Should you be scared of this man?
Past President Bill Aiken is the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Rotary Club of Bangor.
The Sergeant-at-Arms is responsible for ensuring that behaviour at Rotary Meetings is appropriate.
For example, it is inappropriate to
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interrupt other Rotarians when speaking:
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speak when a guest speaker is addressing the Club:
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ask questions without raising hands and being acknowledged by the President: or
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venture too far from an agreed dress code!
This gives Past President Bill Aiken, the current Sergeant-at-Arms, many opportunities each week to fine members for what is considered misconduct, thereby raising money for nominated charities.
This is carried out in a light-hearted way and members look forward to the spectacle of ritual humiliation (often driven along by cruel informants who are only too glad to snitch on their fellow Rotarians!).
At the end of the Rotary year, a sweepstake is held to guess the amount of money that has been extracted in fines, with the winner gaining a bottle of finest wine, and the jar gaining an additional sum, all for the good of charity.
So no, you should not be scared of the Sergeant-At-Arms – but you should be wary of his eagle eye and surprisingly alert sense of hearing!
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