Virtual meeting with District Governor

The Club was pleased to welcome District Governor Ray Bevan to a well attended Zoom meeting on Monday 14^th February.Ray told the Club of his path to Rotary. He was attracted by the opportunity Rotary gives for responsible service to others and the community combined with friendship and fellowship.

 Covid 19 had limited the personal contact he might have had with Rotarians around the world as part of his preparation for his role of DG. It had also limited his personal contact with the Clubs in Southern Wales during his year of office.

There had been positives. When Covid 19 prevented meetings in person Rotary Clubs had readily adapted to new styles of meeting. This has led to consideration in many Clubs of the balance in future between meetings in person and remote meetings. It had also led to the formation of satellite Clubs on a mainly virtual basis. They offer flexibility to younger people whose working practices and lifestyles are different from the past.

 With his background in teaching Ray had intended one of his areas of focus during his year of office to be young people. The Covid 19 restrictions on physical meetings had unfortunately limited the scope for many of Rotary’s youth competitions though those that could held remotely such as writing and photography had continued. He also hoped that when it became possible Clubs would consider offering to support reading in primary schools.

This led to a discussion of the contacts between the Club and the local schools. At one time the Club had been actively involved in the annual Kidsout Day for disadvantaged children. Reorganisation in the schools had limited the scope for this even before Covid 19 arrived.

The Club has had strong links for many years with Llantwit Major School and its staff at Governor level, arranging competitions and mock interviews and more recently a successful Dragons Den. It had also been able to set up a flourishing Interact Club in the School.

As restrictions are lifted the Club hopes to renew and enhance its links with local schools.