January

Jan 31, 2017 by Shaftesbury Rotary

2^th January – No meeting

9^th January – No meeting

16^th – January – No meeting

23^rd January – Business meeting

This was our first meeting after the Christmas and New Year holiday period. We discussed the forthcoming Twinning visit of our friends from Heerlen in the Netherlands and agreed some plans.

Tony Morgan updated members regarding the proposed Cycle track and his recent site meeting. The Town Council are supportive and members are asked to offer commitment and support.

We also discussed the operation of our Business Partners scheme; our support for the Snowdrops Festival; and various forthcoming meetings and socials. The evening was shorter than usual because on the following day we had our “Burn’s Night”

January 24th – Burns Night at the Kings Arms

We met with partners and friends comprising a party of thirty eight for a very successful evening. Ross the proprietor of the Kings Arms did us proud with a five course meal including of course haggis neaps and tatties. The haggis was piped in and treated with all the usual ceremony by Ross who was suitably attired in his kilt, as were some – well two actually! – of our party. Various performances followed between courses, and then after the meal, with renditions of poetry and some entertaining, if rather blue jokes and anecdotes from our host.

January 30th – Speaker

Rotarian John Warner, introduced Chris Brickell who is the chair of Shaftesbury Southern Academy Board of directors. Chris has spoken to the club before when he was chair of the board of school Governors, his responsibilities have now increased as the Academy consists of Shaftesbury school, age 11 to 19, Shaftesbury C.E. School, age 4 to 11 and Motcombe V A Primary School, age 4 to 11. Chris explained the Academy is independent from Dorset County Council Education Authority and now undertakes all of the the functions, previously held by the L.E.A. Moving away from the structure of the Academy, Chris was keen to engage with Rotary to explore areas of co operation where Rotary and the School could work together for the mutual benefit and good for the school, town and surrounding area.