RotaRy in London

In thIs Issue

BrIghtenIng futuresIn ZImBaBwe

rOtaraCt CLuBs InCrease

ParLIament COmes tO YOrk gate

COnferenCe “a resOunDIng suCCess”

The Magazine for the Rotary Clubs of London, District 1130 of Rotary International

winter 2016

super Dg Doll travels to help raise money for enD POLIO nOw

On page 10 Bulgaria Rotary’s District Governor, Nina Miteva, brings us up to date with her District’s remarkable public relations collaboration. Why is something similar not happening here? January’s Marketing Seminar, which RI Public Image Coordinator Mike Thorn so competently organised, demonstrated the need for this.

Marketing is the wrong discipline for Rotary’s public relations issues. The Chartered Institute of Marketing defines marketing as “the management process for identifying, analysing and satisfying customer requirements profitably”. It is about finding out what people want to buy and providing the right products or services at a profit.

Public relations is defined by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations as “the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organisation and its public”.

It is about explaining what Rotary is so that it establishes good relationships with its publics.

RIBI should not depend on its Districts and Clubs to manage its strategic public relations. Members are all voluntary and public relations is a skilled, highly professional and demanding occupation, which if managed well can bring immense benefit to an organisation.

RIBI should have fulltime professional public relations advice. This would be continually explaining what Rotary Clubs do and seeking the public’s goodwill towards their work. It would also carry out other aspects of public relations – identifying what attitudes the public have to Rotary, influencing these attitudes and managing the behaviour that results from such attitude changes.

It should also run a continuous public relations advice service, along the lines of that managed by NALGO (National & Local Government Officers Association), now part of Unison. When I worked for NALGO I was immensely impressed with the way its publicity staff fostered public relations units in its branches and were always at the end of the telephone to guide them in their public relations activities.

Public relations is above all the conscience of any organisation, ensuring its commitment to corporate social responsibility. This applies to as much to Rotary as to any other organisation.

It is time RIBI took public relations as seriously as Bulgaria Rotary is already doing, if it is to continue to carry out its work.

Rotary in London will be glad to publish a response from RIBI to this leader.

Jane hammOnD, eDItOr

A MESSAGE FROM THE DG ..........................................1

vOcATiOnAl

Brightening futures in Zimbabwe ...............................................................3

ROTARAcT

Rotaract Clubs Increase ........................................5

yORk GATE

The Rotary Club of Valencia-Centro in Spain twins with Edgware & Stanmore Rotary ............................7Parliament comes to York Gate ......................7

cOnFEREncE 2015

Conference “A resounding success” .......8-9

cORRESPOnDEncE

Have your say ....................................................10-11Speakers’ Panel ...................................................... 11

OUT AnD ABOUT

Rotary thanks District 1130 Rotarians for their work ................................... 13Pesh participates in half marathon ............ 13DisAbility Games Successful again .............15Rotary joins forces with WheelPower for New Year’s Day Parade .............................15Bella tops the target ...........................................15

lAST WORDS

Ready to lay Rotary’s wreath.........................16Crocuses will bloom in Providence Row ................................................1665 sit down to Christmas lunch in Barnet ................................16Can you spot Ré Johnson? ..............................16Mish Mosh .................................................................16

Cover photography & map: Rye Design.

rIBI needs full time public relations advice

the views expressed above are those of the editor only.

Information is published in good faith, but does not necessarily represent the views of the Editor of Rotary in London or of London District 1130. No liability is accepted for the actions of advertisers, as advertisements are accepted at face value. The Editor welcomes news items, articles, photographs and letters, but is not obliged to publish unsolicited material, reserving the right to edit for clarity and length. Contributors must ensure that material submitted never breaches copyright and must obtain necessary permission in writing for reproduction No responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage to material submitted to Rotary in London magazine.

ROTARy in lOnDOnThe quarterly magazine of the Rotary Clubs of London is published by District 1130 of Rotary International.

EDiTORJane Hammond / trident@btconnect.com 46 La Providence, Rochester, Kent ME1 1NBTel: 01634 847 772

PicTURE EDiTORClive Bubley / clive@bubley.co.ukTel: 020 8455 8208

ASSiSTAnT EDiTOR & ADvERTiSinGMargaret Cooper / ma_grooper@yahoo.co.ukTel: 020 8505 5996 / Mob: 07542 020 616

DESiGn/PRinTinGRye Design / mail@ryedesign.co.uk Tel: 01634 818168

SUBMiSSiOnSEmail copy and high resolution images to the Editor or by post to the address shown left. All images also to clive@bubley.co.uk and pix@rotaryinlondon.org

welcome

nEXT iSSUEThe next edition of ROTARy in lOnDOn will be the Spring issue. The deadline for submitting your copy is 14 April 2016.

contents

We were delighted by the positive feedback from the membership. You liked the new format, felt it was more inclusive and promoted fellowship. Criticism? The dance floor “needed to be bigger” and the dancing “finished too early” at 11:45pm! Many thanks to PDG Robert Morris and his Committee for organising such a well supported Conference (see pages 8 and 9).

