THE Rotary Club of Ross-on-Wye held its annual club assembly recently when incoming officers for the new year starting on July 1 presented their plans.

Incoming president George Pendlebury said the aims would be to increase membership, implement and sustain local, national and international projects, support Rotary Foundation (the world’s largest private charity) and develop leaders of the future.

Internationally, the club will be supporting the campaign to eradicate polio and work to improve literacy, water supply and sanitation.

At home, George wants to involve all members in programmes of fun, fellowship and service. One focus will be on youth and another on helping the elderly.

Members look forward to visiting their twin club, Odall, in Norway, in May or June 2010.

The club has also been visited by Deborah Wasongi, the head of Kasiki College in Uganda, Karen Frost, chair of governors at John Kyrle, and John Edwards, Mayor of Ross.

John Kyrle High has close links with Kasiki and there are also links between Christ Church, the Baptist Church and the Rotary Club.

Deborah thanked the club for years of support for the health centre, where they have built a mother and baby unit, men’s ward and trained a midwife.

The college has 1,200 students and schools have as many as 100 to 150 students in each class. There is a great need for mosquito nets as malaria causes the death of one child every eight seconds.

During his visit, the Mayor, Councillor John Edwards, called for an independent person to promote Ross and revitalise the business and town centre community.