Rotary Club Constantia inducted their new president in a live group chat of over 30 people on Zoom last week.
Outgoing president Ross Kelly handed the baton to the new president, Peter Rogers, on Tuesday June 30, but before he did he spoke about some of the club’s projects this year.
The club had started 2020 with great enthusiasm, he said, but it had had to put several projects on hold due to Covid-19.
But despite the pandemic, the club donated R10 000 worth of food parcels to Westlake, distributed second-hand clothing to needy organisations and gave wheelchairs to the Ocean View Centre for Disabilities.
The club also donated various items to Little Squirrels creche in Westlake and it is sponsoring the tuition of a student at the College of Magic in Claremont.
Mr Kelly said he was delighted to have been president, and even though faced with challenges, he believed the club would continue doing community work efficiently.
Mr Rogers joined Rotaract (Rotary International’s service organisation for 18-to-30-year-olds) while a student in 1981 and Rotary in 1996. He is the past president of Claremont Rotary. He will also serve as treasurer and look after the Rotary Club Constantia’s youth clubs, including Steenberg Rotaract.
Mr Rogers said he was excited to be the new leader, and added the club would have to reconsider normal ways of raising funds such as wine sales and book sales, and might need to delve into crowdfunding because of Covid-19.
The club also inducted the new Steenberg Rotaract president Topollo Mokathi.
Steenberg Rotaract was founded in 2018, and has grown from seven to 18 members. It raises awareness among the youth about gang violence, environmental sustainability, youth unemployment and other social issues.
Mr Mokathi said the world would overcome Covid-19 just as it had with the Spanish Flu of 1918.
He said Steenberg Rotaract would look to its elders, at Rotary Club Constantia, for guidance.
On the night Geoff von Klemperer, Richard Rawson and Mr Rogers were awarded sapphire medals, which are given to people who continue to give outstanding community service.
The live induction was also attended by past district governor for Rotary Lloyd Whitfield, who is a founder member of the club and has 42 years continuous service.
