New Rotary president wants to give youth hope
COLIN Armstrong was inducted as the new president of the Kenton-on-Sea Rotary Club at a dinner last week with guests including visiting Rotarians and the district governor-elect Dave Briggs from East London.
Armstrong said it was an honour for him to be elected as president. He thanked past president Barrie Brown for a "wonderful job” done during the past year and for the leadership provided.
| PASSING THE BATON: Colin Armstrong (left) was inducted as the new president of the Kenton-on-Sea Rotary Club by outgoing president Barrie Brown last week Picture: SUPPLIED |
He also thanked past presidents Bruce Steele-Gray and Bridget Carthew for their role in establishing the club and said he had the challenge of maintaining the high standard set by the three previous presidents.
He said the club was a very busy one which had a significant impact on Kenton and neighbouring communities and needed to continue looking for new, energetic, quality members. He then inducted new member, Tony Weiner, into the club.
Armstrong reminded Rotarians that "we serve the community in which we live and we should not lose that sense of purpose”.
"If we wish to leave something behind, it should be in the form of a vibrant club that is sustainable,” he said, quoting from Mahatma Ghandi: "The future depends on what we do in the present”.
Armstrong is keen on the further development of the New Generations programme.
"We live in a village that is not restricted to this side of the main road and this side of the Bushman's River and we need to reflect on that,” he said.
He cited a recent article written by the director of customer channels at Standard Bank which stated that marginalised youth are bitter and destructive and caught in an inhumane dilemma that affects all spheres of their lives.
"We as Rotarians in the Kenton village have the opportunity to play a vital role as villagers in helping to raise the children in whatever way we can by giving them hope and creating opportunities,” said Armstrong.
"Perhaps in so doing, who knows, we may leave a Rotary legacy for our village that builds on the wonderful work done this past year and we may even be able, through our endeavours,to touch eternity and in so doing, fulfil the Rotary International president's theme for the year which is, Peace through Service,” he continued.
"Through our Rotary service, we know that co-operation is more productive than conflict. We learn to value each other. We know that every one of us has something to give and everyone has something to teach.”
At the induction dinner, special merit awards were presented by Brown to Justin Wilmot and Marlene Thompson. Stella Swanson won the President's Trophy, while Michael Wilmot was honoured by the presentation of a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship. In South Africa, the award of a Paul Harris Fellowship signifies the recognition by a Rotary Club of an individual's significant contribution and dedication to the Rotary ideals of "Service Above Self”.
