Lancaster Rotary is working  to encourage local schools and academies to involve themselves in Rotary ‘New Generations’ projects and award schemes and invited  teachers to attend an evening presentation of the various components of New Generations arranged by Lancasters’ New Generations chairperson Mike Worth.

Paul Cleg gave a short introduction to Rotary and our aims and objectives and Tim Jenkinson gave an overview of local and International projects including Shelter Box and Doctorbank.

The main presentation about the schemes, competitions and awards included in New Generations was  presented by district New Generation Chair person Sue Hind. A complex subject of many parts the talk was supplemented with explanatory leaflets. Teachers were also presented with information and a DVD disc about  Shelter box for use as a teaching aid.

This summer the Rotary Club of Rendsburg, Germany, twinned with the Rotary Club of Lancaster donated a Ginko biloba tree as a symbol of over thirty years of twinning between the two clubs and over forty years between the City and the town of Rendsburg. President of Lancaster Rotary Club, Roger Carradice, assisted Mrs Nicholls, Head at Ripley St Thomas Academy, to plant the tree in the school grounds where it can be used in teaching and be of interest to future exchange students from Rendsburg.

Rotary hosted the first Lancaster Charity Walk on September 11, 2011 providing a challenging route of about 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) around Lancaster by way of the Lune River and back through the city along the canal path. As shown, the walk was started by the deputy Mayor of Lancaster with a ceremonial cutting of a tape.

Walkers were able to collect sponsorship for the Charity or Good Cause of their choice. In this first year and even with a moderate number of walkers some £4500 was collected by the walkers.  We thank all those who took part for their effort and their cheerful spirit. It was also pleasing that  serious rain held of until the end of the walk.  A photo album showing aspects of the walk and most walkers is here.

District Governor Ron Duxbury visited Lancaster to present his views and ideas for the coming year. Views and attainment goals that one Lancaster member called “remarkably both understandable and attainable”.

After the meeting the DG. New Generation District Chairperson Sue Hind and club officers met with the three Ambassadorial Scholars – Margaret,  Uyanga and Sooky- and two exchange students Ann Cathrin (Lubeck Germany) and Rosanna (Lancaster) funded through district 1190.

Immediate Past President Tim hands over the chain of office to incoming President Roger-

and wishes him a successful year of office- with a huge grin of relief perhaps?

Some 38 students from 20 countries reading at Lancaster or South Cumbria Universities attended this years’ annual event staged by Lancaster Rotary to foster friendship and understanding between different nationalities.

During the evening club member Philip Oglethorpe received a small token from President Tim to commemorate 40 years as a rotarian.

Lancaster took part in the Rotary International purple crocus campaign in support of the Global Eradication of Polio campaign. The purple crocus represents the purple dyed finger of children to indicate they had received the vaccine. The bulbs were plated at our venue, the Holiday Inn Hotel with the help of Piccadilly Gardens and at local schools

Cycle event – Wrynose or Bust (click for website and images) in its second year increased in size to 350 entrants with new innovations for signage and feed stations.

Vintage Car Rally (see right for website and images) – benefiting this year from the attendance of the Ford Y&C model club took place at the Globe arena with drivers and their guests appreciative of the good food and venues of the Crofters Hotel and the Globe Arena. Proceeds of around £1100 were in aid of the Global Polio Eradication Programme. A photo album of the event is here.

Christmas collections at Asda and St Nicholas arcade were as usual a cold affair, but the appeal of “Santa” and his sleigh and Angelas’ penguin helped to raise £2200.
The collection in St Nicholas arcade in March was a “one off” collection in response to the need for Shelter boxes in the wake of the Chistchurch and Japanese earthquakes.

A penguin called Angela

A Rotary Santa