Greetings,

Another late edition but with so many things needing inclusion I keep having to amend it!   Suffice to say this is the final version!

I know from my Club visits that there are some Secs who do circulate these Newsletters and even one who photocopies them for his members; however there do seem to be many Rotarians who profess never having seen one..!   Your cooperation in redressing this perceived situation would be appreciated.   Hopefully this Newsletter will find its way onto our reconstructed website in order those (still only a few) who tune in may read it at their leisure.

District Council Meeting - 6th December at Wortley House Hotel, Scunthorpe

Having devoted part of my Club Visit to exhorting attendance at these meetings as not only an opportunity to debate matters of Rotary interest and importance, it is also important your Club is represented in order the democratic process is meaningful; the last DC meeting was only just quorate (29 out of 49 Clubs represented) and to me is indicative of the low esteem these meetings are viewed by some of you and this has been reinforced by views expressed during my "Q & A" sessions at Club visits.   "What is the point of District and DC meetings" is a not uncommon comment from Rtns who last attended a DC meeting several years ago; "Boring" is another one.   This may well have had an element of truth at some past DC meetings but if you don't participate then don't complain!    We are trying to make future DC meetings an occasion you want to attend rather than have to, no more reading out of reports already sent to Clubs, short presentations on two or three interesting Club projects - there will be a new water-aid one demonstrated at the next DC meeting, plus (maybe) a short talk or two on forthcoming District events such as next year's Conference at Scarborough !    At the end of the meeting all the District Officers present (hopefully more than last time!) will then be open to questions from the floor, assuming you havn't already received a satisfactory answer...!

Continuity...!

By now you are probably aware there are nine candidates for the four Assistant Governor posts plus the fact at least four current District Officers have declined to stand for the next Rotary year.   Some may consider an abundance of candidates for the post of Assistant Governor as an indicator that District Office has suddenly become an attraction to our membership although there is also a view that some of the candidates may have been "encouraged" and may not fully appreciate what potential success may hold in store for them.  

Hopefully the recent well-attended Training  Committee meeting will have made those putting themselves forward for office more aware of the responsibilities they are contemplating taking on! I appreciate the post of Assistant Governor is an elected one and as such it is open to any Rotarian providing the Club nominates them but there is also a need for a degree of continuity in this post if the incumbent is to be really effective. What if we have nine candidates next year and a different four are elected ?

I realise the DG is in office for one year only but the occupant has two leading-up years as DGN & DGE plus a year after as IPDG where there is still considerable involvememt in District affairs - particularly when one is the DGE. Having previously served for several years on the then District Club Service Committee as both a member and Chairman, two years as a Vice-Chairman and then back on Membership Services, I certainly would not have relished walking into the Assistant Governor's job without that background. Maybe the future will prove my fears to be groundless; I just hope so.

Of more concern is the loss of at least four current post holders with probable replacements next July who have no previous District experience. Although it is any post holders prerogative not to stand for re-election this does create a degree of uncertainty and even questioning on the part of Club members who are beginning to view this seemingly wholesale change in the District team next year with alarm. Identifying and nurturing potential District leaders at Club level is one of the four pillars of an Effective Club and together with the considerable talents and expertise of the embryonic Training & Leadership Development Committee may well result in a succession of excellent candidates for office; however this needs to be a graduated process in order these able volunteers may enjoy a degree of District experience as Service Committee members before advancing further.  This approach has the built-in continuity we should be looking for.

Club Visits

By the time you read this I will have completed 45 "DG's visits" to Clubs plus attended 9 Charter events.   I have found the former stimulating, encouraging and informative - particularly during the Q & A sessions !    The latter could have been fattening but I have heeded the wise advice of IPDG Richard who advocated salads and small portions for maintaining a static waist-line!

Club bulletins and listening to business meetings give me a good indication of a Club's activities and the variety of projects undertaken and the enthusiastic commitment demonstrated by all Clubs is very heartening. What is a trifle disheartening is the manner with which many Clubs view R.I., RIBI and our District.   There seems to be a view that R.I. is Foundation oriented and bureaucratic, RIBI is largely an unkown entity and District exists soley for ambitious Rotarians who like wearing gongs!

OK - perhaps that is over-simplifying some of the comments I have received but there is a large element of truth as well !  Since Foundation is the corner-stone of Rotary International ! it is little wonder it receives such attention by R.I. and since RIBI is still a net recipient of Foundation funding in respect of grants it is perhaps appropriate we give this key pillar our attention.  As to the abundance of R.I originated documentation that daily assails some of us - be selective !     Be thankful we have RIBI who, among many other things, provide a much needed "buffer & filter" service between R.I. and our Districts!   RIBI is an association of Rotary Clubs in our 29 Districts and operates as an administrative and territorial unit of R.I.   This is unique to the British Isles !   The General Council of RIBI via Committees promote sevice activities and thus provide opportunities for motivation, inspiration and information for Rotarians in our Clubs.   District should be doing likewise!    Having said that there is a requirement for Clubs to participate - communication is a two-way process!   

