No.2 September/October 2014
Foundation News for 17 and 18a within RIBI
Insight into success and best practise empowers us to meet John’s challenges Foundation Chairman of Trustees John Kenny (Grangemouth) Zone 18a RRFC & RIBI Foundation Chairman Ian Legge (New Milton) Zone 17 RRFC Allan MacLaughlin (Currie Balerno) INSIDE THIS ISSUE A word from Ian 2014-15 RI Theme A place to invest? What is a PHF? Who’s off to an NID? Calling Polio Volunteers Good News 1 Update on Polio Eradication Congratulations Good News 2 Thought for Today Good News 3 D1020 Peace Conference Zone Leadership – Your team Laughter is good for you! Events Newsletter Editor Frank Hart-Venn (Exmouth&District) fah.venn@btinternet.com
Help us reach our Goals! John Kenny, our Foundation Trustee Chair, submits that Rotarians are generous people giving to many good, charitable causes in their communities. However, they do not always support their own charity; The Rotary Foundation. John would like to see every Rotary club make a contribution to our Rotary Foundation, remembering that the good we do in the world is limited only by the contributions we receive. He reminds us that when we give to our Foundation, we are not merely sending cash to Evanston. We are, in fact helping a blind man to see, a polio victim to walk, a child to grow to adulthood healthily, a student to become better educated, and a family to have food to eat. The slogan Every Rotarian Every Year means exactly that. Make it a priority to impress on your club the importance of every club supporting our Foundation some way. Endeavouring to highlight each month a 2014/15 goal, John’s October focus is on the new grant structure. The reason for its introduction came from The Foundation Trustees identifying growing needs to improve effectiveness, efficiency and overall economics; with an emphasis on public recognition. Previously, The Rotary Foundation had 12 different programmes each with its own requirements and application procedures supporting humanitarian and educational objectives. We now have just two, District and Global Grants. The Trustees hope that by simplifying the practice Rotarians can reach a greater number of people; enabling us to do more good in the world; reduce operational costs through awarding fewer but larger financial grants; give clubs and districts greater empowerment and ownership of the grant process. John urges us to ensure the progress of the new grant structure through continued participation in our educational and humanitarian projects. Ed. John Kenny
Foundation TrusteeofChair Keeping Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland informed and friends The Rotary Foundation in touch! Care has been taken in the compilation and editing of this newsletter. The information contained on these pages is believed to be correct but opinion may not necessarily be that of The Rotary Foundation. However, the editor and contributors shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from inaccuracies. We trust offence will not be taken by any article and will apologise from any issues arising from them.
19 in Peace & Conflict Resolution The value of these scholarships is $1,935,413.00 (c£1,141,893.00) In addition there are a number of scholars supported by District grants provided by their own districts also studying here. I’m sure readers of this Newsletter will join in wishing the scholars well in their chosen fields. Accurate as of 3rd September. Ed.
A word from Ian Encouraged by your most positive responses we welcome you to the second edition of our Foundation Newsletter, so ably edited by ARRFC Frank Hart-Venn. Frank would be delighted to receive your comments and articles for possible inclusion in the future. I have just returned from speaking at two District Conferences and I am delighted at the response of Rotarians who truly support the idea that the World needs Rotary and the Rotary Foundation to continue to do good in the world. To quote the words of Bill Gates Senior “ back when Rotary became involved with polio most people thought that volunteer organisations were about tackling projects down the street. Rotary changed all that and in the process reminded us that there is no human problem so daunting that it can’t be overcome by people” Ian
What is a PHF? (Paul Harris Fellow)
