The new President of Bangor Rotary Club, Stephen Connolly (left) elbows his way into office from outgoing President Patrick Cregg.
Bangor Rotary Club’s final meeting of the current Rotary Year was held last Wednesday and was particularly significant for a number of reasons.
It was the first face to face meeting for nearly a year. The club survived the lengthy lockdown period with weekly meetings on Zoom. While it was not ideal it did keep the members in touch with each other during a very demanding time. And it did have a bonus as the Club entertained many excellent speakers who did not have to travel to Bangor but addressed Club Meetings from their homes, irrespective of the location.
Wednesday was also Presidential hand-over day when outgoing President, Patrick Cregg handed over the chain of office to the incoming President Stephen Connolly. Last year this was done outside Bangor Golf Club in a novel way to ensure social distancing but this year it was done inside under less strict Covid Protocols.
Also at the meeting cheques totalling nearly £4,000 were presented to four charities. Despite the difficulties during the year when conventional fundraising was virtually impossible the Club managed to raise the money from its own members.
Outgoing President of Bangor Rotary Club Patrick Cregg MBE presents cheques to four charities from money raised during the Covid lockdown. From left:- Patrick Cregg, Margaret Bailie, Chairperson North Down Storehouse, Rotarian Roy Rosbotham, representing Alzheimer’s NI, Louise Wallace, Scrubs for NHS, in-coming President Stephen Connolly and Fiona McGhee, Regional Fundraiser, for Northern Ireland Hospice.
The four charities to benefit
- Ards Scrubs for NHS,
- Storehouse North Down
- Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and Northern Ireland Hospice
- Alzheimer’s
In addition to local charities, money was also donated by the Club to Rotary’s own charity, Rotary Foundation, which continues to assist numerous needy causes worldwide.
At the same meeting, Rotarian Margaret Francey was installed as Vice President meaning that she will be the incoming President for next year.
The past year has been very demanding on all facets of life, not least on organisations similar to the Rotary Club, but the reports submitted by the various convenors at the Club’s Annual General Meeting earlier highlighted that the Bangor Club continued to grow throughout the pandemic and this was reflected in the mood of the members during this final meeting of the Rotary Year as some level of normality returned.