More on the RI Convention - Mia Farrow Headlines Day 3

Day 2 included one of the highlights for any UK delegate – recognition of the outstanding work of RC Helston & Lizard with their baby, Shelterbox (www.shelterbox.org). Founder Tom Henderson spoke matter-of-factly of the incredible size of the achievements Shelterbox has achieved in the nine short years since it was conceived; Response teams sent to 57 countries; currently more than 1m people who call a Shelterbox tent home; most recent despatches to Sri Lanka to help those displaced by the action in the Tamil areas; in Pakistan and in Gaza. Shelterbox remains one of the few organisations sufficiently trusted to enter Burma following the catastrophic devastation there. Tom focussed though, on the conduit that allows his teams to function effectively – the 32,000 Rotary clubs that can provide real, current information on what is really happening and required. Truly – ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

For me though, the theme that came through loud and clear in Day 2 and 3 was of the intrinsic linkage between the individual themes that Rotary has set – Polio eradication, projects in Water, Health & Hunger and Child Mortality.

Clarissa Brocklehurst from UNICEF, talking on Water, Hygiene and Sanitation, or as she preferred it, Taps, Soap & Toilets, spelled out some simple facts – the vastly prevalent cause of child illness comes from lack of clean water supplies – 88% of infant diarrhoea-related illness (that kill) stem from lack of water & inadequate sanitation. This includes water-borne polio. 2.5 billion people in the world have inadequate sanitation, 1.2 billion have none (Yes, NONE). 1.2 million children die in this way each year. And yet all of this can be solved by simple, traditional technologies.

In most places where water supply is at a distance, water is carried by women and young children. Typically this is at the cost of their education. Yet the children of educated and literate mothers suffer illness less. This seems like a breakable cycle to me!

Many speakers dwelt on the need for us to complete the task of polio eradication, and on the recognition that the work of Rotary has received from world leaders and governments. We have only four countries to go (in terms of endemic polio) but cannot rest – outbreaks in those four countries can infect neighbouring countries as well – diseases do not recognise borders!

This work could not continue without the support of the Rotary Foundation, our own charity. The global economic crisis has meant that we have had to trim our programmes somewhat, but we still have outstanding achievements to recognise – 100,000 in the Dominican Republic who now have access to water, 23 schools, housing 12,000 students in Sri Lanka. Just a couple of the 2,500 matching grants projects funded by Foundation each year. However, we cannot rest – as Foundation Chair Jonathan Majiyagbe commented on the economic crisis – “those who are suffering the most are those who already had the least”.

Jonathan’s words were echoed by Tuesday’s highlight speaker, Mia Farrow. A polio victim at the age of nine, Ms Farrow knows only too well what the eradication of the disease will mean. Adopted parent of a paraplegic Indian polio victim (amongst her 14 children) she has put her own life and heart into helping others. A UNICEF ambassador, she drew us in with her lighthearted tour of her early career and life before silencing us with her heart-rending stories from the atrocity-ridden Darfur region. A compelling speaker with a compelling message – we must move our governments to do more.

Conventional? - Not on Your Life! - UN Secretary-General at Rotary Convention

There’s nothing so invigorating as seeing Rotarians celebrating Rotary and nowhere more exciting to do that than the annual Rotary International Convention. Returning to Birmingham after 25 years, the NEC has provided an ideal venue for this year’s convention.

Amongst the 20,000 delegates from Rotary’s 154 countries, four Rotarians and their partners from Elthorne Hillingdon made the short journey up the M1 (or M40). Basing ourselves in Coventry, a short rail journey from the NEC looked like a good idea and would have been had it not been for a complete absence on Sunday of suitable rail services to get us there on time!! That, though, was the only issue with the arrangements. Registration and logistics could not have been better organised, setting things up beautifully for the opening plenary session. Complete with razzamatazz that would have graced the West End stage, our entertainment was drawn from our UK host country and our President’s native Korea. A succession of superb acts followed one another, from Morris, Scottish and Irish dancing through Korean opera singers and drum dancers and the band of the Coldstream Guards. Closing the entertainment programme, Birmingham’s Youth Choir were joined by Korea’s Little Angels in “You Raise Me Up” – which could well be a strapline for Rotarians the world over!

