President's Diary for April

Presidents Diary April 2016

Have we changed peoples live for the better this month?

Jenny Purcell gave us an excellent insight to the work of Dorset Advocacy in championing the rights of people who are unable to speak out for themselves. The advocates are not directive but are extremely knowledgeable and provide an amazing service.

Keith Barnard Jones attended the Rotary GB&I conference Bournemouth and updated us about what Rotary International is doing worldwide, preventing so many young and childhood deaths.  He returned with a memorable quote “The children stopped dying when the Rotarians arrived” – this relates to the work we do abroad from Polio eradication to clean water to reducing maternal and child mortality. Keith reminded us there have only been 9 cases of polio worldwide this year and total eradication must surely be nearly there.

Dave attended the PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) in Street and met the incoming District Governor John Butler. The international theme from July will be “Rotary serving humanity”

It was a happy chance meeting to bump into an old member Simon Rexworthy at the Old Creamery in Yeovil. He passed his best wishes to all members of the club. Simon was a member for many years when he worked at the Portland Heights.

There was a letter of thanks from Richard Backwell. This was for the funds raised for the Baspani water project in Nepal. The monies have been transferred to Bimal in Kathmandu and work has already started on the project to build a new water tank, collecting chamber and taps in the village. This too will help to save lives by having a clean water supply.

Garry gave us an excellent talk on his work at Twice As Nice on recycling furniture, electrical goods etc. for those in need on the Island. For some families this may be a lifeline by providing the basics of beds, tables chairs and white goods. They even produce recycled paint that smells terrible when it goes on but at least dries odourless!

The Table top sale was held at Community 2000 on 16^th April to benefit young people at the Drop In Centre at Easton Methodist Church. £128 was raised.

At council and business meetings the plans for the next few months were put forwards (watch the website). I am amazed at how much the club is achieving and planning to do.

A donation was made to Dorset Advocacy and £1000 is also being sent to Foundation (our own charity) and we plan to give to the End Polio Now campaign.

On 27^th April at the Guest Evening was a well-attended, excellent talk by a lady who had undergone the mistletoe treatment for cancer, which gave a real insight into her condition, the novel treatment and how to live with this condition.

This happened whilst I was away walking in La Palma, one of the smaller Canary Islands. Walking round the rims of the extinct volcanoes was breath taking with views of the other islands in the distance rising out from a sea of cloud. It also coincided with moving house and life is very busy living out of and sitting on cardboard boxes!