The Rotary Foundation has pin in order that it can actually be presented on the lapel of an individual, along with a certificate to celebrate an event of special significance. To describe a PHF only in terms of "exceptional service" is far too limiting for the entire Rotary world; disregarding the historical background of the expression of appreciation for a very generous contribution to The Rotary Foundation. RI President Gary Huang reminds us of the But, just as a PHF can be”recognition of exceptional service," it history of the Salk and Sabin vaccines and how can be many other things as well. they proved to be a quick safe and inexpensive The historical fact tool to combat Polio. Our Polio Plus programme In the year l956, the total contributions to The Rotary was born in 1985. Foundation were US$3,722. The Trustees considered how could Due in part to its initial success, in 1988 166 they inspire Rotarians to make bigger contributions? member states of the World Health Assembly They finally came up with the idea of encouraging some unanimously set the goal of global polio Rotarians to make one major gift, by awarding a special form of eradication. public recognition. It was suggested they call them "Paul Harris Today we are nearing that goal. We are on track to Fellows." achieve full eradication by 2018. There were three conditions: any contribution must be at least With the continuing year on year reduction in the $1000; it must be from an individual; and it must be given number of reported cases, we know this is achievable. within a single year. In l957, a monetary gift of $1000 was a October celebrates World Polio Day and the anniversary of Dr seriously substantial amount of money. Thus, there weren't too Salk’s birth. many gifts and, consequently, very few PHFs. In time it was President Gary asks that we “Light Up Rotary” by doing whatever decided that The Foundation could solicit more funding if such we can to spotlight our efforts and through letting our peers and gifts could be collected and given over several years. Thus, after superiors know that polio eradication matters to us. Encourage accumulating $1000, the Trustees would designate the person them to make an investment through us earning a two-to-one as a PHF. match from the Gates’ Foundation. Rotary is to finish the job we Later, it was suggested, that if a club did not have just one have been working on for more than a quarter of a century: the person who could give a $1000 by personal contribution, maybe eradication of polio”. several persons could join together and make the donation. Who then would be the person named as PHF? The place to invest in education! The evolving answer was a Rotary club choose one person who, Zones 17 & 18a incoming Global Scholars perhaps, had long service or some distinguishing characteristics In programme years 2014 and 2015, 53 scholars and name him or her as the PHF. Thus, in RIBI amongst others, from across the world will improve their knowledge in our the concept developed that a PHF could be an award for islands. exceptional service. The result has been that in some such clubs, There are, naturally, 53 of our clubs hosting these scholars a PHF assumed a far different meaning, a reward for exceptional attending 22 of our universities in England, Scotland, Wales and service rather than from its original purpose. Ireland. Today These young men and women are focussing their studies, made Ironically, sometimes in those clubs which chose to limit the possible, through Global Grants funded by clubs, districts and PHF recognition to a form of an "award for exceptional service," The Rotary Foundation World Fund. many Rotarians have been discouraged from making large They will be studying in the following areas of focus personal gifts to The Rotary Foundation since it might be 1 in Water & Sanitation interpreted as merely seeking or buying an "award." So, the per 3 in Maternal & Child Health capita giving in those areas of the world can be seen to be much 3 in Basic Education & Literacy lower than those areas where the concept of a PHF is the 10 in Disease Prevention & Treatment original expression of appreciation for an individual, or in whose 17 in Economic & Community Development name, a gift of $1000 is given.
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Today, over $100,000,000 is raised per year with some 80% of those funds coming from individuals being named Paul Harris Fellows, or naming other persons as Paul Harris Fellows. The value of the PHF So, what is a PHF? Think for a moment of this statement: "A PHF means whatever the Rotary club wishes it to mean." Should The Rotary Foundation accept a $1000 contribution from a club as a way to honour a person for exceptional service? Should The Rotary Foundation accept an individual gift of $1000 as an expression of happiness for 20 years of marriage, or a new grandchild, or success in one's vocation or family life? Should The Rotary Foundation accept $1000 if you really believe in the tremendous value of the humanitarian work of The Foundation in developing parts of the world and thereby express appreciation for your gift by naming you a PHF? Who would reject such contributions? So, the PHF can mean whatever a club wishes it to mean! The Rotary Foundation mission is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The world benefits from all Rotarians contributions, whether indirectly by donation or directly through service. One way the Foundation demonstrates its appreciation is through the means of a PHF. Inspired by the thoughts of Cliff Dochterman, RI President, l99293 Ed.
