Focus is on Sammi Kinghorn

Forty Rotarians from around the world took part in the largest ever UK Rotary eClub on-line meeting, to hear Sammi tell of her incredible journey from happy-go-lucky 14-year-old to a top wheelchair athlete and a European gold medallist.

One of the UK’s newest clubs — the Rotary eClub of Southern Scotland — organised the event which was attended via a Zoom link by Rotarians from clubs as far afield as New Zealand and Australia, amazingly covering eight different time zones.

They were all in awe of the inspirational talk given by the girl from Gordon, who five years ago was paralysed after being crushed by the tractor her father was driving on the farm where they lived.

The enthusiasm which Sammi exuded as she told how she took to wheelchair racing and in a short time was winning medals at Commonwealth, European and World Championship level soon captivated her audience.

Compliments and questions were later fired at her from all corners of the globe, with more technical ones being answered by her coach, Ian Murfin.

The evening was not only a triumph for Sammi, but also for Scotland’s only Rotary eClub.

It is one of several clubs throughout the world which offers a different style to the traditional Rotary weekly lunch or dinner meeting.

As more people find restraints on their time prevent them from attending weekly meetings, eClubs are enabling them to commit to the aims of Rotary (ie supporting communities both locally, nationally and internationally both financially and with active service) without compromising work and family commitments.

Southern Scotland’s eClub was born out of a traditional club based in Edinburgh. Younger membership dwindled due to work transfers, so it reformed as an eClub. Members are based in Edinburgh, the Borders, London, Germany and Singapore.

Their next Zoom meeting will be a beer tasting, thanks to their German member. The high praise for their first speaker meeting from the international audience has now spurred them on to organise further similar events.

To find out more about how you can put something back into the community, and enjoy a new form of Rotary social networking go to https://www.facebook.com/Rotary-eclub-of-Southern-Scotland-536789753015643.