Rotary Club of Chorley Astley

To celebrate the golden anniversary of their formation in 1930, the Rotary Club of Chorley agreed to form a new club and accordingly, in June 1981 the Chorley Astley Rotary Club charter was presented to our Founder President Mike Meadley by District 1190 Governor John Mitchinson (Maryport).  Founded with 41 members we currently still have 41 on roll, fifteen of whom are founder members.

The Club meets at 7.30 pm each Monday at the Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard.  Members enjoy a pleasant meal together usually followed by a visiting speaker.  The first Monday in each month is designated a business meeting.  Fellowship is at the heart of the Club and this does much to ensure our 80% average attendance record.  Members play golf together, tramp the hills, enjoy theatre and cricket trips, go 'scatter' and compete in the District Quiz together.

 Jointly with our Mother Club, in 1982 we sponsored a Rotaract Club and in 1986 we formed the first Interact Club in District 1190.  Sadly both clubs have closed due to falling membership.  Currently a vibrant Inner Wheel Club is very much a part of our fraternity and is most supportive of our various fund raising initiatives.

The Club is keen to support District 1190 projects and for several years our club has supported Calvert Trust, RYLA, RYPEN, Youth Speaks and Young Writer/Photographer/Chef competitions.  Six current members do or have served on District committees.  The Club values the Paul Harris Fellowship Award highly and to date twelve members and four non-Rotarians have been honoured for services to Rotary and the local community respectively.

International service is diverse.  Each year around a dozen members make a visit to a foreign Club, usually in Europe.  We host GSE teams and provided the 91-92 Ambassadorial Scholar Peter Coates.  Each year we provide several hundred shoe-boxes for filling by local school pupils.  The Club plays a key role in sorting and packing many thousands of completed shoe-boxes in the warehouse of International Aid Trust.  Whenever and wherever disaster or famine strike, the Club invariably responds with emergency aid such as Shelter Boxes and Aquaboxes.

Members give service in the local community in several ways and are involved as councillors, magistrates, C.A.B. advisors and working with other voluntary organisations.  Club members are often found marshalling and assisting at community events in the streets of Chorley.  Each year a needy family is provided with a holiday in Blackpool.  Several local organisations are actively supported including Derian House, The Legacy Rainbow House, St Catherine’s Hospice and The Chorley Silver Band.  Local youngsters are chosen to benefit from our Youth Opportunities programme, and good relationships are established with the Chorley schools.  The Club supports a local talented young sportsperson under the Sports Aid scheme.

Fundraising is achieved through several events spaced throughout the Rotary year.  Important projects are the Santa’s Sleigh at Christmastime and a Musical Concert involving Chorley high school pupils.  In October 2010 the Club will present it’s first Chorley Oktober Bierfest which will offer over 60 real ales and ciders over a three day period. 

These events and activities are an important stimulus to the ethos of warm fellowship which exists between members.  New members are always welcome and if you feel that you would like to learn more about Rotary and it’s work, you are invited to click on the 'Join Rotary' link on the right of this page.

In the next 30 days..

06/09/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  Club Business Meeting.  September Business Meeting.
13/09/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  Club Speaker Meeting..  Speaker to be announced.
20/09/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  Club Speaker Meeting..  Speaker to be announced.
27/09/2010  Club Weekly Meeting -  Club Speaker Meeting..  Speaker to be announced.

Last Meeting

30/08/2010 Topic: Bank Holiday. No meeting.
The next meeting will be held on September 6th.