The aim of a full NID is to immunise 172million children under 5 years old. There is an assumption that the team will be around 60 volunteers. The Rotary Office in Delhi will now allocate three locations where our volunteers will help the local Rotarians. One of these will all be in the state of Uttar Pradesh, one of the poorest states identified as high risk areas by the WHO, one will be in the Punjab, north of Delhi which has a population of 1.8m, 10% of who are under 5 years of age. and one team will stay in Delhi which is again high risk due to the migratory population. The aim is to maintain the high level of immunisation and prevent re-infection from Pakistan. The locations are planned for the following locations, subject to confirmation by the local Rotary Clubs 1. BadaunA poor town six hours drive east of Delhi in Uttar Pradesh. A group not exceeding 24 will be required 2. Patiala an interesting but somewhat crumbling city of with a third of a million citizens in the south of the Punjab. 3. Delhi Although some areas of the city are redeveloped, there are still many shockingly poor slums. Mike Parry
Good News Story 1 Past-President Paul Hickson of the Rotary Club of Kingston, and his wife, Inner Wheel Member, Christine, went to India in November 2013 with a team of Rotarians to take part in a Polio National Immunisation Day (NID Kingston Rotary Club is very proud of what Paul and Christine undertook and achieved. We are able to share experience. In Christine’s words: When I was about 5 or 6 I remember the headmistress telling the school that we were to have a new pupil who was recovering from polio. She was a pretty girl, one of twins, with calipers on her legs, who on a good day could get around with the aid of crutches, but on her bad days was confined to a wheelchair. My most vivid recollection was her spindly, thin legs, which has stayed with me. My mother told me that she caught polio while swimming in the Thames, so for many years we were banned from going anywhere near it. Luckily most young people will not have that memory as there has not been a case in the UK since 1982. A national immunisation programme in the 50s and 60s has meant that the UK has been polio free for over 30 years. Although it is a great achievement, it does mean that many young people are not aware of what polio is, how it is transmitted and what the results are. Indeed Paul tells the story of collecting in Kingston a few years ago for End Polio Now and being asked by a young man why Rotary wanted to stop posh people playing polo!! Jannine
Who’s off to an NID from D1750? ‘A wish to be a bit more hands on in the fight for polio eradication is coming true for President Flick Evans and Past President Maureen De Viell of the Rotary Club of Exeter Enterprise. They have signed up to go to India to take part in the National Immunisation Day on 22 February 2105. Rotarians Maureen and Flick said, “It is so exciting. Since our Club was formed 7 years ago, we have been very engaged in the End Polio Now Campaign, principally by holding an annual themed Sunday lunch for 100 people with all the proceeds going to this vital project. The lunch is very hard work as the Club members cook all the food, but it is great fun – if the theme is Indian we dress up in saris or become maharajas. Now, to be able to go a step further and put into action what we have been striving for is just magic.” Maureen Watch this space for an update on Flick and Maureen’s preparation before they depart to meet up with Rotarians in India. Ed.
Calling PolioPlus Volunteers NID Feb 22 2015 Mike Parry has sent this notice to those who asked to be kept informed about the next National Immunisation Day (NID for short) volunteer group in India Confirmation has been given by the Rotary Polio Office in Delhi that there will be a NID in February 2015.
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Where are we with Polio Eradication?
A “Heart”ening Good News Story 2!
WPV1 cases in 2014 to date: WPV1 cases 2014 to date
As his year as District Governor came to an end on the 30th June 2014, Rtn Kevin Walsh (Rotary Club of Brampton & Longtown, Cumbria) had exciting news to share with colleagues throughout Cumbria & Lancashire. Grant funding had been approved to help local communities provide, much needed, life-saving defibrillators and light weight equipment & training kit for Search and Rescue teams. It also encouraged Rotarians to build on the success, in recent years, of Community Health Fairs (Melas) held in South West Lancashire and Blackpool This £65,000 investment, which included a Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation, has been possible due to the generosity of Rotary Clubs across the District together with Rotary colleagues in Saitama (Japan), Bangalore (India) and South East Scotland. Rotarians are now working with the North West Ambulance Service, a number of Search & Rescue organisations and the National Forum for Health & Wellbeing to implement the various individual projects. Kevin went on to say; "It is unusual for funding on such a scale to be made available in our own District as most of our grants are used to support activities in the developing world. There are needs in all of our communities and I believe the more we do locally the more people will want to help us by joining a Rotary Club or by supporting our service activity and fund raising efforts." DG Roger Mason
2013 at the same time Pakistan 187 39 Rest of the world 35 243 Total 222 282 Pakistan (see table) - The onset of paralysis of the most recent case was 14 September. Afghanistan 10 cases vs. 6 at the same time last year. The most recent case was on 1 September and linked to cross border transmission with Pakistan. Nigeria 6 cases vs. 49 at the same time last year. The most recent case was dated 24 July. 19 cases in the non-endemic countries vs. 188 at the same time in 2013. Cameroon 5 cases vs. none at the same time last year. The most recent case was dated 9 July. Somalia 5 cases vs. 175 at the same time last year. The most recent case was reported on 11 August. Iraq 2 cases. The first cases since 2000 and related to the virus in Syria. The most recent case was reported on 7 April. Ethiopia 1 case vs. 9 cases in the full year 2013. The case was reported on 5 January. Equatorial Guinea 5 cases this year, the first ones since 1999. The most recent case was dated 3 May. Syria 1 case vs. 35 cases in the full year 2013. The case was reported on 21 January. WPV3 cases: No cases reported since 10 November 2012 (In Nigeria.) World Health Organisation interview: Sona Bari, a spokeswoman for polio eradication at the WHO, has been widely quoted this week. I will paraphrase some of the comments made at a press interview: “Pakistan has registered its highest number of polio cases for 15 years. The number of polio cases detected so far exceeds the previous record of 199 infections in 2001. The eradication attempts have been hindered by militants groups who have banned immunisations however, the lack of security is not the only reason for the failure to eradicate the virus. Management and accountability failure on the part of authorities have also contributed to its prevalence. Pakistan is the only country with more than ten cases this year.” Reported by Reg Ling, week commencing 7 October2014.
Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that I am able to inform you that John Dunkley has been appointed by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation to succeed me as RRFC for Zone 18A from 1st July 2015. I am sure that you will all join me in congratulating John and wishing him well in this future role. Ian
h Sept 2014 11am to 4pm Leyland Civic Centre
West Paddock, Foundation PR25 Thought for Today Leyland In the words of Arch Klumph: 1DH “Money alone does little good. Individual service is helpless Free parking without money.available The two together can be a godsend to
civilization.” www.nfhw.org.uk Your financial resources combined with your time, energy and
talent is critical to Rotary’s mission. 89% of your contribution Everyone goes directly to the programs of The Rotary Foundation while 2% is used for administration and 9% is for fundraising. These welcome percentages are remarkable among charities across the world.
This is why The Rotary Foundation gets such high marks from FREE organizations that rank charities. As Rotarians, there is no better place to donate our money. We ENTRANCE get to use our own contributions to do good in the world. support and a comprehensive range of health checks. The organisers gratefully acknowledge the support of all the organisations taking part.
Attendance Some 700 members of the public were registered visitors to the Health Mela although it is possible that some managed to overlook the registration process. Registered visitors came from Adlington, Ashton, Bamber Bridge, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Barrowford, Chorley, Croston, Garston, Hutton, Leyland, Lanarkshire, Lytham, Lostock Hall, New Longton, Preston, Whalley. 100 completed feedback forms were received. Taking this as a representative sample, 25% males attended and 75% females. The age groups of male and female
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The primary aim of the Link Weekend is to encourageage and enable those Global scholars, studying in Great Britain and Ireland, to meet each other, form friendships and experience Rotarian hospitality It is also about getting to know the country, the culture and to meet other scholars. Thanks to the generosity of Welsh Rotarians our incoming scholars could sample host hospitality as provided by local Rotary hosts bursting with bonhomie. They also saw a little of the vibrant city centre of Cardiff and historic buildings such as Cardiff Castle. So, are our incoming Rotary scholars better prepared for life in the UK; Do they understand what Rotary is and what it does; Are they ready for the challenges that lie ahead? Link Weekend gives all of them a great platform in order to grasp the opportunities of their scholarship. Callum
Good News 3! Link Weekend Cardiff September 26-28 2014 As the autumn leaves began to fall, the vibrant city of Cardiff seemed even more raucous when some thirty excited Rotary Global Scholars descended on the city for the rebirth of RIBI’s unique scholar orientation programme after a gap of two years. Known as LINK Weekend, not too many Rotarians realise that the event is solely funded by RIBI and for this year District 1150 in South Wales volunteered to be the organisers.
D1020 Peace Conference After the success of the D1020 Peace Conference, "Take a Chance on Peace" in May, many Districts, nationally and internationally are taking that "chance". D1020 now has its own Peace Advocate Programme. Created by Rotary Peace Fellows, Rotarians and, of course, young people it is free. D1020 Peace Officer Jean Best, with the full support of DRFC Harry Smith was instrumental in launching the Peace Advocate Programme at a breakout session at the RI Convention in Sydney. From this session training is now being given in Queensland, Australia and Missouri, USA. The latter is led by PDG Kate Schwadron, who is working with Peace Fellows from, Argentina, Israel and Uganda. They are organising a visit to train Rotarians, Peace Fellows, teachers and, of course, young people to work through the Peace Advocate Programme. This will allow them to tackle conflict problems in their own communities. They are still working with Peace Fellow Flor Yanez. She is now working with the Mexican Government to put the Peace Advocate programme in all schools. Across RIBI, Jean reports, training has been delivered in three districts. They are now setting up Club Peace Officers to take the programme into their schools. Finally, one District has used the D1020 Peace Conference as a template of their own. It now has a District Peace Officer and 20 clubs have created their own Peace Officers. District 1020 is the lead force in this project and its Foundation team asks for your support to this exciting project which has given proven benefits to communities of young people. Jean advocates four important points to keep you at the forefront of club’s planning 1. Think about training for the Peace Advocate Programme 2. Think about becoming or appointing a Peace Officer in your club 3. Come to the second Peace Conference on Saturday 7th February in Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh. 4. Give your support to create the next leaders of the planet. From D1020 Foundation News DRFC Harry Smith
