Burns Night, Mid Argyll Rotary, Lochgilphead, Scotland

The club had the honour of being invited to take part in Burns night by the Mid Argyll Rotary Club.

President David and his wife Fiona, President Elect Richard and his wife Susan attended

Ballywillan Musical Society, Legally Blonde

Members and friends look forward to our annual trip to the Riverside Theatre to see the latest production from Ballywillan Drama Group.

Pre Theatre dinner was at the Cromore, Portstewart

BDG’s long-awaited 2016 blockbuster
is a guaranteed favourite for the entire family!

Award-winning Ballywillan Drama Group brings the wonderful new musical LEGALLY BLONDE to the Riverside for sixteen performances. The 2011 Olivier Awards Winner (Best New Musical and Best Actress for Sheridan Smith) is musical theatre at its best – great songs, witty lines, smart, sassy and spectacular.

Following on from its two sell-out Riverside shows in 2015 – HAIRSPRAY and THE RAILWAY CHILDREN Ballywillan has assembled a cast of leading musical theatre stars to head the LEGALLY company as they tell the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrols at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner.

Featuring specially designed costumes, an amazing double revolving stage and the LEGALLY BLONDE big band this a musical not to be missed. This happy, hilarious and infectious show is the perfect remedy for those cold winter evenings!

Directed and Produced by Brian Logan

Paul Harris Fellowship presented to Dr Johnston 9-12-15

Great to see this write up in the Ballymoney Times this weekpaul-harris-fellowship-presented-to-dr-johnston-1-716611812:27Monday 18 January 2016Ballymoney Rotary Club has presented Dr J E Johnston with The Paul Harris Fellowship.

This highest award of Rotary International recognises outstanding service by the recipient to their community and profession and is only rarely made to non-Rotarians.David Simpson, President of Ballymoney Rotary Club, paid tribute to Dr Johnston’s outstanding medical care as a GP, highlighting also his medical service contributions to Intermediate Care at the Robinson Hospital, the development of palliative care for patients in their own homes and support for the vital needs of carers in our community as Chairman of Causeway Crossroads Care Scheme. Appreciation was also paid to Dr Johnston’s service to Ballymoney Male Voice Choir and Coleraine Music Festival.

President-elect John F. Germ: 2016-17 Theme Address "Serving Humanity"

President Elect John Germ unveiled Rotarys theme for 2016-17 "Serving Humanity"


Follow link for his Theme address



President-elect John F. Germ: 2016-17 Theme Address

Jonathan Gault, IGNITE

The club welcomed Jonathan Gault this lunch time.

Donations have helped to build schools, wells and accommodation in the impoverished African country.  The team, which has members from Ballymoney, Coleraine, Cloughmills and Ballymena, are now hoping to further enhance their work and improve the local hospitals and medical facilities as well as build accommodation for local teachers.

http://www.ignite-u.co.uk/index.html


Jonathan Gault of Ignite explained: “Ignite volunteers regularly travel to Uganda to oversee and participate in a range of projects. “So far Ignitie’s work in Uganda has included building and improving schools, working with those suffering from aids, aiding street children, sinking water-wells and facilitating self-sufficiency. “However all this work can not be achieved without the funds.





Read more at: http://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/house-push-for-ignite-1-1837785

For more details about Jonathan see this recent article about his sit-out from the Ballymoney Times


http://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/jonathan-ready-for-new-year-s-eve-sit-out-1-7135092

http://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/house-push-for-ignite-1-1837785

