Bethany was introduced by Tony Eginton who prefaced Bethany’s talk by reemphasising the contribution that Rotary makes to global peace and understanding by sponsoring students to study internationally.
Bethany echoed that theme by expressing her thanks that she had been enabled to develop her understanding of economic and social development. She outlined her own personal background and interests and told us that she was sponsored by her home club which has 650 members – the largest Rotary Club in the world!
She described her post graduate work in the United States Senate where, she gained eye opening experience of Government decision making processes in defence, energy, and foreign affairs. Her visual aids depicted the wide disparity of wealth in the US which she related to the wider inequalities throughout the world, and her own developing interest in economic development. An interest further stimulated by time in Cambodia where she saw the same disparities in a non-developed country. Following that maturing experience in Washington she returned to Alabama to work in a non-profit organisation, Birmingham Talks, which endeavours to improve literacy through language development in children up to three.
Wishing to pursue her knowledge of economics and its interconnectivity with community development she identified the London School of Economics as her preferred place of further study. She saw the history of that university grounded in economics and social development with its connectivity to the rest of the world as providing the ideal learning opportunity. The Masters in Public Administration at LSE focusses on real problems whilst developing a range of intellectual skills through examining complex problems behind some of the biggest global challenges.
Bethany shared with members the areas of study being followed including the Political Economy of Development – the systems behind development and their interrelationship and the social infrastructure/the players making decisions, Econometrics, Micro & Macroeconomics and Inclusive growth.
With her study methods being massively impacted by COVID restrictions Bethany is looking forward to progressing with hybrid learning methods – a communications style which Chesham Rotary looks to embrace going forward!
Members found Bethany’s talk informative in the manner with which individual scholars who may become future decision makers and influencers develop their skills and awareness necessary to face the challenges facing humanity.
more Anne Coney spoke to the Rotary Club of Chesham in April
more Thanks to those who saw my presentation on Spanish Paradores recently. There are 96 in Spain and 1 in Portugal – all of them worth a visit.
more Club were really pleased to have Tom Way, a professional photographer, talk to us at our evening meeting on the 25th May
more Our newest member - Michael Simpson-Jones. Inducted by President Laurence Sharp
more Club welcomed Fiona Miles, ambassador for Global Sight Solutions
more Club welcomed Beth Sawyers, A Fund Raiser from Carers Bucks paying a second visit by the Charity
more Club welcomed Emily Toettcher from Chesham Museum to talk on an initiative launched to provide Loan Boxes to local Chesham schools.
more After being welcomed as our guest speaker, Kamran Irani, explained the acronym of his charity in full – Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Northamptonshire.
more Club were treated to an excellent talk by Kasia Sikora-Black from Chiltern Music Therapy. This was a face to face lunch meeting at our usual venue, Chartridge Park Golf Club.
more Chesham Rotary was glad to welcome Margaret Vincent on a return visit coinciding with one of its first face to face meetings following the easing of COVID restrictions.
more A HUGE white elephant . . . a cost of well over £100 billion . . . but fascinating to see how they do it . . .
more Club welcomed Emily to a video meeting where she talked generally about her mayoral role, being a Buckinghamshire and Town councillor, and about The Theatre Shed, a charity of which she is a very supportive patron.
more Annette joined our video meeting to refresh the contact with Chesham Rotary and bring members up to date on the work of Mary's Meals.
more David started his talk with the claim that 1.1 million of the world’s poorest people have transformed their own lives with sand dams.
more Rotary Club of Chesham were glad to welcome Kevin Patrick to the Friday Zoom Meeting.
more The Countryside Charity, is the only national charity covering all aspects of the countryside and the urban environment and that by dint of the strength of its membership and research backed campaigns it has had a major impact on Government policy.
more Solinda is a Swiss National sponsored on the Rotary Global Scholar programme by the Rotary Club in her home city of Basle and hosted in the UK by the Rotary Club of Buckingham.
