Rotary welcome new president
Margaret delighted to take over reins
The Rotary Club of Strathaven have welcomed new president Margaret Morton to the head of the club.
Margaret is well-known in the community and has been a part of the Rotary for over five years.
She has a hectic schedule – as well as her role as managing director of AY Morton and Co. Engineering, she also serves as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, is on the Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre’s board and sits on a national group set up advise the Bank of England on agricultural business issues.
In her spare time, she is secretary of the Strathaven Fairtrade Group, a stalwart of the local committee for Macmillan Cancer Support and is involved with a whole range of other civic and charitable groups.
Margaret admitted that, initially, she didn’t know what to expect but has enjoyed the experience so far.
She said: “In 2011 I bumped into someone I knew in Strathaven who told me he was now the president of the local club and asked me if I would consider coming along to one of their meetings.
“I really didn’t know what Rotary was, but I went along to see.
“At that first meeting I realised the club was full of people I didn’t know, coming from all kinds of backgrounds but obviously united in fellowship and a common purpose of service.
“It was just so different from anything I had been at before. My thoughts were: ‘Here are people from many walks of life and I can learn so much’.”
Margaret has been in charge for a couple of months – and has enjoyed her time at the helm so far.
She added: “Obviously, the work we do in the community, supporting the schools and community groups, is hugely rewarding.
“Personally, I really like meeting the range of guest speakers and getting the opportunity to chat and learn.
“Don’t hesitate – new people to meet, new friends to make and new opportunities to help others in our community and abroad.
“Also, being a Rotarian can and does open doors all over the UK and abroad. For example, I think the success of the worldwide campaign to end polio is awesome!”