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LISTEN: Rotary Club looking for new members as it marks 100 years

LISTEN: Rotary Club looking for new members as it marks 100 years

Friday 03 March 2023

LISTEN: Rotary Club looking for new members as it marks 100 years

Friday 03 March 2023


Guernsey's Rotary Club was officially launched one hundred years ago today - with members still serving the community and helping others in the same way their predecessors did.

A celebration this weekend will see local and visiting Rotarians gather in the island.

Local President Brian Acton has helped organise the weekend's events, which he told Express will include an island tour for visitors before the Bailiff greets all local and visiting Rotarians at a formal celebration event.

Rotary supports a number of other organisations locally, which will be represented at the weekend's events too.

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Pictured: Brian Acton is the President of the Rotary Club in Guernsey.

The club organises the Tree of Joy which as well as lighting up the St Peter Port Weighbridge Mast, also provides gifts for children. It also helps with the Saffrey Rotary Walk which raises many thousands of pounds for other good causes every year.

Mr Acton said young people are a prominent priority for the charity with events such as the Rotary Young Chef, Young Photographer, Young Leader, and Youth Speaks awards.

The charity has 74 members in Guernsey who Mr Acton said are supported by many generous supporters who donate money on flag days, or food for Christmas hampers, and make donations in other ways.

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Pictured: The Rotary Club has been involved with the round island walk since it was first launched 25 years ago. Saffery Champness is the event's partner and staff volunteer to help stage the iconic local challenge.

Like many organisations, Mr Acton said some of the work carried out by Rotary may go unnoticed by some people. He said this year there has been an increase in people asking for support with basic living essentials like washing machines which they have been happy to help with.

The 74 members get involved in a hands on basis helping people and dealing with requests for support as well as organising events and fundraising initiatives.

There is a concern that too many of the Rotary Club members, in Guernsey and elsewhere, are getting older. Mr Acton would like to encourage younger people to join them to ensure Rotary's work can continue for the next 100 years too.

He said this can be through volunteering for specific projects or by joining the Rotary Club as a committee member.

You can hear Mr Acton's interview with Kit Hannah in full below:


 

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