Apart from the "duty" visits to Clubs I have attended an excellent Membership Seminar organised by Chairman Cathy Lees, a pity only 16 of the 49 Clubs saw fit to attend; a truly inspiring and informative Foundation Seminar organised by Chairman Margaret Hirst with 24 Clubs representeted and a chance to listen to some excellent speakers including two Peace Scholars from Bedford University.   Why not invite a Peace Scholar to address your Club ?   It is one way of appreciating where Foundation funding is working to achieve the fourth object of Rotary !   

I also went to the Rotary Club of Cleethorpe's International Evening for Overseas Students  studying at the Grimsby College.  This was also attended by local civic dignitarys such as the Mayor, by representatives of the British Council and by local Rotaractors who seized the opportunity to forge new links with these students and expose them to Rotaract!!  Well organised and good PR for Rotary not just locally but Rotary is now firmly and very favourably implanted in the minds of these students.   

Then there was the National Disabled Sports Team Championships at Coventry where "our" team was in the safe and capable hands of Rtn Terry Sykes and his team of helpers. Since Terry has been involved in these events for the past 17 years the organisation was faultless !   A very humbling experience watching some of the competitors overcoming severe disabilities and participate with a degree of competitiveness and enthusiasm that made my arthritic knee problems pale into insignificance!   The Training Committee meeting for potential candidates for District Office was well-attended and very inter-active under the tight control of Past RIBI President John Hockin !

We will be enteing the Charter season in the New Year and once again I reiterate my earlier advice that you do not have to invite the DG to your Charter celebrations; however should you choose so to do an early advance notice would be appreciated because there do appear to be several clashing dates.

Communications

From comments received there still appears to be a considerable degree of concern, mistrust, misuse and even a lack of understanding regarding certain aspects of "communication"!  It is no use complaining certain District officers never visit your Club if you fail to invite them!  They are only a phone-call or e-mail away! 

There is also the revised District website which I earnestly encourage you all to register with and make use of.  Any difficulties - contact your District Communications team for assistance! If your computer skills are like mine (just above zero!) then contact the team for advice - they will appreciate your call !    Chairman Stuart is planning some Seminars to cater for all skill levels so do make use of this when it is announced.

Public Relations is part of our Communications remit in that we should be communicating the Rotary ethos to the uninitiated at every opprtunity. Many Clubs have forged a good relationship with their local press and this frequently results in giving Rotary a favourable column inch or two plus suitable photographs showing hands-on service by Rotarians of both genders!

Chairman Stuart has suggested we should consider making better use of regional events such as Lincoln's Xmas Market and the annual agricultural show at the Lincs Showground by having a display stand showing what Rotary is all about.   Seems like an opportunity too good to miss?

Conferences Various

Southport was fun and good value but it is back to Scarborough next year and indications are the hotels are already filling up with D1270 bookings so be advised - book as early as possible!

The 81st RIBI Annual Conference next year will be held in Belfast, 21st-23rd April 2006 and registration forms have been available for several weeks now.   If you book before the 31st December you will save £5 !   Belfast is a vibrant city and accessable from several mainland airports at very reasonable cost.

Apart from being an inspiring and motivating event full of information you didn't realise you needed, it is also an opportunity to forge friendships outside of our District.   

Later on in June there is the 97th Annual Rotary International Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden; even more opportunities for forging friendships etc. than at Belfast !

Membership

The Rotarian shows that as of 30th June 2005 Rotary had achieved a net gain of 4,765 members over the previous Rotary year.  All very interesting but we need to concentrate our efforts in D1270 in meeting the R.I. President's target of every Club achieving a net + 1 gain as a minimum.    Let us make this a New Years resolution for every Club to aim for and meet !

Disasters

During the past twelve months Rotarians have answered the calls for help resulting from the Asian tsunami, various floods and hurricanes and more recently the earthquake that has devistated the northern region of Pakistan.   The estimated death toll from this last disaster may exceed six figures but it is the four million survivors who now need our continuing aid, particularly in the remote areas where the rough terrain and sub-zero temperatures make access and survival difficult to sustain.    At the recent Foundation Seminar we saw photographs showing shelter boxes being transported by donkeys and even one being carried on the back of one man.  More shelter boxes, tents and warm clothing are needed if the survivors are to survive the winter.   They will need our help for a long time to come.

And Finally...!

A little  while ago after visiting two Clubs in one day, clocking up over 250 miles and having partaken of two enormous salads, I sat down later that evening with a glass of the amber nectar and reflected on what I had been trying to achieve.   To be honest I felt a bit like a travelling salesman must feel when he is trying to proudly peddle a perfectly presentable product to an agreeable but somewhat sceptical clientle who in many cases know more about the product than the salesman does !   I suspect it is more a case of maintaining momentum of commitment and continuity rather than anything else - at least I hope that is what I am doing !

A Happy Christmas and a satisfying New Year to all of you.