Euro Meeting Dublin

Hastings Representatives Enjoy Euro Meeting in Dublin

On the first four days of October seven members of the Rotary Club of Hastings joined fellow rotarians from across Europe at their annual meeting hosted by the Rotary Club of Dublin.  The other participating clubs were Paphos-Aphrodite, Oudenaarde, Auxerre, Bochum-Rechen, Jonkoping- Tabergsdalen and Iglesias, Sardinia.

The principal aim of the ‘Euro Meeting’, in addition to promoting fellowship, is to provide an opportunity for rotarians from contrasting life, work and ‘service’ environments to share their understanding and experience of how their members fulfil the objectives of their club and Rotary International.  This aim is achieved through informal and convivial interaction rather than formal gatherings.  In accordance with the ideals of Rotary each club represented at the Euro Meeting contributes to a charity selected by the host club.  The Euro Meeting 2015 Award went to The Dining Room.  This initiative of the Rev. Asa    Bjork Olafsdottir, Vicar of Christ Church Dun Laoghaire, provides a facility where people come together, meet others and have a hot meal for free.  Generally, 50 to 60 meals are served at each of the three sessions per week.   

At each Euro Meeting the host club provides a programme of visits and events to introduce their visitors to one another and to the character and culture of their location.  This year the Rotary Club of Dublin included in their two day programme: a visit to the Irish National Stud with its museum and Japanese Gardens, an afternoon at the Kildare Village Designer Shopping Outlet, lunch and a tour of the Irish Freemasons Hall and an opportunity to play golf at Edmonston Golf Club.   On the Saturday evening a Gala Dinner was held in the splendour of Slane Castle, Co. Meath following a drinks reception which included an address by Paschal Donohue TD Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

On the final morning the event concluded with a business meeting for the Presidents followed by entertaining presentations from all members of each group in attendance. When Rotarians, and their guests, bade one another adieu they knew that for many they would meet again at The Euro Meeting 2016 hosted by the Rotary Club of Hastings.

James McArthur