Rotary Club Gozo will be chartered as a new club on Thursday by Alfred Mangion, District Governor for Malta and Sicily Rotary Club and a special Charter Day lunch will be held later at Ta’ Frenc Restaurant.

Months in the planning, the club is now ready to take its place in a worldwide organisation of over 1.2 million people.

Distinguished guests will include Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, and the Speaker, Anton Tabone and many others from Malta and Sicily.

Rotary Club Gozo has been sponsored by Rotary Club Malta, whose members have provided invaluable guidance and assistance. It has nearly 30 regular members, including Gozitan, Maltese and foreign residents. Rotary’s main aims are two-fold: to provide service to those less fortunate and to foster good will, fellowship and understanding between members, locally and worldwide. Fund-raising will be undertaken to benefit charities and other philanthropic causes both locally and abroad – but priority will be given to the former.

The first Club President is Dr Chris Said. The setting up of a Rotary Club is an important development for Gozo, offering benefits to the local community. And, through Rotary’s links with over 32, 000 other clubs worldwide, this could put Gozo on the map for many people who do not yet know the island.