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DG Dave’s February Newsletter

Dave’s Diary 

The Monthly Newsletter of the District Governor

2nd February 2013

Club Visioning

It is almost six weeks since my last newsletter which you will recall I sent out early so that you received it before Christmas. Well this one is a few days late, as I have held it back so that I could give an update on the “Club Visioning” Initiative. I have just returned from a District Training Session, led by Peter Davey, the Chair of the RIBI Membership Committee, assisted by Noel Harrison (Sherwood Sunrisers) and Ian Young (Hucknall).
There were ten Rotarians present who have volunteered to act as Visioning Facilitators.

We are only the second District in RIBI to undergo the training and it means that we now have a pool of trained facilitators, all ready and waiting to assist Clubs.

District 1220 is now is a position to roll out Visioning to Clubs and Noel will, within the next few days, be making contact with Club Secretaries, advising them in simple terms of what it is about and offering them the opportunity to apply for it. I would stress that no-one from the District will be suggesting that any particular club should undergo the process. It is entirely up to individual clubs to identify whether or not they think it might be advantageous to them in terms of club programme, public image, project development etc. and thereby, long term, their membership.

Make a point of getting hold of Noel’s information and make sure that your club is therefore aware of what is on offer.

The “End Polio Now” Campaign

Rotary Day is looming large. A number of clubs accepted my offer of purchasing pin-on crocuses for sale inn their area. Many people that I have spoken to over recent weeks however are still either not aware of them or do not understand what they are for.
The basic idea is that just as the poppy is associated with the Royal British Legion and Remembrance Sunday and the daffodil is associated with Marie Curie Cancer Care, then we want the crocus to become associated with Rotary and the “End Polio Now” campaign.

Rotary day on 23rd February is an ideal opportunity to push the crocuses out to your local community. Please let me know if you are interested.

I shall be taking delivery next week of a number of pull-up banners, posters and Rotary newspapers that relate to the “End Polio Now” campaign. These are all excellent PR materials and are available to clubs. If you have any events coming up and can lay on
a display about the campaign please let me know and I will make sure you get the material.

Talking still about the “End Polio Now” campaign, earlier this week Bill Gates delivered the Dimbleby lecture that was featured in full on BBC 1. His speech was all about the need to finish the job of eradicating polio. It was a very stirring speech, in which
he made very positive mention of the valuable contribution that all the members of Rotary International had made towards the campaign. He also stated that he believed that, with appropriate funding, the last case involving the wild polio virus would be achieved by the end of 2015. Time will tell on that, but if anyone is in a position to know, then he is.

Let us in District 1220 do our level best to make an appropriate contribution to the funding shortfall and lets finish the job and move on to the next.

Re-Districting

The RIBI Re-Districting Plan that was the subject of much healthy debate towards the end of last year was presented to the RI Board last month and was accepted in it’s entirety. The RIBI team appointed to address this issue will no doubt therefore shortly begin a detailed re-examination of all the various issues to do with the subject and have undertaken to communicate with the membership before any decisions are taken. So watch this space.

Thanks

Gail and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who sent Gail their best wishes following her recent fall on the stairs at home. She is now more or less fully recovered and back to chasing me around and keeping me on the straight and narrow.
Thanks again.

Diary Dates

Monday 4th February District Officer Preparation Session at The Novotel. 7pm for 7.15pm
Sunday 17th February Presidents Elect Planning Seminar at The Derbyshire Hotel. 8.45am till 1pm (Bacon sandwiches on arrival)
Tuesday 19th February Group Study Exchange Team leaves for Nepal
Tuesday 26th February Rotary Young Chef Competition. Charnwood Academy Kirkby in Ashfield
Wednesday 27th February — ditto —
Wednesday 13th March District Foundation Link Evening at The Civic Centre Mansfield 7pm for 7.30pm
Sunday 24th March Paul Harris Fellows Lunch
Tuesday 26th March District Quiz Final at Horsley lodge
Wednesday 27th March  District Council Meeting at The Novotel at 7.30pm
Friday 19th April  District Race Night at Southwell
Saturday 20th April  District Assembly  Nottingham Trent University
4th – 6th May  Sponsored Walk from Bluebell Wood to Rainbows by DG and Others
Sunday 16th June  Rotary and Inner Wheel Thanksgiving Service at All Saints Parish Church Church Street Ripley at 3pm. Refreshments afterwards.

DG Dave Ashley

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Derby Rotarian – an example of a very active club

Occasionally I am sent copies of the “Derby Rotarian” – the club newsletter for the Rotary Club of Derby. The number of activities never cease to amaze, and so the latest version is attached for your interest.

