Rotary president elected at the end of busy 2016/17 year for Melton Belvoir Rotary Club

President David Brown and incoming chair of Inner Wheel Ros Eggleston took over both clubs from Robert Asquith and Margaret Tempest who were thanked for their work during the year.

David said: “Having been involved with Melton Rotary for eight years I was honoured that the club members felt I had proved my commitment to the club motto ‘Service Above Self.’

“The role means I act as a driving force to help promote Rotary in the town. I also hope to increase club membership during my year in office. We have a very active programme of events for the coming year including projects in the local community and overseas.”

Last Christmas Santa’s Sleigh, a tradition that takes place in the run-up to Christmas, raised £7,700 which was added to the Melton Belvoir Rotary Club’s charity fund. This has been used to help to support the following causes: Scouts’ visit to Nepal, Quilts for Injured Soldiers, Melton Photographic Society, Sustain for Life - improving the lives of blind children in Uganda, Contact - supporting lonely elderly people, Twenty Twenty - help for disadvantaged young people, Silverline - Free helpline for the elderly, Mencap, Storehouse, Homestart, Polio Plus - Rotary’s EndPolioNow campaign, The Guinea Pig Club - memorial appeal, Rotary Inner Wheel, Melton Round Table, 5th Melton Guides,Dove Cottage Day Hospice, Shannen McAndrew - Calvert Trust week in Lake District, Rotary Foundation - 35,000 Rotary clubs carry out sustainable service projects and Shelterbox and Aquabox - immediate help for disasters such as the Nepal earthquake and Syria.

In its role as a service club, the members of Melton Belvoir Rotary Club have given of their time and provided support for: Dove Cottage Day Hospice - gardening, car park marshalling at fete and dog show, Rotary Know Your Blood Pressure Day - fundraising fashion show supported by M&Co, Santa’s Sleigh and superstore collection, Purple Crocus Planting for Polio Plus, Tilinanu Orphanage Malawi: - on site advice and support for the cultivation of Moringa, Christmas carol service and Christmas food parcels.

The club’s annual programme of competitions, offered to young people and supported by local schools is well known and still includes: Young Chef, Youth Speaks, Young Writer, Rotary Stars, Young Designer, Young Musician, Rotary Youth Leadership Award and Young Photographer.

More general information is available at: http://rotary1070.org/youth/