Christmas is almost here!

At last I find myself in a position to put pen to paper again. November was an incredibly busy month with all four weekends away from home.

During the first week I made a visit to the Rotary Club of Brixham on a very blustery and wet evening. The wind was really lashing around the Yacht Club up on the cliff where they meet, and this made their warm hospitality even more welcome.

The following day I attended the Inner Wheel District 17 Rally at Exmouth, where I was also made most welcome, and it gave me an opportunity to catch up with many old friends from my Inner Wheel days.

On Thursday it was an early start for the visit to RC Torbay Sunrise for their breakfast meeting. It was still wet and windy and the sea was lashing on the rocks.

Friday saw me traveling to Germany for the Rotary International Institute in Hanover. When I booked my flight I was delighted to find that I could fly from Exeter and expected it to be a pretty straight forward journey. I didn't bargain with Flybe cancelling all the flights to Hanover from Exeter after the end of October, thus finding that I had to fly from Southampton. The flight was at 10.30 so necessitated a fairly early start from home and after much investigation I decided that a train to the airport was the best option. To make the connection I had to catch the 05.57 train from Totnes, so it was an early start. There were two other connections to make and because of the lateness of the train, I missed the second one! I did, however, arrive in time for the flight and the rest of the journey went reasonably well.

It did turn out to be worth the effort because it was a very useful weekend with some interesting presentations. I joined DGE Paul in Hanover and we travelled home together on Monday. It did, however, take four trains to travel from Southampton airport to home on the return journey.

On Tuesday I visited Newton Abbot club who very quickly made me feel at home and brought me up to speed with all that they are doing. It was a most interesting meeting.

The following day it was time for District Continuity again. This is when the Governor group (PDG, DG, DGE, DGN &DGNN [if there is one]) get together for a chin wag and talk about the things that affect District Governors and the continuity of service in the district.

Then came the highlight of the week. On Thursday RC of Teignmouth Estuary Inaugurated. It was a super evening with Peter Davey, RIBI Membership Development and Retention Chairman and John Banks, RIBI Extension Officer traveling to Devon for the occasion. Many congratulations to all those who have worked so hard. It was a special evening and well supported by all the local clubs.

At the weekend I took a couple of days off to see my family. It was well worth the long drive as I hadn't seen my grandchildren since the beginning of the Rotary year and was really missing them.

When I got back on Monday we were straight into all the District heats for the Young Chef Competition. It never ceases to amaze me the quality and variety of the food that these youngsters produce.

On Friday lunchtime I was off on my travels again, heading for Coventry for the Mid Year Review. This is when all the District Committee Chairmen from RIBI get together to compare notes and see how the year is progressing. I was there to attend the Membership Development group and help with the day. I was fortunate that the weather wasn't too bad and the snow followed me up the country although the journey did take five hours.

I fully intended coming home on Saturday evening so that I could be at Dartmoor Vale's Santa Special on Sunday morning, because it is such a special event and really heralds the beginning of Christmas. My plans were thwarted though, because when I came out of the hotel I found four inches of snow on my car! In the event, I decided to spend the night and Sunday in the midlands as I had a General Council meeting at Alcester on Monday. Common sense prevailed!

Two more Young Chef heats and a Conference Committee meeting and another week drew to an end. This time Les and I were off to Ilfracombe to saver the pleasures of their President's Night. We were so lucky with the weather, with a break from the cold snap and the roads clear of snow. It was an exceptionally good evening, and it seemed that most of North Devon was there, although sadly, President Ian's family couldn't make it out of the snow covered south of England. On Sunday morning our generous hosts Nigel and Jill Vince, treated us to a walk on the cliff in beautiful sunshine and, with good visibility, the views were stunning.

By Monday the temperature had dropped once more and I made my way to RC of Torquay for lunch. They are a busy club and are preparing for their ninetieth birthday in January; what an achievement!

The following day I was with Preston Club for their meeting in the evening. I gingerly picked my way through the weather and am increasingly grateful that I visited the distant clubs earlier in the year when the weather was better.

On Thursday I joined DGE, Paul and Editor, Peter and we spent most of the day with the January edition of the District Magazine before making our way to Tiverton for a District Executive Meeting. This was followed on Friday by Paul and I meeting up again to see Teinbridge MP, Anne Marie Morris to talk about The Big Society. A very useful meeting, and it will be interesting to see how this develops and what comes from our discussions.

This week, after attending my club on Monday, Les and I were off to North Devon again for the Inauguration of RC of Braunton Caen. This was another very special occasion with the new club being heralded by a fanfare. It was a very lively and enjoyable evening. Another hard working group having made the new club possible, and provided an evening club for those who have difficulty making lunchtime meetings. They were also delighted that RIBI Extension Officer John Banks made the long journey from Leigh-on Sea in Essex to be with them.

Thursday saw a second Editorial Meeting and I now only have my own Club's Christmas bash and Christmas lunch at Ashbuton/Buckfastleigh on Tuesday before I can look forward to a very welcome Christmas break.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all:

All the Blessings of Christmas and a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.

I also offer my sincere thanks to you all for the untold hours that you put in on Rotary projects to help those less fortunate and in need.

November is Rotary Foundation Month

Your support of the Annual Programs Fund through the Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative makes it possible for The Rotary Foundation to continue its work of 'Doing Good in the World.'

If you contribute to the Foundation, you advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. You also support Rotary's six areas of focus.

By donating less than the cost of your Sunday newspapers each month, and gift aiding it, you can become a Sustaining Member of the Rotary Foundation. Contributions to EREY are the primary source of funding for Foundation programs.

