Lochaber Rotary launch recruitment drive ahead of 75th anniversary
Lochaber Rotary is approaching its 75th anniversary and ahead of the celebrations is having a recruitment drive to ensure the future of the charitable institution is in safe hands.
Rotary came fairly late to Lochaber. The war brought an influx of population and, with it, increased prosperity to the town, and at the same time, the fairly rigid pre-war class structure was breaking up.
The shared hardships had made people more aware of and concerned about the welfare of their neighbours, not only in a local, but also in a wider sense. World organisations, like the United Nations and its subsidiaries, were highly thought of and great hopes for the future of the world rested upon them.
In this climate of benevolence and international altruism, coupled with material prosperity, it was really only to be expected that Rotary, with its worldwide philanthropic ideals and its underlying spirit of fellowship, would become increasingly appealing, both to the men who had served in the forces and to those who, for the first time, felt secure enough financially to contemplate lending a helping hand to others less fortunate than themselves.
On July 1, 1949, 16 good men met together in the Grand Hotel and decided that they would try to form a Rotary Club.
It would meet in the Grand Hotel at 1.10pm – this, presumably, to allow for a brief sojourn in the bar beforehand – and go on till 2.30pm.
Events moved swiftly and within a week, on July 7, the first council meeting of the Lochaber (Formation) Rotary Club was held at 9pm. The club was then formally constituted in 1950.
Seventy-five years later and The Rotary Club of Lochaber remains dedicated to serving its community through the International Rotary motto of “Service above Self”.
Its commitment to community service has benefitted Fort William and Lochaber in so many ways including: funding and running a wide range of youth activities (Young Writers, Young Chefs, Young Photographers and Young Artists competitions); Community Projects (Arkaig Community Forest, Nevis Radio, Ben Nevis Cheerleaders, disability horse riding, Plantation Allotments, Greenfingers at Claggan, Lochaber Music Festival, Care Lochaber, Lochaber Pipe Band and Wind Band and many more); Lochaber Christmas Festival & Reindeer Parade; Lochaber Agricultural Show; Am-Am golf tournament – this event alone has raised over £60,000 for local charities since its inception; International projects (Shelterbox, Polio Plus and Ukrainian refugees as well as current international crises events); Annual Grants – over the last few years Lochaber Rotary has averaged approximately £7,500 in grants to local and international bodies.
September is membership month at Lochaber Rotary and in this, its anniversary year, members are inviting people to join them for fun, fellowship and community support activities.
Club president Malcolm MacRaild said: “Rotary International has 1.4million members across more than 200 countries and links are there to be made.
“Over the years Lochaber has hosted exchange visitors from all over the world as well as youth exchanges from all over Europe.
“As you can see, our club is very active in the Lochaber community and abroad. This is perhaps one of the best reasons for becoming a Rotarian: the chance to use your passion and energy to support our local and our
global community.
“Please think about joining us and be part of our team”
Anyone requiring information about Lochaber Rotary and joining its ranks can get details from Flora McKee, membership lead and treasurer, at treasurer@lochaberrotary.org.uk, secretary Donald Young at secretary@lochaberrotary.org.uk or any member of the club.
Find out more at lochaberrotary.org.uk/
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