The serious business of convention on Day 1 was in the hands of RI President DK Lee, who spoke movingly of his hopes for a reduction in child mortality born from his unforgettable visit to an African village and seeing the issue first-hand. President DK was somewhat upstaged by his fellow-countryman, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. A surprise addition to the programme, Excellency Moon congratulated Rotary on the progress we have made, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation, in reducing the incidence of Polio to just four countries.

It’s only when you look around a convention hall like this, at the number of Rotarians each doing their bit to help the world that you realise just how much poorer the world would be without Rotary.

"Club Assembly" (Our Programme for the coming year)

Last Wednesday we had our “Club Assembly”. This is an important date in the Rotary calendar as the new leadership team presented the club with their plans and ambitions for the year (our year runs from 1 July to 30 June). Amongst the things we’ll be doing will be:

· Eradicating polio

In February 2010, we’ll be supporting Rotary’s “Thanks for Life Week” (21-27 February 2010) which will culminate in a gala event (for the whole of the UK) to which Bill Gates has been invited. We’ll be working to raise the profile of our work in PolioPlus and raise funds towards Rotary’s commitment to match the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donation. Within our club we’ll be planning a specific event for this week.

· Advancing the recognition and public image of Rotary

We’ll be increasing our efforts to make us more visible in the community. We’re updating our website and working with our local press connections.

· Expanding/using Rotary's unique vocational service commitments

We shall be maintaining our fine programme of work, run by Rotarians using their own talents, with young people through Rotary’s Youth Speaks competition, working with schools on improving Literacy, helping budding school leavers with Mock Interviews and running a Photography competition for schools. We will also be maintaining our work in our local community through our Stroke Awareness campaign and by providing transport for Seniors.
We’ll be searching out a flagship project internationally in one of Rotary’s key target areas of Water, Health & Hunger .

- Membership

We’re targeting to increase the membership of our club by 10% during this coming year

During the year I’ll be giving updates on what we’re doing and how we’re getting on.

Play up Pompey!

Over the weekend of 29-31 May, I led a party of 21 Rotarians and their partners on a weekend of exploration and enjoyment based in the Queen's Hotel, Southsea (we rated it "Excellent). Our destination was the choice of President Derek Knight (we have a "President's Weekend" away every year). Assembling during the course of Friday and following dinner in the hotel we were treated to the talents of Madeleine Salvetti, a Blue Badge guide who came to us through Portsmouth’s excellent Information Services. Madeleine took us on a virtual tour of Portsmouth through the ages, which proved to be an invaluable tool for our time in the city.

Saturday was spent in and around the Historic Dockyard and Spinnaker Tower. The gorgeous weather gave us the perfect setting for a day outside – don’t miss either of these if you’re in the area. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending our dinner venue either, Bistro Montparnasse was a truly exhilarating end to the day – this must be one of the (if not THE) top restaurants in the area – food was imaginative, exciting and the service impeccable. This place must be in line for a Michelin star at some stage. Tell them we sent you!

Sunday saw us over to the Isle of Wight on the hovercraft, on the Island Line train to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and thence by a short coach tour to Osborne House for lunch and the afternoon. The continued superb weather was perfect for another day mostly outside enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of England (ah that nostalgic whiff of coal and steam smoke that took us all back to the bygone days of our youth!). Dinner in Annie Croft’s cellar at Lemon Sole provided yet another fitting culinary end in a very different setting to an excellent day. If you love fish – go here.

And so back to reality on Monday for all of us. A group of Rotarians doing what comes naturally – enjoying each other’s company and fitting a lot into a short time!