ROTARY IN ACTION

In February the world woke up to the largest Earthquake to strike Turkey and Syria. As Rotarians we all felt we had to help.  Our first response was to buy a Shelter Box and Water Survival Box to be sent immediatlt to the stricken area.  We then obtained a street collection permit from Somerset West and Taunton Council, so that we could hold a Street Collection in Minehead Town Centre.  On Wednesday 15th February 10 members of the club erected our gazebo in the forecourt of the Old Hospital site and displayed the Shelter Box and the Water Survival Box so that the public could see what we wanted them to donate to. We then positioned ourselves up and down the main road with our collection buckets. The response was wonderful with young and old keen to donate.  When counted up at the end we had raised £1,200.  Enough to buy two more shelter boxes to send to the earthquake zone. Our publicity team managed to get articles in the local paper and an interview on BBC Radio South West was broadcast.

In March the District skittles competition began and Minehead Rotary were matched with Wellington Rotary. After a slow start the 8 man Minehead team managed to improve their aim and went on to win the evening with a score of 194 to 184. Well done Minehead and on to the next round.

The club received an interesting talk from Clare Pound of the Home Start charity. She explained all the services they already offered to new mothers but was keen to focus on a new service "Dad Matters" this will aim to support new fathers.  As yet to get off the ground in the Minehead area this could well be something our club could help with in the near future.

The next social event the club are planning is a visit to the Quantock Brewery, Bishop Lydeard, together with Rotarians from the Taunton Vale Rotary Club. This evening visit on Monday 27th March will be a great opportunity for local Rotarians to meet up and discuss local projects, whilst enjoying some of the new brews being produced by the Brewery.

As part of our continued support for Ukraine the club is exploring a twinning association with the Rotary Club of Uzhgorod-Skala, in Ukraine.  The city of Uzhgorod is situated in the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine, near the borders of Slovakie & Hungary.  Our President Angela and their President, Viktor Medvid, have already exchanged greetings via email and we aim to set up a Whats App group to swap ideas and discuss ways we can help them.