Here are a few ways in which your contribution makes a difference:

Ø Fighting Hunger: In Romania, orphans and sick children have eggs, milk, and meat because of a Foundation grant that benefits local farmers. The farmers are able to buy everything from animal feed to packaging materials. There is one stipulation: they must donate a portion of their products to children’s hospitals, schools, and orphanages.

Ø Fighting Child mortality: Rotary clubs in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, and Tamil Nadu, India, are helping to reduce child mortality by providing improved sanitation facilities for 15 families in a small community in Sri Lanka. With a Matching Grant , the clubs have built 14 toilets, helping to prevent diarrhea and other diseases related to poor sanitation.

According to the World Health Organization, 1.8 million children die of diarrhea every year, making it the second leading cause of death among children under five. Proper sanitation can reduce the rate of child mortality in many communities by up to a third.

Ø Promoting peace and conflict resolution: Watching civil war tear apart his homeland of Côte d'Ivoire instilled in Rotary Peace Fellow Kouame Remi Oussou a passion to resolve conflict. He is now working for the United Nations Development Programme in the Central African Republic,

Ø Basic education and literacy: Education helps rebuild lives, whether it's in small rural towns or war-torn countries. A literacy project sponsored by Rotarians in conjunction with the International Reading Association (IRA) is helping Sudanese refugees rebuild their communities by equipping them to teach future generations. The Southern Sudan Teacher Training Initiative provides refugees of the country's decades-long civil war, who are known as the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, with teacher training materials, guidance, and support to help them teach students from kindergarten upwards.

Ø Eradicating polio: Around the world, Rotarians are taking millions of steps from walkathons to diving into icy ocean waters to help Rotary fulfill its promise to rid the world of polio. Si Burgher from Indiana, USA, raised almost $1,600 by having his shaggy eyebrows shaved off!

The Rotary Foundation is our very own charity. Please do what you can to support it throughout each Rotary year, and especially this month.

Since I last put pen to paper, I have made a very pleasant visit to RC of Tormohun where the club was showing its support for four young lads who have really demonstrated their compassion by raising several thousands of pounds for Muscular Dystrophy. This followed the loss of one of their friends, and the son of one of the Rotarians in the club, to this debilitating disease.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday Les and I were guests of District 1060 at their Conference in Torquay. 1060 is a large district and had more than 650 registrations! I can dream!! I can also tell you they definitely know how to party, and we had a really fun weekend. Their Governor, David and his wife Sue will be my guests at our conference in February.

The first week in the month is always conference committee month, and things are really beginning to hot up now. The programme and speakers are finalised and the entertainment is booked. I am very excited by the programme that we have prepared for you. It's full of surprises, with something for everyone and I'm amazed by what we seem to have squeezed out from what is really a very meager budget. It's all down to a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work by the Conference Team.

Get your registration in soon, and don't miss out on a very reasonably priced weekend, with all the very best that Rotary has to offer in terms of fun and friendship.

I hope you are all enjoying the first District Magazine of the year. The editorial team have had some really good and encouraging feedback from you.

Please note that the copy date for the next magazine is 7th December

Editor, Peter has been out and about procuring advertising for the January edition and this will enable us to have 20 pages, so we are very much looking forward to receiving some punchy articles about your projects and activities together with action photographs of at least 300dpi.

I understand from district Communications Chairman Les, that the Website News will be up and running very shortly, and I'm sure you will all look forward to that.

I very much hope that you all enjoy your Rotary on the lead up to Christmas with all that it entails with sleighs, Santa's Grottos and parties. Have fun!

Autumn has really arrived now......

The leaves are really changing colour on the trees now, and with the wonderful sunny days that we have experienced during the last couple of weeks, it has been a joy to drive around our beautiful county of Devon.

It was on such a day that I paid my official visit to Tiverton. This is probably one of the most vibrant lunchtime clubs in the district, and they made me very welcome. With six current or past district officers in the club, they have a tremendous knowledge of Rotary, and this must make a significant contribution to the success of the club.

During the week I also took part in my first audio conference meeting of the RIBI Membership Development and Retention Committee. I must admit the prospect of this was quite daunting, and the closer it became the more twitchy I was, but in the event it was fine and I really needn't have worried! It is quite strange though, having a six or seven way conversation over more than two hours on the telephone. It does, however, save RIBI, and consequently members of Rotary, a great deal of money by holding committee meetings in this way.

On Thursday morning Les and I embarked on the mammoth journey to Eastbourne for District 1130's Conference; better known perhaps as 'The London Conference.' There is no easy way to Eastbourne from Devon and the journey took us the best part of six hours. I am no stranger to this conference, as it is the District in which Michael was a Governor many years ago, and I have continued to attend the majority of their recent conferences and do have many friends there.

We were treated like royalty and had a tremendous weekend. The dinner dance on Saturday and the entertainment on Friday were stunning, and I have to say, that I was taking careful note of all the proceedings in order to pick up any useful tips for our own conference in February.

We arrived home late on Sunday evening, having partaken of a very pleasant lunch with the members of the London Conference Committee and the rest of their guests, and I then spent Monday preparing for the week ahead.

On Tuesday there was another very pleasant drive through the Devon countryside to visit RC of Exmoor. They were holding a partner's meeting so Les accompanied me, and also did the driving. It was a lively meeting and I was very impressed by all that they do. They were building up to the Bampton Fair this weekend, and I was very interested to note that they were holding a pony and tack auction. This must be quite unusual for a Rotary club, and I take my hat off to them.

Bampton Fair existed even before King Henry III granted it a Royal Charter in 1258 and it is always held on the last Thursday of October. It is one of the oldest surviving Charter Fairs in the country.


