Welcome to the district governor

Our Official Visit by District 9830's Governor Michael Cooke took place tonight and as requested by Michael and Corrina we enjoyed a Partner's Night.  With Assistant Governor Biddy Fisk and District Photographer Michael Quinn from Rotary Club of Glenorchy also present, it was wonderful to have eight guests in total.  We did miss our members who were busy or enjoying warmer climes.  Also, we were sad to hear that Corrina was unwell today, but Michael has promised we'll see her later in the year, when we host the Group Forum in October.

We really enjoyed welcoming Michael to our meeting room at the Black Buffalo.  Even though he has worked with RCNH in the past when the Claremont club supported our RAM project in Kumudini, Bangladesh, he had not visited a normal meeting before tonight.

Michael brought us the RI President's priorities for 2019-20 but rather than reflect on the theme Rotary Connects the World, he talked to us about his intentions for the clubs of Tasmania to get together more, to enjoy our Rotary friends and to share our Rotary stories proudly.  Of course he was true to the Rotary International Strategic Plan and explained that in a down to earth manner, but he spent most of the time talking about his own projects for District 9830.

Michael and Corrina are passionately committed to the Purple House and the service provided by manager Sarah Brown whom they met when they attended the Australia-New Zealand Zone Conference in Darwin in 2017.  Sarah will be attending our District Conference next year.

Our club was pleased to give a donation of $250 towards Corrina's project.  PRID John Thorne reported that he has begun planning for our Veterans Tribute Night in honour of Armistice Day, as the DG has requested all clubs to do.  He encouraged us to think about engaging members so that everyone is welcome, respected and valued and he wants to make this year one of Family-Friendship-Fulfilment and Fun.  Our club has heard and next week when our committees and board meet properly we'll see what we come up with in response to the challenges Michael has set us.  

In closing, may I say what a pleasure it was to welcome Angela Urosevic, Shirley Thorne, Denise Thompson and Ralph Teirney to the meeting tonight.  We look forward to celebrating as a whole family of the Rotary Club of North Hobart as frequently as possible this year.