Welcome to the website of the Rotary Club of Barnet
MONDAY 8 MARCH 2010
We had an excellent presentation from Jessica Clipp, who works for Chicken Shed, starting with the formation of the company, using the chicken shed at Wrotham Hall, and running right through to the present day, including a short film showing the work of the company, which is a registered charity and relies heavily on donations and fundraising.
MONDAY 1 MARCH 2010
President Elect Ian Johnston was our speaker this evening and he gave us a spell-binding talk about the hospital ships of the Thames during the 19th Century. We also had an insight into how Ian became a doctor and his education and career in the merchant navy..jpg)
THANKS FOR LIFE w/e 26 February 2010
Several fellows manned a stall in The Spires on Wednesday in order to raise awareness of and collect funds in order to assist in the last push to eliminate polio. For every £1 collected, Bill Gates has pledged to donate a further £ 1.75 and we had a successful day. It was surprising to find how many people had heard of polio but did not know of its seriousness.
MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2010
We had an interesting talk by Trevor Cox, who was following up his first talk, given in the last Rotary year, about coins, their origins and their usage. Many thanks to Trevor for all his hard work and for such an enjoyable talk.
WELCOME TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF BARNET
"G.O.S.H."...ARSENAL'S CHARITY OF THE SEASON SIMON MERRITT, THE SON OF PDG DON MERRITT, WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS CHARITY BY COMPLETING TEN LAPS OF THE EMIRATES STADIUM AND WILL BE RAISING MONEY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NEW 'LUNG FUNCTION UNIT' AS DETAILED BELOW:-
CHARITY OF THE SEASON
Arsene Wenger, together with Cesc Febregas, Maneul Almunia, Theo Walcott and legendary actress Barbara Windsor, will today officially kick off our latest Charity of the Season partnership. This season's beneficiary is Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and the objective is to raise £ 500,000 to build an all new and improved Lung Function Unit at one of the world's leading children's hospitals.
The current Lung Function Unit treats over 2,000 youngsters a year dealing with a multitude of conditions including cystic fibrosis, asthma and cancer and the work undertaken at Great Ormond Street hospital is amongst the best in the world. However, the laboratory space is far from ideal with cramped and outdated facilities.
The well planned, modern and spacious Arsenal Lung Function Unit will be located in the state-of-the-art clinical building (due to open in 2012) and has been specifically designed to cater for the needs of newborn babies right through to teenagers as well as their families.
We will be raising money as part of the 'Be a Gooner, Be a Giver' campaign with Great Ormond Street Hospital throughout the season, through a range of initiatives. As well as encouraging fans to donate and take part in events and challenges, we will dedicate a premier league match day and as usual, we will proudly hold an end of season fundraising ball in aid of the charity. A dedicated website has been created so that supporters can follow the partnership at www.beagoonerbeagiver.org
MONDAY 29th MARCH 6 FOR 6.15PM
PRESENTATION EVENING OF PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP AND SAPPHIRES:
SAPPHIRES TO TWO LOCAL PEOPLE FOR THEIR WORK FOR THEIR CHARITY
WHICH IS NOW IN ITS 10TH YEAR
PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP TO A THIRD RECIPIENT FOR HIS SPORTING EFFORTS AND FUND RAISING IN SUPPORT OF MANY CHARITIES ALL IN THESE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS.
PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT THE GIVING OF THE AWARDS TO THESE DEDICATED PEOPLE
The Rotary Club of Barnet
presents its annual
QUIZ & SUPPER NIGHT (see below for booking form)
Saturday 10th. April 2010
LYONSDOWN HALL
Lyonsdown Road, New Barnet, EN5 1JB
7.00PM FOR 7.30PM PROMPT START
£10 per head including 'fish & chip' supper
Only soft drinks available to purchase. You may however
consume your own wine or beer on the premises.
