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.