Recent Visitors Welcomed
Since the Club reconvened after the summer break President Heather was delighted to welcome many visitors to Club meetings:
Rosanna Patrì, Florence Rotary Club, an English teacher in Tuscany, who was in Belfast for a week's training course and brought little biscuits to the meeting which were greatly enjoyed by those there.
Graham Stewart, RC Campbell River, British Columbia, Club Membership Director as well as a District Assistant Governor responsible for 4 clubs. who advised Campbell River is located on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island, it is a very big fishing area and is known as the Salmon capital of the world.
Gordon Graham, The Hague Metropolitan Rotary Club, who noted it was good to visit again and gave an update on Seeds of Hope which is a joint Club project with Corrymeela. He explained that it is a part time programme comprising 4 residential weekends with monthly meetings in between. He highlighted that this year it has cross-border as well as cross-community participants who include students, graduates, youth workers and immigrants.
Seamus Grant, The Rotary Foundation who visited the Club Monday 29 September after the District Conference in Portrush, where he had been a speaker. He revealed he really wanted to visit the Club because of the Club's kindness to Foundation every year and he congratulated the Club on being ranked the 25th highest giving club out of 1,508 in the last year.
Past President Bob and Ruth Competti, Lancaster Rotary Club, Ohio who, when travelling like to attend a local Rotary Club and were thrilled to find that the Club meets on the same day as they do!
Adeline Keogh, Senior Vice President Blythe RC, Northumberland who, while currently in Belfast with her husband, wanted to visit and exchange banners.
3 US Masters students at Queens also visited: Corinn Olson advised she is a member of Timpe South RC, Arizona and is studying Conflict Transformation and Social Justice. She noted she had been a Rotaractor, enjoyed volunteering and doing community work and is looking forward to helping the Club. Carter Darger advised he is from Utah and was the Rotaract President since 2023 for his university. He has done a lot of fundraising work and raised about $40,000 for winter clothing for 9 local schools and is also looking forward to being involved. Assistant Governor Roland bailie introduced Global Scholar Hannah Ferguson, who is being hosted by RC Newtownabbey while studying Masters in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queens.