On Duty Today............ ................................... Gilda Furbert, Gary Edwards

On Duty Dec. 6........... ................................... ............... George Dove. Bob Flath

Attendance Nov. 23.... ................................... ............... ............... 29 of 38  ( 76.32%)

There were four guests:  two from Freeport, NY and two from Hamilton Rotary

There will be a Director’s Meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 6:00 p.m. at the office of President-Elect Alan Pailing.

President Sinclair told the group that PP Marshall Minors had recently been in hospital and hoped that he was now doing better

Robert Benson of Bronxville, NY has been selected as District Governor for 2000/03.

PP John Kessaram received the following letter:

Oct 30 2000

Thank you Mr. Kessaram

Just a short note to say thank you for trying to help me through school.  I still feel just a little short, but no matter because now I have two daughters at Delaware State University. The eldest is a senior in Nursing and the youngest is studying computers and languages (Spanish), both are doing well so my hard work is still being rewarded.

I'm working on my own business plans while helping them both through school.  Again thank you for your help.

Signed Judyth Smith

PS. I've repaid the loan in full.  Sorry it took so long.

Our speaker, Mr. Austin Woods, President of the Bermuda Olympic Association was introduced by Gary Edwards.

Mr. Woods spoke about the recent Sydney Olympics, which he believes were the best to date.  One Hundred and Ninety-Eight countries participated and there were eleven corporate sponsorships.  Each country was offered sponsorship to travel to Sydney and eleven thousand athletes attended.  Only six people qualified to attend from Bermuda.

The number of events were increased from two hundred and seventy-three to three hundred.  Twenty-one women’s events were added.  Many of the flags in the Opening Ceremonies were carried by women for the first time.  Mary-Jane Tumbridge carried the Bermuda Flag and she was the first women in Bermuda’s Olympic history to do so.

For Bermuda to really be competitive our athletes need to prepare at least three years in advance.  Clear goals must be set for the Olympics.  Sponsors are needed for athletes to gain the participate in world class meets and gain must needed experience.

After four terms as President of the Bermuda Olympic Association, Mr. Woods stepped down on November 22, 2000.  The new president is Mr. John Hotchkiss.

Mr. Woods was thanked by President Sinclair.