Derby Rotarian
Volume 37 No 1July 2013
John Lound President
Bill TomlinsonSenior Vice President
Ben BenfieldJunior Vice President
Brian SeagerSecretary
President’s Remarks
Within the space of only five years our long established Club will attain and celebrate 100 years of Rotary service to both its Community and International commitments. That places me as the 95th. President of your Club with what I believe is a mandate to continue that tradition of service and at the same time ever looking forward to the future to explore new and fresh avenues of Rotary service. This is not necessarily a recipe to look back over years past on what is undoubtedly a proud history but I know I shall derive comfort and reassurance from that history.
The world continues to evolve and change around us therefore the Rotary movement is no different from any other organisation in facing the resulting challenges - but opportunities there will be and if sensibly challenged, addressed and undertaken by the members of our Club - I hope that during my period of watch we will proceed to apply the same vigour as we have done during the past ninety-four years of our existence.
To briefly illustrate this our Community Service committee under the chair of John Cheadle has and is continuing to review the method by which we organise the pre-Christmas major fund raising event. From what is at present a somewhat 'static' procedure standing with our collection buckets in various city locations in often inhospitable December weather to a 'mobile' method whereby we transport Father Christmas accompanied by Rotarians and helpers on a specially designed and constructed float bearing seasonal good cheer to hitherto untapped areas hoping an improved monetary take will result. This is not re-inventing the wheel - we know neighbouring clubs successfully raise considerable amounts adopting this method. It doesn't mean we should not change but rather invest in new ways of approach within our Club.
I point out that example as one of only a few - David Edge with his Membership Committee continue to review new ways by which we should be able to halt the membership numbers decline by recruiting new members. Much of this work has been overseen during the past year under the presidency of Tim Wherly to whom I personally pay tribute to his fine leadership of our Club.
During my years' as Junior and Senior vice-president I have tried to keep up in Tim's wake - a sailing man - I feel that descriptive noun appropriate! Tim's approach to the office as president has been achieved through diligence and honest to goodness hardwork. Tim has supported the objectives of the A and O committees, not only by faultless attendance at their meetings but by involvement and injection of new thoughts and ideas of his own. He has achieved much within the scope of his year - a hard act to follow indeed! Thank you Tim.
Now to this Rotary Year. I have already chaired our Club assembly outlining the various Rotary objectives we intend to pursue- there is no need to re-catalogue them here. The committees are guided by enthusiastic and experienced Chairs whose proven track record has been to follow through projects and bring them to conclusive achievements to the benefit of their chosen beneficiaries. I view my role to give them as much vigorous support that I am able to muster. Here's to a successful year ahead.
Finally, this will not be achieved without the support of each and everyone of you. Please make sure you are a member of at least one of the A and O committees. If you find you are unable to give the chosen project your active support physically - then your wise counsel accrued during many Rotary membership years will surely benefit their decision making. In attending our committees during the past couple of years I have found them no longer tedious affairs but rather enlightened, entertaining and fun.
I make no apology for using that simple three letter word 'fun'. In my view the meaningful work we as Rotarians take on must have an element of 'fun' flowing through the veins. That way we are more likely to tackle those projects with enthusiasm and to get the job accomplished to the benefit of everyone. The Committees do need your support. I conclude by wishing all of you a happy and successful Rotary Year.
John
Past President’s remarks: Is it that time already? I have thoroughly enjoyed my presidential year; I do hope the experience has not been too painful for members. I really have appreciated the support I have been offered.
It has been good to induct our new member Steve; however some members have moved away for family reasons & we have awarded one Honorary membership. Our membership now stands at 49 + 2 with one in the pipeline as the year ends. Membership must still be a priority of the Club & I am confident that the satellite initiative that David Edge is leading will bear fruit & sustain the future of the Club. However we still remain an extremely active club & as I write we are developing a new idea for our Christmas collection.
There are many highlights for me during the year of which I will pick a few.
This year we decide not to attend National Conference bur instead have a fellowship weekend in York. The fellowship of members & partners was excellent; for those who could not attend I thoroughly recommend it. This worked well and those who went enjoyed an interesting and varied weekend in York; put together by Peter & Angus – thanks to them both.
We did however spend the Saturday afternoon of Conference on line & voting at Brian’s house. There were glitches with the system but I am sure it will be sorted for future years.
Earlier in the year a number of us enjoyed District Conference at Southport. There were some inspirational speakers & some memorable entertainment. One group particularly stood out and that was Cantata. So much so that t was decided to book them for the major event that took place in May. A presentation of the proceeds is featured later.
