Rotary gets big

The Rotary E Club of South Africa is now the largest of the 79 clubs in the D9400 district after 11 new Rotary members were inducted recently – not bad for a club that was only chartered in March 2014.

“The membership growth in our club has allowed us to achieve exceptional milestones. We are very proud of the members who have achieved the Presidential Citation as well as having received gold status internationally,” said club president Annemarie Mostert.

“This proves that professional businesspeople offer their expertise and time to pay back to community members where there is a need.”

She added that, on average, 20 humanitarian projects were undertaken by Rotary each year, and funds were raised to ensure that Rotary made a sustainable difference. Projects included the delivery of clean drinking water and sustainable vegetable gardens, handouts of knitted jerseys, blankets, beanies, linen and shoes to those in need, and the starting and equipping of libraries for communities to enjoy.

Rotaractors, or members aged between 18 and 30 who meet twice a month, are affiliated with a Rotary club, and the area now has seven Rotaract clubs with just under 300 members in total. Five clubs alone were chartered a few months ago with a total of 234 members, including one where all members are students of the University of Johannesburg.

Rotary is a worldwide organisation and, since 1985, members have helped immunise more than 2.5 billion children against polio. Today, all but two countries are free of polio. As of June last year, Rotary had committed more than $1.5 billion (about R22-billion) to global polio eradication to ensure that polio is eliminated in the last two countries where it remains and that it does not return elsewhere.

The Rotary E Club of Southern Africa D9400 has contributed to the fund since its inception.

Rotarians are business people who volunteer their services on a humanitarian basis, and worldwide there are 1,22 million Rotarians in 200 countries.

Rotary is also launching a new club in Fourways, and you are invited to attend an interest meeting.

Details: Bryanston Sports Club. 6.30 pm (Corner of Main and Payne roads on 31 August