The members of the club have conducted a recruiting drive over the past few months, compiling a list of names of people whom they would like to have consider joining the club.

Some 30 people were then approached to attend an information night hosted by the club in November, and many took the opportunity to do so.

Each of the invitees was then further invited to attend club meetings for three weeks as guests of the club, with the cost of their attendances being met by the members, to help them form a broader view of this  Rotary club in particular, and of Rotary in general.

While many of those approached were flattered and interested, there were various problems encountered.

One interested invitee from the legal profession found he has to attend court on too many Wednesdays to allow him to attend the meetings.

Another attendee was subsequently awarded a leading role in a stage production to be held in Orange in May, with rehearsals to be held every Wednesday night for the next five months.

The club hopes that this person will be able to take up the invitation to join after the conclusion of the theatrical event being held in Orange.

However, on Wednesday, president Brian Welch requested past president Tony Pollard to carry out the induction ceremonies for those who have accepted the club’s invitation to join, which Tony did with due ceremony.

Those inducted were Brett Seymour, allocated the classification of Retail Management, his wife Annette Gainsford, allocated the classification of Lecturing: Law and Justice, and the Rev. David Wrightson, allocated the classification of Christian Ministry.

Each received a member’s badge, the small international symbol of Rotary membership often worn on a lapel, their dinner badge for wearing at Rotary functions, and their small club badge usually worn while representing Rotary at working bees, barbecues, or assisting with activities such as the Blayney to Bathurst Bike Ride.

They also received a certificate of membership that was signed by president Brian and a welcome letter from Rotary International.

As members of Rotary, they are now welcome to attend any Rotary meeting, anywhere in the world.

Many members do take up this privilege when travelling as a way of meeting local people and finding out more about their communities.

Bathurst East Club has quite regular once-a-year attendees from as far away as Queensland at the time of the Bathurst 1000 race week.

The names of the new members will now be added to the rosters for the club’s various fundraising activities, such as catering for the events of the Bathurst Light Car Club, car parking at Mayfield Garden, and operating the barbecue at Bunnings.

These new members bring active club membership numbers to almost 30.

Following the new member inductions, those present were addressed by the club’s guest speaker for the evening, who was from the Josephite Foundation’s No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS).