Why Join Your Local Rotary Club?

1. Professional Networking: A founding principle of Rotary was to provide a forum for professional and business leaders. Members are leaders in business, industry, the professions, the arts, government, sports, the military, and religion. They make decisions and influence policy. Rotary is the oldest, most prestigious service-club organization in the world.
2. The Opportunity to Serve: Rotarians provide service at both the community and international levels. Service programs address health care needs, hunger and poverty, illiteracy, disaster relief, and environmental cleanups, to name a few. Members experience the fulfillment that comes from giving back to the community.
3. Personal Growth and Development: Membership in Rotary ensures continuing personal and professional development. Leadership, public speaking and communication, organization and planning, team-building, fundraising, and teaching are just a sampling of the skills that can be exercised and enhanced through Rotary.
4. Friendship: Fellowship was a primary reason Rotary was started in 1905, and it remains a major attraction. Today, with more than 30,000 Rotary clubs in over 160 countries, Rotarians have friends wherever they go. Rotary helps to build community as well as enduring friendships.
5. Cultural Diversity: Rotary International is an association of local clubs in many countries. Clubs are open to members of every ethnic group, political persuasion, language, and religious belief. Rotary clubs contain a cross-section of the world's leaders. They practice and promote tolerance.
6. Good Citizenship: Membership in Rotary makes one a better citizen. Weekly Rotary club programs keep members informed about what is taking place in the community, nation, and world. Rotary's expansive network of clubs and programs provides extensive opportunities for service and interchange.
7. World Understanding: Rotary members gain an understanding of humanitarian issues and have a significant impact on them through international service projects and exchange programs of RI and its Foundation. The promotion of peace is one of Rotary's highest objectives.
8. Entertainment: Every Rotary club and district hosts parties and activities that offer diversion from one’s personal and business life. Conferences, conventions, assemblies, and social events provide entertainment as well as Rotary information, education, and service.
9. Family Foundations: Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest youth exchange and educational exchange and scholarship programs. Rotary clubs provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for future leaders. They involve family members in a wide range of social and service activities.
10. Ethical Environment: Rotarians practice a 4-Way Test that measures words and actions by their truthfulness, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all. Encouraging high ethical standards in one's profession and respect for all worthy vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days.

This Rotary Club is proud to have started the Midnight Matinee in 1960. Each year the committee chooses a charity worthy of the monies raised through sponsors and generally a show at several different venues. This year the Jubilee Gala night on 5th June started with a dinner at the Red Lion and the Chris Black Rock and Roll show C'mon Everybody. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening with Patrons jiving in the aisles. The profits for the evening have been donated to Kenton For Keeps campaign.

The Kenton Theatre has an historic opportunity to purchase the freehold of the theatre and secure its long term future, as a theatre, in perpetuity. The Kenton is a charming little theatre, the fourth oldest in the country and has stood on the site for over 200 years, in a Grade II Listed building.

Acquiring the freehold is the keystone to the KENTON for KEEPS Appeal to improve the facilities offered to our patrons, users and the community. The Board of Trustees has signed an Option to purchase The Kenton at a price of £350,000 and has just six months, until July 2010, to raise the funds.

It is so important to keep theatre alive, not only for residents in the local area but for the surrounding counties and our English Heritage. Proudly, TheKenton self-funds throughout the year, supported by a vast network of volunteers, who passionately support an increasing and expanding programme to suit patrons and users in the community and surrounding areas.

It is believed to have survived when many theatres of that period perished,only because it was being used as a school at a time when lime in stage lighting caused many theatres to burn down. In spite of its many incarnations over the years, its original gallery and proscenium arch are still intact today. The Theatre is now enjoying the longest period of continuous operation in its history – since 1967 – with programmes spanning professional and amateur theatre, children and young people, a popular series of lectures by high-profile figures, and many well-known professional performers and comedians who play to full houses.

So, the time is now right to bring The Kenton Theatre into the 21st Centuryand to further develop this ‘Georgian gem’ into a vibrant, flourishing local theatre and major cultural centre in the Henley area.

The Rotary Club of Henley-on-Thames has had another good and active year of community service, raising money from the public at large for many worthy charities, as well as active support on many occasions. One of the most popular events is the annual Youth Speaks competition in the Kenton Theatre. This year attracted a record 16 teams for a closely fought verbal contest, from which two teams went forward into the next round and one of these teams from Sonning Blue Coat School reached the District Final. We also sponsor a Youth Cricket Contest in the summer.

As a joint effort with Henley Bridge Club, we assisted them with their larger projects of the Half Marathon and Sue Ryder fireworks show. For many years now we have run the mulled wine stall at the Round Table fireworks evening, raising money for our charities.

A special project was helping with the Haiti Appeal. Rotary organises ShelterBoxes for such sudden disasters which are shipped out immediately. We sent money from our existing funds and followed up with more as we collected it from appeals to the public, thus ensuring several boxes were sent out- these contain tents, blankets and various utensils needed for the homeless. At Christmas time we collected 27 shoe boxes of suitable gifts for our soldiers in Afghanistan, a new and popular project.

Our regular annual projects, such as Race Night, Bingo and an international evening raised £200 for the CAB, £200 for Bishopswood School, £200 for Riding For The Disabled, £200 for Helen & Douglas House, £200 for Pathways, £100 OxonPlaybus, £500 to Air Ambulance, £1000 to the Sea Cadets, £250 to the Rivertime Boat Trust, as well as several others and over £2000 to three charities in Africa. In addition a further £1000 was contributed to the International Rotary Polio Plus campaign which is gradually illuminating polio in the world. The recent very successful Jazz Evening has raised almost £1900 which will be divided equally between Help for Heroes and the Air Ambulance. Altogether agood result from all our hard work.

In a new venture, we helped the Mayor organise the first Henley Pancake Race in Market Place in aid of the Mayor's chosen two local charities, namely the Bertioli Foundation and the Youth Club. Great fun which could become a regular feature for the town. We took part in the subsequent Quiz Night, again for charity, and turned in a good performance. The Rotary Clubs are a force for good in the Town.