Review of Presidential Year 2023 / 24
This is my first term as President of Gosport Rotary having joined them in 2021. I have previously been President of another Rotary club having joined Rotary 10 years ago.
This year we continued with our signature social events for Burns Night, Trafalgar night, Christmas and the Installation evening of the President, which was attended by The Mayor. The Rotarian numbers within the club have been reducing over the past years, so a concerted effort had to be made this year to start turning that decline around by attracting and recruiting new members. This initially took some time to come to fruition, but we made significant inroads into this by turning this decline around and inducting more new members into the club this year than we had in many previous years. This is an initiative which we need to continue and put impetus behind, for the future success and existence of the Club.
This year saw the inaugural event of the “Gosport Rotary 5km Christmas Pudding run”. Which took place along Stokes Bay front early December to kick off our Christmas programme of Santa visits and collections. Each finisher was presented with a Christmas pudding, rather than a medal.
We continued with our main fundraising activities within the year, The Vehicle Rally on August Bank Holiday Monday, the 33[rd] Michaelmas Fayre in Alverstoke Village, Christmas collections and Shoebox collections.
The Vehicle Rally is becoming ever more popular calendar event for local historic and classic car owners, and the support of the local public in attending the event. We had more cars registered this year than previously, along with more side shows and stalls. This was well received by the public who turned up to the event in ever increasing numbers.
The 33[rd] Michaelmas Fayre was held on the last Saturday in September and again enjoyed excellent weather for this closed road event. We had over 120 stalls, made up of local charities and good causes, with local crafters and producers making up a
good variety of stalls. The HMS Sultan band attended again, along with other entertainment from The Harry Strutters Jazz Quartet, a magician, ballon artist and Thorngate singers. This free event was well attended by the local community who turned up in their hundreds to support us.
The Christmas collections were restricted this year to static collections outside the local supermarket, dure to the age demographic of the club and reducing numbers. Santa did however visit local schools, community centres and old people’s homes. Our shoebox collections are well supported by the local community and we donated as many this year as we had in previous years.
In closing, it was an enjoyable year, supported by all the Rotarians, who put in a considerable amount of personal time to ensure these fundraising and social events take place. We supported many good causes, both locally, nationally and internationally, that we see fit to and are able to with the funds we raise throughout the year.
Here’s to many more successful years for Gosport Rotary Club.
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trustees GOSPORT ROTARY BENEVOLENT FUND On accounts for th6 year ended 30 JUNE 2024 Charoty no (If any) 269023 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust.) for the year ended 3010612024, Responslbllltles and bas18 of report As the chanty's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts In accordance wlth the requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 ("the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts camed out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have •xamlner'8 8tstsmont come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any malerial respect., the accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Chanties Act: or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records: or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and conlent of accounts set out in the Charilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attenlion should be drawn in this report In order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounls to be reached, Slgnod: CJ Date: 201 Name: C J Marlow Relevant professional qualification18) or body (11 any): FCCA Address: 20 Norfolk Road, Gosport, Hants, P012 3AN