Skip to main content

Home | Public Relations | Community Focus- Dalgety Bay Diary


 

The Rotary Club of Inverkeithing and DalgetyBay 

Community  Focus 

 

Over the summer the Club has attended a number of events to promote it’s role in the community. 

 

Our  Treasure Hunt stall at the Dalgety Bay Gala did well in disappointing weather  raising £115. The weather was a little more favourable at the Inverkeithing Highland Games on 2 August  where £237 was raised. Both sums will be added to our Charity Account for distribution later to worthy local and national charities. 

 

But the Club’s largest involvement was at the Aberdour Festival. The Club working closely with the Festival Committee  raised the magnificent sum of £1600 partly from Festival supporters donating change at the bar in the Festival marquee and partly from the proceeds of the Raffle. Topped up by  donations and Rotary’s other fundraising efforts the sum of nearly £2000 is being used to buy  4  Shelter Boxes to help the Burmese.

 

ShelterBox, a grassroots disaster relief organisation supported by Rotary Clubs around the world, was one of the first charities to reach the cyclone victims in Burma’s delta region after a powerful cyclone hit on 3rd May.  Each ShelterBox contains a tent, stove, water purification kit, blankets, tools and other necessities to help a family of 10 survive for six months.   More than 800 Shelter Boxes have been sent to Burma from Rotary Clubs all over the world.

 

Pauleen Norman, Chair of the Aberdour Festival Committee said “ We had no hesitation in agreeing to Rotary’s request to support the people of Burma. We are grateful to all of those who made the collection so successful. We very much appreciate the assistance offered by Rotary  during the Festival and look forward to working together in the future. "

 

Hamish Hardie, International Convener of the Rotary Club endorsed this saying “Our Club has supported ShelterBox for many years but this will allow us to double the number of boxes we had intended going to such a worthy cause.   I had the honour of meeting Archbishop Stephen of Burma  recently. He described at first hand the magnitude of the human catastrophe in his country and thanked the local community for their splendid contribution.”  

 

Robin Park, President of the Rotary Club summed up “A fantastic response  by the thousands who attended the Festival.  Another demonstration of the benefits of Rotary working harmoniously with others to deliver benefits to the  needy.”  

 

The next community  event is the annual Sponsored Walk from  Ballast Bank, Inverkeithing along the coastal path to the Silver Sands at Aberdour on Saturday 6th September.  It is 6 miles nearly all off road and flat and is suitable for all ages. The walk attracts around 100 walkers and is well supported by the Boy Scouts and Boys Brigade in Inverkeithing. These groups have contributed  massively to the success of the walks which have raised around £14000. Rotary supports their projects with grant aid. Come on DalgetyBay youth and not so young. Get your walking boots on and help Piggy Bank Kids while also helping yourself. Remember all organisations that participate can qualify for a grant up to half of the sponsorship they raise. There is a Scout organised BBQ at the finish.  Contact Brian  Shaw for more details and a sponsor form ( 01383 824450). 

 

At the weekly meeting in the Bay Inn (12.40 on Wednesday) Club members and guests are entertained by a range of interesting speakers. These have include Kath Mclean who spoke about the work of the Leonard Cheshire organisation and George Owenson who spoke about The Connection an emerging project by local churches to connect with the youth of the areas.  The club met in the evening of 30 July and members were joined by 5 guests who listened to Cath Chorley describe what Rotary means to her. Another evening meeting is planned for 29 October where we hope to be joined by guests for a taster  of life in Rotary. Anyone male of female interested  in this or any meeting please contact the secretary Ian Wilkinson 01383727803 or John Blyth 01577840800.