Plastic glasses and cups will be available free of charge
Tables of Eight ( Maximum )
For further information : Tony Roberts
-- 07879 446728
-- tonyroberts7@tiscali.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Proeeds from this evening will go to The Rotary Jaipur Limb Project
and other Rotary International Projects
BOOKING FORM
The Rotary Club of Barnet
QUIZ & 'Fish & Chip' SUPPER Night
Saturday, 10th.April 2010
Please reserve the following seats at the quiz ( Tables of 8 )
Table Leader No. of seats Address, e-mail or
( Max. 8 people per table) contact telephone
number
.................................. .............. ............................
Fish & Chips will be served during the interval. If, however, you would prefer
'Chicken & Chips' as an alternative, please indicate the number required here..............
Please reply no later than Monday, 29th March 2010 with your remittance
( £10 per head, including 'fish & chip' supper ) to :-
Tony Roberts
7, Sunbury Court,
Manor Road,
Barnet, EN5 2JH.
Cheques payable to 'The Rotary Club of Barnet' please
Latest news:
HAITI APPEAL IN THE SPIRES SHOPPING CENTRE TO PROVIDE SHELTER BOXES COLLECTION BUCKETS LOCATED IN CREMERIA VIENNA OPPOSITE WAITROSE MAYOR AND MAYORESS WITH PRES ELECT RC BARNET IAN JOHNSTONE & PDG DON MERRITT. MAYOR & MAYORESS WITH RTN GRAHAM TROTMAN MANAGER SPIRES & PDG DON MERRITT
8 February 2010
We had an interesting and informative talk from Bill Ibbotson about RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer programme). Bill has been involved with the organisation for many years and also has a close link with Rotary, so we were very pleased to welcome him to our meeting.
If you would like to know more about RSVP in Barnet, here is the web-site address:
http://www.csvrsvpbarnet.org.uk
2 representatives of "IT Schools Africa" visited the Club on 1st February and made an informative and interesting presentation regarding refurbishing redundant IT equipment and putting it to very effective use in African schools. More information is available from their webpage:
www.itschoolsafrica.org
BURNS NIGHT CELEBRATIONS 25 JANUARY 2010:
The Rotary Club celebrated Burns Night and honoured the current Rotary International President, John Kenny, from Scotland at our meeting on Monday 25th January.
45 members and guests enjoyed the traditional format opened with the Selkirk Grace recited by Scott MacLachlan. After cock-a-leekie soup the Haggis was piped in and "addressed" by John Stirling-Gallagher in exemplary fashion. Interspersed with the rest of the meal (of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties followed by raspberry and oatcake desert) Past District Governor Don Merritt spoke briefly about the origins of Rotary and more particularly a resume of RI President John Kenny.
The guests were then entertained by Charlie Stewart who spoke enthusiastically of the Immortal Memory of Rabbie Burns, enlightening all on the wonderful achievements of the poet (with excerpts) and his recognition around the world.
Scott MacLachlan then proposed the Toast to the Lassies with excerpts from several more poems and an amusing "Reply to the Toast to the Lassies" was given by Debbie Hodge.
Everyone enjoyed a marvellous meeting including potential members. Another guest was Ambassadorial Scholar Muge Cevik who was amazed with the speakers in skirts, "what is the sporran for" and the strange accents and dialects.
John Stirling- Gallacher and Muge Cevik (Amb Sch)
Meeting 11 January 2010:
On 11th January our speaker was Club member Daniel Orchard. Although not obviously evident Daniel has a stammer and he gave a very personal talk with an insight into all the problems that having a stammer entails. He added details of management strategies that he had adopted throughout his childhood and adult life to hide or minimise the impact. He then told how some eighteen months ago he had been recommended to a speech therapy charity "Starfish" that had had a profound effect on his condition. With a combination of innovative techniques, strategy and practice he has made immeasurable progress. In fact making such a presentation as we heard this evening would not have been possible 2 years ago.
After the exertions of the Christmas period (see below for details) the meeting on Monday 4th January was a review of the first six months of the rotary year. The merger of the RC B&EB and RC FB&W had been very successful with a general high attendance at Club meetings and 3 new members with 3 more imminent. We have had some notable meetings including the initial Handover and Merger meeting, the visit to the Club of the RIBI President, a Gala Dinner and Bob Wilson of the Willow Foundation when we were able to make a sizeable donation due to the efforts of Simon Merritt in an Iron Man race.
