ADVERTISING FEATURE: Supporting communities to thrive with Rotary Advertising Feature Coffs Coast by News Of The Area - Modern Media - February 14, 2024 The Sawtell Early Literacy Project ROTARY is a worldwide non-profit service organisation. Its members are welcome irrespective of their race, colour, creed, religion, gender or political persuasion. Rotary began in February 1905 in Chicago in the United States when Paul Harris, an attorney, brought together a small group of businessmen for companionship and their mutual benefit. This meeting started what was to become the worldwide organisation we recognise as Rotary. There are now more than 1.4 million Rotarians and they live in over 200 countries. In addition there are numerous Interact clubs for school students and Rotaract clubs for young adults which fall under the Rotary umbrella. Rotarians volunteer both locally and internationally and each club has its own projects. Rotary helps to provide clean water and sanitation and supports education and health projects. It helps to protect the environment and supports mothers and children. It helps local economies to grow. It involves youth in several programmes and provides peace scholarships to aid a better world. Clubs hold regular meetings with theme nights and guest speakers. Some clubs meet during the day whilst others hold evening meetings. Every Rotary club needs an active membership because without it, it cannot contribute to the local community nor participate in international projects. Fundraising projects vary from club to club. Volunteering to join Rotary helps our Rotary clubs to thrive but also provides personal rewards and increases the opportunity for friendship and support. Enquire about joining Rotary. You will be delighted and so will your club! Recent projects run by the Coffs Rotary Clubs include the Sawtell Annual Literacy Project, Rotary Youth Exchange overseas, Love of Reading Project at Kulai Preschool, turtle rehabilitation, BBQs for Disabled Surfers Association, gift packages for patients in Coffs Hospital Mental Health Unit, Shearwater Lodge accommodation for patients and their companions/carers, Waratah Respite Care, Rotary Youth Marine Educational Experience (Rymarine) and Surf Rescue Tubes. The Rotary Coffs Daybreak Rymarine Project – a biannual program for students fifteen to seventeen years of age with various activities over four days, such as scuba familiarisation, open-water snorkelling, lectures and laboratory experiments at the Marine Science Centre, kayaking and talks from local water authorities. A Coffs City Rotary exchange student from Coffs off to France for a year.
