District Governor's Newsletter - February 2019

DG Dave Writes ....

February is Peace and Conflict Resolution month and I would just like to remind you that Peace is not all about stopping war in Syria or Yemen, as wonderful as that would be, but that Peace starts at home with all of us. It’s about stopping domestic abuse, stopping bullying at school or even in our own Rotary Clubs and perhaps being slightly more considerate when someone cuts us up in our cars. In this era of social media perhaps we should all respect the views and opinions of others even if we do not agree with them. There is an annual Peace Seminar held at the University of Bradford each year in October. We attended for the first time last year and were introduced to some remarkable young people. I would certainly recommend this weekend to any Rotarian.

Rotary for us didn’t restart until the third week in January, after our fortnight’s break in Mexico, when I visited the Rotary Clubs of Bedford, St Albans Priory, Buckingham and Hitchin Tilehouse together with attending a fantastic concert given by the Royal Marines Band, organised by the St Albans Rotary Clubs in conjunction with Radlett. I must also make mention of a superb District Quiz organised by Hitchin Tilehouse Club which just happened to be won by Brookmans Park, my very own Club.

We are now in the middle of our Youth Competitions and I had the great privilege of presenting the winner’s trophy of District Young Chef to Lily-Rose Davies, who was sponsored by Brookmans Park and the runner-up Guste sponsored by Luton Chiltern who now both progress to the Regional Final in Colchester in March. We have also had the Intermediate Youth Speaks semi-finals where the first three progress to the District Final to be held later this month and we about to enjoy the Senior semi-finals in the next few days, again with the final later this month..

I would like to remind Rotarians that the 23rd February is Rotary Day when we celebrate the creation of Rotary and I know a number of Clubs have events planned.

Let me offer The Rotary Club of Leighton Linslade huge congratulations for winning the Rotary GB&I Community Cup and beating off opposition from all the other Clubs in the UK and Ireland for their disabled sports project Yes We Can.

We now have a date of 19th March for the presentation of the Fibroscanner to North Herts NHS Trust at the Lister Hospital. Invites will shortly be issued but will be limited to one or two per Club due to the amount of space available. We are hoping for a good media presence getting the word of Rotary out there. In the mean- time let us all have fun and continue to Be The Inspiration.

Dave Ford
DG 

District 1260 is offering an eleven-day multi-cultural exchange in 2019.

Would members of your club, like to be involved and host a couple of young guests from Overseas?

This is a biannual event which brings together youngsters between 15 and 17 years old from a huge range of countries.

They get to stay in pairs with Rotarians, for three nights and then transfer to a youth hostel for a week, where loads of activities are laid on for them.  Guests in each household will be from different countries, but of the same gender. 

Dates: Next year home hosting is from 10th July to 13th July 2019.  Transfer to an airport for departure: 20th July 2019 will also need to be covered by the hosting clubs as well as collection from the airport on the 10th July.

PLEASE CONTACT the following with offers of accommodation:

Lavinia Hale,       St Albans Priory
Ken Scott,           St Albans Priory
Alan Doggett       Hitchin Tilehouse

Proposed Itinerary:
Wednesday July 10th - guests arrive. Home hospitality until
Saturday July 13th - afternoon transfer to Youth Hostel and settle in
Sunday   July 14th - day in London, including river trip and shopping. Return late evening
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday 15th - 17th professionally managed activities, at the Youth Hostel
Thursday July 18th - Full day sightseeing in Cambridge
Friday July 19th - local walk, swimming and pub lunch
Friday July 19th - evening - final night presentation and farewell party, host families welcome
Saturday July 20th - packing then depart hostel for home with member of hosting club.

Conference Update

If you and your Club are hoping take part in the weekend activities, please go to http://www.rotary1260conference.org.uk/ to download booking details.

Develop your skill with Rotary

Photography, P.I. Tool
Thursday 21st February 2019 - Stevenage
Thursday 7th March 2019 - Hemel Hempstead

Stevenage - Novotel, Knebworth Park Stevenage, SG1 2XS
Hemel Hempstead - Holiday Inn, Breakspear Way, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4UA

All workshops are on Thursday at 7 for 7p.

District Quiz - 30th January 2019

A great evening last night hosted by Hitchin Tilehouse who provided competitors with some excellent food. A hard fought battle with some very interesting questions was eventually won by Brookmans Park first team of Linda Bailey, Eve Jackson, Paul Johnson & David Saunders, with DG Dave Ford in the middle.

District Youth Speaks Semi-finals

Intermediate winners from Bishop's Hatfield Girls' school, "Should more support be given to the homeless".  Other presentations were "Why Western Countries should accept refugees" by St. Albans Girls' school and "The secret sin of stereotypes?" by The Priory School, Hitchin.

Senior winners were from Rushmoor School, Bedford, "Gene - editing in humans". Other presentations were from Mark Rutherford school, Bedford, "Body donation - the ultimate act of charity" and from Bishop's Hatfield Girls' school, "Why do we ignore certain conflicts", all pictured above.

An excellent two evenings of presentations by the students from our schools.

District finals are at Vandyke Upper School, Leighton Buzzard, intermediate on 26th Febraury and Senior 27th February.

District Young Chef Final - Saturday 2nd February 2019

Saturday 2nd Feb at North Herts College with 11 entries from across Beds, Herts and Bucks. Once again Lily produced 3 very fine plates of food (Moules Mariniere, Salmon Teriyaki and Lemon Tart) and was declared the overall winner. She now goes on to the Regional Final in Colchester on Sat 9th March.

For recent news around the Distirict visit the Club News Section
For upcoming Events, check out the District Calendar