A NEW Rotary club, Rotary in the Rissingtons, was inaugurated at Upper Rissington Village Hall.

The new club was launched by District Governor Joan Goldsmith on January 24. Initially the ten founder members of the new club will operate as a satellite of North Cotswolds Rotary, but in time numbers may grow to enable it to become an independent Rotary club in its own right. Even as a satellite club, however, it has the freedom to operate as it chooses, with an emphasis on informality and flexibility. Andrew Mitchell, chairman of the new club, said: “we will identify where we can be of service and support to the four villages of the Rissingtons, and initially we will focus our efforts on the Rissington school and youth sport in the Rissingtons”.

Satellite clubs are set up by existing clubs to explore how things might be done differently. This approach allows and encourages people from all walks of life and different backgrounds to come together and pool their ideas. Satellite clubs are more informal than long standing clubs and some meet after work, at weekends, or at any time that best suits their members.

Ed Alexander, president of North Cotswolds Rotary, welcoming the new club members, said: “we are absolutely delighted that the Rissingtons are coming into the Rotary organisation in order to do good things in their local community. Well done to the founder members for their achievement in establishing a new club, and we wish them every success for the future.”

Among the many guests at the inauguration celebration was Jocelyn Jeary, aged 10, the youngest member of The Cotswold School Interact Club – a service club for young people. Jocelyn made a most impressive impromptu speech about the role on Interact and Andrew Mitchell, Rotary’s principal link with Interact locally, congratulated her and she received a well-deserved round of applause.

Rotary in the Rissingtons meets at 7.30pm on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at Upper Rissington Village Hall. With an emphasis on informality and flexibility, new members will be made very welcome, and for further information please contact Andrew at andrew.mitchell42@btopenworld.com or follow the new club on their Facebook page.