lunch and handover on 1^st July 2019 at Nurstead Court. All those attending enjoyed a two-course meal with wine. It marked the end of the 2018-19 Rotary year and heralded the start of the next year.

Outgoing President Tony Muckley welcomed fellow Rotarians, spouses, members of the Inner Wheel Club of Gravesend, friends and guests. He thanked them for attending the event and hoped they would enjoy the meal, the fellowship and the handover process to the President for 2019-20.

After the meal President Tony reflected on his two back to back terms of office. He had found the two year term to be very useful for continuity of purpose and crystallising actions to pursue the primary objectives for the future of the club.

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He said: “Our Club is recognised for “punching above its weight” over its long tenure, and we continue to do so. However, like many other Rotary clubs, we face the challenges of sustaining and necessarily growing our Club to be able to continue our support of charities and needy causes, our Service above Self. Our approach, established by consensus, some eighteen months ago reflects the need for change to the Club’s structure and functionality to enable the necessary targets of increased membership and heightened public image to be pursued.  Essentially, the club will look and act differently to continue its role in the community and to attract new members”.

Looking back

President Tony took the opportunity to recognise the following:

• The tireless efforts of Bob Denby in pursuit of new members, both individual and Corporate membership.
• The 33^rd annual On Your Bike ride was held successfully on 12^th May 2019 with over 550 participating riders. Again, Andrew Moffat expertly led the task group that worked for over 8 months to deliver the event.
• The establishment of a new Promotions task group that is gaining strength under the creative leadership of John Dyke.
• The development of business networking synergy with Gravesham Council. This being a key plank for the Club to be in step with the evolution of the Gravesham business and social communities. A way of getting back to the Club’s roots.
• President Tony had encouraged the Community Service and International Committees to visit projects they support and get more deeply involved with sleeves rolled up working at the coal faces of activity. Chris Keeble, Di Trimm and their spouses could not attend the lunch because they were busy in Kenya for two weeks supporting the charity called Footsteps. Locally, John Baker and his team have coordinated the Club’s support for Hive Hope foodbank’s new venture to provide meals in the school breaks for children who qualify for free school meals. In essence, to make sure the pupils and their siblings continued to be fed. Literally sleeves were rolled up to prepare and serve the meals as wells as doing the washing and drying up.
• In development is Gravesend Rotary’s intention to work with the G&M and NwEGC Rotary clubs and Gravesham Council on how, together with active entities such as Sanctuary, the impact on addressing the homeless situation in our Borough can be maximised.
• In 2017 members of Gravesend Rotary visited its twinned club in France, Cosne-Sancerre. At the end of May this year the French club reciprocated with 10 members visiting Gravesend for a weekend of camaraderie and exchanges of ideas. It was an excellent weekend of activities. We look forward to traveling to France in 2021.
• The support for ShetlerBox for disaster relief has continued.  In addition to street collections and other social events, connections with several schools, particularly primary schools, were renewed. Learning about disasters is part of the primary curriculum so the Club is using inhouse skills to give talks to the pupils. Several schools have staged events to raise money to fund ShelterBoxes. Last week a visit was made to Cecil Road School to receive a cheque for £1,069.80, almost enough for 2 boxes. A fantastic effort by the pupils and council.
• Other staple events such as the International Committee’s Quiz Night and annual competitions with local Rotary clubs continued.  

The above is just a taste of the range of activities the Club undertakes.

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Many of the activities greatly benefit from the unrelenting support of the members’ spouses, the members of the Gravesend Inner Wheel Club and Friends of Rotary. The President conveyed the members’ thanks. He also appreciated the members’ trust and support during his term of office. Finally, he thanked his wife, Sue, not only for her unending and generous support but also for her patience and guidance.

A new President

In the handover phase of the event Tony Muckley introduced Andrew Moffat as the incoming 2019-20 Club President. Andrew has been a Member of the Club since 1980 and had been President for the Rotary year 1990-91. He has held several positions in the Club including leading the task group for our signature On Your Bike event.

Tony Muckley passed over to Andrew Moffat the club regalia comprising two ribbons that bear the names of all the Presidents since the club was founded in 1927, some 92 years ago. He also handed to Andrew the President’s lapel and tie pins. He was wished good luck for the new Rotary year and assured of the support of all the members.

President Andrew started his year by thanking Tony Muckley for his work as President in the preceding two years and presenting him with his Past President’s badge. Also Sue was given flowers.He also presented Brian Portway with his President Elect’s ribbon and Dilly Singh with his Vice President’s ribbon.

Tony Muckley

USA cyclist Edwin Valarde set out on a 1,200 kilometer (740 miles) EPiC Journey from Gravesend to Hamburg on Monday.

Gravesend Rotary saw him off from Mid Kent Golf Club, Singlewell Road, for the 45 mile route to Canterbury. Then the following day it was to Dover and ferry across the Channel.

Edwin lives with type-1 diabetes, This is Edwin’s fourth EPiC Journey to raise awareness about what he calls the growing Global Diabetes Epidemic. 

“Over 425 million have diabetes around the world.  Sadly, 3.8 milion deaths are  caused by diabetes and high blood glucose each year,” said Edwin.

“That is greater than the number of people living in Brussels, Amsterdam and Hamburg combined!  If we do not do anything about the fast-spreading Global Diabetes Epidemic, the future numbers will grow exponentialy.”

“Gravesend Rotary has just held its giant charity cycle ride and so giving Edwin a send off is extra special for us,”said President Tony Muckley

“Also we have family members with diabetes and know what a huge challenge this must be for him to take on.”