District Governor Vist

It was our pleasure to invite District Governor Richard Green to share a breakfast meeting with us. It was also a pleasure to meet President Elect Stuat Williams from the RC of Wolverhampton. The District Governor was aleady know to many members and old acquaintances were renewed. There was a real buzz about the morning. We sat down 29 memebers fro breakfast so that was neatly a full turn out.  

The members were not disappointed by the 20 minutes that Richard stood and spoke about his passion for Rotary. He strongly believes in the need to eradicate Polio; being so close would and not completing the job would be unthinkable. Rotary has changed the world and the lives of 100,000 of people by its involvement with polio eradication. As a club we continue to fill sauce bottles with small change; talk to school about polio and plant purple crocuses. Once achieve it will surely be a 'gift to the world'. We have had the personal experiences of JUne, David, geoff and Jane who have all been out to India to help with the polio immunisation event. 

Richard also believes that youngsters are the life blood of Rotary. the youngsters of today are the rotarasins of tomorrow. The work and involvement in school with these young people impacts on their lives. He would like to promote and extend the activities we offer to schools. Young photographer, young Chef, youth speaks and more recently young artist, all encourage youngster to show off their talents and received the recognition that they would other wise miss out on.  Richard believes it is only with using our imagination, thinking outside the box we can countinue to develop ways of supporting youngsters. Our involvement also 'keeps us young at heart' and in touch with the struggles young people have. 

Richards speech was inspiring and made one feel proud to be a Rotarian.

Later in the morning we had the opportunity to Take D.G. Richard and others to one of the projects we have been linked with for several years, the Oak Tree Farm Project. This is a rural project which supports people with learning difficulties. They have the opportuntiy to work in the gardens, growing plants, working making pottery for sale in the shop and helping out in their lovely tea room. The 'team members' have the opportunity to work, earn some pocket money and develop their skills, of which they have many. It enables them to have self-worth and fel that they are making a valuable contribution to the project. 

Like most projects of this nature their is a massive fund raising scheme every year to secure money to continue to develop the project. Staff are paid and there are a host of volunteers to support the team members. 

The DG found it interesting and inspiring to see what can be achieved by a little help from so many voluntary organisations that supports the project.