The club was blessed with a fine, warm night which enabled us to spill out onto the verandas and not all congregate in the kitchen.   

With 29 attending there was room for all, except perhaps around the drinks bar which was more than usually popular.

The president had prepared the swimming pool with the co-opted assistance of this grumbling scribe, who detests all large bodies of domesticated water, only to find that nobody accepted the opportunity to bear all or even almost all.

The treasurer, Bill Baggett, appeared wearing an enormous green hat which he appeared to have misappropriated from a hyperpituitaristic leprechaun. 

Perhaps he was seeking to disguise the fact that he could not bring himself to collect even modest fees for attendance.  

Few would have noticed if he had not said as he was leaving that he would get us all next meeting.

The first normal meeting in the New Year will be on Tuesday, January 14 at the Food Angel as usual, 6.30pm for 7pm.  Prior to this there will be a board meeting.

2014 will be a big year with the District Conference at Coffs Harbour on the weekend of 28-30 March and then the Rotary International Convention in Sydney on the first to the fourth of June.  

Thousands of Rotarians from all over the world will be attending the Convention at Darling Harbour, often dressed in their national clothes, being inspired by inspirational speakers, learning about Rotary in other lands, attending discussions in breakout sessions and meeting people they would otherwise never know.

Rotary’s international conventions are an experience not to be missed, this one especially so as the next chance will be in Brazil in 2015.

Dorrigo Rotary Club is looking forward to 2014 with an expanding membership and its younger members adding new ideas and emphasis.