Today, our outgoing President, Maxine Blades, officially handed over the Presidential role to our incoming President, Raj Dasan.
We had a well-attended meeting at Howfield Manor Hotel, the venue this year for our annual Presidential handover. The event marked the culmination of a hugely successful year in which the club supported both local and international causes, launched The Point (unveiled in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Kent and the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Canterbury), enjoyed a range of excellent speakers and trips, and welcomed several new Rotarians.
Now it was time for President Maxine Blades to formally pass the Presidential chain of office to President-Elect Raj Dasan. She wished him every success in the year ahead and hoped he would enjoy the experience as much as she had.
In return, Raj congratulated her on her term as the 103rd President of the Rotary Club of Canterbury. “As a memento of your year in office,” said Raj as he stood beside Maxine, “I’m delighted to present you with your Past President badge. I’m sure you will wear it with honour and pride.”
Reflecting on Maxine’s year, Raj added: “As you outlined in your valedictory address, our club has had a remarkably active year on both the social and fundraising fronts. Without your leadership, we would not have achieved the ambitious goals you set out at your Club Assembly. Your dedication and stewardship have truly made a difference to our club, and the success of your many initiatives has set a high standard – one that won’t be easy to follow.”
He continued: “Your strong personality, enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and sense of humour have led our club through a year that, while not without its challenges, has seen numerous successful events.”
Raj also reminded members that Rotary is continuing to undergo a period of change, stating: “We must all be willing to adapt if we want the organisation to remain as relevant in the future as it has been in the past.”
As we thank Maxine for her dedication, we now look ahead to building on the momentum of the last year – with Raj at the helm for what promises to be another exciting year for the club.
Picture: Raj and Maxine, pictured after receiving their Presidential chains (top) and Past President badge (bottom). Picture credit: Rotary Club of Canterbury.