The following month, it was an honour to represent Rotary at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday (see page 16). We in Rotary can be proud of being part of an organisation working to bring an end to world conflicts. Rotary Peace Scholars are training to achieve this aim. District International arranged a very informative York Gate Seminar on refugees and Foundation Scholars visited the Calais camp to look at ways of providing much needed assistance to children.

remember end Polio nowNovember’s Foundation Appreciation

Dinner recognised the fantastic monetary support given by London Rotarians to Foundation. As you know, I have been asking clubs to remember End Polio Now as well as Foundation. I’m delighted to announce that Zone 18 District 1130 is the third highest donor to the End Polio Now programme. At City & Shoreditch Rotary’s Polio Eradication Seminar, the medical professionals clearly set out what we need

to do to finish the job – so far this year only one case in Afghanistan! Let’s finally eradicate this awful disease. So what am I, DG Toni, doing about this? Well, along with other Rotarians, including our very own Suraiya Kassamally, I shall scale the Millennium Dome (O2) on Rotary’s 111th birthday, 23 February. I shall welcome sponsorship at http://virginmoneygiving.com/ToniFinkel .

This year RI President Ravi asked us to be “Gifts to the World”. District Clubs took up this challenge over Christmas. They brought enough gifts to the District Carol Service at St Marylebone Parish Church to fill five huge sacks for each of two local charities recommended by the Parish Church’s Father Edward Thornley: the West London Day Centre and the Marylebone Project. The charities called the gifts a “fantastic donation” which would “allow them to continue their work”. Well organised by Brixton, Battersea & Clapham Rotary’s Stephen Ledwick, the service was a truly lovely evening with excellent singing by the choir.

Michael and I attended Hendon Rotary’s Christmas Party at Oakleigh School, where parents, carers and children had a wonderful time being entertained and playing party games. A parent shared with me the fact that this was the first time his autistic child had attended a party and how thrilled he was that the child had managed to stay for an hour.

On Christmas Day we were delighted to visit the Christmas lunches which the Barnet and Battersea Park Clubs organised (see page 16). The guests clearly so appreciated being there and having companionship on what could have been a very sad and lonely day. Rotarians, their families and volunteers had given of their time to prepare everything on Christmas Eve and to be with them on Christmas Day.

Many more events across the District provided much needed care, support and companionship to local people and amazing fundraising activities raised thousands of pounds for supporting future projects.

theme was magicRotarians participated in the New Year’s

Day Parade, along with our partners WheelPower (see page 15). The theme was Magic. Our very own magician, DGN Michael Wren, was a big hit with the crowd, half a million of whom lined the route!

Youth are our future, so we are delighted to have two new Rotaract Clubs (see page 5). Youth Competition Area and District Finals have already begun and these events are ideal for showcasing what Rotary does. They also spark interest in starting Interact Clubs in the schools that are participating. This is an area where Rotaractors are eager to help, mentoring Interactors.

RI has awarded us a certificate of recognition for membership retention (see page 10). Fantastic news, but now we must maintain our membership numbers with clubs that have good programmes which will attract more new members.

Let’s also develop innovative and flexible clubs, such as satellite clubs and targeting new groups of potential members. Here’s to a fantastic next half year!toni Finkel, District Governor

well, here we are, halfway through our rotary Year. 2015/16. time flies! First, i thank you all for making our conference in october such a resounding success. without your support it would not have been so.

declares Dg toni

WinTER 2016 • 1

a messaGe From the DG

Join Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland in celebrating the Presidential handover of Peter Davey to Eve Conway.

Watch the sun set over London’s iconic landmarks and take in the stunning skyline from the Thames’ largest luxury party boat, the Dixie Queen. Embarking at Tower Pier, guests will experience a night of dinner, live music and dancing.

Registration for this event will be opening soon.

www.rotarygbi.org.

Registration for this event will be opening soon. www.rotarygbi.org.

Save the dateSaturday 2nd July 2016 - 6.30pm to 11pm

GET ON BOARD!

Students at Hatcliffe High, a Harare boarding school, couldn’t do any homework after 7.00 pm, when the sun set, because of 16-hour power-cuts throughout Harare. So they took action.

They formed their own company, Lumière, to make florescent lights from recycled batteries. They sold these lights to their fellow students and teachers, as well as to other people locally.

They financed the enterprise by selling shares for $5 each and investing the capital raised in buying the materials required. The project was progressed in a partnership with Junior Achievement, an international movement known in the UK as Young Enterprise. This has nearly a hundred years’ experience in helping young people develop business skills.

At the end of the school year, after manufacturing and selling the lights for six months the company closed down, in line with JA policy. They held an AGM to inform shareholders what was happening – as in a real company – and distributed the profits, which gave shareholders a 44 per cent return on their investments.

E-club of London Centenary member Jo Ann Ross was delighted to be present when the final day of the national championship happened and she was able to hand the Runners-Up Trophy to the CEO of Lumière.

In line with JA policy, the programme insists these start-up companies pay tax appropriate to national requirements. Lumière used this “tax”, which went to the school and spread awareness locally of the need for a clean and tidy environment for their Social Responsibility.

Pictures show the bank of florescent lights the student company developed using recycled batteries.

remember reading about the prize winning model

boat builders in the previous issue? they scooped the

£250 first prize in the District Vocational committee’s

competition. Vocational service chair Judi stockwell

describes what hatcliffe high school in Zimbabwe did

to become one of the five runners up.

Readers will recall reading about Hatcliffe High School’s existing links with Rotary in an article in the Spring 2014 issue about a previous business project. This was also undertaken under a partnership with Junior Achievement.

E-Club of London Centenary members sponsored this project in Zimbabwe as they recognised that much of Africa’s poverty stems from lack of education in sustainable business start-ups. As the vocational trainer, Jo Ann Ross helped students develop their own company by showing them how to draw up a business plan and work out a budget.