more Anson Tong spoke to the club about Behavioural Science which she is studying for a post-graduate degree at the London School of Economics.
more The Rotary Club of Chesham donated funds to this project in 2014 and Stuart’s talk to Club revisited its history and outlined its progress.
more Daniel gave an inspirational talk of his life contributing to humanitarian causes, and his desire to continue developing his skills for the benefit of others.
more Jessica spoke about the support the Rotary movement worldwide provided in enabling her to contribute to international development and community support in developing countries.
more On Friday 30th October 2020 Club welcomed Stuart Ottley to bring Members up to date on Mark Urwin’s progress.
more Mike gave an affectionate look at some of his favourite Music Hall laughter makers.
more Colin is CEO of the Oasis Partnership which aims to help individuals to address their substance misuse problems and get their lives back on track
more Club welcomed Matt Metcalf, grandson of a member, to talk on Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team (HART)
more Club had the pleasure of welcoming Chas Cowan from TSYT to its virtual Zoom Club meeting to present on the trust’s activities.
more Keith Hoffmeister, a Society volunteer, spoke via ZOOM to update Club members on the impact of the construction of the high-speed rail link, HS2.
more Our Speaker, Howard Elson (an independent publicist), enjoying a cooling drink with Miriam Margolyes
more On 17th July 2020 members were joined in their ZOOM meeting by Hazel Bendon from Rennie Grove Hospice
more On 15th May 2020 members were joined in their ZOOM meeting by Caroline Bennet from the PACE centre.
more Phil Godfrey, of the Rotary Club of Solihull, presented to members of our Club using Zoom on 3rd April
more The evening meeting on Friday 31st January with members and guests welcomed Ken and Coralie as speakers
more Ruth Spurr, from Dog A.I.D. (Assistance in Disability - established in 1992)
more Sandy Briscoe a fundraising manager for Bucks Young Carers was our speaker on 25th October.
more Sandrena is a Rotary scholar who is studying a post-graduate course at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
more The ToolShed is a growing social enterprise developed by New Meaning which is a social enterprise and behaviour change consultancy.
more Patricia Newland and Rachel Wang spoke about a project is to raise funds for a new hospice and palliative care programme in Nepal
more Emma Burgham, Chief Officer of Chiltern Citizens Advice joined us together with Tom Lee, an experienced CA Adviser
more Chesham Rotary was pleased to welcome Mike O’Farrell, Chairman of Middlesex County Cricket Club, to speak on “Professional Cricket”.
more Tom Broom School Aid Operations Manager for the UK and South Africa visited the Rotary Club of Chesham to give an update on how school aid has developed over 20 years.
more Chesham Rotary was pleased to welcome Sue Walton Chair of the Red Kite Schools Trust a Multi-Academy Schools Trust and the second largest employer in Chesham.
more On the 14th December our newest member, Carly, was inducted by President Kalpesh.
more Paul Brooks was our inspirational speaker on 30th November when he came to tell us about the party of young people from Chesham churches that spent 2 weeks in a South African township.
more Monty Dunn and Grace Beckett, Head boy and head girl of Chesham Grammer School.
more Dr Yvonne Edwards of the Chess Valley Archeological and Historical Society gave a talk about a recent excavation in Great Missenden.
more Our Speaker on 26th October was John Gurney, a member of a Local Area History Group, who has an interest in the history of the railways stimulated by his own trainspotting days in boyhood.
more On Friday 28th Mervyn Edward relayed to us, in his own inimitable style, how his recently published book ‘Walking the Beat to Nirvana’ came about.
more Heather Alcock, from Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) was welcomed by Rotarian Ron Gordon
more 6th July visit to club by the new District Governor Dave Ford and his wife. This was the first meeting chaired by our new President Kalpesh Patel.
back Chesham Rotary has one or two speakers or visitors each month during our meetings. Have a look at what has been happening recently.