AGM

President Mark Rossiter welcomed 30 members to the lunchtime meeting and AGM. Prior to highlighting club business, members were reminded that the service for Past President Roger Strugnall would be led by Reverend Bryan Tomlinson on Friday 14 April.

Following the meeting the various chairs updated the club on each of their roles for the AGM, beginning with Membership, which currently stands at 60. A new ‘Friends of Kirkcaldy Rotary’ group will hold its first meeting on 12 April at 6.30pm at Betty Nicols, 297 High St. All members are welcome to attend.

Foundation business outlined the amounts raised by the club this year, while the Service Report highlighted the fact that the club has been supporting community projects involving the young and not so young! Practical work continues with the Rig Garden at Merchants House and the railway station planters.  Further afield, the club continues to sponsor eight children in Upendo, Tanzania, aiming to do so until they complete their schooling. Simultaneously, there is the possibility of linking local Interact clubs with one recently established in Tanzania and in particular helping to promote self-sufficiency by providing funds for vegetable seeds.

Fundraising to help others is a major part of Rotary and this year’s activities have included a Race Night, bag packing, Santa’s Sleigh and a Burns Supper. Interact clubs at Kirkcaldy High School and St Andrews High School are also very much involved in raising funds. A coffee morning at St Andrews High will be held on 25 April in aid of ‘Purple for Polio.’ The club has led the local Rotary Primary Schools’ Quiz annually and will host the area final on 26 April at Balwearie High School.    

Rotarian volunteers share the responsibilities involved in running the club and members welcomed the new appointees as well as some suggestions for increasing funds before the meeting closed.