A video and more photographs can be seen on the RECLC website at www. http://erotarylondon.org. You can also read more about Junior Achievement at www.jazimbabwe.org.zw/ or Young Enterprise at www.young-enterprise.org.uk/

Brightening futures in Zimbabwe

Join Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland in celebrating the Presidential handover of Peter Davey to Eve Conway.

Watch the sun set over London’s iconic landmarks and take in the stunning skyline from the Thames’ largest luxury party boat, the Dixie Queen. Embarking at Tower Pier, guests will experience a night of dinner, live music and dancing.

Registration for this event will be opening soon.

www.rotarygbi.org.

Registration for this event will be opening soon. www.rotarygbi.org.

Save the dateSaturday 2nd July 2016 - 6.30pm to 11pm

GET ON BOARD!

WinTER 2016 • 3

Vocational

THIS SPACE DoNATED BY RoTARY IN LoNDoN

suPPOrtrOtarYfOunDatIOn

K sent 28 rotary scholars to the London District

K enabled London District to send a minibus to the Chernihiv revival Centre

K helped to bring new polio cases down to 28 in Pakistan, five in afghanistan, none in nigeria

92%

6% funDraIsIng

2% aDmInIstratIVe

eXPenses

exhorts Dg toni

This accolade for the Rotary Foundation for the

seventh year running speaks for itself. Charity

Navigator, an independent organisation, evaluates

charities in the United States. The Foundation

funds only projects and initiatives worldwide

with active Rotarian involvement.

This year the Rotary Foundation has…

As DG Toni reminds Rotarians: “We support so

many outside charities, but often forget to support

our own Rotary Foundation. Without such support,

our projects and programmes will suffer.”

the rOtarY fOunDatIOn eXPenDIture

PrOgrammes

WinTER 2016 • 5

rotaract

Sixty people raised £540 at Hampstead, Hendon & Golders Green Rotaract’s quiz and raffle, held at the Lord Raglan pub near St Paul’s in November. Taking part were members of Rotaract, Rotary and assorted friends. A couple of passers-by also asked to take part! Raffle prizes included a restaurant meal worth £100.

The money went to the charity Youth at Risk, which works with troubled teenagers in Hackney. Their mentoring scheme offers support and tough love, encouraging hard work to help those teenagers take their lives into their own hands. They run programmes in communities, schools, universities, employment services and prisons for families and professionals.

The Rotaract Club of Wandsworth’s first fundraising event was the Hispanic Lunch in aid of the Rotaract Unite for Nepal initiative. Thirty people attended and enjoyed delicious Argentinean and Spanish food, live entertainment and a raffle.

rOtaraCt CLuBs

InCreaseFrom top of the page.

Hampstead, Hendon & Golders Green Rotaract Club members and guests enjoy a fund raising quiz evening

Members of Wandsworth Rotaract Club prepare a meal for thirty

In festive gear, Westminster Rotaracters gather to wrap Christmas presents

DG Toni (centre) joins members of the newly chartered King’s College London in celebratory mood. Left and right are Zsofia Kulcsar and Jakob Zimmermann, District Rotaract Representatives respectively for 2015/16 and 2014/15.

There were five Rotaract Clubs in District 1130 at the start of the 2015/16 year: canary wharf; ealing; hampstead, hendon & Golders Green; imperial college; and westminster. as london District rotaract’s merve taner tells rotary in london, however, two new clubs received their charters after christmas: King’s college london and wandsworth. here is what has been happening.

The Rotaract Club of Westminster organised a Christmas gift wrapping event and film night in December at York Gate. Members wrapped the presents first, then hosted their first Movie Night showing the holiday classic Elf.

In January, Westminster Rotaract launched its programme of speakers with club member Jeremy Dalton of PWC’s Digital and Emerging Technologies Division. He spoke on Virtual Reality: the Great Escape. Following him in February was Tom Elkins, CEO of Photovoice, a photographer and campaigner for better

policies and services for disadvantaged members of the community.

Before receiving their charter, KCL Rotaract members had already joined the hundred people who attended Chelsea Rotary Club’s pre-Christmas concert. Coming up in a few months’ time, in August, is club member Yosif Ivanov’s expedition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Aids Kids UK.

218 Grangewood House, Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate, Loughton, Essex IG10 3TZ

Delicious fusion of African, European and Asian food brimming with goodness at affordable prices.

We met our visitors in their West End hotel on Saturday evening, shortly after their arrival, and took them for a moonlight walk along the River Thames, enjoying the views from various bridges before returning to the Meliá hotel for a ‘get to know each other’ Spanish meal. We allowed our guests a lie-in on Sunday before entertaining them to a traditional English afternoon tea of home-made cake, scones, jam and clotted cream at York Gate, at which we were thrilled to have DG Toni and IPDG David Palmer with us.

students came to the District headquarters at York Gate in central london to experience a debate in much the same way as one would take place in the house of commons in our Parliament.Organised by the Rotary Club of Wembley, and with a ‘Division Bell’ and cries of ‘Clear the Lobbies’, the two teams from James Allen School for Girls had a great time as well as having some difficult decisions to make on the motions before the house. Towards the end, ‘Order Papers’ were being waved and there were calls of “Here! Here!” and “Shame!”

The first motion, loosely based on Early Day Motion 66 (02 June 2015) stated: “This house would ban Supermarkets from throwing away food approaching its Best Before Date”. A difficult motion that was argued well, but failed to obtain a majority vote.

