After a year of planning and preparation, Langebaan is ready to launch its very own Rotary Club officially.
Gone is the stuffy, elitist, all-boys’ club, the Langebaan charter chairperson Jolene Wicht-Butler says. “We want people to know we are a lot more relaxed and flexible than the Rotary of old,” she said. “We want to bring fun into the work Rotary does.”
Rotary is a global network of 1,4 million members aimed at advanced world understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship among business, professional and community leaders, according to its mission statement.
Butler says the aim of the local charter is for community members to work together to create social change on the West Coast. She says members are particularly excited to tackle projects pertaining to education, skills development and mentoring of youth.
“Langebaan, for example, needs a high school, and if we can help get the school that would be fantastic,” Butler explained. “We have already reached out to local schools when we received a large donation of books from Australia.”
Along with educational projects Langebaan Rotary aims to assist with tourism and help build the West Coast brand. Butler says with such opportunities as the extension of the Cape Camino into the region it is too good a chance for the local sector to miss out on. Much like the tourism offerings that need to adapt and renew, Butlers says Rotary hopes to diversify its organisation and projects.
“We want a channel through which businesses can do their corporate social investment and be sure the funds are going to where it is most needed. There are so many young people who don’t have jobs and we hope to, for example, help create skills programmes with funds from corporates.”
Aside from the social change Rotary hopes to make, Butler says there is also a social aspect to the club – a place for members to meet up, have fun and network. The club will have two monthly meetings.
The first will be an indaba style gathering to discuss projects and network where members will look to “help solve social problem solving in their community”. The second will be more sociable with speakers and might involve trips, Butler explains.
Butler comes from a long line of Rotary presidents, following in her father and grandfather’s footsteps.
“Rotary is no longer a boys-only club. We want to help the community, but make it fun for everyone.”
The Langebaan charter will be launched at the West Coast Fossil Park on Saturday 21 May at 12:00. For more information send an email to rotarylangebaan@gmail.com or contact Butler (072 635 8838) or Dirkie (082 851 5177).
