CLUB ACTIVITIES

WHAT WE DO

Over the course of the Rotary year from 1st July to 30th June, members get involved in a wide range of activities:

For the latest news of our activities visit our Facebook page - Saundersfoot Rotary

LOCAL PROJECTS

Training Athletes for the Welsh Disabled Sports Team Championship - in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Tenby we sponsor and train disabled athletes once a month from the end of November to August and then weekly from the end of August until the championships in early November. The Tenderfoot team have been champions eight times in the last twelve years.

Talking Newspaper - members of the club provide one of five teams locally, who record articles from the Tenby Observer weekly newspaper onto USB memory stick for distribution to visually impaired members of the local community.

Tool Collection - members collect old unwanted tools, sewing machines and typewriters which are given to 'Tools for Self Reliance Cymru who refurbish them and ship to parts of Africa where they are given to local people, enabling them to become more independent, start a business and help develop self-esteem and self-confidence.

Shoe Boxes - club members, local schools, church and chapel congregations and voluntary groups fill 'shoe boxes' with items such as toys for children or household, toiletry and cosmetic products for older people which are collected by members during the Autumn. They are then shipped to areas, where local residents are deprived or live in poor conditions, usually in time for Christmas.

Used spectacles - working with local shop Chrystkindl and with Tenby & Saundersfoot Lions we collect spectacles for repair, cleaning and recycling for use in areas with little access to eye care. 

YOUNG PEOPLE

Competitions – coordinating with local schools we organise local heats for various competitions which may include:

* Young Artist

* Young Writer

* Young Photographer

* Young Musician

RYLA - we sponsor a local student, aged 16/17 to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards which is an arduous five day training course incorporating water activities, caving, abseiling and team building exercises.  Our students then attend one of our weekly meetings to give a short presentation to members.  Participants have always returned from the course with increased confidence, new friends and more personal ambition.

Sandcastle Competition - during the holiday period and subject to the weather, we hold a sandcastle competition on Saundersfoot beach. Local businesses generously provide prizes for the winner and all entrants.

Kids Out - in June each year the club takes a group of underprivileged pupils from local schools for a day at Folly Farm, one of Pembrokeshire's premier attractions that has won many awards.

Dictionaries 4life - the club awards and presents a copy of an illustrated dictionary to each Year 6 leaver at the four primary schools in our area.

FUND RAISING

Various fund-raising activities are organised throughout the year; examples include:

* Pig Roast and Barbecue, held on Saundersfoot Harbour Decking or at community events from June to September;

* Duck Races in Saundersfoot Harbour, from June to September;

* Sponsored walks

* Single cause fundraising events for local causes and charities 

Charities and community causes that we have supported include:

* RNLI

* Paul Sartori

* Saundersfoot Daycare and Nursery

* Kilgetty Women’s Football Club

* Wiseman’s Bridge Junior Rowers

* Saundersfoot Caring Association

* Saundersfoot Youth Club

* Pembrokeshire Food Bank

International causes we have supported include:

* ShelterBox - who supply essential items to disaster areas;

* Lend with Care – small contributions to help people in developing areas of the world to start or expand a small business. This helps people gain independence, self-esteem and earn an income.

* Rotary Foundation – End Polio Now campaign

* Jaipur Limb – who provide and fit artificial limbs to injured people in parts of Asia

* Doctor Bank

COMMUNITY PRESENCE

Our members are often seen engaging with and within the community in other ways:

* Autumn planting bulbs of purple crocuses, which flower in late winter, representing Rotary International's continuing efforts to eradicate polio;

* Partnering with community groups and charities to hold single cause fundraising events;

* Participating in beach cleans;

* Engaging with other community organisations including:

o Saundersfoot Connect

o The Bridge Church

o Wiseman’s Bridge Rowing Club

o Saundersfoot Sailing Club

o ‘Love Saundersfoot’ events

* Social media presence, our Facebook posts are now shared with several other community Facebook sites creating wider awareness and knowledge of all we do.

When possible and practical, we all proudly wear our blue Rotary T-shirts

MOST OF ALL WE ENJOY FELLOWSHIP AND HAVE FUN