This weekend was the first event held for Rotary scholars under our new simplified grants system. Each scholar is now essentially a global grant ‘project’ though a few scholars who had been awarded district grants were also present. As anyone who has attended such events or indeed met former scholars, most hailed from either Japan or the USA - the UK is their most popular destination thanks to our world class Universities. The main Rotary International and Rotary Foundation orientation took place on Saturday morning at the Y Senedd (or Welsh National Assembly to all non-Welsh speakers). The orientation programme was a combination of short presentations and facilitated discussions on a wide range of topics: finances, cultural differences, concerns, sexual harassment; host counsellors; and, successful presentations (designed for a UK Rotary audience). As Always we heard the thoughts and experience from a Past Rotary scholar, Joni Alexander, who is Interim Director at the NUS Wales The Link Weekend, led by the avuncular District Rotary Foundation Chair (and District Governor Nominee) Steve Jenkins and District Peace Officer, Alison Sutherland, also incorporated a District 1150 Peace Seminar. This was an apposite addition to the weekend programme; more so because we have found that there are more Global Grant scholars studying Peace and Conflict Resolution than any other Area of Focus. The Peace Seminar attracted excellent speakers such as the well-known, leading peace campaigner Terry Waite. This huge, giant of a man was not familiar to most of our young international scholars; he did however leave a huge impression. Rotary Peace Fellow Melhem Mansour from Syria pointed out how the areas of the world with the most conflict have the fewest peace fellows. He did acknowledge this irony is due to the paucity of Rotary Clubs within the Middle East. There was a good mix of plenary presentations and engaging facilitated group discussion.
https://www.facebook.com/therotarypeaceproject?Ref=hl
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Zone Leadership – Your teams
Laughter is good for you!
17 is led by Allan Maclaughlan (D1020) of the Rotary Club of Currie Balerno email maglox@sky.com and supported by Celia Leach (D1030) of the Rotary Club of Newcastle Gosforth celialeach@blueyonder.co.uk Terry Sykes (D1270) of the Rotary Club of Barnsley Rockley tsykessurvey@aol.com Calum Thomson (D1020) of the Rotary Club of Longniddry and District calthomson@aol.com Mike Parry (D11500 of the Rotary Club of Cardiff Bay mjparry111@hotmail.com; 18a is led by RIBI Foundation Committee Chairman Ian Legge (D1110) of the Rotary Club of New Milton ianlegge1110@btinternet.com supported by John Dunkley (D11200 of the Rotary Club of South Foreland jdunks25@yahoo.co.uk Jannine Birtwistle (D1110) of the Rotary Club of Guernsey paulandjannine@me.com Frank Hart-Venn (D1170) of the Rotary Club of Exmouth & District fah.venn@btinternet.com Reg Ling (D1110) of the Rotary Club of Chandlersford & Itchen Valley reg_ling@talktalk.net
A doctor, lawyer, and a Rotarian in charge of fundraising all die and arrive at the Pearly Gates about the same time. St. Peter tells them they may each have one thing to take with them to Heaven. The doctor is first, and asks for $1 million. This is given and proceeds to enter Heaven. The lawyer, not to be outdone, asks for $2 million. "Very well," say St. Peter and opens the gate to Heaven for the lawyer. Finally, it is time for the Rotarian, who had just finished a fundraising for The Rotary Foundation “End Polio Now” project. St. Peter asks him what he would like to take to Heaven. The fundraiser moves up very close to St. Peter, and in a soft voice asks, "It it's not too much trouble, could I just have the names of those two people who were ahead of me in line?"
Your Rotary Club forwarded your golf clubs and your seven iron will get you a hole-inone on the 7th and 15th greens!
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Based on a cartoon of
Events 8 January 2015 Foundation Committee Meeting Foundation Seminar 29 November 2014 RIBI Alcester Rotary day 23 February 2015 There will be 5 facilitated Regional Assemblies focussing on leadership issues 8 March 2015 Bristol 14 March 2015 London 21 March 2015 Manchester 22 March 2015 Birmingham 28 March 2015 Edinburgh RIBI Conference 10-12 April 2015 Belfast World Polio Day 23 October 2014 Worldwide Bill Huntley Memorial Peace Seminar 25 October 2014 Bradford University
RIBI TRF Team members Alan, John, Jannine, Celia, Terry, Frank, Ian, and Callum with RIBI President Elect Peter Davey and Liaison Governor Roger Mason
The future of this eNewsletter will depend on our readers. Please distribute, comment and contribute. This is by the Zone teams for the support and ownership of Rotarians.. Ed
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