The second motion, loosely based on a combination of Early Day Motions stated: “This house would ban lotteries paying out extraordinarily large prizes over £10m and instead would pay more money to good causes”. A complex motion that received the support of the house.

The tea raised over £300 for the World’s Greatest Meal for Polio Plus campaign, with the support of the Gates Foundation. Rotarians who attended London District 1130’s annual conference in Eastbourne the previous month will recall seeing Susanne Rea, Co-Founder of the World’s Greatest Meal, on the stage (see also page 9).

On Monday, there was a trip to the Houses of Parliament. Next was the formal Rotary meeting including a traditional English meal of fish and chips, with Spanish sherry aperitifs, at Bernays Hall, Stanmore. This preceded our formal twinning ceremony

Last november, a group of 30 members and partners from the spanish club of Valencia-Centro came to London to twin formally with Dg toni’s home club, edgware & stanmore. Club President fran holmes tells the story.

the rotary Club of Valencia-Centro in spain twins with edgware & stanmore rotary

ParLIament COmes tO YOrk gate

All the entrants received a copy of the Andrew Marr book, “Who’s in Charge?” Given that 12-13 year old students are arguing these points, raising points of information and providing clever and witty rebuttals, Rotary in London produces a wonderful opportunity in the field of student debating.miriam specterman, rotary club of wembley

which culminated in the formal signings by me and President Mario. Our twinning officer, Peter Bradley, formally exchanged commemorative ties with his opposite number in the Valencia-Centro Club. The grand finale was sharing the twinning cake, which was topped with an image of the commemorative tie which Peter had designed.

Our two clubs are now setting up several joint projects to be discussed further when we make the return visit to Valencia in April. Please contact me or Peter Bradley if you would like to join us.

WinTER 2016 • 7

YorK Gate

COnferenCe “a resOunDIng suCCess”

as DG toni says in her leader, october’s District conference proved very popular with the rotarians and the 2 Global scholars who attended, as well as members from the District’s seven rotaract clubs.

8 • ROTARy in lOnDOn

conFerence 2015

DG Toni draws the winning ticket in the draw held by Arvind Patel of St James’s Place Wealth Management, left with Jackie Richardson. Mr Patel held the draw both days of the Conference, which he has sponsored for the past two years and will do so again next year.

The Rotary family clockwise from top: DG Toni and family, Zsofia Kulcsar (Rotaract), Tim Cowling (RI President’s Representative), Di King (Youth Exchange), Esme and Michael Daniels and Tony Leaf at the Registration Desk, members of Northwick Park Rotary and partners, PDG Robert Morris (Conference Chair) and Ros, and PDG Dick Nathan and June, Jakob Zimmermann (Rotaract) and Rosemary Crone (Inner Wheel),

COnferenCe “a resOunDIng suCCess”

Peter has surprise for Dg toniInternational Chair Peter Bradley sprang a surprise on DG Toni when he appeared for his International presentation. Little did his fellow Edgware & Stanmore Rotarian DG Toni guess that the presentation would be to her personally. This was of course hinted at through the sign addressed to Teacher Toni, and was also announced in our Conference issue, which was why it was kept from Toni beforehand.

The surprise was a knitted doll, a replica of DG Toni herself, known as Super DG Doll One. She has been doing sterling work raising money for End Polio Now.

Once DG Toni had recovered her composure, she handed Super DG Doll One over to Tony Sharma, waiting in the wings, so that he could take her on the trip he made shortly after to Jaipur in India. The doll made many personal appearances at Rotary Clubs in India and elsewhere on his journey.

Super DG Doll One has a twin – Super DG Doll Two – and you can see her on our cover. Between now and July she is snuggling down happily at Peter Bradley’s house. She will be available to come out when invited to make personal appearances at clubs, where she will solicit donations for the Foundation – which, as Rotarians know well, is DG Toni’s own charity.

All photos: Ana Paun

WinTER 2016 • 9

conFerence 2015

Speakers clockwise from top: Emilie-Mai MacCormack and Alison Baum (Best Beginnings), Cllr Janet Coles (Mayor of Eastbourne), David Howarth (Mary’s Meals), Zacharia Chiliswa and Christine Khoury (Rotary Peace Scholars), Susanne Rea (World’s Greatest Meal) , Stephanie Harvey (Providence Row) and Tim Pare (First Give). Lower page: House of Friendship stands, socialising and dancing at the disco.

District has won awardCongratulations to members of London District 1130 Rotary Clubs! You have helped us win an award for the best district in Zone 18 for three-year membership retention.

The Certificate of Achievement – signed by Gary Huang – signifies that our district has the highest number of clubs which have managed to retain all their members over a three-year period.

DG Toni echoes me in saying: “Congratulations to all District 1130 Rotary in London Clubs for working so hard on membership. This award is well deserved! My thanks also go to the DGs who preceded me.”IPDG David Palmer Rotary Club of Barkingside

We shall feature Rotary logoYour readers may like to know that World Child Cancer is now officially included in Rotary’s list of Opportunities to Serve. Our application was supported by Antony Hoy and Districts 1050 and 1280. The Rotary logo will now feature on all our publicity material and our own logo will appear on the RIBI website. We should be delighted to support you in any fund raising activities you might be able to organise for us and to send a speaker to any clubs interested in hearing more about our work (see right).

