AS another rotary year comes to its close it is the appropriate time to assess the achievements of the Rotary Club, Dolgellau over the past 12 months. In his address last July, newly installed president Glyn Wil-liams explained Rotary International’s theme for the year was ‘Be a Gift to the World’. Everyone has something to give which can help those in need, and perhaps the greatest gift is time. One of Glyn’s objectives was for everyone to enjoy and be proud to be a rotarian and with a mixture of fun, fellowship and fundraising this is what has hap-pened. The treasurer has reported that we have raised £4,650 for charitable purposes during the year from our main fund-raising events Hwyl yr Haf and Santa’s Sleigh.

The following organisations have benefited. Locally a total of £2,000 has been given to Dolgellau Hospital towards the purchase of an electro-cardiography (ECG) machine which records the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time using electrodes placed on the skin and a blood pressure monitor. A further £1,600 has been shared between South Gwynedd Domestic Abuse Services, Cader Idris Gymnastics Club, Welsh Amateur Gymnastics Team, Clwb Ieuentid Dolgellau, Y Llwyn, Hafod-y-Mawddach and Abbeyfield Residential Homes for the Elderly, Mudiad Cylch Meirion, Ysgol-y-Gader Urdd Music Workshop, Dolgellau Junior Football Club and Dolgellau Partnership towards the purchase of a model railway. On the international scene we have supported PolioPlus, to eradicate polio throughout the world and Rotary’s own charity, The Rotary Foundation. The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Rotary Foundation helps fund our humanitarian activities, from local service projects to global initiatives. The Foundation also leads the charge on worldwide Rotary campaigns such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Rotarians and friends of Rotary support the Foundation’s work through voluntary contributions. Since PolioPlus was launched 30 Years ago the global incidence of polio cases has decreased by 99 per cent. We are very close now to achieving a polio free world. The club can be justly proud of its achievements under the direction of president Glyn Williams and we look forward to an equally successful year under the leadership of new president Dafydd Hughes. The president and members of the Rotary Club of Dolgellau would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Dolgellau and beyond for their generosity during the year without whose support none of our activities would be possible, and we trust that this will continue in the future. Very many thanks to everyone. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Any local organisation can make a re-quest for funds by, in the first instance, contacting secretary Henry Edwards on 01341 422232.