Bulletin for May 2025

                                                   Rotary Club of Cheltenham North

                                                                 May 2025 Bulletin

There is quite a lot to read in this bulletin – please take the time to see what is going on.

Nereide Gilhead RIP

It was with much sadness that we heard of the death of Nereide on Saturday 26th April in Sue Ryder after a relatively short illness. She was such a huge support to Nigel when he became President and until such time she was too unwell. We send our deepest sympathy to Nigel and his family and will give him all the support we can at this difficult time.

Cheltenham Wine Festival Steve Wood

Saturday 05 April 2025 dawned bright and fair and by 07.45 that morning several of us found ourselves at the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Health & Fitness Centre setting up the Cheltenham Wine Festival. A little over twelve hours later, many of those same people were finishing clearing up the festival. In the meantime two sessions of wine tasting and buying had taken place and many happy ticket holders and exhibitors had been and gone.

In truth, organising this festival proved more challenging than many previous events. Ticket sales were down; at 174 for Session 1 and 183 for Session 2, as was the number of exhibitors; with 17 wine and 3 non-wine exhibitors compared with 21 and 3 in April 2024. Having said that the room looked crowded and busy throughout, the atmosphere felt good throughout and several exhibitors reported good sales volumes. These lower attendance and exhibitor numbers may have arisen from the decision to hold two festivals in 2025, with the intention of reverting to an October date in future years without going a whole presidential year without a wine festival.

An innovation on this occasion was the enlistment of help from the Explorer Scouts. Four of their members plus two scout leaders assisted exhibitors with transporting their wine cases from their vehicles into the hall. The distance and rise in altitude from the car parks to the hall had proved an issue with some exhibitors last year and the Explorers’ assistance was much appreciated.

With the reduced number of attendees and exhibitors, a fall in the profit achieved was inevitable. The current estimate is that we will have made approximately £5,000, but this will not be confirmed until the accounts are drawn up.

I would like to thank all members and partners of members who helped on the day. We obviously cannot stage the festival without this help. Especial thanks and gratitude are due to the Wine Festival Committee for their hard work and unstinting support, which goes on for far longer than the day of the event.

Finally, let me remind you that the next Cheltenham Wine Festival will take place on Saturday 18 October - keep the date free. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 01 May and during May will be at the bargain early bird price of £20 each. Please encourage all your family and friends to buy them.

‘A Nod for Lady Elwes’ Tony Pawley

Friday May 30th to Saturday 31st May: “A Nod for Lady Elwes” exhibition at Nature in Art. RCCN Hon. Member Sir Henry’s late wife Carolyn was an artist, field sketcher and embroiderer. “This is a rare chance to see some of her original art and sketchbooks from the family archives.” More info here.

An update on Rotary Foundation Richard Purdon

I am delighted as the Club’s Foundation chair to have the opportunity to update members of the aspirations of Rotary Foundation. For the benefit of some of our recently joined members, a little background may be helpful.

The Rotary Foundation is our charity. It was formed in 1917, only a few years after Rotary itself was founded. The objective was to set up an endowment ‘for the purpose of doing good in the world’. The first donation was $26.50. It was renamed the Rotary Foundation in 1928 – Rotary’s first and only charity.

In 1929 the Foundation made it’s first gift of $500 to the International Society for ‘Crippled Children’. This was the forerunner of Polio Plus.

In subsequent years various other schemes were added. These included Ambassadorial Scholarships, Group Study exchanges and grants to Districts for approved projects.

In 1985 the Polio Plus programme was launched to eradicate polio from around the world. In 1987/88 the first peace forums were held, leading to Rotary Peace Fellowships.

In 2013, new Global, District and Packaged grants were set up to the world’s greatest need.

In the first 100 years of Foundation over $3 million worth of charitable programmes and actions were supported.

The fundraising giving programme

For sometime the major source of donations has come from the programme of ‘Every Rotarian Every Year’, Sometimes this is known as the Annual Fund. In essence, the desire is for the circa 1.4 million club members internationally to deliver $100 each.

At the commencement of the new Rotary year the starting club membership is known, In our case we had 39 members and hence the target is $3,900 in 2024/5. This can be raised at annual subscription time, along with the fees, or it can be donated individually – this can attract gift aid. Another option is ti take the amount from fund raising activities by a club provided the statement ‘and other rotary charities’ is used.

As End Polio Now is such a top priority for all of RI, it has a separate fund of its own. The club target here has been set at $1500 for many years. More specific marketing support has been generated by RIBI in our islands to assist this target. In recent years the Bill and Belinda Foundation has given a 2 for 1 pledge up to $50 million to help the important coverage in vaccination around the world. The third major funding has come from legacies/pledges to the Endowment Fund through wills particularly. The target for this Rotary Year is for this fund to grow to $2.025 billion. Only the income earned from Endowment investment is ploughed back into rotary projects.

