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Amherst News
July 2004
Wednesday
Meetings
21 July An Amherst evening, offered to Mike Baxter, Petra
28 July Roy Thomas is organising.
4 August Business Meeting
11 August A speaker - to be advised
18 August A speaker on malaria
Service
and Social Diary
15 July Quiz of Quizzes, Chipstead Sailing Club
17 July Barbeque at Colin Hook's
11 September Visit to Whitechapel Bell Foundry
14 September Disrict Council
19 September Cyclo Sportif - fund raising for Marie Curie Cancer Care
22-24October District Conference
19-20 November Collections in aid of BBC Children in Need Appeal
President Gordon
What can I bring to Rotary.
I am, I think, the first President of Amherst who joined Rotary after he had
retired; albeit at an early age. I am not the President elected after the shortest
time in the Club. That distinction, in recent times, goes to Jane. Although
now a fully paid up pensioner, I hope that I have brought some of my remaining
zest to my membership.
So - what do I know about
Rotary?
I trust that a year as Speaker Secretary and then 5 years as your Secretary
have given me an insight and experience to bring to my time as President. I
have learnt that this Club is highly respected in the District for its achievements
in its first 25 years. In particular I have appreciated the strong fellowship
which I have come to value in my short time as a member. I am aware of the responsibility
of being your President for the start of the 2nd quarter century. Thank you
for your confidence in electing me.
Role of President.
The role of your President is a mixture of duty and enjoyment; a mix which I
hope I can reflect through the year to you in our meetings, activities and service
to the community. I have the benefit of the experience of the Council members,
the Chairmen of Committees and the organisers of activities. I trust that I
can draw on my previous experience, in a number of organisations, to help lead
the Club through a happy and successful year.
Rotary History and its Future.
Rotary has come a long way since it was founded in 1905. Many of its early principles
and objectives are still retained. However, Rotary has changed, and has had
to change, in response to the different world in which it finds itself 100 years
on. Our Club has opportunities, some called problems, to respond to of its own.
I think that we could usefully review some of these issues at our monthly business
meetings. Together I hope we can progress this Club which is an important part
of our lives.
As an example of the changing
world, did you know that the Pope once banned priests from becoming members
of Rotary because it was thought to have links with the masons and to espouse
non-religious ethical principles?
And in the build-up to and during the 2nd World War, Germany, Spain and Japan
closed Rotary Clubs in their own countries, and the countries they invaded because
they were not anti-Semitic.
Do you know the contribution
which Rotary made during the formation of the United Nations? By providing the
first Secretariat.
How do I know this? Because I have now read “The Story of Rotary International – A Century of Service.” This is a highly readable and informative book a copy of which I am presenting to the Club to mark my appreciation of being appointed as its President in the Centenary Year.
Gordon
The book is in my possession and is available for borrowing. Sec.
The Club Assembly 7 July 2004
Community, Vocational and Educational Services Committee
It is my pleasure to outline
this Committee’s proposals for Rotary’s Centenary Year. They have
already been communicated to Council and been given its approval in principle.
First I am delighted to confirm the Membership of my Committee. It is an amalgam
of colleagues from last year’s committee which I had the pleasure of leading
– namely Roy Thomas, Harold Towle and Jane Whiting - joined by Don Ingram,
Brian Lawrence and, to add gravitas to our deliberations, Ron Pike.
The Committee has already met to determine strategy, programme, forecast budget
and individual responsibilities of members and reiterated the addition to our
title – approved last year - of the phrase “Educational Services”
to reflect our growing links with local schools.
Given the Club’s financial commitment to a centenary project, we accept
that implementation of elements of the programme with a cost element will, understandably,
only be possible as funds become available once the demands of the Centenary
project have been met. Nevertheless – and with the agreement of the President
– we felt it appropriate to establish a full programme of proposals that
would be implemented on a priority-of-need basis as funds become available.
We look, unashamedly, to the Fund Raising Committee to help achieve our objectives.
We noted that there would be no Handicap in 2005 – thus reducing the call
on our budget of c£500 – and that there were two initiatives - TRY
ANGLE AWARD designed to recognize young achievers who often succeed but lack
recognition, and the Find-A-Voice Charity – which had approached the Club
for support but to date had not had their claims evaluated. A contingency of
£400 had been added to our forecast budget in respect of these.
