May 2006

I cannot believe that we are nearly at the end of another Rotary year. It has been a very busy but rewarding one for Foundation in this district. The year began with the Link Weekend and we hosted 128 excellent young Ambassadorial Scholars and Peace Scholars. Perhaps the highlight of the weekend was the Barn dance at Kelham which saw scholars and hosts thoroughly enjoying themselves.

If anything helps cultural understanding and world fellowship an event such as this is invaluable. The Foundation Seminar in November saw a record number of clubs represented and at the Link evening in March we had nearly 300 present. Walter Hayes would have approved. We have hosted 8 Ambassadorial scholars in the district this year. They have proved to be an excellent group of young people and I am pleased to report that many clubs have invited not one but two scholars to speak. This is another way of making clubs aware of the Educational programmes of the Rotary Foundation. To date we have 4 scholars for next year. Stephanie begins her second year, Jin finishes his year in January 2007 and we have scholars from Hong Kong and Japan. We could be allocated more over the next few weeks and we have a waiting list of Rotarians wishing to act as Counsellors.

Life has been extremely busy for Don Mackenzie our Group Study Exchange Officer as he has had two GSE teams to Select and send abroad. In January we sent a team led by Rotarian Terry Leivers to District 3150 Andhra Pradesh India and the return team to West Virginia led by Rotarian Janet Hammond are at the present time enjoying being hosted by District 7750. Our next GSE visit will be to Norway but not until may 2007.More details of this visit will be available later in the year.

The returning team from India have already given talks to clubs and are working hard raising funds for two main projects .One is providing Bore wells for the many villages in District 3150 who do not have access to clean water and the other is to collect toys for the children in the orphanages who have nothing. Please contact Terry Leivers 0115 926 6618 if you would like a presentation. Some clubs have invited neighbouring clubs to join them and to bring partners. I can assure you, you will have a fascinating evening even if it is rather emotional. Both GSE teams will be giving a presentation at the Foundation session on Saturday afternoon at the Conference in Llandudno.

LONDON UK 11TH MAY 2006. Polio Eradication Champion Award.

“UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was today named Polio Eradication Champion by Rotary International”

The award was presented by Luis Vincente Giay, Past President of Rotary International. Rotary established this award in 1995 to recognise governments and world leaders who have made outstanding contributions towards the goal of eradicating polio. The UK is the the second largest public sector donor to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, most recently having pledged £60 million for 2005-2008, £20 million of which has already been disbursed. Rotary International said “ the award to Tony Blair was for his efforts at last year’s G8 summit to encourage other world leaders to make good on past commitments on polio eradication”. During the meeting of the Commission on Africa 2005, he had encouraged leaders of polio endemic countries, particularly Nigeria to take swift action and finish the job of eradication. Past recipients of the award include, Bill Clinton, Kofi Anman and Pervez Musharraf, the President of Pakistan.

Today polio is only endemic in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan, the lowest number of polio–endemic countries in history. From 1988-2006 the UK has given US$571 million dollars, £335 million pounds to the Global Polio Eradication initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organisation, Rotary International and UNICEF.

Foundation Seminar

At the Foundation Seminar in November the members present voted on behalf of their clubs that for 2006/7 we would send a scholar to study abroad. It was also approved that we would increase our donation to the Peace Studies Programme from $2,000 to $3000. I am delighted that for the first time this district will have a candidate for the Peace Scholar Programme. Tim Gibbs who was an Ambassadorial scholar a few years ago who went to South Africa is applying for a scholarship. We wish him well.

I am pleased to report that we have at least seven applicants for the 2007/8 scholarship. Rtn Peter Pay has worked extremely well advertising this programme and his hard work has resulted in many more applicants and clubs being involved.

All applications MUST BE SENT TO Rtn Terry Leivers no later than 31May 2006.

Annual Giving.

For the Rotary year 2004/5 all clubs gave to either RFUK or the Ellen Ball Trust. The total giving was an increase on the previous year. If you are one of the few clubs still to pay your contribution please do so by the end of May. Please inform Rtn Arnold Crosby, Rotary club of Wirksworth, how much your contribution is and when you are making it.
For 2006/7 the recommended minimum contribution per member is £33.00. Please remember that the Rotary Foundation is Rotary’s own charity.

Humanitarian Grants.

Again this year the District Simplified Grant programme has been very successful with more clubs being awarded funds. Six clubs have completed projects and we have exceeded the money from RI so we do not have to send any money back to our District Fund. The interest from previous years together with commission from Amazon and the donation of £750 from the Rotary club of Ravenshead allowed us to give grants of £3174.18. As we only received £2578.50 from RI we only have to report on that figure. We have asked for £ 2,397.18 from District this to make up the shortfall in the Annual Giving from three years previous.

The Matching Grant programme is much easier to put into practice now that all paper work has to be sent to the District Grants Committee Chairman before the request is forwarded to RI.

Many clubs I have visited have mentioned how helpful Mick White has been, working with them in securing a matching Grant. I urge all clubs to look at these two programmes and use the money paid to the annual funds by the Rotarians in 1220.
 

Rotary Grants really do change people’s lives!

Individual Grants

If a Rotarian wishes to travel in order to plan a project, report on a Matching Grant or participate in a project they can apply for an Individual Grant.

Individual Rotarians and small groups of Rotarians can apply. Individual Grants are funded from the World Fund. You can apply for a maximum award of US$5,000; group travel is US$6,000, with a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 60 days of planning or direct service (not including travel days). You can apply twice in one Rotary year.

Before you apply for a grant the host club must provide a letter of invitation that confirms that the skill/project is needed in the community. The sponsor club must provide a letter of endorsement from the current club President for the individual applying. On return the Host Club must provide a complete post service evaluation form and the applicant (s) provide a final report. This is a wonderful opportunity to use your skills and talents to help others.

This year Rtn Ray Lewis from the Rotary club of Beeston went to South Africa to work with underprivileged children. He literally brought magic into the lives of over 5,000 children. On his return he was determined to collect books for the schools when he noticed the lack of libraries. With the help of his own club and other clubs in the District over 10,000 books reached Cape Town on 14 February 2006.

So, it’s goodbye from me and hello to him! I thank you all for your support in the last three years of my time as Chairman of District 1220 Foundation Committee. My committee members have worked tirelessly and my sincere thanks go to them. I have visited over 50 clubs during this time and hopefully raised awareness of the Rotary Foundation. I know that you will all give your full support to my successor, John Dain, RC of Bretby. I will remain on the committee as the Assistant Governor Representative and will provide help and guidance if needed.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS NEWSLETTER WITHIN YOUR CLUB. It is intended to update all members. Val Leivers Foundation Committee Chairman May 2006

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