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.







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