District Governor's Newlsetter - December 2017

The DG Writes...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tis the season to be jolly – tra la la la la la la la la!  We most certainly are. Six months in to the year and one of our busiest periods is upon us. Santa Runs, Sleighs, Street collections, static Father Christmas collections, visits to schools, shopping centres, Lighting the Christmas Tree, concerts, mulled wine, mince pies, lots of fun and laughter….and a little bit of exhaustion at the end of it…..but so worthwhile.

By the 16th December I will have completed 45 club visits, seven more are due in the first few months of 2018 and 5 remaining clubs to arrange visits to.

There is a special celebration this December when Luton Rotary celebrate their 90th anniversary. I look forward to celebrating with them.

Membership as ever remains high on the agenda, and there are some Rotary GB&I initiatives coming up in early 2018. There will be articles in the mainstream press, radio and some tv appearances. It is geared up to introducing Rotary to a wider audience and will be based on a more modern Rotary, getting the message over about equality and diversity and about what we are, what we do and why we do it. The membership team have applied for a membership grant to help purchase banners and other visual paraphernalia for you to borrow. I have just taken delivery of the Rotary Kiosk, a stand that can be used at events, which can be a focal point for information about joining Rotary at your event. It will go to some of the district events, so please do look out for it. The leads that we now get through from Rotary GB&I and RI have been vetted before they come to us and so the majority are genuine membership enquiries. We have to report back regularly as to how the contact is getting on, and through the hard work of the membership team, I am happy to say that our feedback is 100%. A number of people have already joined Rotary and there are some more in the pipeline. Please do contact Denise Creisson if you would like some help or advice.

There are a number of clubs in the District who have now developed good satellite groups, of which at least one hopefully will become a club in its own right by the end of the Rotary year.

The District Governor Challenge is going well, and some of our Interact and satellite groups have also taken on the challenge. If you have an Interact club or are in a satellite that would like to take on the challenge please let me know.

I’m hearing lots of ideas and plans to plant trees for RIP Ian Riseley’s challenge. This is something that we can complete as a District. You need to get the information in to Rotary Club Central. If you need help with that, please let your AG know or Wendy Ford at wendy@thewendyhse.co.uk.

Many of you have already spoken about GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and your concerns. Rotary GB&I are talking with the legals regarding this and how it impacts us, and hope to have a paper out mid-January 2018. Once this has come out, as well as sending out relevant information to clubs, training date/s will be organised, to which I would encourage at least one member of every club to attend. Ignorance is no form of defence should a problem arise in the future.

There will be a video message to you all from me on the district Facebook page and the web-site shortly.

Thank you for the positive response to the opportunity we have been offered by Horatio’s Garden at Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unit. The details should now be with your club Secretary and President. I would appreciate a quick response as the ground work on the main garden is in full swing, and they are aiming for completion in the Spring.

 Have a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

 

Cheryl Law
District Governor

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ROTARY PURPLE4POLIO GRAND TOUR

Presidential Message: December 2017
Dennis Spiller, Rotary GB&I President, Rotary International, 2017-2018

Register now for the Purple4Polio Grand Tour which hits the road in 2018 from the 21st - 24th May, concluding with an end of tour party in Yorkshire.

The idea is simple: Get a car, a team and a map and off you go around Great Britain and Ireland, visiting as many districts as you can and raising funds for End Polio Now.

You and your team choose the route starting from where ever you happen to be. Along the way you will find Rotary district rest points where you will collect a stamp in your Tour Log Book and share stories of your travels.

Registration is 35GBP per car. Once fully registered you will receive a sponsor form, a log book and two large vinyl stickers for your car, to help you spot other participants.

This is not a race or a competition. The aim is to drive safely and in compliance with all road traffic laws and regulations and visit as many districts as you are safely able to do so.

FIND OUT MORE

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Develop your skill with Rotary

Pubic Image Workshop

Thursday 18 January 2018
Venue: Novotel, Knebworth Park, Stevenage SG1 2AX

Rotakids and Interact Workshop

Thursday 1st February 2018
Venue: Holiday Inn, Breakspear Way, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4UA

All workshops are on Thursday at 7 for 7pm

 

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Conference Update

Booking forms for the District Conference 2018 can be downloaded from the Conference website www.rotary1260conference.org.uk

Get your booking in and make sure you don't miss out  on any of the functions.

Check out the website and see the fantastic programme the Conference committee has lined-up for you.

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CELEBRATING INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG PEOPLE

The deadline for nominations for the Rotary Young Citizen Awards is just around the corner.

If you know of an outstanding, inspirational young person or group under the age of 25 whose citizenship and dedication to a project or projects deserves national recognition, please nominate them by downloading a copy of the Young Citizen Awards information pack and nomination form.

Rotary is privileged to be continuing with the Rotary Young Citizen WheelPower Sports Award.

This special Award is sponsored by the British Wheelchair Sport charity WheelPower, with whom Rotary has partnered to help transform the lives of disabled people through sport.

Every nominee receives a personalised certificate, with the lucky winners receiving a trophy and 500GBP for their chosen charity or project they are involved with, which will be presented by TV Presenter Ellie Crisell at Rotary's 2018 Conference in Torquay. 

The Tenth Anniversary of the Awards in 2017 were shown live on the BBC News Channel and you can find out more about the winners and read their inspiring stories.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 26th January 2018.

DOWNLOAD NOMINATION FORM

For news around the District check out the Club News pages