The Committee’s Budget Forecast for costed proposals amounted to £1700
to which was added by Council a sum of £250 in respect of a possible initiative
by the recently re-vitalised Inter Club Liaison Committee to support a Spring
House outing. Also added to our forecast budget is the sum of £99.25 being
the final payment for a Tall Ships placement, giving a Total Proposed Spend
– including the contingency – of £2449.25.
Our programme envisages at the outset a total of 16 Activities of which 5 should
have a no-cost element. These include our successful Vocational Interviews for
School Leavers which we hope to be able to extend to the two local maintained
schools (Bradbourne and Wilderness). We will also explore the possibility of
furthering the attendance of disadvantaged people to “Dress Rehearsals”
at the Stag Theatre and continuance of Scrabble Evenings at Rockdale. Nothing
is “set in concrete” and I am already aware of two more- worth-while
projects that may be brought to our attention and doubtless others will follow.
They will be given due consideration but the likelihood of requests being met
must be in doubt in this particular year.
We have inherited two vocational visits from last year’s Committee - to
Whitechapel Bell Foundry in September and (pending) to the Recycling Centre
for Sevenoaks Refuse in Essex - and we will pursue the possibility of the visit
to the development at the Battersea Power Station Site.
Our innovations include the possibility of candidates for the Petra Barge and
for a Rotary Youth Leadership Award. We would especially like to attract candidates
from Bradbourne and Wilderness Schools and in each case – as we are endeavouring
with the Tall Ships Placement – we will encourage contributions from the
individuals concerned so that they, in part, “own” the opportunity
presented.
We have determined that should there be another Stroke Awareness Day, this Club
- based on this year’s experience - would take sole responsibility for
all aspects of the initiative in Sevenoaks. Also, with regard to Sheltered Shopping
we have considerable reservations about the need and viability of the event
and, at the time, will consider any details that may be promulgated by this
year’s “lead” Club [Sevenoaks R.C] before deciding whether
to become involved.
A Community Service Award is pending for the Autumn when, in conjunction with
our colleagues from the International Committee, the Award will be supported
by a significant donation to the recipient’s Balkan Charity.
Encouragement to Dorton House and Sevenoaks Primary School to develop their
links with schools in Roubaix will continue and once the new Head Teacher has
taken up her post at St John’s School we will continue to explore ways
of supporting this establishment beyond providing a Father Christmas and manning
Fete Stalls! Contacts with Social Services/16 Plus Group for West Kent working
with disadvantaged Young Adults will be maintained.
We are aware of the particular initiatives commended to Clubs by the District
Governor but as I have already explained to the Chairman of the District Community
Service Committee, this Club does not feel that it can support either the Community
First Responders Scheme or the Service Above Self (10 Hours) initiative next
April. Given the range and variety of our planned Rotary commitments, personal
responsibilities and age profile – we would not wish to overload an already
busy and successful Club.
Tony
International
Committee
1 Funding for the Harare
and Romania projects is already booked and 'held over' from 2003/4. The first,
with other local Clubs perhaps, is to refurbish a kitchen at an OAP home. This
has been well signposted to District and £500 'booked' from Club Charity
Funds when available. The
second, for a similar amount, is linked with a Community Service Award in Autumn
2004 to Roz Ward for her Casa Diana work in Romania.
Both projects still need work and have been put in the hands of Graeme Gibson
and Derek Williams.
2 The Twinning between Amherst, Roubaix Est (due to visit us for a weekend,
perhaps 2nd half October) and Amherst, Ohio. The former needs examining and
refocusing, perhaps ? This to be a major area of consideration. The latter benefits
from the travel award which is taking Colin and Elaine to Ohio later in the
year.
3 A joint Overseas project with Roubaix Est is on the cards.
4 Disaster Boxes - two from
2003/4, one to get away the other to complete. More about this later
5 International speakers to be invited from 'new' EC members and further afield.
Our German Cultural Attaché went down well!
6 New Projects, including District favourites - to be closely examined.
Mike
Membership Services
I consider the club has good communications between members via our excellent
monthly newsletter where the main points discussed in council are reported.
We have taken account of members’ views in planning the 2004/05 programme.
RECRUITMENT
This is an area in which we shall endeavour to increase our activities with
a view to attracting new members.
SPEAKERS
The club enjoys an average of 2 outside speakers per month, and in the past
12 months we have had a series of excellent talks.
