Successful year for Frome Selwood Rotary

2013 has been another successful year of service for the members of the Rotary Club of Frome Selwood.

They have raised a substantial amount to support local charities such as Dorothy House, SSAFA, Harry’s Hydro, the Day Centre, the Gateway Club, and Somerset Community Foundation.

Beside those there is also an award scheme through Frome Community College to find the Young Citizen of the Year, another scheme to develop leadership skills for young people through the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) programme, the ‘Youth Speaks’ public speaking competition, and the distribution of donated heating allowances to local senior citizens.

Then there are various causes or events including the annual Kids Out Day at Longleat for “special” children, and international projects such as polio eradication and disaster relief with Water-Survival Boxes, and ShelterBoxes for which Frome Selwood Rotary recently held a collection in Westway, Frome specifically for ShelterBoxes in the Philippines and collected an awesome £1800 thanks to the generosity of the local people.

Funds were mostly raised at a number of large and small events throughout the year, including a summer barbecue, a gastro quiz, raffles, a wine tasting evening, the Frome Extravaganza, and a silent auction which generated £4000 thanks largely to the business community in and around Frome.

But Rotarians don’t just raise money and give service by doing things. The members of Frome Selwood have been on visits to the Houses of Parliament in London, Butler Tanner & Dennis in Frome, Dorothy House in Winsley and the huge Arla Dairy factory in Westbury.

The club entertained a group of visiting US Rotarians and danced at the President’s Ball, played skittles, and marshalled at the Frome Half Marathon, the Bath & West Show, the Frome Agricultural (Cheese) Show and the Carnival.

The members of the Rotary Club of Frome Selwood are a group of committed men and women who come together to lend support to their communities and to create a positive change around the world.

The club meets Tuesdays for dinner, fellowship and business at the Fox & Hounds in Tytherington.  The club had the pleasure of welcoming a few new members during the year, and anyone wanting to make a difference and learn more can visit www. frome selwoodrotary.org.uk.