Club Assembly

The challenge of attracting potentially interested females into membership of the world-wide Rotary movement is to be re-visited by North Wales oldest Rotary Club, Rhyl. President Elect Keith Roberts, in a comprehensive review of a successful year, told the annual Club Assembly at Faenol Fawr that the levels of attendances, enjoyment, fellowship, diversity, social and charitable activity had all manifestly risen over the past twelve months. Following several difficult years, in which maintaining a viable membership had been a recurring primary concern, he was delighted to report a positive uplift that pointed to a stronger, brighter future. “Despite our difficult and testing moments, we have survived and we are still here,” he said. Positive moves to create a satellite club centred on Ysbyty Glan Clwyd district hospital at Bodelwyddan were already underway as well as encouraging signs of developing closer collaborative links with several neighbouring clubs in the Vale of Clwyd. He thanked all those who had contributed to sustaining the excellent spirit and ethos of the club and for their enthusiasm to build on this welcome uplift in the year ahead. It was his intention to look again at ways to effectively promote opportunities to introduce suitably interested females to the rewarding work and values which voluntary-run Rotary offered in applying their creed of ‘Service Above Self’. Assistant District Governor Terry Bolton, of Ruthin, warmly congratulated outgoing President Rod Brocklehurst and his team on their proud record and said he was more than delighted to describe Rhyl as “a great club!” Pledging the full support of District 1180 for all Rhyl’s wide-ranging and attractive programme for the coming year, he particularly endorsed the suggestion to look to the accomplishment of recruiting an intake of female members. “There can be no question that they would bring a breathe of fresh air into the club and make it all the better for being able to benefit from their involvement and commitment,” he added. Warm thanks to the Assistant Governor for both his kind tributes and assured support were expressed by both the President and President Elect to universal acclaim. The next meeting of the club will be on June 27, when new President Keith Roberts will be formally installed to this top office for the second time since becoming a member in 1990.