Week 3 of Kath’s Blog
In my
last Blog I mentioned I’d had contact with a Rotarian from Thailand, more
specifically the Rotary Club of Eastern Seaboard. The gentleman was making
contact on behalf of his sister Sally, who wanted to donate a quantity of children’s
clothing.
Last
week I travelled to Chorley with another member of Carnforth Rotary and met up
with the wonderful Sally. I honestly couldn’t believe what she was prepared to
donate, a large quantity of brand new children’s clothes. These clothes are of
excellent quality and it was easy to see the value of them. I have previously
bought some of these clothes from a shop in Lancaster so I have first-hand
experience of the price they can command. I was genuinely overwhelmed by her
generosity.
The job
now is to take stock of what has been donated and to decide the best way of
using these garments to help as many young people as possible. Just some of the
people we hope to help will be Ukrainian families in the UK, refugees and local
families who this winter will be struggling to keep warm. Rest assured the best way forward, to help as
many people as possible, will be taken. I will keep you updated as this is
progressed.
On Tuesday
we held our first Continuity Team Meeting. For those who are unaware of the
Continuity Team, this is a team that provides three years stability for the District,
delivers DG, DGE and DGN Learning & Development. The Team includes the
District Secretary along with the Past District Governor, who share their vast knowledge
and experience.
This
group does not make any decisions but looks at strategic developments and takes
any ideas or suggested changes to the Executive and District Council.
I for
one have really enjoyed these meetings over the last few years and have gained
a lot of confidence from my peers.
On Friday
evening I had the pleasure of attending Furness Peninsula Club, Barrow for
their Charter Night for the last three years Presidents. Learning of the work
that this club had completed during those three years was inspiring. The amount
of money the Club has raised for local and international projects was
unbelievable.
The company
and food was excellent, the views from Barrow Golf Club were stunning. I would like
to publicly offer my thanks to the Club for their hospitality and for a most
enjoyable evening.
To end
my 3rd week I, together with other members of Carnforth Rotary Club,
assisted at the Health and Fun Day held at Carnforth High School. The Health
and Fun day is a collaborative venture with many partner agencies from within
the health and NHS sector contributing. There was a wide range of stallholders
offering information and advice on a wide range of support that can be accessed
by the local community. The Police, Fire and Blood Bikes were also amongst
those attending.
Never
one to miss an opportunity, yours truly found a little time to operate a
tombola, thanks to the generosity of Carnforth Rotary members and others who
donated a number of prizes.
The
tombola raised another £100 for my charity of the year – Polio. As we all know every
penny counts towards the elimination of this terrible disease.
If any
clubs are going to organise an event for Polio this year, please let me know, I
would love to attend and assist if possible.
With the International Assembly being cancelled this year, due to the Covid pandemic, each District Governor received several items from Evanson, these included International Theme pennants entitled “Imagine Rotary". I will bring these pennants with me as I visit Clubs within the District this year. Another gift received was a beautiful, limited print of the theme. This print is one designed by President Jennifer Jones’s brother Darren and which has all the colours of her theme.
It is a
signed limited-edition print, limited to just 500 copies, and one print has
been gifted to each of the 500 District Governors to use to raise money for Polio.
The print has a copy of the authenticity certificate indicating its value of
$800.
It is my intention, when visiting clubs, to sell tickets at £1 each with just 1500 tickets being made available. I anticipate that this will allow me to raise a further £1500 for Polio from our District. I have had the print framed and will bring it with me as I visit each Club so members can have a look at it before purchasing their tickets.
On a
final note for this week I have the great pleasure in welcoming the following
new Members and Transferees in to our District;
Fiona
Sparrow Ambleside Club
James
Wilson Ambleside Club (Hon.
Member)
Philip
Lamport Burnley Pendleside Club
Irene
Bilsborough Clitheroe Club
Ian
Brown Clitheroe Club
Gillian
Cooney Furness Peninsula Club
Donald
Beaty Kendal Club
Kenneth
Kay Lunesdale Club
I would
like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best in your Rotary
journey and I look forward to meeting you personally as I visit Clubs. If there is anybody i have missed, my apologies.
That’s
all folks for this week. Keep the sun cream to hand , and stay safe, you are all
valued.