Salvo's Thank You to Second Bite
THE SALVO’s thank you dinner for their SECOND BITE helpers was a great night.
It was, on Saturday 1st September, at their Bowen Street, Camberwell centre. Unfortunately, only two of our members could make it---plus Terrell.
There were about 90 people there, representing all their volunteer groups e.g. the Thrift Shop in Ashburton, Sunday Lunch, Weekday Lunch, Ashburton Outreach and the Financial Counselling volunteers. It was hosted by Norman Gale—the boss of Bowen Street. The meal was very nice, but I missed my glass of Shiraz.
The main speaker was Martin Cowling, who was one of the best speakers I have ever heard!!! He spoke for about 25 minutes on the business of volunteering. He started by calling then name of every volunteer in the room, and then throwing them a Mars Bar. He then wandered around the dining tables, talking of the changes in volunteering and the availability of volunteers, over the last 30 years.
Then there were a couple of musical interludes, of which the most spectacular were two people named Adele and Jerome, who called themselves Tram49. The lead was an “elderly” lady, who covered her head with an old farmer’s hat and blew into a harmonica in the Leonard Cohen style. Supported by a fellow on a guitar, they performed two songs after which the whole room full of people gave them a standing ovation. She then moved to a piano and played songs and sang like Louis Armstrong. Terrell was so impressed that she went over to their dining table and asked for their business card. Maybe we should ask them to speak and perform at a Rotary Lunch.
Norman’s night of thanks was a howling success and I will definitely go again next year!!!