Childhood cancer has a high chance of being cured; here in the UK survival rates average 80 per cent. In the developing world, however, survival rates can be as low as five per cent. At least 100,000 children die needlessly every year from the disease, in most cases without effective pain relief. World Child Cancer works in low and middle income countries to improve survival rates and access to treatment, providing effective pain relief where a cure is tragically not possible.Lydia Spencer World Child Cancer

Club had lasting projectsAs we are all aware, Rotary has changed over the years. It was a tradition at my old club, Wanstead & Woodford, that the incoming President would nominate a new lasting project. Here are some of these projects, which have lasted more than 20 years.•AnAbbeyfieldSocietyforoldpeoplewhich

reaches a total of 45 residents with a capital value pf £3m – 45 years

•Aminibustrustwherebyaseriesofminibusesserved the old, young, handicapped and poor on almost every day of the year – 32 years

•AlocalbranchoftheUnitedNationsAssociation group which acted both as

a pressure group and fund raiser and grew to a membership of 150 – 50 years

•AnewRotaryClubwhichhasachievedagreat deal – 23 yearsIt was usual for one or two members, usually

chair and secretary, to stay with each project for many years.

So what has changed? We all got older, the membership decreased and ultimately Wanstead & Woodford Rotary Club closed.

The answer is the formation of new clubs with a simpler format for young working people. Don Barton Rotary Club of Roding

Public relations partnership progressesThank you for the compliments you paid to Bulgaria Rotary District 2482 (Bulgarian Rotary leads the way, Autumn issue). The partnership you mentioned, between United Partners (UP) and Bulgaria Rotary, is going very well.

We have been discussing ways of developing Rotary’s image in Bulgaria. For example, as we plan our Rotary District 2482 Conference in May, we shall decide how we shall manage the public image panel. We are in the process of developing a programme of presentations that will involve existing Rotarians in a dialogue about the image of Rotary. It will give them suggestions about what kind of information to use, how to identify their publics and how to plan projects, campaigns and events. During this conference participation from the public’s side will be very much encouraged, in recognition of the fact that public relations is essentially two-way communication.

We have assisted clubs with their projects and the communication of those projects to their various publics. For example, we helped Rotary Club of Gabrovo members to develop a communication strategy for the annual programme they run every year. It incorporates the famous historical Shipka events that bring many Bulgarians and foreigners to Gabrovo. UP helped with media relations for the event: interviews, news management and issuing news releases afterwards.

We are now developing a proposal to enable Bulgaria Rotary District to present both the nation of Bulgaria in general and Bulgaria Rotary District 2482 in particular at the RI Convention in Seoul. Bulgaria Rotary has reserved a stand at the exhibition for the three days of the Convention, where Rotarians and Rotaractors from Bulgaria will be able to meet their opposite numbers. We very much hope visiting District 1130 Rotarians reading this letter will be among those visiting us at our stand, so that we can put you in the picture about our

country, about our Rotary activities and about this unique public relations programme that we are pioneering.

This collaboration between UP and Rotary is enormously time consuming and professionally demanding, particularly where no fees change hands. However, a welcome by-product of this collaboration is that UP is already receiving business enquiries from Rotarians and there is no doubt they welcome such enquiries. All in all, both Rotary and UP have gained an enormous amount from the exercise and we hope that it will continue in some form in the future.DG Nina Miteva District 2482

Giving children best beginningsThank you so much, London District Rotarians, for giving me the opportunity to meet you and to speak at your Annual Conference last October. We at Best Beginnings met so many wonderful Rotarians in Eastbourne and left wanting to do more with you all. With Mothering Sunday just round the corner, we’ve now come up with a quick and easy way for you to help Best Beginnings, support more families across the UK.

Encourage anyone who wants to give you a Mothering Sunday gift to shop through the Give as You Live shopping and price comparison website, which continues after Mothering Sunday is over. This enables you or your nearest and dearest to shop for products from thousands of leading online retailers including florists, Amazon, John Lewis, Sainsburys and Waitrose.

We aim to give all children opportunities for the best beginnings in their lives, whatever their background. Regional, ethnic and socio-economic factors all combine to make child health and wellbeing a lottery, with health inequalities in the UK being so severe that a baby born in Wolverhampton is six times more likely to die before the age of one than a baby born in Bath. However, a healthy pregnancy and positive informed parenting can win out over social class or parental income, transforming children’s short- and long-term health and wellbeing and positively affecting school readiness and social mobility.

We create and develop innovative resources which are universally relevant and accessible such as our most recent resource, the award winning Baby Buddy mobile phone app. This

10 • ROTARy in lOnDOn

corresPonDence

SpeakerS’ panelAll organisations listed here are interested in sending speakers to Rotary Clubs in

London. As we stressed previously, when launching this column in Rotary in London

in autumn 2012, inclusion in this list does not indicate endorsement of that organisation

or individual. We are merely putting you in touch with organisations or individuals,

so that you can make further enquiries. However, you can rest assured that many of

the organisations and individuals listed are well known to Rotary already. Do you

yourself know of any organisation, however small, which would like to be better

known? Or a speaker you can recommend? If you do, please let us know, including

where possible the people to contact, with relevant email and telephone details.

Foodcycle Builds communities by combining volunteers, surplus food and spare kitchen

spaces to create healthy meals for vulnerable people. In 25 locations across

the country it reduces food waste, food poverty and social isolation, providing

a three-course communal meal for those in need.

Libby Brown – libby@foodcycle.org.uk – 020 7729 2776

hestiaMulti-service charity supporting vulnerable adults across London with various

needs and the largest provider of domestic abuse refuges in the capital.

Provides essential anti-human trafficking outreach services for men and women.

