GSE visitors from Wales and Australia, and the Hat Ladies!

April 3, 2007: We were overwhelmed with friendly visitors at our meeting this week. The Group Study Exchange teams from both Wales and Australia visited us to brighten up our day, and the Hat Ladies made their presence known! The Wales team was composed of Mike Parry, the team leader, and team members, Edward Longbottom, Leigh Caveney, Rachel Lewis, and Amanda Aldridge. The team members represented a very diverse element, ranging from Amanda Aldridge, a psychiatric nurse from Cardiff who says she cannot cook, to Leigh Caveney, a professional working in the Housing department, who hates to iron! Rachel Lewis is a website editor and rock climber, and Edward Longbottom is a dentist from Pontllanfraith, South Wales, who also teaches martial arts. Each of the team members has been sponsored by a Rotary club in Wales. Mike Parry is a Rotarian of over 18 years, in the Rotary club of Cardiff Bay.

The team from Australia was composed of team leader Geoffrey Inman, and members Andrew Bushnell, Michael Hill, Elizabeth Gardner, and Jessica Johns. This cheerful bunch was quick to say that they hail from the state of Western Australia, which they call the best part of their country. “WA” is a whopping 965,000 square miles of diverse terrain, with a population of only 2 million people. WA. The team members all have outdoor hobbies, such as surfing, various other water sports, and equestrian sports. Geoffrey Inman is a retired police inspector, and former Rotary club President. He hails from the city of Albany, in WA.

I would be remiss not to mention our other visitors last week, the Hat Ladies! Aside from looking splendid and fashionable, this group of ladies is also committed to doing good in the community. The Hat Ladies will be having their 6th Annual Easter Promenade this year. The Hat Ladies began as women who enjoyed wearing hats. From there it evolved into a “society” of like minded women who think of themselves as fashionable ambassadors who do good. The Hat Ladies support causes such as the Center for Women, and MS. When they look good they do good! Just as they are making a difference in our community through fashionable public service, wearing hats made a positive difference to those sporting them in our audience. For more information on these fashionable ambassadors, log onto www.hatladies.org.

Submitted by Jackie G. Grau, Keyway Committee