This leads me on to a request to you all. Please don't hide your light under a bushel. You are all doing such exciting and innovative things in your clubs. Please let the rest of the Rotarians in the district know what you are doing by sending a short article and some good quality action photographs to the Editor of the District Magazine, (Peter Thornhill at peter@buckfastleigh.org) so that your ideas and expertise can be shared. That way Rotarians in this district can do even more to help in their communities and further afield.


This week also saw the clubs assembling at Tiverton for the first District Council of the year. PDG George Kempton introduced a very interesting presentation by the RNIB, for a screening programme to detect eye problems. We are very privileged that we have been asked to be the first Rotary district to pilot the scheme alongside our Stroke Awreness day.

As an optometrist, I think that it is a very exciting opportunity for us to help our communities, and I would urge you all to take part in the scheme if you can.

October is Vocational Service Month;

During Vocational Service month, learn how to put your professional expertise to work helping those in need. Vocational service is what makes us different from any other service organisation, and is the golden thread that runs through all that we do.

Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their professions, and to practice high ethical standards in all they do. As business leaders, we share our skills and expertise through our vocations and inspire others in the process. Observed each October, Vocational Service Month spotlights Rotary club projects related to this avenue of service, offering an opportunity for clubs and districts to use their professional skills in service projects.

It's likely that your community has boundless opportunities for volunteer service. Consider mentoring children at a local school or helping with their reading, participate in a neighborhood cleanup day, or conduct mock interviews in your local secondary school. There is no end to what you can do!

During the last week of September I visited the RC of Exeter for lunch at their very swish venue, the Exeter Golf and Country Club. The room where they eat has recently been refurbished and used to be the billiard room. I was fortunate that they also had two other visitors in the form of the President of the RC of Jaipur South and his wife; both Rotarians. They were paying a visit to Exeter as their daughter was beginning a past graduate course at the university. They were from the largest district in the world, District 3050, which covers three states; there are 19 Rotary clubs in Jaipur and his club has 164 members. It makes me feel quite relieved to be a governor in RIBI!

Also during the week I met with your Assistant Governors who, as you all know, are my eyes and ears around the district. This was a very useful meeting because it gave them a chance to compare notes and me a chance to catch up with what is happening in your clubs.

Saturday night was fun night because Exeter Southernhay were celebrating their 20th Charter Anniversary in the Officer's Mess at Lympstone Camp. It was a real party with lots of silly games, and a great time was had by all.

Two days later I was treated to a fantastic mixed grill on my visit to RC of Dawlish. They are a very busy club working hard in their community. Another club with lots of fresh ideas is RC Chudleigh and Bovey Tracey, who I visited the following evening. They really seem to have found their feet now, and will be busy planting 4000 crocus corms during October. I hope the weather holds for them!

They will also be reminding some of the local school children of the lessons they presented on Polio last February. President Vicky has some fantastic lesson plans that she used for Thanks for Life last year, and would be very happy to share them with any interested Rotarians to use for TFL next February.

On Saturday I was honored to present a cheque and unveil a plaque at the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, Seale Hayne on behalf of the Rotary Clubs of Newton Abbot, Dartmoor Vale, Dawlish Water and Ashburton/Buckfastleigh , who have worked together to provide specialist sensory equipment.

The Trust's new enterprise at Seale Hayne is an enormous undertaking, showing enormous vision and their mission is that the enterprise will be run by their adult users who will have either physical or learning disabilities or a combination of both.The space will be a vibrant, inclusive and innovative one and will support community participation, inclusion and cohesion that people will want to be part of.

There will be two elements:

The commercial aspect will provide income, but also bring the world into this community. The adults will run their own commercial enterprises such as the shop, the café, the function room, the lettings service, a small holding with incorporated livestock and public interaction, the gallery, the sports centre and more.

One side of the quadrangle is occupied by artist's workshops and studios, bringing an income. There is a sculpture trail, and a gallery for selling their work which will be run by the users. The adult's creative arts enterprise will produce their own art and they will sell it in that same gallery.A shop will sell the produce from other skills and training courses, and day services will bring value to a true work ethic and serve the wider community. Produce could include honey, wine, vegetables, paper, jewelry, printing, craftwork, manure; the list is endless! A café/bar run by the users will enhance a thriving commercial enterprise and cater for all it’s needs, adding to the community buzz.

On the service side, Dame Hannah Rogers Trust offers a first class multi-disciplinary and holistic service to children, young people and adults. There has long been a growing need to expand the services to meet the wider community through an innovative and carefully planned programme. This will transform access to services for children, young people and adults with disabilities.

There will be a Communication Assessment Centre based in this area; at present our young people have to travel to Bristol for this, together with access to innovative Music & Sensory areas. The use of this kind of facility transforms young people's lives.The centre will become a base for outreach services whereby expert physiotherapy, speech therapy, communication training, and educational advice can be offered.

Currently young people in the South West have to travel 200 miles for Rehabilitation services. These will also be available. There will be access to hydrotherapy facilities in an interactive setting together with holiday lets for the disabled; there is a real shortage in this area. There will also be activity breaks for a day or for a week, giving respite to young people both with or without their families, giving access to a vibrant community, friends and peers alongside exciting activities As you can see, this is an ambitious plan, but it is really beginning to become a reality.

As Rotarians we are able to play an enormous part in this vision on our patch, both by fundraising and by hands-on help. One of the most pressing needs is providing disabled and wheelchair access to some of the buildings, but working parties are also needed to clear out and paint. Many of you will know of the amazing work already carried out by the Trust at the Ivybridge site, and it would be great to see more of our clubs becoming part of this truly amazing vision to help people with disabilities to become a real part of the community. The clubs already working together on this project have shown how much more can be done by cooperation with each other. Why not join them and show that;

Together we can make a world of difference.