You can access this in full screen or download to your own machine using the  icon in the top right corner of the preview.

https://district.rotary1220.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/DERBY-ROTARIAN-January-2013.pdf

 

 

Posted in: Derby

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Rotary 2013 Theme Announced

Announced at the RI Assembly, RI President-elect Ron D.Burton has chosen the theme “ENGAGE ROTARY, CHANGE LIVES” for his year as RI President in 2013-14.

Ron urges every Rotarian to get involved, to get engaged, and to change lives, a perfect transition from my year as president that will continue to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace. Please join me in wishing Ron and Jetta the best of luck during their year.

RI President 2012-13
Sakuji Tanaka

To learn more and listen to /watch President Elect Ron’s address to RI Assembly click on this link http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/130114_IA13_theme.aspx

Posted in: Rotary International

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RIBI Young Citizen – last call for nominations

Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) celebrates the achievements of young people with the annual RIBI Young Citizen Awards.

Time is running out for nominations.

Fill out the nomination form very soon at http://www.ribi.org/committees/new-generations/competitions-for-young-people/ribi-young-citizen-awards and send it with supporting documents to Andy Smith, RIBI headwuarters, Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 6PB by Thursday 28th February 2013

Posted in: New Generations

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Group Study Exchange Team – Presentation rehearsal

The GSE team bound for Nepal had a preparatory presentation recently at Derby University  to members of the GSE committee.  The purpose was to allow the team the opportunity to give their proposed presentation to Rotarians with a view to receiving constructive feedback and so allowing improvements to be made if appropriate.

The presentation last about 35 minutes and was really professionally done.

The Team Leader is Rotarian David Hood of the Rotary Club of Wirksworth and the four team members are:-
Sarah Durnan – sponsored by RC of Newark Castle
Tom Erskine – sponsored by RC of Mapperley and Arnold
Nighat Malik – sponsored by RC of Nottingham
Deborah O’Brien – sponsored by RC of Drone Valley

The team travel out to Nepal on 19th February and thereafter you can follow their activities on their blog – http://gsenepal2013.blogspot.co.uk

They have received their programme from Nepal and it seems they will have very little free time.   They are going to be very busy. District Governor Dave wishes them the very best for their visit and look forward to hearing about their exploits on their return.

Posted in: GSE

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Burns Night Celebration Also Helps New Charity


A traditional social event to celebrate the life of Scottish poet Rabbie Burns has also ended up helping local people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in the Chesterfield area.

The Rotary Club of Chesterfield held its annual Burns Night Celebration at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield on Monday 28 January 2013.

Burns Night 2013 016

Past President Jim Savage, president Jim Haggarty (with the haggis), Pipe Major Tom Varley

A ‘Roll-a-Coin’ competition raised £120 for the recently launched local charity ’Hope Springs Recovery Centre’, a support centre based at Springwell House, Newbold Road, Chesterfield, that aims to provide crucial additional support for North Derbyshire people still on the road to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. The competition for a bottle of whisky was won by Mrs Ruth Miller.

After the haggis was piped in by Pipe Major Tom Varley, past president Jim Savage made the traditional ‘Address to the Haggis’ by reciting the famous Robert Burns poem. Haggis, accompanied by bashed neeps and champit tatties, was then served to the 100 members and guests in attendance.

Music for dancing at the Burns Night event was provided by Brian Freeman on the keyboards. Main organiser was past president Jim Savage.

Note:  The Hope Springs Recovery Centre was established in December 2012 and is currently open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10.00am to 4.00pm, with plans to extend these hours.  People are welcome to book an appointment or just drop in.  The centre is managed by Rotarian Father Terry O’Doherty of the Chesterfield Rotary Club and the telephone number for the centre is 07583 248161.

Burns Night 2013 028

Past president Jim Savage presents a bottle of whisky to ‘Roll-a-Coin’ winner Mrs Ruth Miller.

If you are interested in joining the Chesterfield Rotary Club please contact Alan Clarke on 01246 811616.

 

Posted in: Chesterfield

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Clay Cross Rotarian recognised in New Year’s honours

Ray Foster of Clay Cross writes;

We wish to congratulate fellow rotarian Dr Cheryle Berry member of Clay Cross Rotary for 3 years, also our Senior Vice President, for the award of MBE in the New Years Honours List.

Cheryle’s award was for services to Education, Health and Charity in Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
The investiture will be held at Buckingham Palace later in the year.

