International meeting is no problem for Rasen Rotarians

The coronavirus pandemic has brought new opportunities to organisations and Rasen Rotarians, under the drive, skills and technical abilities of president Jo Bowman, have now had four meetings using a virtual platform.

Rotarian David Mason said: “The pandemic, whilst separating us physically, has brought us together, showing the miles between us are no barrier at all.”

At last week’s meeting, they welcomed a visitor from the USA.

Keith Busking is a founder member of Norman-Sooner Rotary Club in Oklahoma.

The club formed in 1987 and has a membership of 95, with a 50/50 male/female split.

The club meets at breakfast time, 7am, followed by a business or speaker meeting.

Keith first encountered the Rotary Club of Market Rasen as a member of Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange scheme.

As part of the scheme, Keith led a group visit of four professional people from Oklahoma to look at businesses and life in the Market Rasen area in 1999.

Many Rasen Rotarians involved in this exchange are still active members - Bob Winter, Ron Myland, David Herring and honorary member Peter Rhodes, as well as former member Trevor Lyle.

Following this successful visit, contact was maintained between the Market Rasen and Norman clubs, with several reciprocal visits taking place.

Stories were exchanged of events on some of these visits of the past, and, inevitably, 
the conversation also included the current pandemic, with Rotarians’ thoughts on the two governments’ reactions.

Keith was asked about one particular feature of their club, the Happy Dollar project.

He explained this club project involved every member who wished to announce a personal event – birthdays, anniversaries, family events etc - first had to donate to the ‘Happy Dollar Fund’.

The Happy Dollar Fund continues and each year the proceeds are used to support an apartment complex comprising accommodation for up to 20 disadvantaged students to allow them to complete high school.