Bright Start at Brightside

Following a meeting with Immediate Past President Stephen, and Youth Oficers Peter and Keith, Gemma LeMarche from Brightside Primary School agreed to form a new RotaKids club at that school, and she agreed to act as RotaKids lead teacher.  Just like for Stock Primary School, they also wanted to hold elections for membership of the club in June/July so that the RotaKids could start “with a bang” in the new school year.

So it was that on Friday July 17, new President Nick Street, and Youth Officers Peter Greene and Keith Wood, went along to meet the new RotaKids, to invest its members, hand out the badges and present the new club’s Charter.

Elections

The school had already organized hustings and elections amongst the children for who would be members of the new RotaKids club, but the results had remained secret.  

On the day of the visit, we met the RotaKids and Gemma in an old library room.  The children were seated quietly in two rows.  Gemma introduced us the members of the Rotary Club of Billeraicy before handing it over to President Nick who explain in a little more details what Rotary is, how Billericay has the most RotaKids clubs of any town in Essex, and what the RotaKids club should aspire to achieve.

It was then Gemma’s turn to call up the new RotaKids Officers of the club to receive their individual badges:

• Eilidh - President
• Ava - Vice President
• Amy - Secretary
• Penelope - Treasurer

and then the individual RotaKids badges were handed out to the remaining members of the club.

President Nick then led them all in reciting the RotaKids pledge:
As a RotaKid I endeavour to be fair to all, to serve my community, and to show respect to others.

Charter

Then last act of the day was the presentation to the new club with its official Rotary Charter then a there was a little time left for questions.  The children were very keen - challenging the Rotarians with questions:

• About Polio and Rotary’s campaign to rid the world of this terrible disease, 
• What was their favourite time as a Rotarian,
• How long had they been Rotarians,

and many more, before Gemma had to call the friendly inquisition to an end.
What a successful and moving day!