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A reflection on 30
Years in Rotary
 I
was one of a lucky few who were invited to join our Rotary Club at its
formation. It was not until quite some time afterwards that I found out who
put my name forward I have been eternally grateful to Dick Smith of the Nuneaton Club for his recommendation. He had been a neighbour but we had
moved away and we met up again quite by accident at the same hotel on
holiday. Luck can play such an important part in our lives! It had been
decided that our mother clubs, Nuneaton and Bedworth who meet at lunch-times
should try to form an evening club covering both towns.
When we got off the
ground we had to decide on a name that covered both places so we settled for
‘Arbury’ and then we had to chose a meeting place and the day for our meal.
Over the years we have dined at quite a few establishments - the Bull (now
the George Eliot), the Rugger Tavern, The Long Shoot, the Chase and now
Weston Hall, where we are treated very well.
When I was asked to join
I did not hesitate but I was very uncertain what the organisation did apart
from meet regularly for a meal. It opened up a whole new world for me. I
had joined Courtaulds after living in London, and Joan was fresh from
Barnsley, as a result we had few local friends apart from those through
work.
I can honestly say that
joining Arbury was the finest thing that happened to me since marrying Joan
although I have also got a lot of pleasure from the Nuneaton Rambling Club.
Although the bonds that
are built up over the years with seeing fellow members in a relaxed friendly
atmosphere are a great source of comfort there is more to Rotary than just
the dining together. We organise our own functions like theatre visits,
barbecues, weekends away and so on.
I found I had joined a
world-wide organisation with it roots spreading from a seed sown in Chicago
by a man called Paul Harris over 100 years ago. There are now over a
million Rotarians across the world. Apart from the regular weekly meal we
organise ourselves into small working groups that try to do good - sometimes
on a worldwide scale, - to projects in our own localities. Through Rotary I
have become involved with a plant nursery that is run by the excellent
charity ‘People in Action’. It is based in Bedworth and provides training
and employment for adults with learning difficulties.
On the grand scale
Rotary UK set the wheels in motion for the establishment of UNESCO - The
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation. More
recently a Rotary International President persuaded the World Health
Organisation to try to eliminate polio from the world’s population . Rotary
paid for the vaccine. There are just a few pockets of the disease left in a
handful of countries and Bill Gates had given heavy financial help backing
up Rotary’s efforts to put the problem to rest.. At the club level we help
the elderly, the sick, the poor, and the young. We also financially support
local charities. Some do more than others but that is the nature of clubs.
Those that put in most get the most out.
There are further
benefits for members that come to mind. You can establish business
relationships with people you trust. Unfortunately one of our members
found that it is not always true. When I was made redundant from the now
no-existent Courtaulds a fellow Rotarian helped me find a most pleasant
consultancy job. In our swiftly changing world a person new to the
neighbourhood who joins Rotary can get to know a group of pleasant
acquaintances where friendship grows. If he is moved to another area
another Rotary club will take him in and he can start again widening his
circle of friends. Finally a welcome and even aid is given to a visiting
Rotarian. I have done a lot of walking by myself in this country and I have
always received a warm welcome at club’s evening or lunchtime meetings. At
least two members of our club have been taken seriously ill abroad and were
helped by local clubs. Possibly the life of one of these members was saved
by the speedy action of a South African club.
At the moment we have no
lady members but we are seeking them. The wives and partners of the members
have an active sister organisation called the Inner Wheel that meets
monthly at Weston Hall for a meal. My wife, Joan, enjoys her involvement.
Sadly most clubs and
friendships organisations in our society are finding it difficult to keep up
their membership and we are no different. This is not the case for Rotary
in the dynamic Far East So if you like the look of what you have read and
are, shall we say, a senior member of your business or even just retired,
then perhaps you would like to give us a try. If so, the person to contact
is our Secretary Frank
Holloway.
E-mail
Ian Blackwell
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