AscotMatters Visits Rotary Club Ascot

 The AscotMatters editor was very kindly invited along to the July 13th meeting of the Ascot Rotary Club for a very pleasant evening. Members and we guests enjoyed a very informative talk on the Rotary Foundation (TRF), by District Foundation Chair - David Caswell, of the Rotary Club of Sinodun, (pictured left with Rotary Ascot President, Bob Linnell).

The Rotary Foundation, run by Trustees appointed by Rotary International, has a mission  to do good in the world. It  is one of the largest private charities in the world and raises money solely from Rotarians' financial donations. Mr Caswell reported that Rotary Ascot contributes well .

Rotarians and guests were also delighted to hear that the worldwide elimination of Polio - Rotary's most sustained international project, is less than $30m from raising the $200m needed for the match funding -  required by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - which is donating $355m. In 1985 Polio was endemnic in 125 countries and this has been reduced to only four countries .The last push is now  under way!.........

Not all of the money raised by Rotarians is spent on international work; the District Designated Fund receives back a sum equal to 50%  of the money donated to the Annual Programmes Fund  and 20% of this is available for more local projects (EXAMPLE)  .A great deal of work is done supporting young people, including Youth Speaks competition, a young chef competition and the Young Musician Competition, .(EXAMPLE)

Mr Caswell's talk included  a reminder that TRF also supports Ambassadorial Scholarships (CLICK HERE for  AM article), usually taken up by post graduates to study abroad,  Group Study Exchange ( whereby four, non - Rotarian team members are financed to study their corresponding vocations abroad). Peace Fellows undertake Peace Studies which include Conflict Resolution, and it is a Masters Degree. 

The Rotary Club of Ascot is a thriving gorup, enjoying superb dinners at Mill Ride Golf Club, lunches, guest speakers and a wide range of activities. It is a relatively formal but friendly club, with smart dress, a set routine( including grace and toasts to The Queen). It is a dual gender group, though still mostly men at the moment. There is strong support for recruiting young members to the Rotary family - CLICK HERE to see the recent launch of Interact at Charters School .

Anyone interested in finding out more about Ascot Rotary CLICK HERE . For more information about Rotary Foundation CLICK HERE 

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The Rotary Club of Ascot comprises more than 40 business and professional men and women who live or work in the Ascot area.  The Club meets each week at Mill Ride Golf Club, and in a typical year raises in the order of £25,000 for local, national and international humanitarian works.  See www.rotaryascot.org.

Rotary

1.    Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, part of Rotary International, has 1,845 clubs and more than 55,000 members.
2.    Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago and is now the world’s largest international service organisation with 1.2 million professional men and women as members. There are 33,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas.
3.    Rotary clubs are open to men and women who are business, professional or community leaders who want to use their experience for the benefit of others.
4.    Rotary initiates local and global projects to promote world understanding and peace and improve life conditions for people of all ages and cultures. To find out more, visit www.ribi.org.