President's Report, September 2005Our first meeting this month provided a forum for Malcolm Boddington, the District Chairman of Foundation to reveal the mysteries of Rotary's Foundation Charity. In an illustrated presentation members learned that two separate funds existed within Foundation. The Permanent Fund from which only interest and dividends can be used and the Annual Fund all of which can be used for projects immediately. It is likely that we would wish our donations in future are made to the latter fund. The Friends evening welcomed back a speaker who had entertained us previously. Ken Wells, currently curator of Thames Valley Police Museum, and previously a Scenes of Crime Officer, regaled members with detection methods used whilst he was an active officer. In a quiet month for Ascot Rotary the final two meetings of the month followed the established format. Our lunchtime third meeting enjoyed hearing the holiday experiences of many returning members. Geoff Donovan took the chair for the Business Meeting. Geoff described progress on the 2006 Golf Day and our checks on the key charity to be supported. We would wish to get the proposed charity to become more involved in the event and provide well-known celebrities and supporters. Finally I would like to thank all members and their wives for supporting the series of lunches which we held during the month. Although the weather was not perfect my pleas to the rain gods kept the worst away. Alan Penny |