It is my privilege this year to be President of the Easthampstead Rotary Club and I am pleased to welcome you to our website.

So what is Rotary?  Quite simply; Rotary worldwide has more than 1.2 million members who volunteer their time and talent to further the Rotary motto, 'Service Above Self'.  As well as fundraising, Rotary encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and looks to help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Being a member of Rotary provides a way for us to make a contribution locally, nationally and internationally.  We raise funds for those in need and some examples of how our funds have been used are: 

Locally:  We have given funds to help finance the 'Life Bus' which is an interactive mobile classroom designed to help schools deliver their health promotion, drug prevention and citizenship programmes.  We have also provided funds to help keep the vital Berkshire and Chiltern Air Ambulance flying.

Nationally:   When Floods hit the UK in 2007, Rotary Clubs across the UK responded by raising £1M to help victims.  Locally we collected a large number of electrical appliances for victims, which were delivered to a Rotary workshop which tested the products before distribution to those in need,

Internationally:  Joining with over 1 million Rotarians world-wide, we are able to help across the globe.  Help ranges from providing water cleansing kits in disaster areas to the 'Eradicate Polio' campaign.  This programme immunised 2 billion children and has saved tens of thousands from this terrible scourge. Recently Rotary gained the support of the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation to complete our work.

If you have helped us raise funds for these and many other good causes, please accept my thanks.

Like all Rotary Clubs, the men and women of the Easthampstead club come from a wide range of business and professional backgrounds.  Our weekly meetings, not only form the basis for our fundraising, but allow us to hear from a wide range of speakers.  In the last year our speakers have included Sir John Madejski and the Assistant Governor of a Young Offenders Institution.  Meeting regularly also helps us build a strong social network, which is vital as we work together to help those in need.

Our team spirit is also strengthened by participation in a range of social functions which include visiting our twinned club in Northern France, short visits both in the UK and in Europe plus less formal gatherings and events. 

To learn more about the Easthampstead Rotary Club, please look around our website and also use the links to find out more about Rotary across the UK and Internationally.

New members are always welcome and if you are interested in discovering more, then please contact us about attending one of our Monday evening meetings.  Quite simply, the more members we have the more we can help those in need.

I am proud to be a Rotarian, for what Rotary stands for and what it achieves.  Whether you are interested in joining us or would just like to support our fundraisings activities, I look forward to your support.

 Ian Hossack

To learn more about the Rotary campaign to eradicate Polio click on the logo: