What Does Rotary Do? It’s a question we are always being asked, so we are planning a couple of information events in the new year to help spread the word.
To whet your appetite here follows a summary of what the club got up to during the 2022/23 Rotary year (which begins on the 1st of July) during the Presidency of Rotarian John Clarke.
Fundraising
Our volunteers ran the Rotary Barbecue at the Sutton on Sea Carnival, Furlongs Festival, Alford Bonfire Night, Mablethorpe’s Christmas Event, Sutton on Sea’s Christmas Event and Open Farm Sunday at Farmer Browns.
In terms of events, we organised the Mablethorpe Carol Concert at The Dunes, a Beetle Drive and raffle at Trusthorpe Village Hall (with the help of some ex-members of the now disbanded Inner Wheel) and a Cream Tea Fundraiser at the Alford Manor House.
We staged several Disaster Relief bucket collections as and when required at the Mablethorpe and Sutton Co-ops and Tesco Mablethorpe. Buckets were also to be found on the counters at the Spar shops in Bilsby, Partney and Ulceby Cross and at the Post Offices in Bilsby and Partney.
Finally, Rotarian Chris Lilley completed his annual sponsored challenge to raise money for our RYLA candidates. This year he swam across the international date line – safely accomplished via a well-timed length of the pool on his cruise ship!
Donations
Purchasing 5 ShelterBox disaster relief kits. Sponsoring two QEGS students to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). Donating to the Rotary Club of Kiev to support victims of the war. Sponsoring a tree for the Alford Manor Houses Christmas Tree Festival. Sponsoring vouchers for Mablethorpe Primary that parents could exchange for quality winter coats for their children. Donation to St Barnabas Hospice plus £100 worth of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs for their Easter Novelties fundraiser. Donating to the Gurkhas Welfare Trust. Donating to the Air Ambulance including £370 raised at the Beetle Drive. Donating to St Martins in the Field. Supporting the Corn Exchange’s Christmas Lunch. Donating to the British Heart Foundation. Paying room hire charges for Alford Watch. Contributing to Skendlby’s new defibrillator. Donating to Lincs With India (school). Donating to Cash 4 Kids. Sponsoring an award for John Spendluffe’s awards evening. Donating to EDAN Lincs. Funding and organising a coach trip to Butlins for local disadvantaged children. Donating to Sutton on Sea Primary school for supporting our Carol Concert. And finally, four figure donations to Rotary’s global charity and Rotary’s Polio fund.
Talks
During the 2022/23 Rotary Year we received talks from St Barnabas Hospice, our District Governor, Dr David Ferguson, Lincolnshire Community Foundation, Storyteller Keith Butters, Rotarian Judi Rastall, our Assistant District Governor, The Calvert Trust, The Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary, Jim Morton (Gurkha Welfare Trust fundraiser), Louth Disabilities Activities Forum, Linkage, Cash for Kids, Rotarian Chris Lilley, EDAN Lincs, East Coast Distillery, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and NHS Lincolnshire’s Integrated Care Board.
Social Outings and Events
The club is still getting back up to speed after the lockdowns but visited the Mablethorpe Coastal Centre for a presentation by the Geological Disposal Facility, enjoyed a Christmas Party and Lincolnshire Day at The Seacroft Bar in Trusthorpe, celebrated Burns Night and our Club Charter at The Alford Manor House and even fitted in three trips to the Theatre and Rusells International Circus.
And Much More!
Some of us paid visits to other Rotary Clubs near and far, and we hosted Rotarians from Louth, Skegness, Spilsby and beyond. But above all, each week we enjoy a meal together and the fellowship of belonging to a club with a worthwhile purpose.
Want to Know More?
Despite our club being fairly small and based in a relatively poor area, we think you’ll agree we achieve a great deal. The club was chartered in 1978 and needs a steady flow of new members to keep it alive. If you believe the above is worth keeping, look out for information about our upcoming “What Does Rotary Do?” events, where you can come and talk to us to find out more.