Welcome to my first news post as your Club President. As we enter a new century as one of the oldest clubs in the UK we can look back with pride over our first 100 years. Our Centenary year was a tremendous success due in large part to all the efforts of Past President David Brunton, who will be a very hard act to follow as President.We live in turbulent times and Rotary is not immune to those pressures. However, using the 17/18 theme of RI President, Ian Riseley, “we know that we can do more together than we could ever hope to do alone.”
The greatest challenge facing all clubs is that of falling membership. Although our membership numbers have stayed largely unchanged over the last few years, if we are to remain an active club we have to attract new members who are committed to the principles of Service before Self. As well as all members actively recruiting, we will be exploring the option od setting up a Satellite Club and also working more closely with the other two members of the Leicester family, De Montfort and Novus.
As well as raising and allocating funds to our local Charities, we will be embarking on a major fund-raising campaign to provide equipment for an Orthopaedic Operating Theatre in Gondar, North-west Ethiopia. A number of events are planned for the year, starting with your President running in the footsteps of the legendary Haile Gabrselassie in The Great Ethiopia Run at the end of November. Much training needed!
As you know Rodney Spokes is moving to a higher plane and Jonathan Kerry will be taking on membership for this year. Nick Thomson will be taking over as Club Secretary—a role he has been carrying out over the last few months in any case.
If you have any ideas on how to improve the Club or contribute to fundraising activities then please share them with me.
I look forward to working with you all over the coming year and would encourage you all to both contribute as much as possible to the Club, but also make the most of what Rotary has to offer.
Richard Power
President