Martin Graham RIP Eric Labrum

I was saddened to hear the passing of Martin Graham, the man behind the development of Longborough Opera at the age of 83 years. Cheltenham North Rotary Club for many years organised a visit to see one of the operas being performed. This visit generally started with a grand picnic and then again at the 'Long Interval'.

A few years ago Martin and his wife Lizzie were invited by the Club at attend one of the dinners organised at the Charlton Park Golf Club. Martin outlined his vision to provide opera at Longborough around the 1990 years and as we know it today.

Longborough Opera is foremost in supporting young singers develop their careers. 'Opera in the Playground' is another initiative which Martin and his team have created and which I have been associated with over the past three years. This involves taking opera to school children.

Martin Graham was a builder originally, and from humble beginnings provided the local population with an opportunity to see opera performed at an international level. We will always be grateful for his vision and achievement.

The new Rotary Year 2025 – 2026 Anne Bartholomew DGE

With just over 2 months till the new Rotary Year, planning has already begun.

In February 2025, Alan and I attended the Rotary International Assembly, attended by over 500 District Governor Elects, for training on how to become a District Governor. No comments please because I appreciate it is my second time around, and do I need to be trained? Well, surprisingly so, as this time I will share the workload and not visit every Club in the District plus Club events, but ensure a more team approach.

RI President Elect Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo is calling on Rotary to ‘Unite for Good’.

He believes that using the power of human connection both to celebrate existing members and welcome new ones, Rotary Clubs can build for the future. This might be through collaboration on new service projects as well as building Rotary’s Global impact to create positive change in the world.

My Theme for 2025-2026 is ‘Building a Future with Rotary’ which means recognising and building on all existing good practice as well as developing new club activities, events and projects as well as maybe forming a new Satellite Club, for example.

Key dates for the Diary:

District Council – Thursday 22nd May – this includes the budget for 2025-2026

District Assembly and Handover – Saturday 7th June, am, at the Holiday Inn, Gloucester – lunch included

District Conference 2025/2026 – Friday 17th – Sunday 19th April, 2026, at the Bank House Hotel, Worcester, with a day rate for the Saturday.

Community Grant – The Playhouse, Cheltenham

A grant of £1000 to be given to The Playhouse in memory of Roger Grimshaw

From Paddy

Dear Clive,

Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how thrilled Wendy was when she received the amazing news that our wonderful Cheltenham North Rotary Club had awarded The Cheltenham Playhouse £1000 in Roger’s memory. I know Wendy will be writing to you herself ,but I also wanted to thank you all ,for your kindness & generosity. It is a lovely tribute to Roger & greatly appreciated.

With Best wishes,

Paddy

From Wendy

Hi Clive,

This is fantastic news and most appreciated. Thank you.

This will help The Playhouse so much to continue to give so much to the community.

Summer Garden Party

Due to unforeseen circumstances we have changed the date of the garden party to Saturday 2nd August.

Future Programme Clive O’Gorman

Mon, May 5th 2025 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting CANCELLED

The Club Meeting is cancelled as it is a Bank Holiday

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Mon, May 19th 2025 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with Speaker.

A Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker. The Speaker is Joanna of "Mary’s Meals which provides life changing meals to poor families across the Globe. See website for Menu. Host Richard Purdon

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Fri, May 30th 2025 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Council Meeting

A Club Council Meeting To be held with Janet Keenan

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Mon, Jun 2nd 2025 at 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Club Meeting with Partners and Guests plus Speaker.

A Club Meeting with Partners and Guests plus Guest Speaker NOTE LUNCHTIME MEETING AT COTSWOLD HILLS GOLF CLUB NOTE 12:30 for 1PM. Speaker Paul Barnett on "Journey of A H Hook from Gloucestershire to Rorkes Drift." Host John Phillip

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Sat, Jun 7th 2025 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

District Assembly and Handover

The District Assembly and Handover will be held at the Holiday Inn Gloucester. Note Timings to be finalised.

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Mon, Jun 16th 2025 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting AGM/Assembly and Handover.

A Club Meeting AGM/Assembly and Handover to New President David Hearle. The District Representative Assistant Governor Steve Spencer will be attending. See website for Menu. Host David Hearle

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Sat, Jun 21st 2025 at 9:00 am - Wed, Jun 25th 2025 - 5:00 pm

Rotary International Convention

The Rotary International Convention will be held in Calgary between 21st to 25th June 2025.

Mon, Jul 7th 2025 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with Speaker.

A Club Meeting with Speaker. Speaker is Nigel Thompson who will give a talk on "Gloucestershire Blue Plaque Holders" See website for Menu Host David Rees

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Mon, Jul 21st 2025 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Club Meeting with Speaker

Club Meeting with a Guest Speaker See "Details" for Menu Host Michael Rouse

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Sat, Aug 2nd 2025 at 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Garden Party

On Saturday 2nd August the Concert Committee are organising a summer garden party from 12.30 – 4pm. Vivien has vey kindly agreed that we may use her garden and our own Duncan Ivory will entertain us with his band of 18 strings.

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