Rotary Foundation Centenary Celebration

Sunday the 11th June saw us celebrate 100 years of the Rotary Foundation.

It was in fact 18 June 1917 that Arch Klumph at the Rotary Convention in Atlanta proposed an Endowment Fund - To Do Good in the World.

The Endowment Fund became known as the Rotary Foundation (Rotary's own Charity) in 1928.

The projects supported by Foundation since then have been legion and have changed lives all over the world.

Currently grants to help projects may be given two ways.

A Global Grant is for large projects (>$30 000 though may be much bigger and running into hundreds of thousands) Applications are made to TRF (the Rotary Foundation). A couple of examples of work the Foundation does may be found under our pages - look at either News or Galleries - Visit to Nigeria and Visit to Ethiopia

The District Grant is for smaller projects and may be requested for up to £1000 per club per year so long as the club matches the funds or more. On Portland we have used these grants for projects in Nepal along with Dorchester Casterbridge and Poundbury clubs.

The event on Sunday was conceived and organised by P.R.I.D and past Rotary GB&I President Keith Barnard-Jones.

The celebration saw displays of projects undertaken by Brit Valley, Portland, Poundbury and Casterbridge, and also on Polio eradication. Only 5 cases this year.

There were excellent presentations by P.P. Roger Willis who back in 1953 received an Ambasssadorial Scholarship from Rotary to study agriculture in the USA. There were also presentations by two current scholars both being supported for their PhD at Bath University. Sungwon Lee is from South Korea and his ambition is to be involved in inter- Korean relations. Jenna Arnall from Washington State wishes to follow up with how state leaders have an impact on decision making. Both scholars being supported under "Peace and Conflict" by the Rotary Foundation

Finally to me! As is traditional with the Rotary Club of Portland the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow is kept a surpise to the recipient. A nd yes it was a surprise!
The Paul Harris Fellow was established in 1957 in honour of one of the original founders of Rotary and is awarded for the contributions to the humanitarian and educational programmes of the Rotary Foundation.
I have been lucky enough to work alongside Richard Backwell of the Okhle Village Trust, Richard Brind from Casterbridge Rotary, Jane Nolting May from Poundbury Rotary plus of course all the members of Portland Rotary in seeking to provide clean water to villages in Nepal
In my own club of Portland, members have worked tirelessly on raising funds, providing items to take out, and several members have been able to visit the villages.
I have had great fun being able to visit Nepal over several years combining work in the villages with trekking. Rotary has been so supportive including District who have helped us with grants.
It was an honour to be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow, particularly at the 100th Foundation Celebration. It is something that I will always cherish and be proud of. But also I know that it has only happened because of the support and work of my fellow Rotarians- Thank you.