History - 2010/2011

26^th July 2010 - Certificate Presentation

The Club meeting on Monday 26th July was a summer BBQ at Solberge Hall.

Members and guests were joined by Simon Howard who had been nominated by the Club for the Rotary Young Citizen Award 2010.

Pictured is Simon receiving a certificate from Club President Basil Bosomworth. The citation reads "Presented to Simon Howard in recognition of personal qualities and community spirit worthy of successful nomination as a Rotary Young Citizen 2010".

Whilst Simon failed to win the national Rotary GB&I Young Citizen challenge, his efforts were appreciated by the Club who wish him well when he starts university life in the autumn.

August 2010 - Visit to Tall Ships and the "James Cook"

Over the first weekend in August a number of members of the Club visited the Tall Ships which were berthed at Hartlepool. Whilst there they took the opportunity to board and look around the training ship "James Cook" which takes Rotary-sponsored young people on training voyages run by the Ocean Youth Trust.

The Club sponsored a pupil from Bedale School in 2009, and this year a pupil from Northallerton College will be sailing with the ship.

Pictured above is President Basil onboard the James Cook.

11^th December 2010 - Santa Sleigh Collection

Bad weather in early December meant that the normal visit with Santa round the estates of Northallerton was not possible, but the Club was delighted that Santa joined them outside Tesco store on Saturday 11th December to help with a collection for Rotary Children's Charities. A further collection was held on Saturday 18th at Sainsbury's. Pictured above is Santa with some of his 'helpers'.

23^rdFebruary 2011- Thanks for Life

During 'Thanks for Life' week in February the Club once again joined forces with Northallerton Rotary Club to 'bag pack' at local supermarkets to raise monies for a polio eradication programme called Polio Plus. This year members helped customers with their packing at Sainsbury's and Morrisons supermarkets and a grand total of £1,284 was raised. Pictured are members helping shoppers at Morrisons on 23rd February.

March 2011 - Purple Crocuses herald the spring

Lovely purple crocuses have brightened the flower beds at the Friarage Hospital for patients, staff and the public to enjoy thanks to the Club.

The club donated the bulbs to the hospital to raise awareness of the Rotary Club's "End Polio Now" fundraising campaign, which is aimed at eradicating polio in third world countries through a massive immunisation programme to protect children from the disease.

The purple crocus represent the tiny dab of purple colour put on a child's little finger (pinkie) to indicate the child has been inoculated again the deadly virus. Purple pinkie power has helped save the lives of many millions of children over the years.
Rotarian Anne Wall, who is a Clinical Matron at the Hospital, is pictured with gardener Martyn Coyle admiring the flowers.

11^th March 2011 - Aid to Japan

Club members were shocked at the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11 March. The humanitarian needs were obvious with pictures in the media of whole towns and villages being flattened, and at one point 590,000 people in Rest Centres.

When it came to light that Shelterbox were on the ground in Japan and providing aid, members released monies from the Club Charity account to fund a Shelterbox to help the aid effort.