April to June 2011
16th June 2011
FUNDRAISING
THE Wakefield club has raised £20,000 for charity in the past year, more than the two previous years put together, allowing significant donations to local cancer charities.
President Philip Platts paid tribute to all those who had made this possible and later presented a cheque for nearly £1,100 to Ian Rogers, of Macmillan Cancer Support.
About 340 people bought tickets for the hog roast at Philip's farm at West Bretton, making a profit of £1,800. The raffle, which was drawn that night, realised almost £2,200 which was shared equally between Macmillan and charities supported by Rotary, including Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Other cancer charities that have benefited from club donations include the children's charity, the Forget-me-Not Trust, and Wakefield Hospice.
The latest fundraising event organised by the club was a car boot sale at West Bretton. It produced a profit of about £750
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19th May 2011
CLUB ASSEMBLY & INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS
TWO new members were inducted into the club on Thursday (May 19). Retired doctor Neale Clark was proposed by club member David Oughtibridge, while chartered civil engineer George Marsden was proposed by Peter Clarke. George has been the project manager for Wakefield's new Trinity Walk shopping development.
The rest of the meeting was devoted to the club's annual assembly at which committee chairmen outlined their plans for the next Rotary year, which starts on July 1 when William Smith takes over the presidency from Philip Platts.
Activities for 2011-12 will range from the club's second Scootathlon to support for those hit by overseas disasters, from schools chess competitions to members' outings, similar to the recent Sunday canal trip from Mirfield
12th May 2011
FAMILY SUPPORT
A LADY with a ‘big job indeed' was how Lyn Burns was described after she spoke to the club at its meeting on May 12. Lyn is Interim Service Director for Safeguarding and Family Support at Wakefield Council.
The comment came from Richard Edge when he proposed the vote of thanks after she had talked about the work of the council's family services department, which deals with child protection throughout the district. The service has 120 social workers to cope with 2,400 children in need.
Lyn emphasised that children were taken into care only as a last resort. Otherwise the department works with families, individuals and communities to ensure that children are safe and properly looked after.
Lyn's responsibilities extend to fostering and adoption. She said more foster carers are needed and there is also a shortage of adopters, especially those willing to take on babies and small children.
21st April 2011
A.G.M.
Committee chairmen reported on a busy year at the club's annual meeting at the New Brookhouse Club, Sandal. Activities have ranged from organising the city's first children's Scootathlon to sending aid to help the victims of overseas disasters.
President for 2011-12 will be William Smith who takes over the reins from Philip Platts in July. Peter Rhodes, a former president, has stepped forward to fill the chair for 2012-13. There are six seats on club council which have been filled without need for an election. They have been taken by Dennis Edwards, Richard Edge, Stuart Livesey, Peter Clarke, David Garforth and Ralph Wardle.
Nick Castle continues as secretary and Peter Gallivan remains as treasurer for the next year.
The club is now planning for its Ceilidh and Hog Roast to be held at Home Farm, West Bretton, on Saturday, June 4. This is a public event and tickets at £10 each can be obtained from club members or from boxoffice@rotarywakefield.org.uk.
