District 1220 Magazine June 2002

With thanks to Rotarian Ron Walker Editor District 1220 Magazine
(To email Ron, click on the link above)

The magazine this month is full of information.  It has been divided into three parts

ROTARY REVIEW June 2002 - Part 3

AQUABOX REPORT FOR YEAR 1/7/01 TO 28/4/02.

From February 2002 storage, preparation and despatch have been from Bay 2 at the Cromford Hill depot with a much improved facility, an improved small item store and better lighting. Thanks to everyone who has helped in making this change over so effective without any delays in despatches. There was some inevitable inconvenience at times but all is now well. Special thanks to Rotn Ian Jespersen who has done sterling work in producing shelving, storage and washing facilities.

Activities have continued with 3,917 boxes, (value £156,680) despatched for filling since 1st July. 2,022 filled standard boxes have been sent overseas via Handsworth International Mission Services (Sheffield) for Malawi, Ghana and Sierra Leone; 620 via Christian African Relief Trust (For Senegal, Cameroons, The Gambia , Liberia, and Nigeria), 400 via World Emergency Relief for Northern Uganda, Lira region, where there was an Ebola and Cholera outbreak, now brought under control.

Thanks to the help from the Rotary Club of Harrogate 29 standard boxes (3 cubic metres) are currently being flown direct to Kabul to be monitored by the International Red Cross, whilst five standard and five Aqua 30s are currently en route by road on board a fire engine loaded with humanitarian aid [see photo] to the earthquake area of Georgia , Russia, again organised by the Rotary Club of Harrogate. 105 boxes via Real Aid (Beverley) sent for Eritrea. 400 boxes sent via Nottingham Police Aid Convoy for Bosnia, Kosovo and Croatia. Several hundred boxes have been sent via the Methodist Missionary Society who arrange complete movement of boxes to various areas of dire need by their own container arrangements. The notional value of these shipments, allowing for an average value for humanitarian goods in each box at £80, is in the region of £40,000.

Additionally 526 Aqua 30s to provide approximately SEVENTEEN AND A HALF MILLION LITRES OF PURIFIED WATER HAVE BEEN SENT AS FOLLOWS: Afghanistan 200; Cameroons 53; Israel 76; Eritrea 48; The Gambia 104; Sierra Leone and Ghana 40; Georgia (Russia earthquake) 5. These 5 Aqua 30s together with 5 standard boxes went via the Rotary Club of Harrogate as part of a full load of aid being sent on a FIRE ENGINE as mentioned above and originally intended for Kabul but diverted due to inability to get to Kabul by road!

We are most grateful to the various Aid Agencies who receive, transport and monitor the boxes at their destination. The average cost of despatching a 40 ft container is in the region of £3500 to £4000 each. The transparency of their various operations is that we have invitations to join them on some of the despatches. In particular there is a proposed visit in September toTanzania and also an open invitation for a visit to Sierra Leone.

I express my thanks to Jane Edwards who, week by week, receives all orders and pays in all donations in a most efficient manner. Also thanks to Kevin Powell who, as Operations Manager, arranges the weekly despatch of all orders and who receives filled boxes and checks the contents in preparation for despatch overseas. Thanks also to Mike Tomlinson who maintains our financial credibility by making all relevant payments for goods and services of the equivalent of up to £500,000 per year.

Thanks must go to the Trustees and especially to Ken Gregory who has arranged the necessary correspondence and meetings in respect to the prospective change in our legal identity. Almost last, but by no means least, thanks are expressed for the fantastic work maintained by Wigmore Computer Solutions, Nick and Lorna Swain, without whose computer programme we could not operate at our present level.

And, finally, thanks to all the infantry, those members of the Club who get up early on Saturday mornings to keep pace with Kevin and despatch boxes. Also to those members of the Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church, the Wirksworth Baptist Church and several other local churches and people from the community at large who pack tablets on Mondays and Wednesdays in their church halls and who also assist in box preparation at the depot on Tuesday mornings.

Frank Lund,

Aquabox Committee Chairman.

Postscript: Latest news is an additional Aquabox depot is being set up in Cornwall.

YOUTHFUL ELOQUENCE AT LINCOLN

Regional Final of the Rotary Youth Speaks Competition One of the many superb Rotary programmes designed to encourage and extend young people is Youth Speaks. Sadly in this District is it largely ignored.

Though two teams from D.1220 had made it to the Regional Final in March – sponsored by Worksop and Worksop Dukeries – one could not appear, leaving Worksop College as our sole representative.

Prof. Eileen Baker, Principal of Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln, where the final was held, introduced the six competing teams, each consisting of a Chairman, Speaker and Vote of Thanks Proposer. The 18 youngsters produced a dazzling standard of eloquence.

Kingstone School, Barnsley, took Human Cloning as their subject, arguing against it, though accepting the value of therapeutic cloning. Tudor Hall School B Team, Banbury, were concerned that six billion people are dropping rubbish – even on Everest – and proposed widespread recycling as the answer.

