Newsletter: May 2013 (Please click here to download the full newsletter)

As I start this latest newsletter many aspects of Rotary are either changing or being seen in their true light and with the RIBI Conference and Annual Business Meeting as well as the Council on Legislation – some interesting matters are brought out.

Key features this month include the GSE team, RIBI Conference, Polio update, the Exmoor Challenge and new members.

Challenge:
I started the year with the concept of challenge being what I saw as the future, but I had no idea just how challenging it was to become. Many changes that I knew about have moved quietly into place, especially the new Foundation systems so well put in place by Mike Osborne and his team. We have tried different approaches to the District Council meeting, not always successful, with the changes to breakouts, when far more wanted breakouts as in the past, than actually attended! The district team have been trying to concentrate on greater club involvement and closer links and there is more to come on that topic as we progress into the coming year.

RIBI Conference:
This year we went to Harrogate and for those never having visited the town it is a very good location, and the conference centre and linked Theatre Royal (or Royal Hall) managed everything very well. The speakers were all of a high standard, with inspiring stories to tell. The Business Meeting more or less went through on the nod (although most is now in the waste basket as you will see). I volunteered to organise, book and manage the entertainment for the Saturday night (in the misguided hope that would be the easy option!) As it turned out it all went off to plan – I cannot offer an opinion if it went well, or not – I was on stage introducing the acts and it would be a bit odd for me to comment under the circumstances.

The Exmoor Challenge:
Every year district 1170 challenges the members of D1200 to a sponsored walk on Exmoor. I had no idea how many would come from the District, to walk either the six or 12 mile stretch, but was delighted at the turnout (including Lily – District Secretary’s small dachshund who also received a certificate). I was glad I had lost some 13 pounds since January 1st – rather less to heave up and down the hills. Well done everyone and I hope to have the challenge shield back here soon after it
has been inscribed.

The GSE team from Turkey:
I met the team when they arrived at Bristol Airport on Saturday 6th April late in the evening. Unfortunately one of the team members had to delay travelling until his visa came through, so he joined up a few days into their visit. Since then they have been busy, with many vocational and cultural visits across the district. An incomplete list includes pig racing (Dorchester), Fleet Air Arm Museum (Crewkerne), a day in London, museums, and more, Water Survival Box, Kingston Maurward Agricultural College, The Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and some sailing (only one fell in), and many more. They leave for home at an unearthly hour on Saturday 4th May. I am sure clubs and member will have many memories of their visit, the last GSE ever.

Polio:
I felt that the message below, taken as written is important and that Rotarians everywhere should read it as it represents what we all hope is the last major push:

A New Strategy to Completely Wipe Out Polio

A new plan to finish the fight against polio will be presented at the Global Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi on April 24-25. The Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan is a comprehensive, long-term strategy that provides a roadmap that, if fully-funded, can lead to polio eradication by 2018.

The plan, developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, aims to capitalize on the unprecedented opportunity to end this crippling disease once and for all. More than 400 scientists, doctors and technical experts from 75 countries already have added their support for the plan by signing the Scientific Declaration on Polio Eradication.

In 2012, the world saw the fewer polio cases in fewer countries than ever before and Rotary members are working throughout the globe to stop the transmission of polio entirely.

Pakistan:

• Rotary installed mobile clinics at toll plazas to reach migrant populations with the oral polio vaccine. On average, 1,000 – 8,000 children now receive the vaccine on a daily basis.
• Rotary members organized a workshop for nearly 50 local community leaders, tribal elders and social activists who offered their perspectives on polio immunizations. These community leaders are now polio eradication advocates.

Nigeria:

• Rotary members from the polio-free southern region of the country are helping to monitor immunization campaign in the polio-affected northern region.
• Rotary formed a state level committee of Muslim Ulemas and scholars to help address misconceptions about the program within some minority communities.

You can help end polio by joining the World’s Biggest Commercial. There many ways to support the cause, including donating funds. For a little as US$60 cents, a child can be protected against polio for life.

Let’s make history together and create a polio-free world.

Thank you, The End Polio Now Team

As I write this, I can give the latest figures for Polio cases so far this year:
Total cases 22, last year 48 – we really are ‘nearly there’.
 

I am delighted to welcome more members to Rotary International and they are as below:

Jane Tibbs - Wells
Nick Roper - Wells
Annamma Cheriyan - Wells
Andy Coulson - Wells
Bob McKeegan-Brown - Chelwood Bridge
Sadie McDonald - Chippenham Wilshire Vale
Josef Fischer - Yeovil
Averil Armstrong - Bathavon
Bernard Hayes (re-joining) - Wellington
June Dixon-Pither - Wellington

And finally,

On Saturday May 11th - District Assembly is the place to be – the new year is about to bloom, and not only the club officers, but everyone needs to attend to make sure they all know what is happening and about to happen and get involved at the breakouts, and have a glimpse of the aspirations of your incoming District Governor Brian Kirkup.

I look forward to seeing you all there ………

Peter JW Noble,
District Governor, D1200, 2012/13