President Alice Albright opened the meeting with a brief overview of the Rotary Club of Chicago, which is the birthplace of the Rotary movement, so obviously the oldest Rotary Club in the World! Chartered in 1905 they currently have around 200 members. They are involved in many, many projects, including the Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation, Medical goods for Ukraine, Dictionaries in Schools, Chicago River Kayak Clean up, work with a soup kitchen and food and clothing drives for the homeless and the list goes on. Great work Chicago. 

 

Alice welcomed visiting Rotarians John & Elspeth Hardy from the Trinity Rotary Club of Kings Lynne in Norfolk, United Kingdom. They later emailed secretary Beth Taylor, thanking the club for the hospitality shown to them and an enjoyable speaker. 

Photo below shows President Alice and John exchanging club banners.     

 

 

David Hulme gave us a brief rundown of the fantastic response for the "Feelings For Life" Tractor Trek. David said that the response from the schools, adults and especially the children, who loved the presentation, was fantastic. David said that the whole experience was hugely rewarding and thanked all of the members who were able to be involved in whatever the role. 

Just look at some of those smiling faces below. 

 

 

 

 

Our speaker for the evening was Mark Anderson. 

Mark has been involved in Rotary for over 35 years, in many different forms including Rotoract, Ryla, Group Study Exchange to California and now a devoted and very active Rotarian, hailing from the Rotary Club of Beecroft North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.   

He is a staunch advocate of Rotary being heavily involved in the Rotary Foundation and encouraged us all to have a look at our club and see how we can improve and be more proactive. . 

 

 

Mark spoke about how it is most important to keep the community involved with the club and to show them what we do with the money that we raise from fundraising. To create a new and diverse membership and to engage our community to show that we and doing good stuff. Encourage members of the community to join Rotary in some of our projects and they may in turn want to become a member, but in the first instance, they may just relish the opportunity to be involved and to help out and do stuff. 

 

Mark encouraged us to visit the learning centre on the Rotary website as there is so much inspiring information available to help us become People of Action. A very encouraging and inciteful speaker. Thanks Mark.    

 

 

 

 

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