I joined Rotary in Tiverton because of witnessing a friend, also a Rotarian, Andrew Herniman, embodying the values of service above self over a few years before I moved here on my retirement in 2010.When visiting our friends in Tiverton I went to various fundraising events with them where there was a healthy mix of fun, fellowship and service. One special event stuck in my mind and that was the Club's Variety Show run by Rotarian Alan Hunt. who has since sadly died. I thought"I need to have some of this" and joined as soon as I moved here. I have never regretted it.

I helped Rotarian Ivan Godfrey with the Tiverton High School Interact Club in which a mix of Year groups learn how to run a Club and promote fundraising for two charities, one local and one international, each year. My first year as President was in 2015-16. We struggled through Covid lockdowns using Zoom and became quite accomplished Zoomers thanks to the expertise of a handful of members. We have an excellent group of female members (7) among our current membership of 32 (as at July 2023) and a group of Rotary Friends who help us from time to time.

I am passionate about the way the Club works in conjunction with our local communities and community organisations to create hope for local people as well as responding to international situations with Rotary partners, ShelterBox, the disaster charity founded by a Rotarian, through the African Scholars Fund and also Kira Farm in Uganda where we sponsor an underprivileged student each year.

Please do think about joining Rotary now. You will find a warm welcome.

Andrea Rowe

President