It helps nearly over 9,000 people every year.

Millie Hinton – millie.hinton@hestia.org – 020 7378 3143

migrant children’s Foundation (mcF)UK charity based in Beijing that gives migrant children and their families access

to social services which they would not otherwise have, because they do not

have a Beijing hukou (residence permit). The charity supports nine schools in the city,

offering lessons, health checks, eye tests and more.

Lorna Snuggs – lorna@mcfchina.org – 00.86.18 612 978 142 (China)

music Fund Partners music projects in conflict zones, poor countries and poor neighbourhoods.

Since 2005 it has collected musical instruments from all over Europe, donating them

to music projects in the Middle East (Palestine, Israel), Africa (Morocco, DR Congo,

Mozambique) and the Caribbean (Haiti). It also trains craftsmen to repair musical

instruments.

Lukas Pairon – lukas.pairon@musicfund.eu. – 00.32.475445181 (Belgium)

shola KayeProfessional Motown and jazz singer. Talks on: Getting the best out of your speaking

voice; Stress-relieving benefits of singing; Unsung heroes – a tribute to foster carers;

For once in YOUR life – defining moments; and From silence to sequins – my story.

Shola Kaye – info@sholakaye.com – 07734 963 593

world child cancerStrives to give all children, no matter where they are born, the chance to fight cancer.

It works to improve survival rates in low and middle income countries,

improving survival rates and access to treatment. Where a cure is not possible,

it provides effective pain relief.

Lydia Spencer – Lydia.spencer@worldchildcancer.org – 020 3176 7892

Keep your letters coming so that you can have your say on whatever subject you want. Rotary in London exists among other things to present rotary and its work to the world, as well as spurring you on to debate important issues. we shall publish your letters wherever possible, reserving the usual right to edit. so keep up the correspondence!

public health intervention is free for all mothers and has been specifically designed to engage and support women under the age of 25, helping them with the physical and emotional transition to parenthood. Funded by the Big Lottery and endorsed by the Department of Health and a number of Royal Colleges, Baby Buddy delivers engaging, daily, personalised pregnancy and parenting information.

Our next project, launching in the spring, will see the creation of 40 short and six longer films. One in five mothers will suffer from maternal mental health problems and the films are designed to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and encourage parents to seek appropriate support if they need it. Alison Baum Best Beginnings

Pope will say mass for Rotary On 30 April His Holiness Pope Francis will celebrate a mass for Rotarians in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Eight thousand seats will be reserved for Rotarians, as well as their friends and families.

His Holiness has established this year, 2016, as the Holy Year of Mercy. It marks a time of forgiveness and reconciliation, of solidarity, hope and justice. It is a commitment to serve with joy and in peace across the world.

As you will have seen from the District Notices, RI President Ravindran invites you to join him and other members of Rotary in Italy on that day in celebrating this Jubilee of Rotarians. An event hosted by Rotary District 2080 and the Vatican. In addition, local Rotarians will host special celebratory dinners and plan a service project for attendees.

I believe this event is a tremendous honour that will raise Rotary’s status across so much of the world. We should be delighted to be a part of it, regardless of our own religious beliefs.

For more information, please visit the Jubilee of Rotarians website, which has been provided by our friends in District 2080. Updates and additional information will be available leading up to the event. Registration is already open.

As you work hard to Be a Gift to the World, I do hope District 1130 will be well represented in Rome for this special occasion.DG Toni Finkel District 1130

WinTER 2016 • 11

sPeaKers’ Panel

RotaRy in London

A

B

CD

a – Whole Page 270mm x 188mm £150.00

B – Half Page 133mm x 188mm £80.00

c – Quarter Page 133mm x 92mm £50.00

D – Eighth Page 64mm x 92mm £30.00

Enquiries to Assistant Editor at ma_grooper@yahoo.co.uk

adVERtiSinG

The Foundation Appreciation Evening is held to thank all individuals and clubs who have made significant contributions to Foundation during the last Rotary year. As on previous occasions, arriving guests were greeted by the melodic sounds of the clarinet played by Ron Burton from the RC Leytonstone and Woodford. Further entertainment was provided by Piotr Grudzien, a professional violinist. Both Ron and Piotr provided their services free of charge.

Foundation Chair Michael Hodge presented project certificates for making the most local impact to two Rotary Clubs. Tower Hamlets Rotary received a

Left to right: Bryn Styles, Rotary Foundation Trustee.Clubs receiving recognition certificates.Jeannie Harvey, President RC Kensington receiving 100% EREY and 100% Sustaining Member Banners

Pesh Kapasiawala, President of the rotary club of loughton, Buckhurst hill & chigwell, waves to the crowds in this royal Parks half marathon in hyde Park. he tells Rotary in London: “we had a team of over 100 runners for chigwell school in support of cancer research. there was a fantastic atmosphere.”

certificate for a District project, which was for giving George Green’s School an educational day out to the Siemens Group Crystal (Autumn issue). London Centenary e-Club’s certificate was for the international training project for Hatcliffe High School in Zimbabwe, described on page 3.

A project certificate for making a significant direct contribution went to PDG Dick Nathan and DGE Helen Antoniou of Northwick Park Rotary. This was for perseverance over three years to secure the global grant to purchase a minibus for the Chernihiv Revival Centre in the Ukraine.

