International

The International Committee meets to consider help and assistance with disasters such as flood, earthquake, or famine and any human suffering by sending money or providing help via Shelterbox.

The International Committee has a lighter side and a social input as well. In September 2022 we entertained our twinned Rotary Clubs of Mannheim Kurpfalz and Toulon to a weekend of fun and friendship in Bristol. Our link with Mannheim dates from 1988 with many goodwill visits between the clubs. We are now looking forward to visiting Toulon in May 2023 to help celebrate their 75th Charter Anniversary.

Foundation

Foundation is Rotary International's charity, one of the largest charities in the world.  Each Club is tasked to raise up to $100US per member per annum.  This is done through personal gifts and donations as well as other means.  For example, members were asked to raise funds by holding tea parties using tea caddies provide by Yorkshire Tea.

The funds raised each year are invested for three years.  The interest earned is used to pay for any administration costs before any interest remaining plus the whole of the funds originally raised are then used.  The many projects include:-

Matching Grants, for example, helping a 3^rd world community where funds raised by a Club are 'matched' by funds from Foundation.

Group Study Exchange Teams where, under a Rotarian leader, a small team of young people go to another country to find out conditions locally, at first hand, to see how their jobs are carried out there.

Polio Plus Partners where Rotary has been the leader for 20 years in the project to eliminate polio around the world.