Well-known local man Jonathan Gault is going to brave the elements again on New Year’s Eve for his seventh annual 24 hour sit-out in Church Street, Ballymoney. The sit-out is to raise awareness and funds for the work of ‘Go Uganda’ mission team. The ‘Go’ team will travel to Uganda in September 2016 with Fields of Life. While there, they will be involved in various aspects of missionary work from children’s holiday bible clubs, women’s ministry, the drilling of bore holes for water wells, the erection of a nursery block at their school and also, most importantly, sharing God’s word. The name of the team ‘Go Uganda’ comes from the great commission in Matthew 28 v 19 where Jesus gave the remaining disciples this instruction before He ascended into heaven. “Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations”, and the theme is continued in Mark 16 v 15 where Jesus says “GO into all the world and preach the good news to all creation”.  Jonathan Gault said: “This is at the heart of what the ‘Go Uganda’ team are doing in Uganda and here at home in Ballymoney, wanting people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, what He has done and continues to do. Romans 10 v 17 says “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard from the word of Christ”.  “As Christians this is the work that God has called each of us to do, to share the good news of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for each of us in taking our punishment on the cross and also for what He can and wants to do for others. “To see the impact and transformation through the work of Fields of Life and the local Go Uganda team is a real encouragement to all involved. “Thanks to all those who help our work, we have seen their everyday needs met such as clean water, food, accommodation, education but most importantly to see their eternal needs met in the Lord Jesus Christ. For all of this we give our great God all the glory. “The ‘Go Uganda’ team want to give thanks to God for all He has done for them with their work in Uganda and here at home, and as they prepare to travel back out to Uganda in September 2016 they also thank God for everything He has done in their own lives.” So if you are free why not say hello to Jonathan from 11am on 31st December until 11am Friday - New Year’s Day.

Read more at: http://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/jonathan-ready-for-new-year-s-eve-sit-out-1-7135092

2016-17 Presidential Theme ‘ROTARY SERVING HUMANITY’

2016-17 Presidential Theme
Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, believed that serving humanity is “the most worthwhile thing a person can do,” RI President-elect John F. Germ said, and that being a part of Rotary is a “great opportunity” to make that happen.

Germ unveiled the 2016-17 presidential theme, Rotary Serving Humanity, to incoming district governors on 18 January at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.

“I believe everyone recognizes the opportunity to serve Rotary for what it truly is: not a small opportunity, but a great one; an opportunity of a lifetime to change the world for the better, forever through Rotary’s service to humanity,” said Germ.

Rotary members around the globe are serving humanity by providing clean water to underdeveloped communities, promoting peace in conflict areas, and strengthening communities through basic education and literacy. But none more important than our work to eradicate polio worldwide, he said.

After a historic year in which transmission of the wild poliovirus was stopped in Nigeria and all of Africa, Germ said we are closer than ever to ending polio.

“We are at a crossroads in Rotary,” he added. “We are looking ahead at a year that may one day be known as the greatest year in Rotary’s history: the year that sees the world’s last case of polio.”

Last year’s milestones leave just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus still circulates. Polio would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated.

When that moment arrives, it’s “tremendously important” that Rotary is ready for it, said Germ. “We need to be sure that we are recognized for that success, and leverage that success into more partnerships, greater growth, and even more ambitious service in the decades to come.”

Germ, a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, encouraged attendees to return to their clubs and communities and spread the word about Rotary’s role in the fight for a polio-free world.

“People who want to do good will see that Rotary is a place where they can change the world. Every Rotary club needs to be ready to give them that opportunity,” Germ said.

Enhancing Rotary’s image isn’t the only way to boost membership. “We need clubs that are flexible, so our service will be more attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people.”

He added: “We need more willing hands, more caring hearts, and more bright minds to move our work forward.”

Find more videos from the event
Download 2016-17 theme logo and materials
Follow the assembly on Facebook and Twitter using #IA2016
Download speech transcripts

By Ryan Hyland

Rotary News

18-Jan-2016

Cheque presentation to COAST & Open Door

President David had the pleasure of presenting donations to Anne Steele from Open Door & Jenna O'Hara from COAST








Anne came to the club in November to talk about Open Door




















Jenna came in November to talk about the work of COAST

The donation from Rotary will go towards speical locks that enable carers to gain access to homes by keying  in a special code.

Visitors from London at our first meeting of new year

On Wednesday January 6 we were joined for lunch by our old friend Michael Fleming and also by Paul and Dervla Mitchell.  Dervla , from Ove Arup Engineering,  gave a fascinating talk to members of Ballycastle and Ballymoney Rotary Clubs  at Gracehill Golf Club last year.

Fellowship Meeting

First Club meeting of the year at the Old School House. Good chance to catch up and share lunch