News Archive:

Contributions to International charitable causes

Every year the club makes donations to charitable foundations which contribute to improvements in the health and welfare of some of the poorest and most deprived peoples in the world.

In 2006, with the help of the Rotary Foundation and in partnership with the Rotary Club of Monrovia we were able to fund the purchase of a Land Rover for use in providing health and community education by Mercy Ships. This charity, by means of its fully equipped hospital ships, staffed by trained volunteer medical professionals, provides medical and surgical care to some of the world’s poorest countries.

In both 2006 and 2007, the club has made financial contributions to support the work of a number of organisations: Vision Aid, which recycles spectacles and delivers them to centres in Africa and other countries, provides eye tests and dispenses the correct spectacles to enable millions of people to lead a normal life; The Rotary Jaipur Limb project which provides artificial limbs to assist the rehabilitation of amputees and polio victims in many countries in Asia and Africa; The Shelter Box Trust, which provides tents, sleeping bags, water purifying and other equipment, within specially designed individual containers, for use in areas of natural and other disasters, such as the earthquake in Pakistan or the floods in Indonesia.

In 2008, we are hoping to raise some £2500 for the Wheelchair Foundation, which provides disabled people primarily in Africa and Eastern Europe with new wheelchairs adapted to their environment, giving mobility to those who have none, hope to those who are seen as a burden on their communities and are sometimes left to die, and value to the lives of many who are enabled to gain an education and obtain work. In our efforts to raise the funds we are delighted that other Rotary clubs in the district have made contributions.

Santa Claus coming to Town.

Following a busy first half of the Rotary year, having raised a shade over £2k, the busy month of December appeared again. It seems to come round extremely quickly, or am I getting old ?

I offer my gratitude to so many people who made it all happen, those who hosted, marshalled, collected, drove, acted as Santa or Treasurer, put up poster boards, helped with the electrics, allowed the use of their garage, members, friends and partners who simply gave of their all – as ever.

The crew who distributed parcels were sadly diminished this year, but an efficient force who swooped upon our recipients and dispensed good cheer to all. The exercise was as ever well received, and I thank all those who continue to support this important activity.

As you see, Father Christmas, alias Sir Humphrey, alias Brian Morgan gave the children a little more than they expected when we carried out our annual visit to the shops in Chapel View, (thank you Norman). Enthusiastic from start to finish I wonder if he is the real Father Christmas after all……. We may never know, and I thought it was Bernard Guilford, (another star).

This years total for collections so far is £5,9987, plus the expected £1k from Knights Garden Centres, plus the £2k we started with means we have only £1k to raise over the next six months.

To all – thanks for supporting all the activities which will help us to make a difference to the lives of others. Please support the events in the second half of the Rotary year so that we can reach our target
for 2006-07.

WAB. Vice President / Fund Raiser.

Visit from President of Rotary

Peter Offer, the President of Rotary in Britain & Ireland (RIBI, visited the eastern area of Rotary District 1140 on Wednesday 15th November. The Rotary Club of Croydon South entertained him to lunch at the Addington Court Golf Centre, where the Club meets Monday lunchtimes.

In attendance where Peter's wife Janis, the District Governor David Whindle and his wife De,Lys, Assistant District Governor Keith Puckey and representatives of all the local Clubs in the eastern area. President David Cragg gave a warm welcome to Peter and Janis who enjoyed an informal but informative buffet lunch. Peter's final comment on leaving was how much he had enjoyed the visit and how welcome it was to have a buffet rather than a formal affair and to be able to mix freely with fellow Rotarians.

MS Society Minibus

The Rotary Club of Croydon South undertook major fundraising for over a year, and assisted with the procurement of the minibus, to enable the MS Society to acquire this new minibus.

Tom Ho, Chairman of the Rotary Club of Croydon South formally hands over the keys of the new minibus to Chris Day, Chairman of the MS Society, Croydon Branch.

Old News:

The Trad Jazz Night at The Good Companions on 7th October raised over £600 in Aid of Mercy Ships

The Club has just held its annual day Reach Out for senior residents from the Clubs area, at Warlingham School. This year the theme was VE / VJ day. There were about 80 guests who enjoyed a meal, entertainment and overall a very enjoyable day out.

Entertainment included a superb singer who sang every memorable song from the war years, a magician and a sing song.

Thanks are extended again to the many businesses and organisations who contributed the food and drinks and who loaned the minibuses, and to members of other Rotary Clubs and friends who provided the essential support. Thanks also to Warlingham school for the use of their premises.

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