Rotary International District 1260

Rotary International District 1260 - International Services

District Assembly - 6 May 2004, Queensbury School, DUNSTABLE
Report and photos by Guru Guruswamy

Janet Peirce (the incoming Governor for 2004-05)

Janet Peirce set out her dreams at the District Assembly on 6 May 2004 to "Celebrate 100 years of Rotary".

Her messages included:

Re-energise the clubs, enjoy. A club of friends will improve retention of members.
Focus on the good that money can do rather than how much [Example: x£s could save y number of lives...]
We are at our best when we are boldest
Aim for the five 'make its' - make it fun, make it accessible, make it so that weekly meetings are unmissable, make it a service organisation with a difference, and finally make it happen".

On International services:

RI President for 04-05, Glenn Estess, aims to improve health, water management and literacy.
RIBI would like clubs to support the Rotary's partnership with Hope and Homes for Children working with orphans of Aids and Genocide in Rwanda and South Africa - "Rotary's Africa Hope".

A. RI President (Glenn Estess)'s themes:

Health Concerns	42m are living with HIV.
Water Management	1bn people do not have access to safe water. 6,000 children die everyday because of impure water and sanitation.
Literacy	staggering 2bn people, that is nearly one out of three - cannot read or write.

Derek Adams is the task-force co-ordinator for Dist 1260 on the above matters.

B. RIBI Preferred Project:

Andrew Barret from Hope and Homes made a powerful and moving presentation on Rotary Africa's Hope - a partnership with Hope and Homes for Children working with the orphans of Aids and Genocide in Rwanda and South Africa.

Just £1,000 could support a family for three years! The video showed the plight and prospects for those affected. There are excerpts from RI President (for 04-05) Gordon McInally. The organisation's aims include a secure home, education and help older children set up a small business.

A copy of the video / DVD will become available shortly for clubs. A special website is being established by them, with links from the current Hope and Homes website [www.hopeandhomes.org].

Andrew can be contacted via e-mail: andrew@hopeandhomes.org
Tel: 01722 790111 - the main office of hope and homes.

Janet Peirce with the guest speaker, Andrew Barret from Hope and Homes.

C. Other International matters:

Clubs will be able to invite their twin clubs to the District conference, termed as "Conference with a difference" - to be held at Euro-Disney in France, 11-13 March 2005. Janet would like family members to join in as well.
An International Day to celebrate 100 years of Rotary will be held on Sunday 26 Sep 04 at Cross Keys in Pullox Hill ... room for only 200 people.

D. Some of the other subjects [not specific to international] covered at the Assembly:

"Rotary Community First Responders" - Lifesavers, presented by Barbara Broadbelt. She explained how the first few minutes are critical in case of a heart attack, and how first responders could help in improving the survival rate from 5% to 85%. She urged Rotary to work with them to learn to use "defibrillators" and to support in funding and installation of more of these devices at suitable places.
www.lifesaversdirect.co.uk

Membership: 90% of members have not introduced new members. Encourage younger people to join Rotary. Paul Harris was only 37 when he founded Rotary. The average age of others in his group was only 35.

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