September is New Generations Month

We are coming to the end of another busy month and September has been New Generations month. The commitment to getting youth and young adults actively involved in Rotary was strengthened in April when representatives at the Council on Legislation approved New Generations as the fifth Avenue of Service.

New Generations Service acknowledges the positive change implemented by youth and young adults involved in leadership development activities, community and international service, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding. Programs include RYLA, Rotaract, Interact and Roatry Youth Exchange.

This week has been a very busy, mainly because the District Magazine needed to be completed by the beginning of next week, in order to meet the District Membership Committee's deadline for submission to the RIBI PR and Marketing Committee for approval for an extra run of 2000, before going it goes print. It is now safely put to bed, and we can only hope that we have done enough to get the funding.

Besides an Editorial Meeting on Monday, I paid a visit to Sid Valley who made me very welcome and served me scampi and chips, for which I was very grateful as I hadn't had time for lunch! They ran a mini Assembly for me which was terrific, because it gave me a real feel for what they are up to. They have had significant success with membership recruitment, having used the Totnes Plan, and are about to go through the process again. I wish them well and am sure that it will come to fruition.

On Tuesday I made my way to Ashburton/Buckfastleigh club at lunch time. This is the daughter club of Totnes and is consequently a club that I know pretty well. I was honored to be able to induct a new member for them, and much enjoyed their hospitality as usual. In the evening I visited Dawlish Water, a club I had not been to before, although there were some familiar faces. It was a very well trodden route to their meeting place because it is only a few paces from the Langstone Cliff Hotel where we are holding the District Conference, so I didn't have any trouble finding it.

Speaking of the Langstone Cliff, we were amazed to be informed that after less than two weeks of registration being opened, the Hotel is full! Fantastic. Don't despair, however, if you wish to stay overnight, because there is still plenty of accommodation available close by, and you can find it easily by checking out the conference pages on the District website.

On Wednesday, it was heads down again with the District Magazine. We have been fortunate to get some advice from a non-Rotarian who works in PR, and who was able to look at it for us from an outside perspective. We have been busy trying to incorporate his advice.

Thursday saw me with the speech therapist again and she seems to think I am making good progress. The sun was shining when I went in, and it was so warm I decided to leave my jacket in the car. Bad mistake! When I came out it was just beginning to rain, so I decided to make a run for it. Second mistake; just as soon as I was past the point of no return, and without any cover at all, the heavens opened and I got drenched. When I got home it had to be straight into the shower as I was due at the Cliffden Hotel in Teignmouth at 6.00, where the provisional club of Teignmouth Estuary were holding a members interest meeting. They had a very good turnout and it was a well run and nicely casual evening, which I am sure will prove successful. I hope the organisers will be prepared to pass on their knowledge and experience to help in the formation of more new clubs in the District. They are hoping to Charter in November.

On Saturday morning I was back with the Magazine again, putting what is hoped are the final touches to it. It just needs a few very minor tweaks now and it should be safely put to bed ready to go to Nova on Monday, and in time for her meeting on Tuesday night.

That's the end of another week, and only leaves the preparation for next week and this blog to be completed and I can put my feet up!

The shades of autumn have arrived..........

Another weekend; they come around so quickly, and time to update the blog again. I am beginning to feel that it must be getting very repetitive for those of you who are reading this, but I'm told that it's the modern way, so here goes.

I spent most of Monday dealing with matters Rotary. I am sure Club Rotarians would be amazed how much goes on behind the scenes. Generally, you only see what is happening in your own club, and not always all of that, but when that's multiplied by 48 and you add to it RI, RIBI and District paperwork, it's amazing how much time it takes.

In the evening I attended my own club meeting. That is always a relaxation for me, as I can sit back, be myself and enjoy the proceedings as just an ordinary member of the club.

On Tuesday I visited Kingsbridge Estuary. Why is it always wet when I visit Kingsbridge? It was a particularly nasty evening, and as I drove through the low cloud in daylight, I pondered that it would be an even worse journey when it was dark on the way home! Stupidly, although I knew that the venue was The Seven Stars, I hadn't set my sat nav because I thought I knew where it was. I was, of course, quite wrong and had to stop to ask the way. The club had needed to change their venue since my last visit. When I arrived, I found that the car park was completely full, so had to make my way back to the Quay car park. Then umbrella in hand, and hoping that I wouldn't do an impression of Mary Poppins because of the wind, I traipsed across to the Seven Stars where there was, as usual, a warm welcome waiting for me from President David and his members.

On Wednesday, I again spent several hours with the District Magazine before pulling my papers together and heading off to a District Foundation Committee Meeting in Exeter. This committee, under the very able leadership of Frank Hart Venn, takes on all the complexities that surround the management of our very own charity in this District. They are a hard working team, each with their own speciality, and pull together the funding for the educational and humanitarian projects of The Rotary Foundation in which we participate.

A significant improvement in the weather, saw me making my way back to the seaside for lunch with Paignton on Thursday. I was back on home territory here with a member of the Bay Club Group, and a familiar club and venue. I was early enough to enable a good chin wag with some of the members before lunch, and it was a lively meeting with a couple of visiting Rotarians from District 1060 whose conference I will be attending at the Riviera Centre at the end of October.

Following a very moving presentation to my own club, Totnes by the local charity Lifeworks, the club members agree that they wished to provide some kind of support for them. It was arranged that the members would support their 'Breaking the Barrier' surfing day at Bigbury on Sea on Saturday by providing the barbecue, and I was delighted to be able to give my support.

The sun shone, a band played, the children made sandcastles and played football and there was traditional Punch and Judy. It was a perfect beach party and a joy to see the smiles of the faces of these young people.

Lifeworks aims to tackle exclusion, disadvantage and inequality as it concerns children and young adults with learning difficulties. It is the collective name for all the services and facilities of The Bidwell Brook Foundation.

