Crowborough’s Rotary Club closed on the 31st December due to dwindling membership.
The town’s club was founded in 1953. Over the years, as well as enjoying an active social programme, members have raised funds and helped others in the local community, assisting the elderly, disabled and those less fortunate. Internationally the Club has supported the Shelter Box Scheme providing emergency accommodation for families affected by disasters and helped with educational facilities in The Gambia.
But membership of the club declined to 14 members by the end of 2016. With attendance at meetings regularly around a half-dozen people, the difficult decision was taken to disband.
Ray Jackson, the last President explained further:
We found it difficult to get members to volunteer for the roles of President, Vice President and other offices of the club and under Rotary rules we could not continue to function as a club because of this. I for example was President for the third time at the point of disbanding, having been a Rotarian since 1976, just over 40 years.
Another reason was our age profile which averaged in the late 60’s if not 70 years of age. Sadly it appears Rotary is going the same way Round Table went 30 years or so ago when Crowborough Round Table closed because of lack of numbers.
I think the final straw was when we distributed a brochure to over 4500 homes in Crowborough setting out what Rotary did, what it stood for and how to join. We did not get one response from this mail shot which led us to believe that Crowborough residents for one reason or another did not want to join Rotary and put back something into the community.
The President of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland Eve Conway said:
Although it is always sad to hear of a Rotary club closing, since the start of the Rotary year in July we have, in fact, had more clubs chartered than have closed in Great Britain and Ireland. Membership is a key aspect of our marketing focus and we continue to invest in attracting new members to join Rotary in carrying out great work in our local, national and global communities.
We are extremely grateful for the six decades that the members of the Rotary Club of Crowborough have carried out a whole range of voluntary service under the Rotary banner and we hope the members will consider joining a nearby club or becoming a member of our national e-club in order to continue their valuable work for Rotary.
In 2013 the Club celebrated 60 years. At the charter dinner member Peter Bilcliff talked of past events of the club and Malcolm Sanger was presented with a 35 Year Membership Award. The evening concluded with out-going President Stephen Tester handing-over the Chain of Office to their first lady president Helen Marshall.
One of the last acts of the Club was to present two awards at the end of the Civic Carol Service. The awards were ‘Paul Harris Fellowships’, the highest award bestowed by the Rotary movement and they were awarded for exceptional service to the community. It is the first time such awards have been given by Crowborough Rotary to non-Rotarians since the club was formed. The recipients were Ronald Reed, the Crowborough Town Mayor, a Town councillor and a Wealden District councillor and Chantal Wilson who has served the town also as a Town councillor, a Wealden District Councillor and is currently Chairman of the Friends of Crowborough Hospital and Chairman of the Crowborough Community Association.
Over the last few weeks the Club have distributed every penny of their charity account, with donations going to Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, Crowborough First Responders, Beacon Academy, Rotherfield St Martins, Rotherfield Millennium Green Trust, When You Wish Upon a Star, Friends of Chernobyl, Grove Park School, Haven Homes, Crowborough Bonfire Society and Rotherfield Bonfire Society. Their final donation will be to Friends of Crowborough Hospital following their Father Christmas collection. They anticipate this donation to be in the region of £500.
Ray Jackson said the members will still meet-up socially:
We will not lose contact with each other as we have formed a ‘ROTEX’ club which is open to all ex Rotarians whether from Crowborough or elsewhere. We will just meet socially once or twice a month, not do any charity work and not have any rules and regulations we have to abide by.
Click here and below for other articles CrowboroughLife has published about the Crowborough Rotary Club.
It is sad to see the local Rotary Club close down. Sadly membership of this type is no longer needed as people support charity directly. Just look at the success of the Crowborough Jeanie Foundation over the last 12 months. For twelve months Selina Groom and her volunteers have made friends with people in Crowborough who now regularly donate or buy from them.
This is so so sad that the club is closing down. Membership recruitment is a big Challenge to rotary clubs all over the world.
Nothing will replace what Rotary can do. If communities think that an individual or one small group can replace the work that Rotary can do locally & international, they are mistaken. The variety of Rotary’s projects touch on youth development, research into mental health issues, family violence prevention, support for he homeless.etc. which one organisation will replace Rotary clubs if communities don’t care about these things. It doesn’t take much time to be a member of Rotary, just the right heart. If people want to see change in their community they need to be that change & do something.
If those past Rotarians willing to listen to me by forming an eClub within Rotary District 1120 for South East England … I am willing to help through my own membership of East Anglia Rotary eClub … I live in Eastbourne East Sussex … anyone want my help to remain within Rotary Family … I am willing and able to establish first the first Rotary eClub within D1120 …
Rotary is needed more now than ever before! Sad to see the club close. All those years of serving humanity will be lost. Rotary is changing and if anyone wants to help the comunity there is NO better way. Thank you Crowborough Rotary for you years of helping humanity..your closure will be a loss to the world.