Rotary Becket 2025 Annual General Meeting & Membership Showcase

At our AGM on 21st May 2025 Committee Chairs led by David Sparrow gave a showcase of the Club’s activities over the last 12 months to an invited audience.  Below is and ASI generated summary of the meeting.

To hear the whole Presentation and discover the methods of joining as a Corporate visit our YouTube Recording  

Summary

The Rotary Becket held their AGM and corporate membership breakfast meeting, where they reviewed the past year's achievements including record-breaking fundraising and community projects. The club discussed various ongoing initiatives including environmental efforts, international projects in Malawi, and educational support through textbook donations and school construction. The meeting covered marketing strategies and membership updates, including corporate partnerships and social media engagement, before concluding with announcements about upcoming events.

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Details

Rotary Club AGM and Fundraising

The meeting covers several key points. The Club was holding its AGM and a Special Corporate Membership Breakfast Meeting. The president thanks committee chairs for a successful year with many records set. Upcoming events include a charity karting event and a “Rotary Children's Fun Day” at Wicksteed Park on 11th June. The club elects honorary members, council members, and district representatives. The treasurer reports healthy finances and proposes keeping membership fees unchanged. The club, exceeding their target for the year already, with notable successes from the Santa sleigh and new events like "India on a Plate". Upcoming fundraising events include a charity karting day and golf day.

Community Fundraising and Impact Report

The Club has raised over £52,000 through various fundraising events and initiatives, including dedicated fundraisers for specific causes. The funds have been spent on numerous community projects, including support for Young Carers, the King's Trust, outdoor activities for youth, food banks, and various local charities. The Club has also undertaken hands-on projects such as renovating a school's outdoor area and dismantling a shed for a nursery. Jane Simpson, Community Chair, expresses gratitude for the team's efforts and highlights the significant impact they've made in the community through both financial support and direct involvement.

Rotary Club's Impact on Youth

Paul Hamlin from the King's Trust speaks about the impact of Rotary Becket's donations for disadvantaged young people aged 16-25. He shared stories of two participants, Rosie and Ethan, who have overcome personal challenges and gained confidence through the program. Paul emphasised the importance of Rotary Becket's support, not just financially but also in attending final presentations, which shows the young people that someone cares about them. He mentioned that this is his 80th team and invites members to attend the final presentation in July.

Rotary's Environmental Initiatives and Partnerships

The Environment Committee of Rotary Becket is working on several initiatives despite being a small team. They have partnered with Rectory Farm to create wildflower areas and refurbish planting beds for children, and are developing a long-term partnership with Delapre Abbey to support wildlife through wildflower and herb gardens. The committee is also organising a Treekly step challenge to promote environmental awareness and tree planting, aiming to expand their efforts by involving the district in the coming months.

International Projects Fundraising Update

Gordon Roan provided an update on international projects. The Club raised over £26,000 through donations and grants, including £5,182 from the second Hobby Horse Derby. He discussed the Agrisan project in Malawi, which involved building toilets at schools and implementing a re-education program to ensure proper usage. Gordon also mentioned a new pilot project for boys' urinals and acknowledges the Rotary Club of Towcester’s support in funding an additional Agrisan toilet. Lastly, he noted that the Classroom Box Charity has been dissolved as a standalone charity but will continue to be supported within Rotary Becket.

Rotary's Education and Health Initiatives

The Rotary Becket has been actively supporting education in Malawi by providing textbooks and building classrooms. They recently donated 5,100 textbooks to Mitsolitsi school and have assisted over 150,000 students since the project's inception. The club is currently working on a four-phase plan for Chitipi school, which includes building toilet blocks, classrooms, and vocational rooms. Additionally, they funded an ambulance for Ukraine part funded by Rotary Club of Towcester. We are planning to raise funds for another one through a dual-sponsored Derby Day event on 19th July.

Rotary Club Marketing and Membership

The meeting covered marketing and membership efforts of the Rotary Becket. David Sparrow discussed the Club's use of social media, local radio, and press coverage to spread their message. He emphasises the importance of the Club's website (www.rotarybecket.org.uk) and encourages members to use Rotary Becket iPlayer (recordings of weeks meetings) to stay informed. 

The Club has four corporate members, with a flexible attendance model that allows businesses to share membership among colleagues. Timea Zambori, a corporate member, shared her positive experience as a Rotarian.

To hear a one minute commendation given by our Corporate Member, Timea featured in Rotary in Action click on the banner below: