THE WIND OF CHANGE BLOWS THROUGH BLACKPOOL SOUTH ROTARY

In 1960, Harold Macmillan, the then British Prime Minister said, "The wind of change is blowing through the continent".  Eight years earlier in 1952 the Rotary Club of Blackpool South was formed. 58 years has passed and the wind of change is certainly blowing through Blackpool South.

On the 1st July this year, we will welcome our first ever female Club President Penelope Marshall-Kalina.

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 Penelope will be supported by President-elect Jacqui Longden. 

 

DON'T FORGET TO LOOK ON 'WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY' - CLICK ON LEFT HAND HEADING ON LEFT HAND SIDE LIST.

In addition to inducting our first ever female President, Blackpool South Rotary has another first.  Honorary Member Barry McQueen was appointed as the club’s official Town Crier and is believed to be the first official Rotary Town Crier in the world. 

Some time ago, Barry was undertaking a speaking engagement in Llandudno when he met Gerrie Bayley of the North Wales Link of the charity Chernobyl Children Life Line.  One of the supporters of this charity was Llandudno Rotary Club.  Barry’s friend, Michael Pearce, former Mayor of Llandudno was involved in helping the charity.  Mike became president of Llandudno Rotary Club on the 1^st July 2010.  This friendship led to a request to Blackpool South Rotary to see if a trip to Blackpool could be arranged for 29 Chernobyl children aged between 9 and 11 years.  These children were spending a month in North Wales.

Blackpool South Rotary responded to the challenge with considerable assistance  from good friend and former Blackpool South Rotary member, property developer Max Smith.  The children visited Blackpool on the 29/30^th June and were hosted by the Management of the Kimberley Hotel with Barry McQueen on hand to greet them in style.  A trip on the Dance-Decker  open air bus was among the highlights and the children were thrilled with a visit to the world famous Blackpool Tower Circus.  The children’s village is in Belarus, about 100 miles from the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl in the Ukraine.

The children will have enjoyed a wonderful month in the UK but there is no doubt that their Blackpool visit was a highlight, which will live in their memories for all time.

          

Photos: Left to Right

(1) Barry with Olga Rusina the Leader of the Chernobyl Children.

(2) Barry with Gerrie Bayley of the North Wales Link of Chernobyl Children Life Line

(3) Barry with Max Smith (on his left) and President Mike Pearce of Llandudno

In the next 30 days..

02/08/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  Meet at 12 noon for 12.30pm - Buffet served from 12.15pm.  Community Support Officer Eric Lee will represent the RED CROSS and talk about the 'First Response' scheme.
09/08/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  12.45pm.  The venue today is the Taylor Room, Cleveleys Park Methodist Church, West Drive, Thornton Cleveleys. Blackpool South members are joining their colleagues from Thornton Cleveleys Rotary Club to hear an address by District Governor Albert Johnson.
16/08/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  Meet at 12 noon for 12.30pm - Buffet served from 12.15pm..  The speaker today is with Past President Barry Birch.
23/08/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  Meet at 12 noon for 12.30pm - Buffet served from 12.15pm.  Derek Bailey will be talking to members about the Boat House Project.

Last Meeting

26/07/2010 Topic: Meet at 12 noon for 12.30pm - Buffet served from 12.15pm
Our speaker today is theatre historian and former journalist Barry Band. Barry's subject will be 'The difference a Bunch of Amateurs can make to one Beautiful Victorian Theatre’