Rtns Walter Thomas and Ted Cowley shared with us the work of a Rotary project, now known as Disaster Aid UK and Ireland. In 1975 the idea of a Rotary Emergency Box was conceived in the then Rotary District 105 (now 1050) by t he late Arthur Bowker. Arthur was a founder member of the Rotary Club of Manchester South,a past president of the Dukinfield and Stalybridge club, a member at that time of the Ashton-under Lyne club and a member of the District International Committee. In 2010 the organisation joined fellow Rotarians in Disaster Aid USA and Disaster Aid Australia as founding members of Disaster Aid International. The pooling of resources and expertise resulted in an organisation that now has a significant impact on disaster relief.
Each country partner of Disaster Aid International is sponsored by a specific Rotary club. In the case of Disaster Aid UK & Ireland, the sponsoring club is Denton and Audenshaw. Working together within an international context, Disaster Aid International is accordingly recognised by Rotary International. Follow this link to the Disaster Aid website.
Response to question raised with Robert Strachan of Disaster aid when he spoke to the Club in November 2015.
When I spoke to your club back in November I was asked a question that I could not answer but promised to get back with one when I knew more about it.
The question was to do with Nepal – how much did we still have left to spend and when might we be going back to do it? As you can see from our latest newsletter we are planning to return in February 2016 and as to the amount Disaster Aid International (DAI) still has to spend, it is approximately £30,000.
Getting this information took much longer that I had expected as the DAI Board meeting scheduled for December had to be postponed. I would be obliged if you would share it with your club members. I have copied this email to DG Richard Green and Ted & Margaret Clewley for info purposes. Regards, and best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous 2016. Robert Strachan