Club News

RYLA provides an experience where “young people can develop leadership skills while having fun and making connections”.

Faversham Rotary sponsored two Explorer Scouts to attend the recent RYLA event at the Bowles Rock Centre. Charlie and Ben came to a Club meeting to tell members about their experiences.

They had both been a bit anxious before the weekend, as they would be meeting and working with new people and facing challenges that would take them outside their comfort zones. However the ‘ice-breaking’ session on arrival soon got everyone talking.

There was a full programme of activities, including low & high rope circuits and sledging on the dry ski slopes – which were actually slippery and wet due to all the rain!

The night crawl obstacle course, blindfolded and in the rain, certainly tested their communication skills as all members of each team had to stay in contact with each other. Singing helped to ease the tension.

The team puzzle was another activity which required good team work to develop a strategy for solving the problem.

Charlie and Ben had clearly enjoyed the experience and had taken the challenges in their stride. They said that their leadership skills had improved, they’d benefited from the team work involved, had made friends who they’re still in contact with and the food was good and plentiful.

And finally, the programme was so busy that they’d hardly had time to use their mobile phones!

At the President’s handover evening on 25^th June at Faversham Golf Club, outgoing President Doug Rogers summed up his year, “We have achieved a great deal, raised funds and given donations at an exceptional level in 2023/24 and we still have the playground, the medical hub and the Taonga projects continuing into 2024/25.

“I’d like to say very well done to Club members and the residents of Faversham for their support of the club’s events in the past year.

“It is 28 years since I was last President. I have thoroughly enjoyed my year and feel privileged to have been the Club President for a second time.

“I hope that new President David will enjoy his second stint at the helm as much as I have.”

Incoming President David Kirsch-Mills said, “First of all, on behalf of the Club, I would like to thank Doug for his leadership and dedication to the Club over the last year as President. It has been a busy year.

“The year ahead is also looking busy with the Carol Tour and the Family Bike Ride in the calendar, along with other smaller events, and the Community Chest Fund is close to being launched.

“There are several ongoing local projects which will continue into the new Rotary year, together with the exciting Taonga project to provide new toilets for a school in a very deprived area of Zambia.

“And the social side of the Club will not be forgotten.”

David concluded, “I look forward to working with you all to make the coming year enjoyable and successful.”

Faversham Rotary was recently approached for help by the Strode Park Foundation on behalf of Lady Dane Farmhouse in Faversham.  

Lady Dane Farmhouse is home to adults with mixed disabilities who need long or short-term care in Faversham.

The Club’s Community Chest Fund was able to immediately award £300 (see below).

From the Strode Park Foundation: “We are so grateful to Rotary Club of Faversham - Community Chest for awarding Lady Dane Farmhouse £300 this week. This will allow us to secure our garden area before we buy some more garden furniture to replace the furniture which was stolen recently.” 

THANK YOU!