President Mike circulated a magazine (in Portuguese), kindly sent over by Rotarian Raul Pereira from Sao Paulo, Brazil who visited the Club in the summer. Raul is a founding President of RC Sao Paulo and the article includes a photograph showing an exchange of club banners.
At our 4th January meeting were again delighted to welcome an international visitor, Rotarian John Damberg from the Virginia Rotary Club, USA. John was visiting his daughter and was District Governor (D 5560) in 1987/8.
Rotary Club to the Rescue 
The Xmas day party for the elderly was expanded this year to incorporate the Friends in Need (FIN) party from East Barnet as they had no gas for heating and cooking. The merged event brought the numbers to about 100, but added volunteers from East Barnet Church helped the day go smoothly. The event had to change from the normal format and we moved into the main Ewen hall to accommodate the extra numbers. We had Rotary London District Governor Martin Gudde and Barnet Mayor Cllr Brian Coleman address the party thanking all the volunteers for all their generous support to the Event. But the surprise of the day was a presentation to Barnet President Mike Hodge of a Sapphire Paul Harris Award for his service to District as GSE Chairman as well as to the Club.
President Mike Hodge carved a large turkey at the front of the Hall - this was a donation from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club. The rest of the event was provided from the Christmas street collections and donations from local Charity Foundations.
The following is the text of a letter received by our President from one of our guests:
"A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, collecting the money to make it all possible. buying our gifts, wrapping them up, organising the transport and getting the volunteers in the first place, including our very nice Keyboard player. I`m sure I speak for the others in saying that we had a lovely day I thoroughly enjoyed it, we had a great chat lovely food and good company so much nicer than sitting on your own watching the telly. So please thank everyone for their contribution with many thanks."
Polio plus in action.
Here are just a few of the many things we have been up to recently.
We hope you will find them interesting and inspiring. If you wish to know more, please do not hesitate to contact us.
NOAH'S ARK CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
On Monday 7th December the speaker at the Club meeting was the the CEO of Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, Gill Dodge. Gill gave a gripping account of the voyage of Noah's Ark since its inception nearly 10 years ago and its future. Dedicated to supporting children with life limiting illnesses and their families the organisation provides many different forma of outreach enabling the families to make the most of their lives together. The voyage ahead presents amazing opportunities and challenges as the Noah's Ark Children's Hospice has secured a lease on a site (The Dennis Bland Nature Reserve) where they plan to build a new state of the art Hospice for children. Gill emphasises this was not to replace the existing community based activities but to provide additional services and support for families. The vote of thanks was given by President Mike Hodge who, on behalf of past president Barbara Taylor handed over a cheque to support Noah's Ark.
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From the Noah's Ark Website: Latest News |
Join us at one of our FUNdraising events and – whilst meeting new people and having great fun – help us raise money for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. Or perhaps if you have an event that you’d like to hold on behalf of the Charity, get in
THANKS FOR LIFE - POLIO PLUS
"VERY GOOD NEWS"
In 1985 the members of Rotary International decided on the most monumental project ever to be undertaken by a non-governmental body.
The decision was to rid the world of Polio, a disease that has killed and disabled millions of children throughout the World. At that time the Polio virus was endemic in 135 countries and 3000 cases of Polio were reported EVERY DAY.
Now 25 years later, only 4 countries have the polio virus and only 1491 cases of Polio have been reported in the WHOLE of 2008.
This fantastic result has been achieved largely by Rotary with the help of The World Health Organisation and recently UNICEF
In that time Rotary has raised $900 million and countless immunisation days have taken place immunising over two billion children.
HOWEVER, until NO cases of polio are reported from those countries still endemic, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, the job will not be done
THE POLIO VIRUS MUST BE ELIMINATED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
Rotary must finish the job and that means, all of us must continue to fight the battle until the goal is achieved.
More GOOD news is that the ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’ are once again supporting our Polio eradication effort and have donated $200 million, providing we match it with $100million, this is our challenge!.
To help meet this challenge RIBI have initiated the programme:-
"THANKS FOR LIFE"
This programme is designed to raise £1million for Polio Eradication, to maximise public awareness of the Rotary Polio campaign, the ‘Gates Challenge’ and Rotary in general.