Lincoln Christ's Hospital School debated "The Turner Prize - What is Art?", suggesting that no matter what the medium the artist's primary function is to provoke emotion. St Mary's College, Kingston upon Hull, risked baffling the audience with the proposal that light bulbs were invented by the Ancient Egyptians, but the speaker was actually warning us against putting modern interpretations on historical data.

Tudor Hall School Team A, Banbury, asked "Can Harry [Potter] Save Britain's Bacon?", suggesting that the Eden Project and the London Eye were more important tourist attractions than J K Rowling. Worksop College traced the history of women's suffrage in Britain but regretted that women are still not equal with men in most parts of the world today.

This brief summary cannot convey the authority and attack with which all the pupils delivered their material. Announcing the results of the competition, Professor Baker said the most important criterion was command of the subject, and the splendid young people on show certainly displayed that. Since only one mark separated the top three teams, a first and two joint seconds were awarded by the panel of judges. First prize went to the Lincoln School, and joint second to the Banbury A team and the Hull team.

One's over-riding emotion at the end of such an event – Young Musician and Young Inventor are others – is admiration for so many of today's young people and renewed hope for the future of this country. On the other hand, why aren't more Clubs in District 1220 giving youngsters the opportunity of growing and shining afforded by Youth Speaks?

Ron Walker

FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD School Year Exchange

Each year District 1220 plays host to a dozen or so students who are spending an academic year in Britain under Rotary's School Year Exchange programme. The youngsters are housed mostly in Rotarians' homes and given a week's tour of cultural and tourist attractions interspersed with numerous social events including Rotary meetings.

The Derbyshire/Notts Week is now part of the standard RIBI programme for SYE and this year was no exception. Last month 13 young people from nine countries and six continents were the guests of six Rotary Clubs: Jenna Wendland (Canada), Sahela Rasmin (Malaysia), Maria Fernanda Olmos (Argentina), Penelope Goodwin (Australia), Vuyiswa Agosi (S.Africa), Kareen Requena (Peru), Juliana Soares (Brazil), Maria Adelina Barbieri (Brazil), Meril Gillman (Australia), Marie Furlong (Canada), Ian Houseman (USA), Vitaly Walsky (Belarus) and Leonardo Almeida (Brazil).

Host Clubs were, in order of hosting, West Ashfield, Derby South, Amber Valley, Alfreton, Warsop and Ravenshead. The week was organised by Mike Churnside and Tony Balding of West Ashfield.

Two joint meetings of host Clubs were held – Amber Valley and West Ashfield on the Tuesday, and Warsop and Kirkby-in Ashfield on Thursday - attended by members and spouses and with the students as guests of honour. At the first, compered by Rotn Paul Ramsbottom (Amber Valley), a special guest was the Mayor of Amber Valley, Cllr John Jefferey, with Rotn Mike Edwards, DYE Officer also attending.

The great value of the week, apart from the enjoyment of Rotary members and partners getting to know youngsters from many different countries, is in the lasting friendships that are formed. As has often been said, School Year Exchange students go home having gained friends all around the world. And what better contribution to Rotary's aim of peace through world understanding?

FOUNDATION LINK EVENING

Some of the best aspects of Rotary Foundation were again on show at the annual D.1220 Link Evening and Dinner in March. The evening, organised by Walter Hayes and compered by David Crowson, had an attendance of 288 people from 43 Clubs. They saw and heard an impressive array of scholars and professionals – all ladies, as it happens – who are our current incoming Ambassadorial Scholars and returning Group Study Exchange Team members.

Among those in the spotlight were:

• Rotn Val Lindley (D. Foundation Committee) with Ambassadorial Scholars Anne Crist Campbell (USA), Naomi Bitow (USA), Naoko Yamasaki (Japan) and Sachiko Suziki (Japan).

• Rotn Colin Brockington (Bretby), leader of the GSE Team returned from Atlantic Canada, with Paula Duckworth, Caroline Bates, Marion Horton and Caroline Nettleton.

• Devon Daley of BBC Radio Derby and past GSE Team member, who interviewed the Scholars.

• Rotn Paul Withers (D. Foundation Committee) who introduced the GSE Team.

• Hiroko (nee Murayoshi), a past Ambassadorial Scholar and now Mrs Smith, who received a menu signed by the DG, DGE and DGN from Foundation Chairman David Crowson.

KIDS OUT – AT THE PANTO

A welcome offshoot of the summer Kids Out event in D.1220 is the January trip to the pantomime. This year several hundred children were hosted by Rotary Clubs to see Aladdin at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. The stars Cannon and Ball, Tricia Penrose and Sooty kept the kids enthralled throughout. One Head Teacher wrote afterwards, "As you know, many of our children come from families who are not able to offer their children experiences such as visiting the theatre and therefore opportunities like this open a wider world to them". The day was organised by Rotn Bill Elesmore.

GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE BROUGHT FORWARD

Rotary International have recently agreed to re-allocate funds from the cancelled exchange with Israel to allow D.1220 to send our return team to D4470 (Brazil) in April/May 2003 instead of 2004.

We therefore need to progress the recruitment of a Team Leader and a Team. The first priority is the Team Leader, to be selected by interview in September 2002. (Applications by end of August please). Members of the team to be selected by interview in late November 2002. (Applications by end of October please).

