Author: RedBus

District Forum Report March 2023

Our quarterly District Forum was held on Saturday 18th March in Yeovil and was attended by 90 members of our District.  For the first time 14 of these were viewing proceedings online.

A quorum of voting clubs was in attendance (37 out of 45 clubs).  Accounts for the Rotary year ended 30th June 2023 and budgets for the Rotary year 2023-34 had been circulated to all clubs in advance of the meeting.  Voting Club members  were invited to vote to adopt both these documents and the voting was as follows.
Account for the year ended 30th June 2023 – unanimously agreed
Budgets for the Rotary year 2023-34 – unanimously agreed.

DGE Stuart Gilbert advised members of a proposal to  hold the 2024 Conference as a regional cluster event together with Handovers for all 4 districts, on  28-30 June at Sandy Park, Exeter.   This proposal was agreed unanimously.

District Project Showcase

46 Marathons in 46 days – Rachel Goodfellow , Sherborne Castles Club

Rachel gave a heart felt presentation on the story behind her project to organise and run this district wide fund raising events.  As a mother of a special needs child Rachel knows only too well how hard it is to talk to others and be heard when obtaining the support needed for special needs children.  So she set up the Hidden Needs Trust to give a voice to these parents and children, and she became their main fundraiser with here first 26 marathons event to raise funds for them.

Rachel’s other passion is Rotary, she is about to become club president for the third time, and is well aware of the amazing hummantiarian work done by The Rotary Foundation and is keen to raise funds to support this work.

Rachel is running for both these Charities which are so important to her, so click here to find out how you can support her.

Rotary Shop, Rotary in Frome – Norman Elmer, Frome Club

The Rotary Shop in Frome is a fantastic success story for the town, and is a significant source of charitable funds for local organisations in Frome.  The shop first opened 9 years ago and has moved premises on a number of occasions since, taking over empty shops and each time providing a bigger and better retail experience which has become increasingly popular in the town.  In 2022 alone the shop distributed £172k in the local area.

There are three Rotary clubs in the town, the original Frome club, Frome Selwood and Frome Town.  all of whom are actively involved in the running of the shop.  The current location in Westway Shopping Centre is the largest yet and provides a spacious shop floor, no clothes but a lot of furniture, books, bedding and other household items.  Below stairs donations are sorted, repaired and made ready for the retail area which is open for 4 days each week, Wednesday to Saturday.

Run entirely by volunteers, Rotarians and friends, and by using unoccupied shops in the town, this is a formula where everyone is a winner.

Other Rotary Business

Other items of Rotary projects in our district were discussed including updates on various projects including:

Ukraine – how our district is supporting the people of Ukraine – Stan Jones
The Rotary Foundation – sustaining members – Richard Brind
Supporting Turkey’s earthquake victims – Stan Jones
Youth Projects – District finals for Youth Speaks, Young Chef, Young Musician and RYLA update
New club opening – Satellite club of Weston Bay – Guy Parkinson
Polio update – no new cases this year, but polio is only a plane ride away – Keith Barnard-Jones

If you wish to know more about any of the above please contact the person or club named.

Next District Meeting, District Assembly 20th May 2023

Berties Big Band Crewkerne CANCELLED

CANCELLED – Berties Big Band Concert – Saturday 25 March.

It is with regret that we are cancelling the concert on 25 March.
Anyone who has purchased tickets from Grand Interiors in the George Precinct in Crewkerne can obtain a refund by returning the tickets to them.
Thank you to Grand Interiors and to those of you who bought tickets.  Hopefully we can reschedule the concert at a later date.

45 Marathons in 45 days, 6th April to 23rd May 2023

Raising Funds for The Rotary Foundation and the Hidden Needs Trust

This mammoth Fundraiser is being undertaken by Rachel Goodfellow, President of Rotary in Sherborne, to raise funds for these two charities which she cares passionately about.  During the 45 days Rachel will cover 1,591.44 miles averaging 26.6 miles per day.

“I am running/walking 45 marathons in 45 days across our Rotary District 1200 from Chippenham to Bath, down to Lyme Regis, across to Bridport,
Weymouth, and Portland, and up to Frome”

The route is shown on the Hidden Needs Trust web site and progress tracked each day with the route and mileage, together with details of the fundraisers going on each day.

For insurance reasons it is not possible for others to run with Rachel, but runners/walkers are welcome to be there at the start and finish, and are welcome to join in the daily fundraising activities.  Rotarians, Rotary Clubs and others are invited to organise fund raisers along the route of this mammoth challenge.

Right now Rachel is looking for sponsors.

Sponsors will gets full promotion on the HNT and Rotary Websites, and throughout the challenge, with “particular emphasis on the days that I am running through their area”. The run will be heavily promoted on social media platforms, and though other marketing/media areas, and so why not get your name up there as a supporter?  “Do get in contact asap so that I can support you by having your logo on my running vests”.

  1. Daily Sponsors
        • 1 x Day of Sponsorship…£200
        • 2 x Days of Sponsorship…£150
        • Sports clothing …20 pairs of high quality running socks, wet weather running gear, sports watch, and 3 x pairs of specialist running shoes.
        • High Energy Drinks x 45, 1 per day to be taken pre running
  • 2.  One HEADLINE SPONSOR who is willing to start the fundraising off with a Financial Donation of £5,000+

3.  MARKETING and MEDIA Support…any help with this would be greatly
received contacting newspapers and other forms of media will be of huge help, as will be spreading the word about the challenge wherever you can.

“I am the sole organizer of this challenge and fundraising event in addition to training for the challenge, supporting my children, teaching up until Easter, HNT work supporting families with additional needs young people, and Rotary work as President and Secretary of The Rotary Club of Sherborne Castles means that spare time is limited!!”

To find out more and offer help to Rachel please go to the Hidden Needs Trust web site.

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