Breaking the Barrier is a day of free surfing sessions for learning disabled children between the ages of 8 and 25 as an introduction to the experience of surfing. The event consists of individual sessions for the young person with one to one instruction from a qualified coach who has knowledge of additional needs, a personal support assistant in the water and full support for first aid and lifeguarding. There is also be group introductory lessons for a parent/carer or sibling to enable them to support and participate with the young person in the future.

Back in Harness; Week beginning 6 Sepember......

Well, here I am back in harness after a week's rest and relaxation in the Italian Alps. I use the word 'rest' loosely because I seem to have done a tremendous amount of walking, and even managed a 62 kilometer bicycle ride one day. Something of which, I have to confess to being quite proud at my time of life, because I really didn't think I could still do it! So, lots of exercise and plenty of time cuddling Les's gorgeous 12 week old baby granddaughter, Ingrid should have put me back on track!


On Monday I made two 'A' Visits. The first, at lunchtime to RC of Kingsbridge accompanied by their AG Peter. We were, as always, made most welcome, and if it hadn't been for the torrential rain, which was coming down in stair rods, it would have been a very pleasant diversion.

On Monday evening I made my way to Exmouth to visit Exmouth Rayleigh. There was time for a good chat with members before the meeting, and it was wonderful to see how seriously they are taking the new membership campaign on board, and how hard they are working towards its success.

On Tuesday, after a very long appointment with a speech therapist who is endeavouring to put some strength back into my newly acquired croaky voice, I spent my time in several small meetings, before curling up in a chair and taking a break during the evening.

Wednesday saw the sun shining again. This was very pleasing because I was due to visit RC of Salcombe for lunch. It is such a beautiful spot, particularly when the sun shines and I always enjoy my visits there. It may be a small club but it has a very big heart, and they are very good at making visitors feel welcome. Perhaps because they have so many! It you're looking for something pleasant to do on a sunny Wednesday lunchtime, where better than the Salcombe Club for lunch at The Salcombe Yacht Club overlooking the estuary.

On Wednesday evening I went along, again with AG Peter, to visit RC of Ivybridge who were holding a Membership Interest meeting at the new Watermark Centre. It was a very well thought out and well structured evening for which my sincere congratulations go to the club, and I am sure that we will see a surge in their numbers in the near future as a result. Many congratulations to Olly and his team.

On Thursday we were again blessed with a sunny day, and again I was able to be in another of Devon's beautiful and interesting places, as I took lunch with RC of Dartmouth at the Royal Castle Hotel overlooking the river. Dartmouth is a lively and vibrant club, and demonstrates how well a lunchtime Rotary Club can flourish in the right environment.

Friday saw me getting down to some paperwork and other pressing chores. I must make a note not to take another break too soon, as I am still trying to get to the bottom of the hundreds of emails that awaited me on my return home! I also spent several hours with the Distinct Magazine. Hopefully, by Monday I should be prepared for another week!

I wasn't wrong in thinking it would be a really busy weekend! I left home on Sunday at 08.00 and fortunately it was a beautiful day. The three hour drive to 'head office' was pretty straight forward at that time on a Sunday morning, and I arrived in time to find a large group of my fellow Governors happily chatting in the car park and waving to each new arrival. Having now worked together for over two years we are a pretty close knit group, and it is always great for us to meet up together.

At 11.00 we assembled in one of the upstairs meeting rooms around a large table and under the chairmanship of one of our number, to report on the Thanks for Life and crocus news in our districts. Some was very exciting from an event in Trafalgar Square on 1 October, to planting around The Angel of the North, at Castle Howard and many more. We brainstormed until lunch, and all in all it was an extremely useful and productive meeting.

After our sandwiches we assembled in the Council Chamber which is quite an imposing room in which we all have our own seat. The meeting is chaired by the RIBI President, Big Jim, but also at the head of the room are the Secretary/CEO, the RIBI Treasurer, the IPP and PE. To one side also in attendance are our RI Director and the President Nominee. We worked our way through the extensive agenda until about 18.00 when we made our way to check in at our hotel. We then met in groups to discuss a short presentation which had been put to us by the chairman of the RIBI Membership Committee and Head of Marketing, David Bryant, following which it was time for dinner and then bed.

On Sunday morning breakfast was at 07.30 before making our way back to the resumption of General Council. The weather was horrendous and the rain was coming down in sheets, but hey ho, we were all in the dry.

After a sandwich lunch and a quick chat among ourselves about what we had experienced and the decisions made, it was time to load our cars with the Crocus PR materials; a very wet job! I have to say, some of it was very heavy, so I will be doing a bit of body building before the next General Council meeting in case there is a repeat performance. It was then time to brace myself for a very wet drive home during which I encountered significantly more traffic than on the way up.

I arrived home just before 18.00 and as soon as I entered the house I felt absolutely shattered, but I wanted to attend my own club meeting where we were entertaining our new, young local MP, so i made myself a cup of tea and got my act together.

I was so pleased that I had made the effort, because I soon got my second wind and really enjoyed her presentation and listening to her answer the questions from our club members and visitors. I think it is safe to say, that a very good evening was had by all including our special guest.

Tuesday was definitely catch up and preparation day for the rest of the week. There had been no time or opportunity to deal with messages or emails while I was away and this is usually my first task each day.

On Wednesday lunchtime I made a very pleasant visit to RC of Teignmouth accompanied by DGN Graham who is endeavouring to familiarise himself with some of the clubs in south Devon.
It was still pouring with rain and I have a feeling that I may be developing webbed feet!

When I got home, having consulted with District editor Peter, I did some work for the Magazine which I believe is coming along very nicely.