I was particularly pleased to present Olivia Dean the ward of a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her exceptional Charity work. I was also delighted to be able to write to Tim Parker on behalf of the Club with the offer of Honorary membership of the Rotary Club of Derby for his exemplary service to the Club & Rotary.
There was also the occasion when I was able to present the Cyril Weston Award. This year we had a particular dilemma as there was potentially more than one recipient. As we felt that both were equally deserving it was decided to make the Award to both Andrew Battie & John Lucas.
As my closing act on Monday 1st July (Handover day) I was pleased to make three presentations from the proceeds of the Cantata Concert together with extra monies from the Club Charitable account to; the Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, End Polio Now & the Kenyan Orphan Project.
Finally I would like to thank everyone for their support:to the officers of the Club who work so hard to enable the smooth working of the club; to Olivia who agreed to act as Surrogate Immediate Past President (I did speak to Ted on issues also); to the various committee Chairmen & secretaries who enable the work of committees; to members of the various committees who help in facilitating the activities which are held; to all Rotarians, family & friends for their support.
I hope I have moved the Club forward; but it starts from a good foundation laid by Past Presidents over the years. It takes a few months to get into the swing of being President; I am sure if I started again it may be different, but that’s life. Finally, I wish John Lound all the best for his year as President; as well as all the other club officers for the coming year. Everything is in good & safe hands & I pledge my support in my role as Immediate Past President.
Tim Wherly.
From RIBI:
It is with much regret that I have to inform you that Annemarie Harte, RIBI Secretary/CEO has submitted her resignation. Annemarie has been an outstanding leader of our team at Alcester, a much valued service of advice to Rotarians and a vital support to many RI and RIBI officials over the last six years. The very difficult task to find a successor is beginning. John Minhinick
International News
ShelterBox update: It’s amazing how this emergency aid solution continues to be in demand around the world when you would think there are no major disasters to be concerned about. But looking at the current deployments you realise that there seems to always be such a need.
A ShelterBox Response Team continues working in Oklahoma, USA to address shelter needs of communities impacted by last month’s tornadoes. Tents are being sent out so that families can have shelter near to their destroyed homes so that they can stay near to work, family, and other important social structures. ShelterBox was contacted when it became clear a flexible but safe shelter solution was needed to supplement other efforts.
In the far Northeast areas of India some of the heaviest rains for 80 years are being called a ‘Himalayan tsunami’ and the reasons why are obvious. Almost 100,000 people have been rescued so far, tens of thousands more remain displaced from their homes and thousands are reported to be injured. Infrastructure and farmland have been swept away and landslides have been caused.
A ShelterBox Response Team is now in Uttarakhand state, a mountainous region that is one of the worst affected by the flooding, assessing the situation.
There are also current deployments in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon as a result of the conflict in the region. Also the Solomon Islands (earthquake) and Myanmar (conflict).
These are good reasons why we as a club should continue to support this worthwhile cause despite some of the negative reports emerging from Cornwall regarding the ex CEO and an ongoing legal issue. This year the club has donated the equivalent of a box and the news is that this was deployed to Haiti last April where apparently there is still a need to assist 'Return to Home' for those affected by the earthquake.
Ben Benfield
International Service Committee
Statement on goals and objectives for 2013/2014
Chairman: Rotarian Richard BenfieldSecretary: Rotarian Tony Southgate
African projects
We intend to continue to support educationally-related projects in Africa, with the aim to support a long term and sustainable improvement to the well being of populations with scarce resources. The following have been supported financially in this past year:
- Kids Aid Tanzania
- School Aid
- Amasango Career School, South Africa
- Jaipur Limb (Africa)
- GhanaVillage by Village
- The Kenyan Orphan Project
It is the intention of our committee to continue to support these charities.
Regarding the Kenyan Orphan Project we have submitted an outline proposal to District 1220 requesting a district grant of the maximum of £1,000 to match the committee’s pledge of £1,000. This is intended to support the recently constructed kitchens at The Oasis of Hope School in Kisumu Winam, Kenya. This committee intends to follow up the outline proposal with a full application at the commencement of the next Rotary year.
We have expanded the number of schools that recycle unwanted books to School Aid which now include a number of primary schools.
General projects
As in previous years, we will look to financially support AquaBox and ShelterBox.
As a club, we intend to continue the co-ordination of the collection of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes from local schools and churches.
