Successful Year for Rotary Club of Ayr

The Rotary Club of Ayr held its very first “virtual” AGM recently, with 32 members participating on-line.

In his end-of-year report (2019/20), outgoing president, Ieuan Isaac, advised members that in nine (pre-virus-lockdown) months the club had achieved most of what had been planned for the year with remarkable successes across its wide-ranging array of community projects. He remarked on the amazing vibrancy of the Club which had made a significant difference to the lives of many people and he attributed this to the dedication, enthusiasm, and professionalism of all of the members.

In addition to the help and support the club has given, in kind, to deserving groups and individuals it managed to secure, designate and commit around £19,000 for good causes. These included substantial donations to local primary schools (channelled through Newton Primary School) for providing essential clothing and sustenance for the most vulnerable kids; Ayrshire Young Carers (to help those facing difficult family situations); and to the Salvation Army food bank (along with regular food donations). Help was also given through the club’s Treasure Chest Fund, regularly benefitting many varied and deserving applicants.

Support for international organisations was provided to the Aquabox charity (providing urgently required clean water in regions affected by natural disasters) and to the Abbas Rest Charity (providing training for sustaining a solar power project in Malawi to enable villagers to continue to benefit from water wells previously delivered and funded by the club).

A sizeable portion of the funds allocated to the foregoing were raised through the Christmas Charity Concert staged by the Ayr Rotary Club together with the Salvation Army’s Ayr Community Church.

The following organisations also benefited from other fundraising events during the year which raised a further £2,500:

  • Sepsis Research
  • Ayrshire Young Parkinson’s Group
  • Samuel’s Smile
  • RFUK End Polio Now Appeal
  • Crossroads
  • Salvation Army

Ayr Rotary Club takes a great interest in the development of schoolchildren and successfully facilitated the local heat of the annual national Rotary Youth Speaks Debate. The club sponsored the eventual West of Scotland regional winners, Kyle Academy; a great achievement by these pupils. In similar vein, involvement in support for Young Citizen of the Year continued, including representation at the Schools’ Prize Giving Ceremonies and also support for Young Musician and Young Writer of the Year.

The Club plays a major role locally in the annual Poppy Scotland Appeal which again proved very successful due to the generosity of the people of Ayr and beyond, raising a sum of £25,150

Championing and supporting worthwhile causes is not the sole function of the club whose strapline is “Fun and Friendship by helping others”. Throughout the club year the members enjoyed numerous social events and a broad range of interesting speakers. Trips to Hampden Park, including the football and curling museums, and to the Glasgow Police Museum were enjoyed as was a fund-raising quiz night at the Horizon Hotel. The club also held Christmas Dinner and Burns Supper evenings with great entertainment and wonderful renditions and a number of smaller less formal events were also staged throughout the year. Club members who enjoy the active life have participated in organised competitions including curling and golfing as well as more impromptu ten-pin bowling and snooker events.

The club recognises that the coming 12 months will see significant new challenges to be addressed in order to maintain the successes of past years in delivering much-needed support to local communities. New initiatives are already being discussed and projects planned for what will be a very different world from the one we had all become used to. If you would like to join in and help this friendly club make a difference just get in touch by using the “Contact” button on the homepage. Also anyone who wishes to be considered for an online presentation at one of the club’s regular e-meetings should make contact the same way. Ayr Rotary Club’s ambition is to continue to offer Fun and Friendship by Helping Others.

 

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