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 District Governor's Newsletter November 2010

 

 Where is the time going?

With the clocks turned back and getting an extra hour in bed on Sunday morning, I am wondering where the year is going.  We have now undertaken 62 of the 72 club visits and are only 4 months into the Rotary Year!   Steve and I have been welcomed at so many events by numerous Rotarians and their families who are passionate about being part of the family of Rotary.  They are so pleased to be giving their time to provide service to benefit their communities.  Each individual is so important to the work Rotary is proud of - long may that enthusiasm and passion continue because if we were not there doing it, who would do what Rotary does in your community?

We need so many more of us and there is an obligation on us to share our enjoyment with those who might enjoy what we do.  Let us all set ourselves a challenge for November and tell someone about Rotary and what we do, as well as what we gain from the membership of an organisation that is trusted by so many.  Go on invite them to an interesting meeting at your club - in a years time they might look back and say "thank you"  because they might have been busy enjoying their part in helping their community through the membership of Rotary as well as gaining so many new friends.

 Foundation Month

November is Rotary Foundation Month!  What a perfect opportunity during this time of year  for  the Rotarians of District 1150 and all Rotarians worldwide to celebrate the great works of OUR Charity –  and for us to focus on Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY).  This is our goal - for every Rotarian in the world to support OUR own Rotary Charity 'The Rotary Foundation' each and every year.  Have you made a decision to sign and give annually yet? - if not call Gareth Cheesman the District Rotary Foundation Chairman who will come along to your club to talk to you about the opportunity.

Why give annually?  Because our contributions change lives every day.  We should be proud that our gifts support matching grants for clean water; books for children; fighting hunger; reducing child mortality; helping with basic education and literacy as well as Eradicating Polio and so many other challenges.

Our donations support Ambassadorial Scholars and Group Study Exchange. This year we had a wonderful team from the Philippines, last year Australia and over the last few years we each will have had our favourite teams from many parts of the world.  Our own team will go to the Philippines in the spring of 2012 on the return visit.

If you want to know more about Foundation then there is lots of information on the RI, RIBI and District websites and any of the District team would be delighted to come and speak to your club. Just ask them - thecheesmans@btinternet.com

The Foundation 'our Charity' opens our hearts and our world and puts the "International" into Rotary International.

 GSE Team - District 3850 Philippines

My sincere thanks on behalf of the District as a whole to Rtn Rob Elward and all the AGs who worked hard to deliver a great programme for the visiting GSE team, and also to those who hosted the team during their stay here in South Wales.  The team were a credit to their District and Rob Elward will be sending information out to clubs about the return visit to the Philippines in the New Year - so if you're interested in leading a team - look out for that information.

 Thanks for Life – Focus on the Crocus

So many clubs planted crocuses during October and enjoyed letting the general public know what we are doing and why, using their local press.  I am delighted that we will have planted 135,000+ crocuses in District 1150.  Please forward your photos to us, as I would love to use them in the Rotary week of Feb 23rd, but please make sure you have written authority to photograph any children and vulnerable adults. The flowering of the crocuses will offer another opportunity to publicise Rotary locally and also give each club a further chance to liaise with the schools and communities which we serve. The opportunity is there to not only raise funds for Polio Eradication, but to also show what we do locally, nationally and internationally.  It is a time to let people know about Rotary and dispel the view that we are an organisation of old men who do lunch!  Let us all show off what we do and proudly tell our communities about the successful things we are part of.

 Its also a membership opportunity.  Why when we enjoy our membership so much, should we be selfish and keep it to ourselves?

 District Conference 'I Sphinx was a great Aida'

Conference was I believe a success and the feedback has been very positive.  May I take this opportunity to thank each of the team who worked tirelessly to ensure that we enjoyed the whole weekend.  I am also grateful to those who attended for joining in the fun and enjoyment in a very positive manner - thank you for your attendance and for dressing up as so many Egyptians.  Plymouth probably wondered what was going on around the Pavilions on the Friday night!

Its now time to focus on the Conference for next year in Torquay and I am sure DGE Mike and his team are working hard in the back ground.  They deserve our support as if we enjoy the fun and fellowship at events like these, we will enjoy the hard work more when we are serving our communities.

 This Months Focus Charity – Mary's Meals

Each month I will aim to direct you to a charity I am impressed by.  As you may already know I am passionate about Mary's Meals and the work led by Magnus McFarlane Barrow.  Mary's Meals is an international movement to set up school feeding projects in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education.  Mary's Meals provides daily meals in schools for over 400,000 children in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.  Mary's Meals not only addresses the immediate needs of hungry children by giving them a daily meal, but it also allows those children to receive an education that can provide an escape from poverty for themselves and their communities

Magnus has recently been nominated as one of the Top Ten Heroes by CNN.  They are asking people to vote for our favourites so if you, like me, believe Magnus and Mary's Meals deserve the $100.000 prize then please vote at:            http://heroes.cnn.com/vote.aspx

 

 

Donna Wallbank, District Governor               

November 2010