President ‘s Blog 2019-2020
Gentlemen it was a very nervous Andrew Mackereth who stood before you at last year’s AGM in Torquay wondering if I had done the right thing in standing for the 74th National President of our great organisation. This has been the most fantastic experience, I feel both privileged and honoured to be given this opportunity to represent 41 club and I thank you all. The reception I have received has been amazing and nothing has been too much trouble with all the clubs I have visited. Also as a guest when home hosted by members of both 41 Club and Tangent. Mildred my wife has accompanied me on many of my trips, and echo’s my view that the friendship shown to us both has been outstanding. It was noted that the spare bedroom had a recent coat of paint on a couple of occasions prior to our visit.
I have covered many miles by Car, Train and Plane and travelled North, South, East and West and abroad. I have had over 129 nights away in my year as President. Although enjoying every moment it will be nice to be able to spend more than 2 nights a week at home. I know there is an ever increasing list of jobs to do at home. The support from both Board and Council this year has been incredible with everyone working together and if we have had a problem it has been sorted in a quiet and understated way. This year we lose Past President Phill who has been a great friend and mentor. Sean who has been my wingman as Secretary, you will now be able to walk the dog in peace without a call from me. David Leach our Treasurer who kept our finances in check in a cool and a collective manner, finally Tom Atkins our National Council Officer who has represented the Councillors and kept their best interests at heart. We also lose a number of experienced Council members and I thank them all for their service. I wish to thank all members of the Board and Council for your support and patience during the year. This is very much a team effort. We must not forget the role that the retired Past Presidents’ play in supporting the President. They are always there to listen, advise and do not pass judgement. I would personally like to thank in no particular order Drew Cochran, Martin Green, and Ian Mckenzie. The joint charity with Tangent Clubs has been a tremendous success having reached our target of £50,000 raised for the RNLI. This has been so well supported by both 41 Club and Tangent. The 5 water rescue craft we have been able to purchase will be seen on our beaches in the UK. 41 Club has achieved much this year with the new CAS system about to come on line and thanks must go David Leach and his team of National Councillors, for their work on this. This system will prove to be a great asset to the organisation. We hope to be having a YAP incoming tour this year and will be welcoming young adults from many parts of the world depending of course on the virus lockdown. Andy Ventress as IRO is working on this to ensure that this is a trip our guests will remember for the welcome, fun and friendship. Under our Membership Officer Glen Lyon much work has gone into forming new 41 Clubs and retaining existing members, also helping Round Table move forward. The relationship with Round Table is as good as it has been for many years. I was hoping to be able to induct Round Table President Paul Agnew into 41 Club today but obviously that has had to be delayed. Without the help and support of a small team, my role would have been more challenging. I would personally like to thank David Nevinson my Driver Coordinator. Sue Nevinson who organised my Diary so efficiently, she probably knew where I was before Mildred. Pauline Ormerod who did all the Design and Publicity work for me. And of course Mildred, who has always encouraged me and supported me every step of this incredible journey. Our incoming 75th President Peter Good has a number of exciting events planned for his year, which because of the dreadful virus affecting us has had to have some dates changed to later in the year. Please support him as you have supported me. Peter enjoy every moment and make every moment count, make special memories. With no clubs meeting at the moment contact between clubs, themselves and National is now vitally important to stop them feeling alone and isolated. We have lost several of our members already to Covid 19 they are in our thoughts today. To all our members I would say in this time of National emergency please keep safe and we will come out of this in the next few months hopefully to a more caring and less materialistic society. When you become President, you are a representative of 41 club. It is not about me, it is about every member of the organisation to help move 41 Club forward to adopt, adapt and improve. Thank you all for giving me this opportunity which holds very special memories. Andrew Mackereth
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Andrew MackerethIt was a great privilege to be elected the 74th President of 41 Club in Torquay at the National AGM. The reason we are here today is because of one man Louis Marchesi who had the foresight to found Round Table in 1927. His words are so relevant today. There are things we must do. There are things we can do and there are things we should do. Wise words which we can all adapt, adopt and improve. Archives
April 2020
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