Following the flooding that affected areas in both Lancashire and Cumbria, Rotary clubs in the affected localities rallied to provide practical support to help victims of the disaster and continue to do so throughout the district.

This help consisted of providing practical support, such as ripping out soaked carpets to setting up a ‘one stop shop’, where victims could go to get the help they needed.

In addition to this very hands-on help Rotarians across the UK and Ireland made donations to our district flood appeal, resulting in a total of £201,000 being received, much of which has been distributed via your local Rotary club to meet immediate needs and to provide recovery to help keep communities together and to continue to function. We have also provided funding to improve resilience in particularly vulnerable areas.

In addition Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) supported medium to long-term recovery by donating £35,000 via Rotary clubs in Keswick and Kendal to ensure that community assets are restored in order that the particular community facility is maintained.

The recovery work is ongoing and Rotary clubs across the two counties continue to work to support their communities. However, Rotary as a whole can only serve the community if we have sufficient members to provide the service. We are therefore seeking new members.

If you would like to help Rotary to continue to support local communities or our International projects such as eradicating polio in the world please contact your local club for further information or visit www.rotaryGBI.org or www.rotary1190.org I wish to formerly thank all Rotarians in your locality for the hard work already completed and for their continuing commitment in all aspects of the recovery work still to be completed.

Arthur Jones

District Governor 2015/16 District 1190

Rotary International