This meeting was devoted to our Annual General Meeting and while we wouldn't normally have visitors, there were three whom we were delighted to welcome being prospective members Edwin (Eddie) Thong and Steve Gernoni plus an unexpected but very welcome guest, Tina Astbury who had come along on the understanding that the evening was devoted to the Rotary Information Night which we've postponed until the second half of the Rotary Year. Happily we and Tina coped with this unexpected development and made the most of the situation. We'd be delighted to see her again. 

I'm also delighted to report that Greg Delfs is hoping to return home from hospital this week.

Cole is away for a week in Sydney with six other exchange students and we are looking forward to his report when he gets back. On Sunday 19 November he needs a bed for the night as his hosts Gill and Paul Todd, will be away. Cole will be attending Peel Week from Monday so he only needs hosting for one night/day. If you can help with this please let Paul Daly or me know.

It fell to me to propose the international toast to the Rotary Club of Parentis Pays de Born (meaning Country of Born ED) Parentis-en-Born, Landes, 40160, France, in Rotary District 1690. The Club was chartered on 18 June 1957, has 33 members and is led by President Patrick Claret. They meet at 7.30pm on Tuesdays at The Post Office Restaurant, 12 Avenue du Mai 1945.

Our Club had  a great turn out for the Polio Plus film fundraiser, Murder on the Orient Express. The movie lived up to our expectations and the contribution we made will ensure around 1500 children are immunised and protected from the scourge of polio.  

While on fund raising, we've received a letter of thanks from Australian Rotary Health for the funds we raised at the Club on Hat Day. This brings our contribution for the year to $2710.

And also with Christmas fast approaching it's time to order cakes and puddings.  For the order form, CLICK HERE. Wayne Hand has kindly agreed to coordinate this project and has suggested that members and friends consider donating cakes and puddings to the Christmas collection we are doing for distribution by Manna Inc.

Thanks to Simon Cubitt's untiring efforts we received another application (making a total of three) for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp in January 2018, This one is from Brianna Marshall, a family friend of Ashley West and her application will be sponsored by the Pat Moylan Memorial Trust. I'm sure that will be a great experience for all participants as it will also be for the twelve (12) Willetton Senior High School (WSHS) students who have registered to attend the ConocoPhillips Science Experience at their chosen metropolitan university over the Christmas / New Year period.

Speaking of WSHS, all of the year 10 cohort will be attending the Rotary WA Driver Education (RWADE) course on 5 and 6 December at the Foodbank site. Five Club members will be required to act as chaperones over the two (2) days, to efficiently move students between the different modules of the course. Please contact Simon Cubitt if you can help. 

We've also received Certificates of Attendance for the students who have attended the recent Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN). These will be presented at a later date. 

The Rotary Club of Rossmoyne has decided to postpone their Fair until Spring 2018. This will give them more time to plan and avoids crowding our Fair on 8 April 2018. Simon reports separately in the right hand column on the Community Fair committee meeting on Thursday 9 November.  

I'd now like to congratulate the incoming Board for 2018-19. All were elected unopposed with the President Elect and the roles of Club Directors of Public Relations and Vocational Service still to be filled.   

From the left rear: Club Treasurer-Richard Ibbitson; Club Foundation Chair-Stuart Diggins; Club Director of Community Service-Ashley West; Club Director of International Service-Paul Daly; Director of Club Service-Greg Hamilton;

Seated at front from left: Club Secretary-John Erkins; President (and possibly President Elect) Rob Webster; Club Director of Youth Service and Chair Willetton Rotary Community Fair.

We also re-elected our Club Auditor, Registered Company Auditors WA Pty Ltd. They are currently completing their work for 2016-17. Once done we will present the audited accounts to the Club. 

Next week will no doubt be more exciting as we present our annual Awards to a teacher and students from WSHS.  

The Rotary Club of Applecross needs our help. The Club are holding their annual Jacaranda Festival on Saturday 25 November 2017 and seek the assistance of other Rotarians and friends to help with parking for two (2) hours on the day. If you can help, please contact President Hamish Turner on 0420 855 500.