You can imagine both Cheryle and our pleasure as the news leaked out, we feel such pride and wish Cheryle all the best for the future, we are confident that this will not impede the work load and enthusiasm that we have all been caught up in.

Posted in: ClayCross

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DG Dave’s January Newsletter

Dave’s Diary 

The Monthly Newsletter of the District Governor

22nd December 2012

Introduction

As I make a start on this Newsletter on 22nd December and look back over the last six months I realise just what a contribution Rotary makes to our communities, locally, nationally and internationally. I have attended so many activities that I have lost count – and been invited to many more that I have not been able to attend. Gail and I have had a thoroughly fantastic time. Yes, there are downs as well as ups, but overall what I have seen from the 58 Clubs in District 1220 has been very positive.

We are now half way through this Rotary year and shortly to start the “downhill run home” so to speak. During the next few months the annual round of training and familiarisation for incoming District Officers, Club Presidents and Club Officers will get under way, re-enforcing our cyclical approach to Rotary.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me in any way during my period in office so far.

Club Visioning

Following the item about Club Visioning in my November Newsletter, Noel Harrison (Membership) and I were extremely pleased and impressed by the number of Rotarians who came forward to volunteer their time, expertise and vocational abilities to act as members of the Visioning Team. As a direct result we now have sufficient volunteers to get their training off the ground and plans are being made for this to take place very early in the new year.

Many thanks to all those who stepped forward. Let’s hope that their time and effort is not wasted.

If you believe that your club could benefit from the impetus of chance that Club Visioning will bring about, then now is the time to make your case to Noel. I believe that so many Clubs are now looking critically at themselves with a with to improving, updating and recruiting that there is likely to be competition be be among the first few clubs to benefit from this scheme. So, please get in early if you are interested.

Rotary Day – 23rd February 2013

The District has not made any grand plans to celebrate Rotary Day on 23rd February. We have left it for each Club to take whatever steps it feels are appropriate for the event. I do still have left quite a number of spare boxes of pin-on crocuses that can be used in street or supermarket collections etc. The suggested minimum donation being £1 this would give a 75 pence per crocus profit. It is hoped that this symbol of polio eradication will become as common as the daffodil is for Marie Curie etc.

The crocuses will not achieve a profit in my garage and so I would dearly like to get them all out to clubs during the next month. If you would like a box please let me know and I will make the appropriate arrangements.

Diary Dates

Monday 4th February 2013 District Officer Preparation Session at The Novotel 7pm for 7.15pm
Sunday 17th February 2013 Presidents Elect Planning Seminar at The Derbyshire Hotel  8.45am till 1pm (Bacon sandwiches on arrival)
Wednesday 13th March 2013 District Foundation Link Evening at The Civic Centre Mansfield 7pm for 7.30pm
Sunday 24th March 2013 Paul Harris Fellows Lunch
Wednesday 27th March 2013 District Council Meeting at The Novotel 7.30pm
Sunday 16th June 2013 Rotary and Inner Wheel Thanksgiving Service at All Saints Parish Church Church Street Ripley at 3pm. Refreshments afterwards.

Christmas and New Year Greetings

Having kept my Newsletter deliberately short this month, may I please close it by taking the opportunity on behalf of Gail, myself and the rest of the clan who came to Southport (Sarah, Craig, Xanthe, Sebastian, Nicola, Chris, Maddie and Francesca) to wish all Rotarians in District 1220 and their wider families a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

In the midst of all the celebrations, let us not forget what Christmas is really about – give a thought to the real meaning of Christmas.

See you all in the New Year

Dave Ashley

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Christmas comes early for Barrow Hill Primary School

The Rotary Club of Chesterfield has provided Barrow Hill Primary School with a top-of-the-range Yamaha Clavinova Digital Piano for use by the school, thanks to the generosity of one of its members, past president Kuttaiba Mohamad.

It was delivered to the school on Monday 3 December 2012 by president Jim Haggarty, assisted by past presidents Mike Horton and Geoff Mitchell, in time for the school’s Christmas festivities.

Head teacher Karen Porteous said: “We really do appreciate the generosity of the Rotary Club of Chesterfield in donating this superb Yamaha digital piano which will be such a wonderful asset for years to come for the school and its pupils.”

Karen added: “This is not just any old piano, but it recreates a wide range of other instruments as well, including percussion.”

“Not surprisingly the piano now takes pride of place in the school hall, so thank you Rotary.”

Posted in: Chesterfield, Clubs

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