District 9800 Changeover
   Pat Ditrict Governor Grant Hocking                                            Ditrict Governor Philip Archer
 
Last June 27 , 220 attendees were at the District 9800  DG Changeover which was held by Zoom .                                                                          
Despite the difficulty of addressing an impersonal computer screen (as opposed to a roomful of responsive people), outgoing DG Grant Hocking and incoming DG Philip Archer both made impressive speeches. 
This first ever District-Governor’s Changeover by Zoom was a challenge from the start, with the system refusing to admit more than 100 participants. However the IT gurus soon removed the gremlins and the changeover was up and running with over 220 attending.  
In responding to Amanda Wendt’s toast to Rotary International, RI President’s Representative Jennifer Jones  acknowledged the work of DG Grant Hocking and the difficult circumstances that he and DGE Philip Archer were having to overcome. She mentioned that the Mission Statement of the Rotary Foundation had been re-written to include the words “improving the environment” at the instigation of PDG Ian Knight. A brief but enthusiastic report on Rotaract and the foundation of new clubs followed, before DG Grant Hocking) reported on his year in office. Grant started by thanking the District Leadership Team and in particular District Secretary Jane Pennington for their support.  
DG Grant said “What a year it has been! Melissa and I would like to thank you all for your wonderful support and friendliness during the year. It has certainly ended a different way to how it started but we have all adapted well with whatever challenges have come our way.
DG Grant Presented the D9800 Royce Abbey “Champion of Change” Award to Alan Seale, for his work in the mentoring programmes for Police, Business and Ambulance Services, and the D9800 “Outstanding Rotarian” Award to a surprised David Whiting, for his five years of legal work and advice to D9800 on constitutional and compliance matters.       
DG Grant ended by passing the figurative chain of office to incoming DG Philip Archer.
 DG Philip Archer  acknowledged Grant as an outstanding leader, and thanked him and Melissa for a significant Rotary year of impressive projects and friendship,.