AREA 7 (Wigan) MEETING

The area group met on 19 Oct and five of the seven clubs were represented. The following notes emphasise the amount of activity the clubs are undertaking and the meeting is an opportunity to share and support each other.

                                                               
Area 7 (Wigan) Meeting Held: Tesco Community Room, Leigh
On Thursday 19 October 2023 
Attendees: Tim Haigh (RC Astley), Ray Edwardson, Alan Pomfret (RC Newton le Willows), Monica Meehan, Eunice Smethurst, Freda Neacy (RC Wigan), Andre Winstanley, Frank Bowker (RC Leigh), Keith Woodward (RC Newton Jubilee), Edwin Partridge (AG)
Chair and notes: Phil Round (RC Newton-le-Willows)
Apologies received: Alan Parkinson (RC Newton Jubilee), Gavin Tomlinson, Julie Grundy (RC Tylesley with Atherton), Anita Unsworth (RC Golborne), Les Thomas (RC Astley),Craig Roberts (RC Newton le-Willows), David Rothwell (RC Astley),
Golborne  and Tylesley with Atherton were not represented.

A- Club round up: Significant Events
RC Wigan:. Monica reported:

• Continue to work with Ukrainian families including conversation classes. 3 rotarians trained by ESOL staff and 6 rotarians have DBS checks.

• Christmas activities being planned. Float and mother Christmas will be taken to light switch on. Volunteers will be used to support collections.

• Christmas cards have been designed and will be given to two schools who will distribute to nursing homes.

RC Leigh: Andre Reported

• Boxing evening on 26 Oct is a sell out. Profit expected to be c£1500 to go to deprived area.

• Dragon’s Den- held and £10,000 given away to 8 local causes

• Working on environmental project with girl guides to remove vegetation and restore hut. £2000 given via Dragon’s Den.

RC Astley: Tim reported:
    *On 3 December a film produced by local Ukrainians will be shown at       the Leigh Film Factory, Spinners Mill.

• Lend with Care. To date 530 loans has been distributed to 1865 individuals creating 616 jobs. Defaults are 1.5% on an outlay of £39K. 

    * On 3 SEP successful annual bike Ride for prostate cancer was held.
RC Newton Jubilee: Keith reported:

• End Polio meal at Raj, Culcheth arranged for 24 Oct. 91 attending.

• Christmas activities in hand and a beer festival at the British legion is being planned.

• Two new female members recruited to club. Membership now 15

RC Newton le Willows: Alan/Ray reported:

• A club membership development group is meeting regularly and plans are in hand for a Rotary Future club.

• End Polio curry night planned for 26 Oct at Amans, Newton. Now sold out.

• New international project has been identified with school in South Africa.

RC Tylesley with Atherton and RC Golborne: No report

B- District Matters; AG Edwin reported:

• Members are asked to check out the Learning Centre on My Rotary and encourage rotarians to take some of the excellent courses.

• World Polio Day on Oct 24

• Branding Seminar is now on You Tube.

• New Membership Seminar was held on 30 Sep and will be repeated in January

• District Conference confirmed for Llandudno in April.. Clubs encouraged to attend.

• We need to celebrate unique projects.

C.  Discussion: 
1. Potential projects):
We still need to look for projects. Clubs need to read Craig’s Ukrainian report to see if there is any potential there.and whether it links to current Ukrainian initiatives.
Due to the current financial crisis concerning the Wigan and Leigh hospice clubs would like to focus on this for local fund raising efforts. Discuss further at our Jan meeting.
2. Beer Festivals;  A discussion on how upfront costs are funded. Tim provided information from the Charity Commission perspective.
3.-New members hub- Clubs shared info on how they are recruiting new members and how the new hub might work in practice.:Edwin to invite Nigel Darby to future meeting.
4- Christmas activities- seem well advanced and each club have their own plans
5.- Meetings for second half of year: It was agreed that we continue with the same format going forward: that is Face to face at Tesco community Room, every sixth Thursday at 7.00pm  AGREED DATES: 18 Jan: 29 Feb:11 Apr: 23 May.
Meeting ended 8.30pm
DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING:
THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER at 7.00pm at TESCO COMMUNITY ROOM