Thursday saw me preparing for the District Executive meeting at Tiverton that evening along with a visit to the dentist. it's amazing how hard it is to fit in these personal things at the moment!

It was a long agenda and we didn't get away as early as I had hoped. This was probably my fault as I'm still on a learning curve, but I must try to get through the business more quickly. As it happens, we wouldn't have got home any sooner because we were held up for an hour and a half on the M5 by the horrendous accident that happened at about 21.00. I was pleased that I wasn't on my own because it's quite disconcerting sitting in a stationary car on a motorway in the dark.

I am now going to take a short break in the North of Italy to recharge my batteries so no blog next week. Hooray!

Another week; another month nearly at an end........

Having put last week's Blog to bed, read the forthcoming General Council papers and put in a little work for next week's club visits, this weekend provided some very welcome relaxation, with a couple of days spent taking in the fresh air and beauty of our countryside and coastline. We walked part of the South West Coast path from Coleton Camp and across Scabbacombe Head, and were blessed with excellent weather. The following day, still taking advantage ot the good weather, we attacked the area west of Plymouth including Rame Head.

On Tuesday morning it was necessary to get up at the crack of dawn---do you realise it was still dark? This must be service above self! I was making a visit to Exeter Southenhay for breakfast where they made me very welcome. It was a lively meeting in a very pleasant venue, and I much enjoyed my time spent with the members.

Tuesday evening saw us at the home and business of one of my own club members, where we were running children's entertainment, a disco and barbecue for the residents on his touring caravan site. Fortuitously, the weather held after a very worryingly wet morning! This is something we usually do three times during the summer, weather permitting, and proves to be not only a good fundraiser but also an excellent fellowship evening for the members.

On Wednesday I made my way to Sidmouth for lunch. Unfortunately the weather wasn't of the best to visit this very desirable place, which was very much a favourite spot for my late mother and her sister. I spent many a happy time taking my elderly aunt to Sidmouth in her later years, as it was the place she almost invariably chose if I was taking her out for the day.

The inclemency of the day was very much made up for by the hospitality and charm of the members of the Sidmouth club who made me very welcome, even to the extent of arranging for someone to park my car for me! I had a superb lunch and they made me feel very spoilt. Make a note: must go there again soon!

On Wednesday evening I paid a visit to Babbacombe and St Marychurch. This was obviously the day for Rotary gallantry because President, Charles also made a great fuss of me, and I much enjoyed our discussions during supper. This is another club that this District can be very proud of, and one which has really turned round in the last few years. They have a number of excellent major local projects on the go, and are actively and very successfully recruiting younger Rotarians.

For those of you looking to improve your club websites I would suggest you have a look what Babbacombe have done with theirs. It is excellent and very welcoming.

On Thursday I was up at the crack of dawn again, this time to visit Exeter Enterprise. Two breakfast meetings in a week, with a fair amount of driving involved certainly take their toll! They are an amazingly lively bunch for that time in the morning, and I can certainly recommend their excellent breakfast. There was a real buzz of conversation in the room and they are obviously a very vibrant club who will easily attract younger members.

Following the meeting to Enterprise I went over to Buckfastleigh for an editorial meeting of the magazine, where I spent a very stimulating hands on six and a half hours helping with the compilation of the next District Magazine. We really are working very hard to get this right and make it, not only something that this District and its members can be proud of, but also a good PR and marketing tool for us to use, particularly in our membership recruitment.

Here I am on Friday; shortly I have a mini Conference Meeting with Conference Manager David and Jan Lewis who will be looking after registrations.

Friday is usually the day when I update the blog and make the initial preparations for the following week. It is slightly different today because I have to prepare for a two day General Council Meeting at Alcester which starts on Sunday and is preceded, this time, by a meeting with our Thanks for Life coordinators. I guess it will be a busy weekend!

Another week begins.......

The new week started with my own Club meeting on Monday evening. I really enjoy being at home in Totnes because it gives me a chance to sit back, relax and enjoy the vitality and fun of my own club.

Tuesday saw me at Otter Valley. They have are just coming to the end of their very successful project Sail4Heros and are still on a high. The project was run in cooperation with Ottery St Mary 41 Club. Chris Highnam, RC Secretary sailed his yacht, Stenfis from Sutton Harbour, Plymouth to HMS President which is permanently moored on the Thames and where a promissory note was handed over to Simon Weston on behalf of the charities. The journey followed the South Coast of England taking in all of our naval ports as well as passing many of the home bases of our armed forces.

On the journey Chris was accompanied each day by another sailor plus at least one injured service person. There was also room on the boat for two more people who paid a sponsorship fee to join a day of the sail.

The sail was supported by a land team, and also by many Rotary Clubs along the way, showcasing the power of clubs and Districts working together.

Very well done Otter Valley!

On Wednesday I attended a meeting of the District Youth Opportunities Committee chaired my Gordon Peacock of RC Exeter Enterprise. The members of the committee are an exceptional team working very hard and devoted to providing exciting opportunities to develop and foster the skill of our young people in District 1170. Please keep an eye on the Youth Opportunities page on the District website as it gets updated with the latest information, and use the committees knowledge and skill if you need any help or advice in this area

Thursday saw me visiting another of our clubs; this time Dartmoor Vale of Santa Special fame, an amazing project and something which never ceases to touch the hearts of all those who experience it.

They are seriously considering sponsoring a RYLA student this year. This is an area of Youth Service that I would commend to you all. Run by RC Okehampton in this District, RYLA is an underused resource with only 18 participants this year. It is a fantastic opportunity for these youngsters, and they definitely find inner strengths and capabilities that they didn't know they had.

Dartmoor Vale made me very welcome, and I much enjoyed my evening in the company of President Anthony and the members.

