Who We Are
President 2009-10
Welcome to the website of the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper, I'm Sulwen Vaughan, President for the Rotary year 2009-10.
I hope that you find your visit to the website informative.
Abingdon Vesper is part of Rotary International, a worldwide organisation of over 1.2 million members who volunteer their time and skills to further the Rotary motto, Service Above Self. If you would like to find out more about supporting the work of Abingdon Vesper I would be delighted to hear from you.
Rotary depends on its members to work as a team, and from this the Club draws commitment and camaraderie to deliver and achieve high levels of voluntary service.
The Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper meets on a Tuesday evening. This gives members and guests the opportunity to meet in a relaxed atmosphere to catch up with the latest developments within the Club, enjoy a meal, and listen to a wide variety of interesting speakers. At these meetings members discuss and undertake a number of local and international volunteering opportunities.
This year, the Club’s 16th year of taking groups of disabled and disadvantaged people on day trips on a specially converted barge on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Over a four week period in June/July many groups benefit, and now the Club starts planning for 2010.
A dedicated team of the Club’s members support the victims of strokes living in the Abingdon area. The Club has in past raised funding to improve the communication skills of stroke victims. The Club supports many other local projects such as KidsOut, which are days out for disadvantaged children. Abingdon Hospital has benefited from members helping to maintain its grounds, and by the provision of bird feeders so that patients can watch the wildlife.
In Africa, the Club has supported schools, farmers and a young people's day centre for a number of years to help to improve their quality of life. An ambitious project has been undertaken and is a joint project with Rotary Clubs in Holland, Italy and France to fund improvements to communities in Uganda. This will also receive funding from the Rotary Foundation, Rotary's own charity.
Funds have been raised from a variety of initiatives. The main activity is the Abingdon Dragon Boat Day, which takes place in May. All members of the Club are involved with this special event, and the Club’s other fund raising activities.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support of the Abingdon community in making these events a success. Your continued support is much appreciated.
This website, the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland's website, and the Rotary International website, all give a sample of what being a Rotarian is all about.
We only achieve all of these projects by being involved, and this is very much part of the enjoyment and satisfaction gained from being a member of the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper.
If you are interested in Abingdon Vesper, or the Rotary organisation, please please contact me for further information.
Sulwen Vaughan
Why am I wearing a life jacket?