March is Literacy month........

March is Literacy month and that seems most appropriate as we have just completed, what I am assured by members was a very successful district Conference with literacy as its theme.




We have been in the season of Rotary's youth competitions and I have been privileged to attend several district finals of both Youth Speaks and Young Chef, as well as the final of Okehampton's Primary school Quiz. The confidence and expertise of these young people certainly gives us hope for the future.


As you can imagine, a great deal of time during the last couple of months has been taken up with the final preparations for the District Conference at the end of February. During that period we also saw clubs preparing for Rotary Day on 23 February, when they publicised Thanks for life and Polio Eradication. The crocuses came out just in time, and there are areas of Devon were it looks as if someone has been at work with a giant purple paintbrush.

I also hope you all saw the national advertising in the quality daily papers on 23 February.

I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and all it had to offer, as I hope did those of you who managed to attend. The Rotary Club of Totnes had put in a great deal of effort and many, many Rotarian hours, and I think it showed. Certainly the comments, e mails and cards would support the view that it was not only well attended but well enjoyed.

I have also been busy with President's Nights and presentations of Paul Harris Fellowships. It is very satisfying to see clubs honouring their fellow members for their commitment to Rotary service and it is a privilege to be asked to make the presentations.

Since I last put pen to paper I have also attended a two day General Council meeting at Alcester. It was a long meeting with a very full agenda and included consideration of the motions to be put to the business meeting in Dublin, where I hope I will meet up with many of you.

Last Saturday saw Les and I making our way to Exmoor for Ilfracombe Club's legendary night orienteering fundraising event, Star Trek. It was still light when we arrived just before 18.00, and we could see the layout of the very impressive base camp.

The teams were already arriving and there was a great sense of excitement everywhere. Those managing different aspects of the event were working hard, and the efficiency of the organisation of the event was much in evidence.

The field kitchen was already in full swing providing hot and cold drinks and ham and cheese rolls to competitors and helpers alike, and there was a quiet bustle in the tent where equipment was being checked to ensure the safety of the walkers.

I was able to see the various groups at work, and was able to visit the control centre where Raynet worked alongside Rotarians to monitor the progress of the teams as they checked in at the various check points.

After the majority of the teams, having synchronised their watches, had been dispatched, I was taken to visit the four check points, each of which was housed in a caravan and provided fresh drinking water for the competition.

The course was eighteen miles long and it made me tired just thinking about it. Teams began arriving back at base for the half way stage just before 22.30, and were again offered food and drinks. This time hot pasties and soup which was very welcome, before they went back our onto the moor for the second half.

I was incredibly impressed by this project which has now been running since 1992, and raises many thousands of pounds for charity every year. The organisation is detailed and slick with full club input, and the new club of Ilfracombe Compass working alongside. There are many helpers from charities that benefit from the money raised, and also from others, some Rotarians and some not, who just feel privileged to be a part of the event.

I am so pleased that I made the effort to go along and see this for myself. It was far bigger, better and bolder that I had imagined and is a monumental effort by the Rotarians concerned. Everyone is full of smiles and getting on with whatever job they are able to do. It is certainly Rotary at its very best.