A new month begins....Rotary Membership Development and Retention Month.

Well, it's Monday again! How time flies; I can't believe that we are into the second month of the Rotary year.

Today I visited two fairly small clubs, both of which manage to carry out service projects and social activities of which bigger clubs would be proud. I had a super lunch with Honiton in pleasant company at their lovely country retreat. Mind you, I did for a few moments wonder where Jane, my 'sat nav guide' was taking me! After the meeting I travelled home to tie up a few more Rotary ends before travelling to Seaton, were I was due at their evening meeting. They meet at a small private hotel in Colyford where I was provided with a splendid supper; I can certainly recommend the fish. It turned out to be a business meeting and these are of great interest to District Governors. It's quite amazing how much you learn about a club, and shows how very bad we are at blowing our own trumpet and how much of our good work we don't make public.

Mid afternoon on Tuesday, Les and I made our way back to Exeter and along the A30 to Great Torrington. The club meet at the Black Horse Inn which is reputedly one of the oldest Inns in North Devon and was originally a 16th Century coaching inn with civil war connections. It is a venue full of character and charm. Torrington have recently changed their meeting time from lunch to 6.30 p.m. and are finding it to be very successful, adding a new dimension of leisure to their meetings, as they no longer have to watch the clock. They were also glowing from the recent success of a Sunday Lunch fundraiser that they had just run. There was much talk of Cornish comedian Johnny Cowling who had entertained them and made them laugh so much that they cried!

On Wednesday District Editor Peter and I had a working lunch with 1290 District Communications Chairman Ken Sharp, and Geri Parlby, current President of the Tavistock club but also of RePOD fame, who wanted to discuss District magazines with us. We had a very useful meeting and they went back to Cornwall to consider what they had seen and heard.

Wednesday evening, being the first one of the month, was our regular Conference Committee meeting. This is a mammoth task for Conference Manager David and the members of the Totnes club, but they are very much taking it into their stride and all the signs are good for a bumper conference in February. Watch this space!

CONFERENCE 2010-2011

25-27 February 2011

Langstone Cliff, Dawlish Warren

(Golf Competition 24-02-2011)

On Thursday I was back on the road to visit Crediton club for lunch. Another warm welcome and another very good lunch. This club has been organising the Young Technologist Competition, but it seems they need to pass the arrangements on to another club this year and are looking for volunteers, so please let them know if you can help.

August is Rotary membership and extension month, and that couldn't be more appropriate for District 1170 at present. Thursday evening saw the first planning meeting for the Exeter and Exmouth clubs who are to be involved in the membership recruitment campaign for which we have won RIBI marketing and PR support. This is due to the hard work and vision of District Membership Chairman, Nova to whom our sincere thanks must go.

This is an amazing and exciting opportunity, not only for his group of clubs to work together, but for this District to have some really substantial gains in its membership, not only in and around the city of Exeter but also further afield. With the right mindset and determination we can make a real difference. It is a one off chance and we will not let it slip through our fingers.

Membership must be at the forefront of our thinking whatever we are doing if Rotary is to thrive in this District and these islands. Without members we cannot carry out service, so it must be a fundamental and integral part of all our activities.

Please remember to consider the membership dividend in all your activities.

On Sunday 18 July Les and I had the pleasure of attending Rotoproj, the fantastic District Project run by the two Rotary Clubs in Kingsbridge. In the morning at about 10.30, the coaches arrived carrying the five hundred plus disadvantaged young people and adults who had been invited for a day out. Many of them had been looking forward to it for months, having attended the event for several years. They spent the morning enjoying the thrills of the fun fair rides, generously donated for the occasion by David Rowlands and his family. In the background a jazz group was playing, and clowns on stilts were walking about.

Soon it was lunch time and everyone made their way to the sports hall were they feasted on Cornish pasties, crisps, chocolate bars and fruit, all washed down with a fizzy drink. After lunch it was time to rearrange the hall for the entertainment and disco. I think it’s safe to say, judging by the smiles and laughter, that a great day was had by all, including the Rotarians who turned out in force from several local and not so local clubs to help and give their support.

Monday 18 July saw us back on the road with a lovely picturesque journey up to lunch with RC Holsworthy. President, Pam was a great host and we much enjoyed our visit. We were very graciously hosted to tea and biscuits in the afternoon by Governor Nominee Graham Smith and his wife Pauline, and it gave Graham and me a great opportunity to discuss topics of interest to Governors and Governor Nominees before making our way to Hatherleigh for their evening meeting. They were most welcoming and I was very impressed by the amount of money that they manage to raise for good causes working together with Crediton Boniface to run a two day Beer Festival.

As we left Hatherleigh, just as it was getting dark, the heavens opened and we experienced a dark and very wet drive in torrential rain up to Ilfracombe, where their club President Ian had kindly offered a night’s B&B before our visit to his club
The following morning there was little improvement in the weather but we braved the elements to make our way down into the town to visit St Nicholas Chapel and lighthouse on Lantern Hill, renovated and looked after by the Rotary Club of Ilfracombe and open to visitors. It is a tiny Chapel dating from 1321 and is a great project giving the club a very high profile in the community.

At lunchtime we attended a meeting of the club, who were very welcoming and gave us an insight into some of the things that they do, following which, after tea and biscuits with Ian and Cynthia, we made our way in pouring rain back southward, to visit RC Crediton Boniface for supper.

Boniface is a small club in numbers but certainly punches above its weight in terms of many of its efforts. One of their community projects is to plant and maintain planters at the entrance to the town. What a great PR exercise! I was very flattered that I was even treated to a special Grace written for the occasion! Thank you Slim.

