Friday, 6 December 2024

Home on the Range, early one morning


 

The Send-off Speech, Brava

 To Ann on your Retirement

Although I am delivering this farewell speech, I am sure I speak for all of us with these words of Congratulations and sentiments …………………..

Today we congratulate you on your lifetime commitment to enabling the physical fitness of others and now that you have achieved that pinnacle of success, you are now at the point where you can cheerfully say, “retirement is when you stop living at work and start working at living!”

And you may asking yourself:

  • But what do most people gain after retirement?

  •  Now it would be great to say peace and relaxation, but the truth is, it's usually a few extra pounds!

Welcome to the world of retirement Ann. 

Now you can start packing for those overseas holidays at least two weeks in advance and, when you set your alarm, it will for something other than  driving down the Hill from Maleny hoping to avoid a traffic jam before classes start!!!!

AND ………………….

You can stay up late every night for that 3 weeks in June to watch the Giro d’Italia.

In preparing for this speech I did a little Mathematics.  I did a calculation based on the scenario that if you have been doing classes over 30 years, what would be a conservative estimate of the number of hours involved?

So my calculation went like this:

(3 x 1 hour classes a week) 3 hours x 44 weeks/year x 30 years = 3,960 hours

Of course that doesn’t include travel time.

And secondly, how many people would that represent:

3 x classes a week x 15 people x 44 weeks/year x 30 years =  59,400 attendees.

Those statistics are mighty impressive. And give us a picture of the lives you’ve touched along the way and the enormous amount of time and 

2


energy you have contributed to the physical fitness of others during your career. 

Today we express our deepest appreciation for your skill in conducting classes accompanied by your fantastic music choices.  It has been a privilege and a lot of fun to have a fitness instructor of your extraordinary qualities and attributes, together with your vibrant personality, enthusiasm and that unique Italian flair. 

You have been more than an instructor, you have been a mentor, a guide and a pillar of support in many ways to us all and you have enriched our lives with lessons learned, friendships made and memories we’ve created.  We’ve laughed together, faced challenges together, and celebrated victories together. Your commitment to excellence has made a positive difference in our lives.  

As you close this chapter and open a new one, we want to express our deep gratitude for the journey we’ve shared. You can be so proud of the work you’ve done and the impact you’ve made in giving us our fitness program.

Thank you for your wisdom, guidance, hard work, dedication and commitment. They have been remarkable. 


Ladies can you please stand and raise your glasses for a toast .....................

Here’s to new beginnings and the exciting adventures that lie ahead!”  May you keep rocking and stomping for many years to come ………………………………..

I migliori auguri per la tua pensione – best wishes on your retirement,



2 December 2024