The club belongs to District 1080 (covering East Anglia) of the worldwide Rotary International movement, receiving its charter on 24th January 2003.
Our members subscribe to all the core beliefs of the Rotary movement (see below) but we have adopted a more informal and less traditional profile for our club, choosing to operate in ways we consider to be more appropriate to a service organisation of the 21st century.
During its relatively short existence our club has raised many thousands of pounds and contributed a great deal of hands-on assistance to support the work of local and international projects.
Abroad the club supports worldwide Rotary initiatives to eradicate polio and increase the provision of clean water supplies in the developing world. It has also been involved in the provision of direct monetary and practical support to the development of a children’s home in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.
Among local projects we have assisted are the East Anglian Children’s Hospice, the Suffolk Communications Aid Resource Centre at the Laurel Centre in Stowmarket, the Jubilee Court home for the elderly in Stowupland and the Suffolk Mind mental health charity, Phoenix Counselling Practice. Many other local organisations and individuals have benefited from our help, and we also support local students on recognised projects and youth leadership courses.
We have initiated the raising of thousands of pounds in partnership with The Suffolk Fire Brigade who install the smoke alarms, free of charge, in vulnerable people’s homes. This project is ongoing and recognised by other Suffolk Rotary Clubs who support us. Another ongoing project is providing dictionaries for local primary schools.
We have been involved in supporting the work of Aid To Hospitals Worldwide, the Bury St Edmunds-based charity which recycles redundant NHS equipment and supplies to medical facilities in the developing world.
The club has a programme of social events (some designed to raise funds, others just to provide entertainment) in addition to its regular meetings, which are held on most Thursday evenings at the Cedars Hotel, Stowmarket.
The club has operated with about 20 members, both men and women. It runs an associate member scheme designed to attract would-be members who are happy to support the aims of Rotary but are unable to commit to full membership.
We welcome applications for membership both full and associate - from anyone living and/or working in the Mid Suffolk area. In the first instance please contact our Membership Secretary.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
THE OBJECT OF ROTARY
The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarians occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarians personal, business and community life;
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
AVENUES OF SERVICE
The Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based.
Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practise high ethical standards.
Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.
New Generations Service recognises the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, service projects and exchange programmes.
THE FOUR-WAY TEST
The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and better friendships?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?