Please apply to Paul Withers, District GSE Officer at Retford Club, who will forward appropriate application forms.

MEET THE RI PRESIDENT

Some 300 Rotarians accepted the invitation to see and hear RI President for 2002/03, Bhichai Rattakul, at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham, on a Saturday in April. And what a privilege it was!

Rotn Bhichai is from Thailand. He was a member of his country's government for nine terms from 1969, leader of the Democrat Party, foreign minister, deputy prime minister, speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the Parliament. Add to these a list of top social and Rotary achievements and you might expect a touch of soapbox rhetoric in his style of delivery. You would be wrong.

His gentle manner and total sincerity convey the message and make the points far more dynamically than any strident tub-thumping. Perhaps only such a man could transform the theme "Sow the Seeds of Love" from something potentially slushy into a deeply meaningful motto.

Rotn Bhichai began his speech with condolences on the death of the Queen Mother, saying how greatly people around the world value our royal family.

To the incoming Club Presidents he said: "You are the cream of leadership of the Clubs in your District". We must all make a difference to the world in which we live – not an option but an obligation. We were not marshals waving a baton at the front of the parade, but rather shepherds working among our flocks.

"We must respect each Club's autonomy and we should never get in the way with new rules and regulations... It is my philosophy that in Rotary the approach has always been from the bottom up and never from the top down. The Club must be firmly in charge. We will, of course, stay focused on membership growth with the continuation of the Global Quest campaign, but after that it is up to each Club to decide how it will carry out its activities in the four avenues of service."

The President Elect told a moving story about the effect a small boy had on him in his early Rotary career, illustrating the difference between charity and service. "But service without love is artificial. We have to perform our service with love, sincerity, dignity and integrity…. During the coming year I will be asking you to live and work by our theme – your theme – Sow the Seeds of Love. The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity for doing more."

DISTRICT TEAM FOR 2002/03

a = Appointed, e = Elected

District Governor-a John Bendall (Nottingham), IPDG-a Brian Darlison (Hucknall), DGE-a Neil Sharman (Hucknall), DGN-e/2005 Centenary Chairman-a John Kirkland (Sutton), AGN-e Roger Pursey (Kirkby),AGE-e Pauline Johnstone (Sherwood Sunrisers), AGS-e Stephen Kitch (Beeston), AGW-e John Hall (Amber Valley), Training Advisor-a Peter Swinscoe (Worksop), Secretary-e John Berrington (Mapperley), Asst Secretary-e Michael Craven (Amber Valley), Treasurer-e Mike Neville (Mansfield), Auditor-e David Wilson (Mansfield), Finance Committee-e Nigel Dunn (Trent Bridge) & Peter Linford (Wollaton Park), Sales-a Peter Staton (Alfreton), Membership Dev & Ret-a Philip Renshaw (W.Ashfield), Membership Services (Chair)-e/Rec & Voc F/ships-a Charles Tyrie (W.Bridgford), Extension-a David Power (Nottingham), Rotaract & New Generations-a Peter Swift (Eckington), Archivist-a Arnold Crosby (Wirksworth), Communications (Chair)-e David Curtis (Mapperley), Information Technology-a Paul Christie (Mapperley), Internet Commns-a Jeff Curtis (Beeston), Webmaster-a Tony Eley (Derby South), Editor-a Ron Walker (W.Ashfield), PRO-a Brian Darlison (Hucknall), Community & Vocational (Chair)-e Bruce Liddle (Beeston), C&V Deputy-a Mike Horton (Chesterfield), International Service (Chair)-e David Fish (Chesterfield Scarsdale), Rotary Friendship Exchange-a Tony Bethel (Dronfield), Youth Services (Chair)-e/Youth Opportunity Roadshow-a Graham Wallis (Keyworth & Ruddington), Interact-a Ray Smith (Heanor), Youth Exchange-e Mike Edwards (Wirksworth), RYLA-a/Youth Speaks-a Graham Warburton (Worksop), Young Chef-a John Peacock (Kirkby), Young Musician-a Mike Gregory (Amber Valley), Design a Webpage-a David Pedlar (Wollaton Park), Schools Liaison-a John Pearce (Sutton), Foundation (Chair)-e David Crowson (Derby) Group Study Exchange-a Paul Withers (Retford), Matching Grants-a Mick White (Church Wilne), Ambassadorial Scholars-a Val Lindley (Sherwood Sunrisers), Fund-raising-a Arnold Crosby (Wirksworth), Link evening-a Walter Hayes (Beeston), Foundation Committee-a Michael Guest (Derby South) & Colin Brockington (Bretby), Polio Campaign-a Keith Hammond (Derby), Conference 2002 Director-a Roy Parsons (Keyworth & Ruddington), Conf. Registration-a Stephen Lawes, (Vale of Blevoir), Sgt at Arms-a Rex Barnett (Bingham).

SNOOKERED

Consider the luck of IPP Chris Elkin of West Ashfield. He got through to the final of the District singles snooker competition without playing a ball, having had a bye in every preliminary round. Only problem: Chris couldn't make the final!