DG John Bendall

August 2002

"John's News"

‘Sow the Seeds of Love’

A sincere thank you for the welcome and fellowship that I have received during my club visits. It is encouraging to learn of the support to the Polio Eradication Campaign and thank the committee under the chairmanship of PDG Keith Hammond for their club visits.

Don't forget the launch on Monday 16th September at Derby Council House.

It is good to learn that most clubs have set goals this year. It is interesting to learn how varied these goals are in meeting the individual needs of each club.

Conference

As I have met Rotarians during my visits it is clear that many have never attended a District Conference and with record numbers of new members it would be good to encourage their attendance. Already over 800 have registered for Southport with a further month before the event.

Following discussions with some new members who welcome the opportunity to 'dip their toes' into a District Conference we invite all new Rotarians and those who have never attended conference to register for the Saturday.

ONE DAY REGISTRATION FEE FOR CONFERENCE £15.00
This covers all the Saturday activities, House of Friendship and includes the Theatre entertainment with the Three British Tenors; the District Governors lunch is extra at £10.50
A DAY OF FUN, FELLOWSHIP AND ROTARY PROJECTS

We have an exciting conference with first class entertainment including:
The Searchers (Needles & Pins, Sugar & Spice, Sweets for my Sweets etc.)
Gidea Park (Beach Boys Music)
Tenorissimo (The Three British Tenors)
Bobby Kaye (Comedy Entertainer)
The Keepers Folk Group (with a repertoire of traditional and modern folk tunes)
Paul Darby T V Celebrity - The art of Feng Shui

And outstanding speakers:
John Gray - former Director of The British Red Cross responsible for Marketing and Fundraising, working in the voluntary sector for 30 years
David Roper Director of RI who has visited the African states and met with President of Zambia
David Morgan Director Elect of RI and Past President of RIBI
Rev Dick Jones - Past President of the Methodist Conference 1983-1984 and co-chair of the Methodist - Roman Catholic dialogue
Ellie Sanderson (Grouk) on her development work in India
Rotaractors including this years Chairman of RGBI, Jason Stoyel, Luisa Lort and Geoff Mackey a professional speaker
Club projects including Notts Lincs Air Ambulance, Sailing for the Disabled and Water aid in India.
Ambassadorial Scholars, Youth Exchange Students and Group Study Exchange including the successful team that travelled to Canada and the visiting team from Brazil and Paraguay

NEW MEMBERS

Please advise me as soon as possible as soon as possible when new members are inducted, as it is my intention to write a letter of welcome to Rotary.

DISTRICT QUIZ

Final date for registration 7th September - please give this fun evening your support.

COL MEETINGS

Your chance to provide input to discussions on how Rotary can face the future and be more effective.

DEATH OF ROTARIANS

Please advise me as soon as possible of the sad loss of Rotarian members. If possible I wish to write to their widows with a thank you for their Rotary service.

THE SOHAM TRAGEDY

On behalf of the district I spoke to DG Tony Nash and sent our condolences to the District and especially the Rotary clubs involved in the surrounding area.

I have been advised that if you were watching the TV you would have seen Rotary tabards patrolling the churchyard am informed that Rotary club of Soham Staploe have undertaken to record the numerous messages that have been left at Soham Church and will in time give this to the bereaved families.
If District 1080 identifies a need then I will be advised.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES

With other invited Rotarians Anne and myself attended the Sight Savers reception and met the blind athletes sponsored by Sight Savers in the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Wessex. One of the athletes broke the world 100m records.

District Governor's Newsletter