Category: DISTRICT News

Rotary Young Citizen Award presented to young person from Somerset

Talented young musician Anthony Knight has earned a prestigious Rotary Young Citizen Award in recognition of his efforts to raise money for victims of the war in Ukraine.

Anthony, who is a pupil at the Taunton School, has used his considerable musical talent to raise funds for the DEC Ukraine Appeal, which was launched following the Russian invasion of the country in February 2022. Playing his violin in local churches and care homes, Anthony raised an incredible £14,000 – which has gone on to ensure vital relief work is carried out in Ukraine.

Anthony received his award on Saturday 20th April from two former winners, Bella Field and Katriona Goodsell, at the Rotary Young Citizen Awards ceremony in Alcester, Warwickshire, home of Rotary GB&I.

Anthony was nominated for his Rotary Young Citizen Award by the Rotary Club of Taunton. Rotarian Alan Reeves said: “Anthony is a genuinely talented young musician who has already been accepted into the Royal College of Music. It is testament to Anthony’s generous spirit that he is using this talent for the benefit of others, performing both in Taunton and across Europe to raise important funds for the relief effort in Ukraine. It is an absolute pleasure to nominate him for a Rotary Young Citizen Award.”

Playing pieces by Bach and Telemann, Anthony carried out 75 performances – tirelessly dedicating his own free-time after being spurred to action by the scenes of devastation and suffering on the news.  Listen to Anthony’s story in his own words. 

This is Rotary – Developing Future Leaders

Created in conjunction with The Institute of Leadership, Rotary offers two programmes for young people aged 14 and above

As we develop our Net Zero Interact clubs and Rotaract clubs in our district, these courses can offer these motivated youngsters the opportunity to achieve an award equivalent to either a level 1 or Level 2 qualification.

Level 1 – Communication and Teamwork Programme
This exciting introductory programme gives participants the opportunity to work together on a collaborative activity to improve communication and teamwork skills.

Level 2 – Leadership and Management Programme
This more advanced programme gives participants the opportunity to work in a team to plan, organise and deliver an event of their choice.

Both programmes have been successfully run in secondary schools, including with Special Educational Needs groups, Interact clubs, Rotaract clubs and other youth groups.

You can find out more and Register your Interest  about these courses on the Rotary GB&I website or FUTURE-LEADERS-A5-BOOKLET_2024 to share with interested groups.

Follow Circa 1200-People of Action, and learn more about Rotary in our district 

This is Rotary – Have you signed the Pollination Pledge?

Operation Pollination is a Rotary member led movement to protect pollinators

Although insect pollinators are responsible for the reproductive success of more than 85% of plants on the planet, scientific studies show that in just the past 50 years, pollinators have declined by more than 40% worldwide.  If this trend continues, what will be our grandchildren’s inheritance?

ESRAG is Rotary’s Environmental Sustainablilty Rotary Action Group and our clubs are being invited to sign the pledge.

Here in Somerset we are starting a network of Net Zero Interact clubs.  If your are starting a Net Zero club or your Rotary club is supporting or implementing environmental projects, we would love to hear about them on this blog.

ESRG is one of many Rotary Action Groups supporting the causes which you care about.

Exmoor challenge completed in spite of the mud

This year’s Exmoor Challenge presented some challenging conditions, with the route having to be changed a few days beforehand.

But this did not deter a hardy group from Burnham-On-Sea Rotary.

The group joined members of Burnham-On-Sea’s daughter club, Axbridge and District Rotary, to walk the tough Exmoor Challenge route in trying conditions to raise funds for Children’s Hospice Southwest.

 Aproximatly 140 taking part in this annual challenge between district 1200 and district 1175, and an enjoyable time was had with the sun even making the odd appearance.  A trophy is presented each year to the district with the most participation points.  

Pictured are Lesley Watts and Cedric Canham of Axbridge and District Rotary accepting the trophy on behalf of District 1200. 

This is Rotary – We are part of something much bigger!

We are part of the Southern Wales & South West England cluster.   We collaborate with fellow members in Corwall, Devon, Somerset, parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and South Wales.

Rotary clusters enable us to share, to learn, give us access to skills we need, enable us to make new connections, friends in other areas, and to meet others who share our passions and interests.

For many Rotarians, opportunities to make friends and support their local community is what  Rotary offers them, for others the ability to find and locate others who care about the causes they care about is part of why they join.  Rotary welcomes and needs both.

In our fast changing world, we are presented with all sorts of challenges which our communities may not have had to face in the past.  Engaging with the wider Rotary network enables us to understand how these changes affect others, to share and support across the UK and globally, and to collaborate and get involved.

To enable access to the UK Rotary network of projects, activities and causes, a new service “The Hub” is being launched.   Accessible in the Members Area of the Rotary GB&I website, this communication platform is accessible now to all members with an RI Account.

We are four districts working well together since Clusters were introduced twelve months ago. We are collaborating, we are making new friends, we are working together, we are organising events together.

Making Your Club Irrisisible.  
10th April on Zoom

Stronger Together Conference 
28th – 30th June.

This is Rotary – Rotary Peace Fellowships

Each year, Rotary supports professionals in peace and development to study at one of our Rotary Peace Centres around the world. 

The application process is now open, and persons can apply until 15 th May 2024. The selection will then take place internationally with successful candidates starting their studies in 2025.  More information can be found on Peace Fellowships | Rotary International

If you are interested in this opportunity, or know of someone who is, please contact your local Rotary Club, or PDG Brian Hellin,  or use the Contact Us page on this blog site.