Michael Hodge announced that the Paul Harris Society was growing in District 1130.

rotary thanks District 1130 rotarians for their work

Nineteen members are now contributing at least $1,000 per year to the Foundation and Suraiya Kassamally has become a Major Donor. The Club of the Year is the Rotary Club of City & Shoreditch, which won the Surya Varsani Trophy for contributing a magnificent $22, 845.92.

Stressing the need for Sustaining Members, Michael Hodge reminded his audience that £7 a month entitles Rotarians to become sustaining members. If every member in District 1130 followed suit the District would raise over £100K a year, all for the cost on one cup of coffee or half a pint of beer a week.

Clubs can raise money by holding fundraising events for Foundation. If the amount raised exceeds £70 per member, the money can be sent in with each member’s name appended to the form, qualifying everyone as a Sustaining Member.

The closing speaker was DG Toni, who thanked Past District Governors Bryn and Mike for speaking.

over a hundred people attended the Foundation appreciation evening at

the imperial hotel last november, at which the keynote speaker was

Foundation trustee PDG Bryn styles from canada. PDG mike webb also

spoke. This event followed two very successful ones in 2013 and 2014.

District 1130 Foundation Fundraising Chair Tom Hunt reports on the evening.

Pesh PartICIPates In haLf marathOn

WinTER 2016 • 13

oUt anD aBoUt

tea Bags fOr wheeLChaIrsThe first recipient of a Wheelchair Foundation wheelchair purchased with bar codes from Yorkshire Tea products in District 1130.

Please send the Bar Code & the Vouchers from the underside of anY box of Yorkshire Tea to D1130 collection point to help purchase wheelchairs from the Wheelchair Foundation and support environmental projects.

D1130 COLLeCtIOn POInt:

adrian faiers, 15 Lovett road, harefield, middx uB9 6Dn

THIS SPACE DoNATED BY RoTARY IN LoNDoN

12 • Rotary In London Winter 2015

Advertising rates, colour, inRotary in London

Whole page................................................................£150(270mm deep 185mm wide)

Half page......................................................................£80(132mm deep 185mm wide)Quarter page ..............................................................£50(132mm deep 91mm wide)Eighth page ................................................................ £30(64mm deep 91mm wide)Classified rates on request

Enquiries to Assistant Editor at ma_grooper@yahoo.co.uk

This space donated by Rotary in London

12 ads new_ad template 05/02/2015 11:37 Page 12

DIsaBILItY gamessuCCessfuL agaIn

DG Toni Finkel and the Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Pete Rutledge, together presented the medals to competitors at the DisAbility Games. These were inspired by the 2012 Paralympics and by the successful disabled games events run by Rotary Clubs across the whole of the country in that year.

For the last four years, disabled adults have been taking part and winning medals at table tennis, boccia and bowls, as well as at number of sports specially designed for wheelchair users and the visually impaired.

Ten-year-old Bella Field, passed her £100,000 target for Haven House Children’s Hospice at a fundraising concert at Chigwell School last November. The audience of more than 150 people included past RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe and Eve Conway, President-elect of RIBI.

Readers will remember that Bella received Redbridge Rotary Club’s Young Citizen Award and was invited by the then RI President Gary Huang to speak at last summer’s RI Convention in Sao Paulo.

Bella and her parents, Mel and Steve Field, started fundraising for Haven House Children’s Hospice in memory of her sister Molly Field, who died from a brain tumour at the age of eight.

Bella tops the target

Teams of disabled participants from Harrow, Edgware and Borehamwood took part in October’s games, as well as teams from as far away as Gerrards Cross and Aylesbury. There were 36 competitors, including seven wheelchair users.

Participating in the DisAbled Games were the Rotary Clubs of Barnet, Bush Hill Park, Edgware & Stanmore, Edmonton, Elstree & Borehamwood, Enfield Chase, Golders Green, London Centenary e-Club, Northwick Park, Radlett and Southgate.

Rotarians took to the streets with marching bands, cheerleaders and acrobats to mark the 30th anniversary of London’s New Year’s Day parade.

Rotary in Britain and Ireland were joined by WheelPower, the UK charity for wheelchair sport, for the special event.

The theme of the Parade was “magic” and Eve Conway, Vice President of RIBI, said: “Rotary and WheelPower have come together to support disabled people and show the real magic of transforming lives through sport. Taking part in the London New Year’s Day Parade is a magical way to mark the start of 2016 – the year of the next Paralympic Games in Rio.”

More than 8,500 performers representing 20 different countries marched the Parade route from Green Park to Parliament Square, watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators with a live TV audience of several hundred million and shown on television in America, Britain and other countries.

Members of WheelPower played some wheelchair basketball along the route as Rotarians performed a few magic tricks to the crowds and danced along to the music of Cody Lee and The Retro Boys, the UK’s youngest Retro Band, playing on a trailer being pulled along by a one hundred-year-old Steam Traction engine, complete with a rabbit coming out of a hat on the front.

Rotary runs many youth projects and fosters young musical talent like Cody Lee.

Among those taking part in the Parade were RIBI Vice-President Eve Conway, Immediate Past RIBI President Peter King, RIBI Vocational Chairman Debbie Hodge, Rotary in London District Governor Toni Finkel, Rotary “magician” London DGN Mike Wren, President of Westminster Rotaract Club Chike Eduputa and WheelPower’s CEO Martin McElhatton.

rOtarY JOIns fOrCes wIth wheeLPOwer fOr new Year’s DaY ParaDe

last october, for the fourth year running, rotary clubs in north london organised a very successful day of Disability Games at the aspire centre in stanmore. Games organiser scott maclachlan of the rotary club of Barnet relates what took place.

