DG Dave writes

A big welcome to Royston Rotary for joining us in 1260 at the start of the new Rotary Year and congratulations to M K Watling on their name change from the Brickhills.

July is New Leadership Month, so I would also like to welcome all new Presidents and their teams into office, as well as those who are continuing in their roles.

I think we all need to say a big thank you to Immediate Past District Governor Cheryl for Making a Difference last year, finishing with a great Conference in Hatfield.

Rotary International President Barry Rassin has challenged us to Be The Inspiration. I take this to mean letting everybody out there know what Rotary really is and what Rotary does. We need to tell the local community what we as Rotarians are doing to help those less fortunate and whether they would like to join with us in our Service Above Self.

We seem to be in the middle of Classic Car season, with Buckingham holding theirs at the end of June, Harpenden Classics on the Common in a couple of weeks, closely followed by Royston’s Kite and Car Festival and Luton Someries and Potters Bar Classic Car Shows on consecutive weekends.

We have handed out water bottles to thirsty runners at the Hitchin Half Hard Marathon as well as attending Presentation Evenings for the Milton Keynes Swimathon and the St Albans Charity Cycle Ride, where Rotarians have put in a fantastic amount of work and raised vast sums of money all for very needy causes. I have spent a day of Peace Training with our Peace Ambassador Brenda Lowe learning about the Rotary Peace Project http://www.rotarypeaceproject.com/?layout=index&page=homeand a day at the Hatfield Big Bang, where some very useful contacts were made. I had my first official Club Visit to Chesham with further visits to Milton Keynes, Letchworth Howard, Harpenden Village, Both Stevenage Clubs and Newport Pagnell in the near future. If you haven’t already been in contact to arrange a DG visit, then please drop me an email with a few dates

I really am looking forward to this Rotary Year and leading District 1260 onwards and upwards to greater things and to Being The Inspiration.

Dave Ford
District Governor 2018-19

Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland is delighted to welcome Debbie Hodge as President for the Rotary year 2018/19.

Debbie has been a member of Rotary since 2002, when she joined Ware Rotary Club in Hertfordshire.

Since then Rotary has given her a wealth of memorable experiences having led a Group Study Exchange to Australia, taken part in a polio immunisation trip to India and coordinated a major fundraising programme in the London 2012 Olympic village.

Following the change of year, we’re previewing an extensive feature, written by Debbie, which will appear in the August-September edition of Rotary magazine, as she looks to the year ahead.

To all those Rotary members reading this I want to say ‘thank you’. Thank you for making the choice to be a Rotarian – because Rotary is more than a lunch time meeting in the diary or the once a month quiz night. Rotary is a way of being that changes lives, including our own.

A Rotary member when asked where he went every Tuesday lunch time said: “I go to meet with friends and we change the world.” That’s what Rotarians, ‘people of action’ do; we change the world, sometimes one person at a time, sometimes a whole community, and sometimes a whole country.

Just how does this happen? It happens because we do good in the world – that’s our calling card.

Rotary connects all the peoples of the world, just as the sea connects all countries. The ebb and flow of the tides remind us that while the sea is a constant presence, it is also a change agent – the shore line is never the same two days running.

Rotary is forever changing, yet it is an organisation which has been built on enduring principles which enable Rotarians around the globe to connect for the good of the whole world.

The first principle is vocation – we bring our vocation, our business and professional skills, knowledge and personal talents into Rotary for the service of others.

The second is our Rotary values – honesty, fairness, truth, trust, integrity, fellowship and service. These we take out from Rotary into the communities where we work, live and make connections.

These principles make us unique in the world of membership and service organisations as exemplified in our vision statement: ‘Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.’

Rotary GBI President Denis Spiller gives us a round of up of a successful and memorable year for Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland.

We have seen over 250 new-style Rotary clubs come to fruition during the year, offering a flexible and project-driven experience for potential members.

There has also been progress made to modernise our annual conference, by moving to an Expo event to be held in Birmingham from 2020.

On polio, there has been great enthusiasm from Rotary members to continue our work to finish the job. This included the Rotary Grand Tour, which has raised awareness and over £50,000 so far.

Video

DISTRCT CONFERENCE 2019 – CHESFORD GRANGE, WARWICKSHIRE CV8 2LD

Whilst many arrangements for 2019 are still being finalised, here is the latest situation report.

The weekend will commence on Friday 21st June with an evening BBQ.

Saturday 22nd June will focus on various speakers and will include presentations by RI and Rotary GB&I Representatives.  At the end of the day session Club Presidents, Presidents Elect and their partners are invited to a Reception to meet the District Governor and other members of the District Team. In the evening a Formal Dinner and Dance will be held. 

Proceedings on the morning of Sunday 23rd will commence with relevant Rotary presentations before the DG announces the Club Awards for his year and then hands over the ‘baton’ of leading the District during 2019/20 to the DGE.  The DGE will then introduce her Team for the year and set out her vision and aspirations.  Once the Conference is closed there will be a traditional Sunday Lunch.

It is envisaged that Rotarians attending the Conference will take a fully inclusive package, which will initially be booked direct with Chesford Grange. The cost and Hotel contact details will be announced early next month.  Additionally, delegates will pay a registration fee of £35 p,p, for a booking made before 31st January 2019.  After this date the fee will increase to £50 p,p,  So please book early to obtain this concession.

The Conference web site  http://www.rotary1260conference.org.uk/is now available for up to the minute information.

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP

 (Club International and Foundation Chairs and others interested in International activities)

Thursday 2nd August, Tilsworth Golf Club (1900-21:30)

 Purpose of the workshop

1.  To share experiences on recent District international activities.
2. To provide an update on RF, district and Rotary GB&I criteria for Global and District grants.

All clubs are invited to participate, learn and share their international experiences. Tables will be available for showing posters, pictures and leaflets providing opportunity for small group discussions.

Draft Programme

From 1815           Arrival, set up tables and posters (ShelterBox, WaterBox, Lendwithcare)

1900-1910            Welcome, Introduction and purpose (Jim Ellis-Jones, Rotary Club of Barton le Clay)

1910-1920       The role of Rotary GB&I, District Resource Networks “Facilitators” & Coordinators”

Presentations and experience sharing

1920-1950            Trees in Development: East Africa (Paul and Carol Keeley, Rotary Club of Newcastle)

1950-2020            Haiti water aid (Bob Harris, Rotary Club of Hitchin Tilehouse)

2020-2050            Laos school (Peter Banwell – Rotary Club of Leighton Linslade)

2050-2100            District and Foundation grants (Paul Redwood, Rotary Club of Baldock)

2100-2130             View posters and small group discussions.

"RAGAS - Post Conference update - view our latest video

 Thanks for your interest in doing something tangible to help end modern-day slavery locally. Two days after Conference I received the final proof of our Rotarian focussed video produced in conjunction with our partners Freedom United, the largest anti-slavery NGO in the world, with 8 million supporters. Entitled 'Freedom Rings' this five minute video covers many of the points raised in my presentation simply: It encourages you and your Club to create a freedom ring and start to make a real impact locally.   Do click on the link and share it with friends and family, as well as your Club. Together we can help end slavery now.  Thanks.

Stephen Sypula
Stevenage Grange Rotary
http://ragas.online/