PROGRAMME
The programme as outlined below will be expanded in the near future:
BAR-B-Q at Colin’s
Visit to Whitechapel Bell Foundry
Walk for Life
Christmas Party
Visit to World War I Battlefields
Partner's Night Centenary Dinner
ATTENDANCE is currently 75%
DEREK
Pop! – goes the weasel.
The members’ subscriptions
were set at the AGM for the 2004/5 Rotary year at £140.00. So how does
it all add up?
R.I. and R.I.B.I. dues £38.00
District 1120 dues £12.00
Meals account:
(which includes cost of guest speakers and your social membership of St. Julians
Club, worth £55 on its own, so why not use it?) £65.00
President’s Honorarium £10.00
Printing Club Directory £4.00
Monthly Newsletter £2.50
Cost of Secretary’s expenses, postage, printing and all the other little
bits £8.50
Total £140.00
Any questions? - ask Eric, he will try to help.
“That’s the
way the money goes -
Pop goes the weasel!”
Fund Raising Events Planned for 2004/2005
Thursday 15 July The Quiz of Quizzes Chipstead Sailing Club
Sunday 19 September Cyclo-sportive Godden Green and Kent
?? November The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal
Friday and Saturday 19 & 20 November BBC Children in Need Appeal Collection at Tesco, Riverhead
Friday 22 April 2005 Charity Golf Day Wildernesse Golf Club
Saturday ?? June Musicathon Bligh’s Meadow
Sports News
The “Kent Messenger” reports that a local football club has lost
its goalkeeper to Chelsea F.C. and is seeking a new one for next season.
The club? Bearsted Under Nines.
News from Amherst Inner Wheel
What a delightful way to hold our AGM at Freda's new home - concentrating on "the business" whilst apron clad Rotarians cook our supper on the barbecues outside. We had a very good meeting handing over jobs to the incoming team. Gladys Adams will be our President guided by Freda. We wish Gladys a happy and rewarding year ahead.
Our two charities - Demelza House and the Blue Cross Animal Charity - each received a goodly sum from our small club, so we are well pleased. Business completed, we enjoyed the barbecue and all the other delicious goodies supplied by members
Ena
Culture Corner
Graffiti seen on a concert poster advertising “Bach’s Organ Works” read “and so does mine!”
CELEBRATE ROTARY - 100 YEARS
Our Plans
RI has issued a huge list of opportunities/challenges for the year, some of which were listed in the May edition of our Newsletter. I do not know if any club is expected to take up all of them. We clearly will chose to be selective in what we consider to be appropriate to us. It is better to do a few things well than to try to do too much and not get the support.
We had several discussions about the Centenary Year in Club meetings in 2003, a key point being that we would work with Sevenoaks Club because of the community element and our serving the same community.
Last February I updated members on the position which was published in the February edition of our Newsletter and can now give a further update on what we are planning.
The proposed project for
Age Concern is being progressed. This is the provision of a secure shop for
the residents of the Hollybush Centre within a public room. Each Club will fund
the project up to £2,500. It is clear that Age Concern does not have the
funds and the project would not go ahead without our support.
There are many ‘Birthday Parties’ being arranged around the District.
We, Sevenoaks and Amherst Clubs, are having our own on Saturday, 19 February
2005, at the start of the week of the Centenary.
It will be at the Wildernesse Club with Cameo Opera providing the entertainment. The Edenbridge and Westerham Clubs have accepted invitations to join us. To reflect the community of Sevenoaks the District Chairman and the Town Mayor have accepted invitations. Other Clubs, such as the 41 Club and Round Table will also be invited. We expect to be able to present the ‘key’? of the project to Age Concern at this event.
Initially we had thought that, to be kind on members' wallets, this event might replace the Ladies' night. However, as many of you so enjoyed the recent night we are happy to consider having two events if members would like that, and the opportunity to have a dance.
An obvious theme for the year is to promote Rotary. Alan Waters and I have visited the Sevenoaks Chronicle to discuss coverage during the year, starting this week with the induction of the new Presidents of the two Clubs.
However, all our activities and events offer an opportunity to promote Rotary. This is not only to the public at large but also to increase the support we receive. We are producing a leaflet on Rotary and the contributions of the two clubs to Sevenoaks.
This is a special year for the Club as part of Rotary International. Now that the year has arrived I think that it is appropriate to take stock of how all our plans fit together. I am proposing that this should be on the agenda for the Council meeting on the 3rd August and then be a subject for discussion at the business meeting on the 4th August.
Gordon