It will involve a co-ordinated campaign, timed for February 23rd 2010-Rotary Day-and the period around it (February20-28). Money raised will be credited to the ‘Gates Challenge’ and count towards Club and District targets.
The ‘THANKS FOR LIFE’ project is designed to link with local schools (primary and secondary), to raise awareness of Rotary, to generate fund raising initiatives, interaction with parents, involve/establish Interact/Rotaract clubs.
It is designed to encourage children to establish a project to raise £1 from each child this £1 will immunise TWO children. With the addition of the ‘Gates Donation’ will make that £1 into £2.78 this will immunise FIVE children.
This is but a small insight into this initiative, "THANKS FOR LIFE". To find out more please contact me.
WE MUST SAY GOOD-BYE TO POLIO
Don MERRITT
PDG, CHAIRMAN
"THANKS FOR LIFE"
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The following is a press release relating to our recent activities:
80 years of Rotary in Barnet
The Rotary Club of Barnet has celebrated 80 years of service in Barnet with a celebration dinner at Old Fold Manor Golf Club attended by eighteen neighbouring Rotary Clubs, the Rotary in London District Governor and special guest, David Fowler, the President of Rotary in Britain and Ireland.
A display of archive material prepared by Jenny Remfry was eagerly reviewed by the attendees before and after the dinner.
David Fowler spoke enthusiastically about the "Power of One" and the 'miracles' being achieved all over the world by committed Rotarians and Rotary Clubs. The emphasis has been on addressing Health and Hunger, the provision of Clean water and education & literacy. Disaster response has various initiatives and the ongoing programme to eradicate Polio from the world is very prominent with a high profile "Thanks for Life" initiative coming at the beginning of 2010
Senior Past president, Ian Butcher, had given and entertaining resume of the activities of the Rotary Club of Barnet (formerly Rotary Club of Barnet & East Barnet and Rotary Club of Friern Barnet & Whetstone) from its inception in 1929 including reference to the annual Christmas Party held on Christmas Day for the elderly and alone. The involvement of Rotarians in the local community was emphasised with practical support for local charities and involvement with young people promoting inter school youth competitions (Young Chef, Youth Speaks) and again practical involvement acting as school governors. This theme was picked up by the President Elect Ian Johnston emphasising involvement with the local community as a principle object for the coming years.
PRESENTATION & CELEBRATORY DINNER
Rotary and the Willow Foundation
AN EVENING WITH BOB WILSON AND UK IRONMAN SIMON MERRITT
On 30 November, we held a celebratory dinner with a presentation to Bob Wilson, who founded the Willow Foundation Charity. Simon Merritt, the son of one of our Rotarians, Don, entered and succeeded in the Iron Man challenge in Bolton. This entailed swimming 2.5miles, cycling 112 miles and running 26.2 miles and despite a dislocated shoulder just before the challenge commenced, Simon managed to complete it and presented Bob Wilson with £ 6,016, which was complimented by the presentation of a cheque by Evelyn Merritt on behalf of the Inner Wheel club of Friern Barnet and Whetstone for
£ 350.
Bob and his wife Megs started the charity after the sad death of their daughter in order to assist young people with terminal illnesses.
We are a friendly club and welcome new members. If you would like to know more about Rotary, or feel it may be for you, please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking on 'Membership' opposite and selecting the 'send email' facility.
As Rotary is a worldwide organisation, being a Rotarian means that you can not only put something back into society locally but also be part of a huge movement not only in fundraising and disaster relief but also with hands-on approach to service.
In the next 30 days..
15/03/2010 Club Weekly Meeting - Business Meeting.22/03/2010 Club Weekly Meeting - Stephanie Frangos - Ambassadorial Scholar.
29/03/2010 Club Weekly Meeting - Jill Conway. Professional stage make-up artist
05/04/2010 Club Weekly Meeting - No meeting - Bank Holiday.
12/04/2010 Club Weekly Meeting - AGM.
19/04/2010 Club Weekly Meeting - tba.