WinTER 2016 • 15

oUt anD aBoUt

Last Christmas 65 elderly residents of the London Borough of Barnet sat down to Christmas lunch, thanks to the Rotary Club of Barnet. Scott Maclachlan of Barnet Rotary, who organised the lunch at Ewen Hall, Wood Street, Barnet, said the event was almost fully subscribed.

DG Toni attended, along with the Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Mayor of Barnet, respectively Martin Russell and Alison

in conversation with a rotarian from far, far away (well, the other side of london), i was astounded when he used the phrase “we don’t do District”. he explained that all the members of his club were getting older (very difficult to do anything else!), most had been President, and one of them long, long ago had even been a District Governor.

Over the years most members had attended District events, seminars and dinners, but these were repetitive and they couldn’t see the point of attending them again. Over the years they had gradually concentrated solely on their own geographical area.

Needless to say no-one in their club goes to Conference, District Council or District Assemblies any more. His club now exists in a little bubble.

I asked what happens to newer members whose Rotary experience and knowledge is limited entirely to what goes on in the bubble. He said that (understandably) they just do what their more experienced peers do. I then launched into a lengthy tirade: the new members are being denied opportunities for service, fellowship, motivation, stimulation, new ideas, fun and knowledge. They cannot share their own skills and ideas with others, and are denied the possibility of becoming DGs themselves. It’s not fair to them, or to Rotary. They are just stuck in a bubble. Phew!

My friend just couldn’t see it. “They can go to District things if they want to”, was his reply and my assertion that they would go to these events if their club friends set an example and took them along failed to sway his view.

So they will stay stuck in their bubble. And we all know what eventually happens to bubbles.

mish mosh by “schlepper”

65 sIt DOwn tO ChrIstmas LunCh In Barnet

DG Toni Finkel holds the wreath that she is about to lay at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday on behalf of Rotary International. With her are IPDG David Palmer and Senia Dedic, President of the Rotary Club of Battersea Park. Members of 12 Rotary Clubs in Districts 1130 and 1145 took part in last November’s Remembrance Sunday parade.

ready to lay rotary’s wreath

Cornelius, and of course President of Barnet Rotary Demetri Kalymnios. Rotarians Mike and Debbie Hodge led the cooking team.

The participants are selected on the basis that they would otherwise be on their own and many have been coming for a number of years. The event is supported by local charities, collections in the Barnet High street and local Waitrose and Sainsbury supermarkets.

One of Providence Row’s gardeners plants crocus bulbs in its courtyard at 82 Wentworth Street, near Aldgate East Station. With him is a volunteer from the organisation, Julia. The bulbs were donated by the Rotary Club of City & Shoreditch. Fund Raising Manager Stephanie Harvey says: “We can’t wait for the crocuses to bloom!”

Crocuses will bloom in Providence row

Pho

to: S

tep

han

ie H

arve

y

Can you spot ré Johnson?She’s somewhere in there to see the Downing Street Christmas tree light up. The Prime Minister invited her and others to attend as Points of Light. He conferred this honour on Ré for co-ordinating Battersea Park Rotary’s Christmas lunches (Winter issue, 2015).

Pho

tos:

Dan

iel o

rch

ard

16 • ROTARy in lOnDOn

last worDs

This space donated by Rotary in London

RIL I-B-C ads_ad template 10/02/2015 09:55 Page 3

THIS SPACE DoNATED BY RoTARY IN LoNDoN

Inheritance Tax could pose a threat to your prosperity...

hile most people are aware of the existence of Inheritance Tax (IHT), it is a subject which gives rise to some distaste or lack of interest and many, not surprisingly, would rather delay consideration of the matter. So few people do anything about their potential IHT liability, the result is that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) collected £3.4 billion for 2013/14 alone (source HMRC Inheritance Tax Statistics 2014).

I can create and implement highly effective tax-minimisation strategies, with a particular emphasis on reducing your estate’s liability to Inheritance Tax.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

For further information, or to request your complimentary guide to Inheritance Tax, contact:

W

Arvind Patel

is proud to sponsor

London Rotary’s

District Conference

ARVIND PATEL DipPFSFounder Member & Senior Partner

Tel: 01959 500488 Email: arvind.patel@sjpp.co.ukWeb: www.sjpp.co.uk/arvindpatel

The Partner represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The title ‘Partner’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

PARTNERS IN MANAGING YOUR WEALTH

Investment andWealth ManagementAwards 2014

Inheritance Tax could pose a threat to your prosperity...

hile most people are aware of the existence of Inheritance Tax (IHT), it is a subject which gives rise to some distaste or lack of interest and many, not surprisingly, would rather delay consideration of the matter. So few people do anything about their potential IHT liability, the result is that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) collected £3.4 billion for 2013/14 alone (source HMRC Inheritance Tax Statistics 2014).

I can create and implement highly effective tax-minimisation strategies, with a particular emphasis on reducing your estate’s liability to Inheritance Tax.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

For further information, or to request your complimentary guide to Inheritance Tax, contact:

W

Arvind Patel

is proud to sponsor

London Rotary’s

District Conference

ARVIND PATEL DipPFSFounder Member & Senior Partner

Tel: 01959 500488 Email: arvind.patel@sjpp.co.ukWeb: www.sjpp.co.uk/arvindpatel

The Partner represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The title ‘Partner’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

PARTNERS IN MANAGING YOUR WEALTH

Investment andWealth ManagementAwards 2014