Fund Raising/Fellowship Events
There is an ongoing view in the club that this committee should continue to organise the very successful Fun Wine Quiz and Quiz & Chips evenings. This year there will be an additional fundraising event – a Race Night scheduled for 31st August at MurrayParkSchool. We depend on club members to support these events by inviting their friends to make them financially successful as well as enjoyable. However, we also recognise that this dependency relies on the generosity of the same individuals year after year. So, again this year, there will be an emphasis on utilising members’ time directly supporting work ‘in the field’.
Examples of this include a Shelter Box display in either Derby City Westfield Centre or outside the cathedral and liaison with local schools to support School Aid collecting redundant educational resources.
Ben Benfield
Bereavements:
John Whitby, PHF of the Rotary Club of Nottingham died on 17th April. John, was certainly the longest serving, having joined in 1959.
From Tim Parker:
Through the Derby Rotarian, I would like to say a big “thank you” to all members for the support they have offered to Connie and myself during the recent months. It has been very much appreciated. We have had our good periods and then times which have been the total opposite and it has been during these periods that my letter of resignation from the Club has been in draft form. I would hate to feel the need to sever my contact with Rotary although I recognise that my future attendance is likely to be somewhat infrequent
The offer of Honorary Membership is most welcome and appreciated and a proposal that I accept with the greatest of pleasure.
Tim Parker
Community & Vocational
Activity in the final quarter of the Rotary year was limited to our second fundraiser at Park Farm in April. Negotiating a date that avoided competition, such the Lions shop and a cake sale stall that we faced last time, raised our donations by 25% in that venue’s traditional cold wind tunnel.
Through this difficult year we still managed to raise £3,400 to add to £900 carried forwards from the previous year. Of this total £3,700 has been disbursed and funding from Club Council and the Cantata concert added a further £1,400 resulting in a total of £5,100 to local charities.
Our healthy start to next year has £600 carried forwards plus £700 due, mainly from delayed gift aids, as we plan for more novel and ambitious fundraising events.
Carl Smart
Fellowship and Entertainment
The highlight of this quarter’s fellowship and entertainment activity was the weekend visit to York in late April, which is covered in detail elsewhere in this issue.
You will be aware that we have been seeking your ideas for fellowship events and visits; this has brought forward a number of good suggestions, and we have been circulating a further board with eight ideas for day trips and three possible cities for a further fellowship weekend to establish interest. From this we will select the ‘favourites’ and organise a couple of day trips in the rest of this calendar year, with the next fellowship weekend probably taking place next Spring.
There is also a board going round for the District 1220 Flat Green Bowls Tournament, which will be held on Sunday 8 September, and, as last year, at Burton Joyce. So far we have enough Rotarians for one team, but if there are any others interested please let us know as soon as possible and we may be able to enter two teams.
Despite the wet Spring we have also been able to organise three ‘Rotary Rambles’ this quarter, firstly at Carsington on 17th April, with ten Rotarians and partners, at Etwall on 9th May (nine Rotarians and partners), and finally on 12th June (five Rotarians and partners) at Baslow.
Dalbury Lees Walkers
We were lucky with the weather on all three walks and enjoyed views over large areas of Derbyshire and good fellowship during the walks and in local hostelries afterwards. Carsington walkers
Angus Currie and Peter Branson
Fellowship Weekend in York April 25th to 27th.
A party of seventeen including members of the Club together with wives thoroughly enjoyed an all too brief fellowship visit to York from Thursday, 25th. to Saturday, 27th of April.
Peter Branson and Angus Currie arranged the fellowship weekend as part of our Club Service programme. I have used the word 'arranged' as it became clear as the weekend progressed that meticulous planning had been conducted behind the scenes beforehand so as not to feel 'organised'. I am not aware of anyone in our party not being placed where they should be in a calm and leisurely manner to proceed to the next point of interest and activity within the arranged itinerary.
After checking and settling into our hotel we assembled on the Thursday evening at the Theatre Royal for a performance of 'iShandy', a comedy about a book reading group studying the book Tristram Shandy which, as we all know, is regarded as a minor English classic. I leave the critique of the play to each member of our party to proffer some lucidity on how they perceived this play. It certainly was 'different' but then surely that is the role of theatre! The following day Peter repaired to the nearest bookshop to purchase and read this classical text. I presume now read – thisshould make interesting Rotary luncheon table-talk! The evening's entertainment was rounded-off with a pleasant light dinner.