Centenary Article in the Milton Keynes Citizen Newspaper

The article alongside appeared in the Milton Keynes Citizen newspaper on the 24th February 2005 to mark the Centenary of the founding of the Rotary movement. This was produced in collaboration with the five other clubs in the Milton Keynes area. These clubs are Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, Wolverton and Brickhills. The two page spread was a paid for article at a privileged rate from the Publisher and included contact names and addresses with a view of both increasing awareness of Rotary and increasing membership.

The full text of the article submitted by the Milton Keynes Grand Union Club is as follows:

Milton Keynes Grand Union Rotary is the only breakfast club in the area. Every Thursday morning the club meets in the Beale Suite at the Open University from 7 -7.15 am until a rigidly followed finish time of 8.30 am.

 This is the club for those wanting to engage in Rotary principles, but lead a hectic business life and hence are able to enjoy a convivial breakfast meeting before embarking on the day’s “toil”.

Each year the President nominates those charities to be supported in the forthcoming year. President Keith Prestidge chose to nominate MacIntyre Care and Willen Hospice for the current year.

There is a varied programme including guest speakers and opportunities to network with members from other professional and business groupings. Being one of the younger clubs in the area, social activities are mixed with some of the more important charitable fund raising events.

We also aim to have fun and fellowship while we serve the community both locally and internationally. In the past year we have organised in a barn dance, a quiz night, darts and ten pin bowling competitions as well as a Charity President’s dinner and dance.

The Club is keen to promote its youth involvement having played an active part in organising the Schools Technology Tournament for the last 6 years. Internationally we have supported schools in Kenya and more recently an orphanage in Romania. Our aim is to further support local and international projects in the coming years.

The major event this Rotary year has been the Cycle Challenge in which sponsored teams made the bicycle journey from Calais to the Burgundy producing region of France. This was a collaborative event with a Bedford Rotary Club and raised the sum of £48,000.

                                          Members relax after a hard day’s cycling in the 2004 challenge

MKGU Rotary is a dual gender club and membership is distributed fairly evenly between the sexes. More information and a diary of events is available by visiting the club’s website at www.mkgu-rotary.org.uk.

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