Immediate Past President Maya Vansia was unable to present her chain of office to Sarita Shah, new president of the Rotary Club of Leicester Novus at the first meeting of the new Rotary year.
But Maya surprised everyone by holding up a certificate which she promised — post-COVID — to present to member Jim Matthews.
The certificate was signed by District Governor Rodney Spokes and was awarded at Maya’s recommendation in recognition of Jim’s “Exemplary service to the Community.”
Maya said she had recommended the award because of Jim’s work driving the club’s involvement in collecting aluminium cans for the Helipads For Hospitals charity, his role as co-ordinator of the Thurcaston and Cropston Good Neighbours Scheme and as a speaker for the charity Playlist For Life.
Later in the monthly business meeting, Jim reported to the nine other members in the Zoom meeting that a woman in Barrow had given the club £600. He said that thanks to the meticulous work of Foundation Officer Frazer Robson who has been preparing an application for a matching grant, it is highly likely that the club will be able to buy an extra bin. That would make a total of three, one of which will be sited in Barrow.
Novus Rotary Secretary Pam Spokes, wife of Past District Governor Rodney, said that she had plans, along with Community Service lead Jasbir Mann, to engage two primary schools in environmental projects and in the Rotary Stars Award scheme to promote good citizenship.
Following this, geologist and former teacher Diana Thurston suggested that members could plant wildflowers in their gardens. She also suggested that the club could hold a ‘meal at home’ shared over Zoom to raise funds for a charity.
All agreed that it will be wonderful when members can get together to meet face to face after the COVID crisis.
Nonetheless, recognising the reality of the situation, the club agreed to purchase a licence for Zoom Pro, the full version of the programme which the club has used every week since the pandemic crisis started.
Maya announced, as Speaker-Finder, that the meeting on Thursday, July 9, will hear Nick Roberts, of NCS. If you would like to participate, please click on the Contact Us button at the top of this page and we will send you an invitation to our next Zoom meeting.
Last edited: 23:00 on Thursday, July 2, 2020
