OVER the past two weeks the Rotary Club of Tavistock's Santamobile has been touring the streets, collecting for charity, and club members have been working with the public to make Christmas merry for everyone.

Rotary members and the Santamobile collected just over £1,400 for charity.

This is not the only activity with which Rotary is involved — Rotarians are involved with youth activities, such as Youthspeaks and the Rotary Leadership Awards and special dictionaries will be handed to schools in the area early in the new year.

The club also works with organisations such as Age Concern and the Alzheimer Society and members regularly help at the Tavistock Memory Café.

With the public's support the club has contributed its target amount towards Rotary's 'End Polio Now' campaign working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help meet the $200-million dollar challenge. When Rotary hits the $200-million mark, the foundation will add $255-million for polio eradication.

The number of polio cases worldwide has dropped 99% since Rotary International became involved with the eradication initiative in 1987.

Tavistock's club president Clive Fairchild said: 'Earlier this year a group of us organised the painting of the new shelter at the Anchorage Centre which houses the TaviMobility vehicles and our members, who between them have a wealth of experience as employers, have been working with local unemployed people at the weekly sessions of the Work Club held at Tavistock Library on Tuesdays between 2pm and 4pm. There's never a dull moment!

'I think many people are surprised by what Rotary actually does. There is a general perception that it is a club for older gentlemen and which meets for dinner. I would like to give the public a challenge this Christmas and invite them to find out more about their local Rotary club. We do meet once a week — it's when we plan our next challenge.

'Meetings are always great fun and fulfilling because we are all friends.

'Our first lady member was enrolled in 2003 and women now form a good percentage of our membership and I wonder if anyone spotted Mother Christmas aboard our Santamobile?

'I would also like to say thank you to all the organisations and the public who have supported us this year. We are looking forward to more successes in the New Year. Have a safe and merry Christmas.'

For more information about the Rotary Club visit http://www.ribi.org">www.ribi.org