The latest very successful and hugely enjoyable season of Fermoy Toastmasters concluded on the evening of Tuesday, May 19^th, with our Annual General Meeting at the Grand Hotel. This is an example of one of the world’s purest forms of democracy in action with the outgoing officers of the previous year rendering an account of their stewardship to the general body of members and then proceeding immediately thereafter to the election of the new Committee who will assume the guidance and leadership of the club for the next twelve months. The official term of the outgoing officers runs until June 30^th: their successors formally take over on July 1^st, but as no meetings are held during the high mid-summer months, in a very real sense the May AGM is a most significant occasion of past appraisal and setting course for the future. Each such transition is crucial for if through the years even one had been missed, the club would not be the unique and flourishing centre of gaiety and personal growth that it is today.

But even on an AGM night some regular Toastmaster activities have to be enjoyed. There were no set speeches, but we did have a lively and most entertaining topics session. However instead of a particular individual in the person of the topics master asking the participants to give their views and share their ideas on a list of themes and subjects previously made out, each member having been asked a topic then had the right to ask another of their own choice to whoever they wished, the whole spontaneous and exuberant chain-reaction of thought and originality and fun initiated by our meeting chairman of the evening, John Sherlock.

Subjects varied as to whether youth is wasted on the young, the changing nature of the Eurovision Song Contest, the joy of cooking, the naming of three people with whom you would like to go on a long holiday train journey with to name but a few. All of these brought forth vivid and engaging and amusing responses from the lively and enthusiastic attendance, while the more momentous issues of the day were not neglected either like the recent marriage equality referendum which were freely aired and explored with a refreshing candour and ease.

The pleasures of Toastmasters are not confined merely to the set programme of the meeting. At the mid-way tea-break all have an opportunity to relax and converse and share convivial conversation and humour with their fellow-members who gather together here as a company of very dear friends. So many of us would not know each other at all were it not for our shared participation in Toastmasters. It brings a great widening of horizons and the wonderful discovery of new people combined with that mellow rejoicing in the company of dearest old friends in the warmth of human interaction. To hear the room filled with the buzz of chatter and laughter, the sound of people simply enjoying themselves together, is a source of immense delight.

Then it was time for the business session of the meeting to begin. Each officer in turn furnished a concise account of their work and activities on behalf of the club throughout the past year, all voicing their gratitude for the generous support, help and goodwill they had received from everyone. It is these mutual genial sentiments and our shared warm fellow feeling, that willingness to help and the joy of our friendship that makes this club such a happy and special gathering that ever offers warm welcome to all.  Business was dispatched promptly and readily, and matters were swiftly concluded with general approval and satisfaction.

Our President, Mary Whelan, was most warmly congratulated for the way she has graced and enhanced the office throughout the past year by her great kindness of heart and generosity of spirit, her pleasant, affable and relaxed style, her ever cheerful and gentle words of welcome and encouragement and appreciation to all which filled our meetings throughout the past year with such a lovely and very special atmosphere that helped bring out the very best in everyone and ensured a wonderful year for the club that the new President and Committee can expand and build upon. Having been proposed and seconded, the new line-up of Club Officers is as follows:- President, John Sherlock; Educational Vice President and organiser of meeting programmes, Eilish Ui Bhriain; Membership Vice-President, Fanahan Colbert; Treasurer, Johanna Hegarty; Secretary, Jerry Hennessy, PRO, Kevin Walsh, with Mary Whelan remaining a full member as Immediate Past President.

Plaudits were also richly and deservedly lavished upon our EVP and incoming President, John Sherlock, for his tireless work and extraordinary commitment throughout in putting together stimulating and engaging programmes that gave us so many of the very best, most effervescent and delightful meetings in the history of the club, in fostering motivation and providing encouragement by being so unfailingly pleasant, helpful and kind to everyone.  John has established a very fine club website (toastmastersfermoy.com) where illuminating text is interspersed with lovely pictures that capture so many moments of genial memory in cyberspace. The words ‘Talk To John’ were appended to every programme sheet and at the tea break would invariably come around with clipboard in hand, a broad smile on his lips and a glint in his eye asking if you would like to take part in the next meeting. Knowing my propensity for sore throats, John always showed me such kindness and consideration by ensuring at the outset of proceedings I was supplied with a packet of mints that proved ever so soothing and pleasant.

Then came the pivotal moment when Mary placed the chain of office bearing the names of all previous President around John’s shoulders and it could not rest on shoulders more worthy, more deserving and who greatly honours all of us by leading us on the next phase of our ongoing journey to explore our potential to the very fullest through achievement, enjoyment and the very greatest pleasure in friendship and mutual goodwill.

And now we embark on the promise of summertime but already looking forward to the next time when the gavel will sound the coming together of Fermoy Toastmasters on Tuesday, September 8^th and the inauguration of another great season.  With heartfelt gratitude and appreciation we wish a very happy, safe and pleasant summer to all. For further information, please contact Fanahan Colbert at 086 8239007 or Kevin Walsh at 058 60100 or log on to toastmastersfermoy.com.