International

The International Committee is resposible for our relationships with our Contact Clubs: Poitiers Futuroscope in France and Darmstadt Kranichstein in Germany. The Committee organises events to raise funds to enable us to entertain our contact clubs when they visit the UK.

The Committee is also responsible for seeking out international humanitarian projects which can be supported by the Club.

A programme of "Come Dine With Me" is currently under way to raise funds in a most delicious way and events like the "Italian Masked Ball" to celebrate St Valentine's Day help to raise funds for international projects.

We have recently supported the Malawi Association for Christian Support in their effort to educate and empower women in Malawi who live in remote villages.

We also regularly purchase a "Shelterbox" which is held at the ready to respond when there is a humanitarian disaster.

Each year at Ascension-tide members of the three Contact Clubs meet together and the venue revolves year by year between the UK, Germany and France.

In 2009, Westgate & Birchington hosted Rotarians from Poitiers and Dartmstadt and there was an exciting programme including a Fancy Dress Party with a "Pirates" theme, a formal dinner at St Augustines and a day trip to London including a cruise on the River Thames.

In 2010, Darmstadt Kranichstein hosted Rotarians from Westgate & Birchington and Poitiers and an excellent programme of events included a day trip to Frankfurt-am-Main with dinner at the top of the Main Tower, visits to the Wella Hair Products HQ and the European Space Agency and a formal dinner party at Schloss Kranichstein.

In 2011, Rotarians from Westgate & Birchington and Darmstadt were welcomed by members in Poitiers where the programme of events included a tour of the Chateaux of the Loire Valley and much gourmet wining & dining.

In 2012, Westgate & Birchington were once again the hosts and the programme of events included a series of splendid dinner parties, a visit to Hornby Hobbies and its displays of model railways and Victorian, miniature cathedral models, a walking tour of the town of Sandwich, a visit to the National Fruit Tree Collection at Brogdale, lunch in Faversham and the President's Night Formal Dinner at St Augustines.

In May 2013 the Rotary Club of Darmstadt Kranichstein welcomed their Contact Club partners to a reunion in Leipzig. A highlight of the visit was an evening at the world-renowned concert hall, the Gewandhaus, where members joined a huge audience to enjoy the orchestra's signature Brahms repertoireunder the baton of Ricardo Chailly.

In May 2014 it was back to Poitiers where members enjoyed splendid hosptiality visiting Chateaux, the Theatre de Chatelleraut and the Hennessy distillery in the town of Cognac (with tasting, of course!)