DG Dave’s March Newsletter

Dave’s Diary 

The Monthly Newsletter of the District Governor

1st March 2013

Sponsored Walk for Bluebell Wood and Rainbows

As I have mentioned previously I am planning to walk from Bluebell Wood to Rainbows to raise fund for these two hospices. The arrangements for the walk have now been more or less finalised. There have been some changes to the route that we originally originally thought. The planned itinerary at present is :-

The total distance of the walk is in the region of 65 miles.

Joining me for all or part of the walk will be the District Sergeant at Arms, Owen J. Briggs, Rtn Andy Ledbetter of Dronfield Club, Rtn. David Turner of Kirkby in Ashfield Club, Rtn. Roger Sissons of RC of Ilkeston, Phil Stone from Ilkeston and Rtn Tim Wherly of the Derby club.

Anyone else who would like to take part is very welcome. If members of any club are able to join us en route at any stage that would be great. Please let me know.

We would be immensely grateful to any Rotarians who feel able to support us financially in this venture and to this end I have attached a sponsorship form to this newsletter that can be used by any club or any individual.

There is also now the opportunity for any cyclists among us to cycle from Bluebell Wood to Rainbows on Monday 6th May, hopefully arriving about the same time as the walkers. My two son in laws, Craig and Chris have “volunteered” to do this. If you are interested please let me know.

If anyone would like to know anything further about this walk please do get in touch.  Thank you.

H2H Walk – Sponsorship form

Club Visioning

Noel Harrison, the District Membership Services Chairman has now circulated all clubs with the opportunity to take part in “Visioning” and has had a number of clubs already asking to take part. It is a simple process that clubs can undertake to establish their long term goals, identify projects they would like to be undertaking etc etc over a five year period. It then offers the opportunity to prepare an Action Plan to achieve these goals. The experience of clubs in other parts of the world is that members have felt re-energized and membership has increased.

If your club wants to take part – and all members must want to be involved – then get in touch with Noel. We have teams trained and ready to assist, just waiting for the call.

Rotary Day – 23rd February

Rotary Day – our organisation’s 108th birthday – has just past. I trust that all Clubs in the District recognised this event in some way. I know that many were out on the streets collecting for the polio campaign. There are still some clubs that have not taken advantage of having a box or two of the pin-on crocuses for use at collections. If your club is one of them please give me a call and I will get a box to you. If your club did something – big or small – please let me know by email so I can get a picture of the whole District.

Rotary Foundation and “End Polio Now”

My last task in February was attending the District Foundation Grants Seminar. Forty clubs attended in order to gain the necessary qualification to be able to avail themselves of grants under the “Future Vision” structure. One of the issues that was raied a number of times was that our giving to Foundation over recent years has been on a downward path. If we wish to have the funds available in District for our projects than it is necessary for us to reverse this trend and increase our giving, more to the recommended level. (Next year £47 per person)

Please do your bit to achieve this figure. And remember Clubs that do not make a sufficient contribution will not be able to avail themselves of the funds.

As I have gone round the District I have been stressing the need to keep up donations to the “End Polio Now” campaign which is still vital to ensure eradication. With only two cases of polio reported in the last two and a half months we can really now see that we are in the final stages of the project. Don’t let it fail now.

Talking about fund raising for Polio, don’t forget the Race Evening at Southwell Racecourse on Friday, 19th April 2013. This event last year was a great success in every respect (except the weather which was just a bit chilly). Let’s make it even better this year.

Diary Dates

Dave Ashley