Did you know that there are five Rotary Clubs of Winchester in the world?
Four are in the America in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Virginia. The fifth is in Hampshire, England.
The five Presidents of these clubs decided it would be interesting and fun to start holding regular informal get-togethers this Rotary year, hosted by the UK Club.
The five Presidents of these clubs decided it would be interesting and fun to start holding regular informal get-togethers this Rotary year, hosted by the UK Club.
So far, five meetings have been held, just involving the Presidents to make discussions easier.
“We hope these will continue into the next Rotary year, with four of the five Presidents changing and one doing a second term,” said Richard Spalding, President of Winchester Rotary in England.
“We have discussed and shared a whole variety of topics such as the many different and innovative ways to fund-raise, how to attract new members, especially younger ones, projects and, of course, how we have all coped during the pandemic.
“We also managed to take a lovely screenshot photo with local landmarks for our respective backgrounds.
“The Zooms have been fun and pretty unique.”
The power of Zoom provided a link between clubs in south-west London and South Africa.
The Rotary clubs of Shepperton Aurora in Surrey, Port Elizabeth West and Uitenhage South, joined forces to prove how Rotary truly reaches across the globe.
More than 60 guests from the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth West, and those involved in Presidents & Officers Elect Training Seminar from the South African District 9370, did a mass Zoom raid on Shepperton Aurora Rotary’s weekly meeting.
The power of Zoom provided a link between clubs in south-west London and South Africa.”
This followed a donation made by the Surrey club to Port Elizabeth West Rotary to help with one of their community projects.
Port Elizabeth West’s Salt Lake Community Project helps to educate under-privileged kids.
Even in these difficult times, the clubs have turned the effects of Covid to their advantage. By working together, the three clubs are now closer than ever before – all down to the power of Zoom!
Last year, Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland launched a 1240 miles’ challenge to raise funds for End Polio Now.
This figure represents the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the final two remaining countries where the wild polio virus is endemic.
Coincidentally, Rotary clubs in Essex, plus a trio of clubs in Hertfordshire, are banded as District 1240.
Last year, Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland launched a 1240 miles’ challenge to raise funds for End Polio Now.”
A cunning and subtle plan was devised for each Rotarian in District 1240, approximately 1,350 members. to donate ÂŁ1 per head. This would raise just over ÂŁ1240.
The response by Easter Monday was well over then target with members and clubs donating ÂŁ6383.75.
This will be double-matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
To celebrate Bournemouth Rotary’s centenary in October 2018 current President, PaTrisha-Anne Todd, wrote the book ‘Time Travel with Bournemouth Rotary’.
The book is filled with members’ anecdotes, a history of Rotary and the beginnings of Bournemouth Rotary.
The Dorset club began life on October 23rd, 1918, when a group of 47 founding members held their first Rotary club meeting.
Now in its 102nd year, membership is thriving and ‘Service above Self’ is alive and well in various local community projects.
Author PaTrisha-Anne Todd, who is the club’s sixth female President, has reflected the life and times of the club during these years.
Recently, the Kindle edition went live on the Amazon worldwide bookstore. All royalties earned are paid directly to Bournemouth Rotary’s charities’ bank account.
