The Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge

 A letter from a Rotarian

I'm a Rotarian, 

Sixteen years ago a friend asked whether I'd like to join a Rotary club that was being formed at the east end of the Chew valley. I was a bit uncertain as I didn't know what a Rotary club was. I didn't know if it was particularly formal or had strange rituals etc. but I went along and happily found that it wasn't and didn't. 

It quickly became apparent that it was a club based on enjoying the company of friends and making new ones but at the same time working together to put something back into our local society and the world at large. 

We meet weekly Tuesday evenings at the Carpenters Arms, Stanton Wick for dinner and enjoy an evening of club business and social fun. We try to have a talk from an interesting speaker most months. Club membership has varied between about 24 and 34 mostly as a result of people moving into and from the area. Membership is drawn from the area roughly bounded by Bristol Airport, Keynsham and Radstock. 

Rotary is a worldwide organization founded over a 100 years ago. It is based upon the individual club but clubs can work together in a local, regional, national or international basis. One feature of Rotary is that a Rotarian can visit any club worldwide and will be given a warm welcome. I, and many of our members, have done this when on holiday or business trips around the world and met local people and had insights into social and working life that would not otherwise have been possible. We have also welcomed other Rotarians from all over. 

We support local schools, youth organizations, numerous charities and local needs in various ways such as fund rising and active participation. Some years ago we organized and part funded a scheme to supply water to 10,000 people in the Philippines following a volcanic eruption. We did this jointly with a Philippine club after one of our members made contact with them whilst on business there. We also had help from Rotary head office in Chicago. Over the past 20 years Rotary has been running a very successful programme to immunize ALL the world's children against polio to try to completely eradicate this disease worldwide. As part of this Rotary has even negotiated temporary ceasefires in areas of armed conflict to get the job done in difficult border areas. It is likely that this aim will be achieved before too long. There are ongoing schemes to supply emergency humanitarian aid following disasters around the world. And many more. 

Our club also competes sportingly against other local clubs at golf, skittles, bowls, cricket etc. 

One of the main benefits of club membership is the friendships one makes. Amongst other things this has led to learning to sail and so sailing holidays with family and friends. There have also been golfing, walking and other breaks. Others go to rugby and soccer matches etc. We also go to places of interest and the theatre etc.

This could sound as if Rotary takes over ones life but this is not the case. It's just an addition to normal family and other friendships but I've made friends I would not otherwise have met and done things I would not otherwise have done. It has helped me put something back into society and lead a fuller life. 

We are keen to welcome new members. There are also clubs in Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Bristol, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Keynsham, Wrington, Wells and beyond. If you are interested in coming to one of our meetings please contact us, we will be very pleased to meet you.