Many people in today’s society hear about Rotary from either being at events or reading about Rotary in the media whether that be through the press or the growing social media channels. However, it would be true to say that unless you were a member or related to one you really would have no idea what Rotary was about or what function it served in today’s society.
Rotary is a worldwide movement which covers the whole globe and supports the largest charity in the world (Rotary Foundation) which has also for certain projects combined with Bill Gates in achieving wonderful results throughout the world especially in Africa.
The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of Service as a basis of worthy enterprise and to encourage and foster:
- The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
- High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
- The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal business and community life.
- The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world of fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
These are all lofty ideals which were set away back at the beginning of the last century when working practices and traditions were totally different from what they are now. Although they are in the main still applicable it would appear to suggest that only those in employment can be a Rotarian. Nothing nowadays could be further from the truth. Many Rotarians are retired but still wishing to be involved in a movement which promotes the objects mentioned above and their involvement is critical to the charitable work of Rotary. Stirling Rotary Club would like to encourage those who are currently in employment or retired to become members and enjoy both the charitable work and social interaction which takes place at the weekly luncheon meetings and the social events that take place throughout the year.
The Rotary Club of Stirling is involved in many fund-raising activities notably the annual Golf AM/AM (this has raised almost £275k over the past 30 years) and the club’s involvement in having a very successful stand at the annual Gardening Scotland Event held at Ingleston Edinburgh. This has resulted in particular over the past year in funds being donated to local and national charities namely:
- Euroscola Arion Swimming Club – funding transport and providing drivers for disabled people to be taken to swimming at the Peak in Stirling.
- Prostate Scotland
- Artlink Central
- 5th Stirling Company Boy’s Brigade
- Young Enterprise Forth Valley
- The Food Train
- Rotary Foundation General Fund
- Rotary Foundation Stop Polio Now
- Castleview School Raploch
- Stirling School of English
- Rock Talk (an organisation that records books and newspapers and circulates to over a thousand-blind people every month who cannot enjoy reading).
These are only some of the organisations Stirling Rotary Club has supported, but the emphasis is on donations to local charities who provide vital services to the most vulnerable in our society and who are affected by the reductions in public spending and the changes to the Social Security system.
May I encourage you or even groups of you to consider coming along to one of our lunchtime meetings (12.45pm every Friday in the Golden Lion Hotel Stirling) or to contact your local Rotarian who is a very valuable member of our club and she will give you even more information. Her contact details are: Jane Wilson, Beechwood, Fore Road, Kippen FK8 3DT: Tel no: 01786 870412
Please also look at our website for even more information: http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=56 or just simply key in Stirling Rotary Club to any search engine.
The Wee Vine 