'When I was young, of tender years with spots upon my face
I'd take a tranny into bed for Journey into Space.
Then TV came and sci-fi grew, our heads still turned to Heaven,
And on our screens came into view that awful show Blake's Seven.
But colour sets and new effects and techniques of the highest tech
Gave rise to Scotty, Kirk and Spock and all that makes that great Star Trek.
And now our new DG will go where others fear to go,
Where Klingons wait to ambush her, that's right it's on the road to Bow.
But Carole fear not you're safe with us, please dine and have some fun,
And when you've drunk the final toast it's Totnes Warp Factor 1.'

Rtn Slim Savage 10 July 2010

Tuesday evening saw me attending a meeting of the District Training Committee. We are so lucky to have such a strong and talented committee carrying out this essential job under the very able leadership of PDG George Kempton. Last year the whole of the District training and development programme was revised and modernised, and the committee are now consolidating their approach for this year, and incorporating the lessons that have been learned from last year's programme.

On Thursday it was back again to North Devon for lunch with Rotary Club of Bideford. Another happy occasion where I was delighted to receive greeting from the ladies of Inner Wheel. Bideford were busy finalising their arrangements for their Water Festival, and I am sure it will make a large splash and be a wonderful success.

On Friday I hosted a meeting of the District Continuity Committee in my home (we take it in turns). This is the committee where past governors and those in the succession chain, discuss items that will ensure the smooth running of this District from year to year, so that we can avoid the dreaded 'stop/start Rotary'.

Sunday saw Totnes Rotarians out in force to man the car parking for the Totnes Show. This was the first time that it hadn't been held on a weekday, and it was a real success with the weather being kind and the sun shining.

After attending my own club meeting on Monday 26 August, I headed up to South Molton for lunch on Tuesday. I arrived a little early so that President, Kathy could take me along to see their Charity shop and meet some of its staff. It is an amazing effort as it runs the whole year round, under the leadership and guidance of club member Helen Macintosh. It has also gained a reputation for its sale of school uniforms which has raised its profile in the town.

On Wednesday we were back up to North Devon again. This is now a well worn track, and I am getting more familiar with the journey. It's amazing how you spot something different every time you go. Bideford Bridge meet at the oldest Golf Links in England where they are very spoiled by the culinary expertise. It was a lively meeting where we were made very welcome by President, Steven and all the members. Bideford Bridge run the very impressive 'Breath of Life' project supplying simple anesthetic machines to third world countries where they save the lives of many young babies and their mothers.

Following another night of B&B with George and Margaret Kempton we left for lunch at Okehampton. We had managed to choose a time when most of the roads in Okehampton seem to be closed, but with fantastic instructions from President Andy, we found our way to their temporary home at Okehampton Golf Club with ease. This is another lively club, and I have to say, that it is a real joy to sit back and listen to the buzz of conversation and friendly banter as I make my visits.

Friday morning saw me back in Okehampton for the RYLA awards. This is such a terrific programme for our young people, and I would urge all our clubs to seriously consider sponsoring at least one candidate. They learn so much from it.

Wow! A weekend off! Just some preparation for next week.

District Governor's Blogg- The year begins-----

The District Handover took place on Sunday 4th July at Dartington Hall which is a wonderful venue for Sunday lunch. The weather was kind and the drizzle held off just long for us to drink our Pimms on the lawn before lunch. In many ways we were quite pleased to see the skies cloud over, as it was planned to show a video as part of my address, and there is no way of covering the large windows in the Great Hall. The idea was that those assembled weren’t just talked at for the whole of the formalities.

The video, Star Trek 9½: The District Adventure, is now available to view on the District website and is entitled ‘Our Voyage’ It did its job by sending us home smiling, so I think we can say we had a very happy day.

I gathered myself together on Monday and set off mid afternoon for an RIBI Membership Development and Retention Committee (MDRC) meeting at Alcester on Tuesday. I have given you the abbreviation because you soon find that you have a whole host of these to learn once you get anywhere near General Council and RIBI committees. It wasn’t my first trip to ‘Head Office’ so it wasn’t too daunting, but it was the first time I had gone there to work. It turned out to be a pretty intensive day with a working lunch, finishing just before 4.00 p.m., but I enjoyed it immensely and I felt that we had achieved a great deal, although I did have to brace myself for the three hour drive home.

Wednesday saw me with a local meeting with a club President in the morning followed by my very first Club visit to RC Exe Valley in the evening. They turned out to be a lively bunch and were very hospitable. I had a most enjoyable evening and it was particularly interesting to attend a business meeting. It certainly put me in the mood for more and left me looking forward to the next one.

On Monday 12th July I found myself having ham, egg and chips with RC Exmouth after a good chin wag with a number of the members in the hotel bar. It was fortuitous that I saw a member of the club whilst trying to find somewhere to park my car, and he pointed me in the right direction to find a bit of free car parking. They were a very hospitable and friendly group, and I much enjoyed their company.

Monday saw me doing an official visit to my own club of Totnes; a very strange feeling being a guest in your own club, and in a way a bit daunting because they know the person behind the public image. They were, however, gentle with me and I am, of course, one of their biggest fans. It was a first as Governor too, because I inducted three new members into the club. Totnes, have I hope set the trend, so let’s have lots more inductions during the year!

On Sunday 18 July Les and I had the pleasure of attending Rotoproj, the fantastic District Project run by the two Rotary Clubs in Kingsbridge. In the morning at about 10.30, the coaches arrived carrying the five hundred plus disadvantaged young people and adults who had been invited for a day out. Many of them had been looking forward to it for months, having attended the event for several years. They spent the morning enjoying the thrills of the fun fair rides, generously donated for the occasion by David Rowlands and his family. In the background a jazz group was playing, and clowns on stilts were walking about.