The Rotary Club of Godalming

 President 2024 - 2025   Michael Goodridge

Venue for Club Meetings   Regular Club meetings are on Tuesday lunchtimes (12.30 for 13.00) at West Surrey Golf Club.  For more details, please email secretary@godalming.rotary1145.org.

Our breakfast meetings are also continuing on the 3rd Friday of each month.  Please check details for venue each month.  Hectors on the Wey, Farncombe boat house, has been our breakfast venue for many years, but has now closed.  Our thanks to Peter for looking after us so well.  Our current venue for breakfast is the Inn on the Lake, starting at 8.00am.

Community and Vocational. We have a strong Community commitment to local projects, both as our own Club and with other local Clubs.  Please see "What We Do" for more information.

Rotary has flourished in Godalming for more than 80 years and the community work of the Rotary Clubs is an integral part of life in the town. Originally Godalming had just the one club, the Rotary Club of Godalming, which meets on Tuesday lunchtimes. However, the changes in the way of work and life saw the formation of the Rotary Club of Godalming Woolsack who meet on Monday evenings.  We also have a breakfast meeting once a month, on the third Friday.

No matter whether it is Rotary at breakfast, lunchtime or in the evening, both clubs welcome men and women members and share the same common desire to do something worthwhile in the community, with a priority being community service and the support of local charities.  However, both Godalming Rotary Clubs also support charitable organisations involved in vital humanitarian work in many parts of the world. Godalming Rotary Clubs have raised money for international projects, the primary ones being the End Polio Now and Shelterbox campaigns. Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the world has seen polio cases plummet. When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2010, fewer than 1,350 cases were reported worldwide, and now there are only two countries with new cases of Polio, and we are "this close" to total eradication.  We must not stop the campaign now - as has been said so many times- polio is only a plane or a train ride away.  Shelterbox is an International Disaster relief Charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth, lifesaving supplies and dignity for families around the world who are affected by disasters, at the time when they need it the most.

Locally, charities supported by both Godalming Rotary clubs in the past have included the Samson Centre, which supports over 140 Multiple Sclerosis suffers and their carers both practically and emotionally, and Skillway, a Godalming based charity whose aim is to raise the self-esteem and motivation of teenagers through apprentice-style teaching of manual skills by skilled craftsmen in its own workshops.

The individual clubs also support many other dedicated local charities and causes, including the Meath in Godalming, Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham, the Waverley CAB and Hydon Hill, which is a Leonard Cheshire Home just outside Godalming.  You will also see Rotarians supporting town events arranged by other organisations such as the Town Festivals, Fireworks evening, and the Live Local Love Winkworth day in September. We like to support the Youth in the local area and regularly host Rotary competitions  such as Young Chef, Youth Debate and Young Musician.

We also enjoy a strong social programme including visits to and by our twin Rotary Club - Aire sur la Lys in northern France.

There is far more to Godalming Rotary clubs than can be shown here, so why not have a look at all the pages of our website:

Rotary Club of Godalming - https://www.godalming.rotary1145.org  

or e-mail secretary@godalming.rotary1145.org

Inner Wheel
Back in 1924 wives of Manchester Rotarians decided to form a complementary club, which they called the Inner Wheel. The Inner Wheel shared the same International, National, District and Club structure as the Rotary and is based on the principles of friendship, fellowship and service to others. Now the largest women's organisation in the world with over 100,000 members in 103 countries, 21,000 of whom live in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Godalming Inner Wheel Club has membership drawn from a Rotary extended family.

Each year the Inner Wheel Club of Godalming supports their chosen charities.  However they also provide assistance and support in cases of Local, National or International need.

If you would like further information about the Godalming Inner Wheel club, then please ring 01483 274405.