RIBI International Resource Group update on Pakistan and Haiti

RIBI International Resource Group
Newsletter August 2010
Since the July newsletter the phone lines and emails have been extremely busy
responding to the most recent disaster in Pakistan.
Pakistan Floods
The worst floods for 80 years have devastated large areas of Pakistan killing 2000
and affecting 20 million people who have had to flee their homes. The news from the
Districts is that Rotarians have responded quickly to the request for clean water and
shelter by supporting the box projects.
Lifestraws, www.lifestraw.org.uk, initially sent 3000 straws via Lifebox and
since then have sent their total stock of 11,000 which equates to 7,000,000
litre of drinking water. The straws are ideally suited to this crisis as it allows
the user to take surface water, pass it through the filter and drink it.
Water Survival Box, www.worldwaterworks.org, have been working tirelessly
with their partners Humanity First UK to get much needed supplies to where
it’s needed most. So far 400 Water Survival Boxes have been despatched.
The following e-mail was received from Humanity First UK:
Once again, WorldWaterWorks Limited has come up trumps with its Rotary Water
Survival Boxes. The devastating floods in Pakistan have left millions displaced and
destitute. Your boxes are helping them to cope in difficult conditions in places such
as Muzaffargarh, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and Dera Ghazi Khan. The speed of your
response has allowed us to get these boxes to the needy within days of the disaster. I
look forward to continuing to work with your magnificent team.” Fazal Ahmad, Global
Marketing Director
ShelterBox, www.shelterbox.org, have responded magnificently as always.
They sent 1000 tents which will house up to 10,000 people who have lost their
homes. This is in addition to the emergency goods which are contained in the
Shelterbox which is almost always first to disaster areas.
Lifebox, www.life-box.org.uk, have been transporting Life Straws.
Aquabox, www.aquabox.org, has agreed to send £30,000 of Aquaboxes and
Aquafilter and they continue to need our support. They have asked that any
boxes which are with clubs or schools should be returned as soon as possible
to help the effort.
Impact Foundation, www.impact.org.uk, which Rotary has supported in India,
has a man, on the ground, who has set up a camp for 2500 people supplying
tents. He speaks the language and is aware of the local culture which is
beneficial in this situation. The tents which cost of £65 are all made locally so
this also helps the local economy.
Donations to these charities should be sent to them direct and not to RIBI.
President Jim Moulson has launched a Pakistan Flood Appeal, which will be
administered by the RIBI Donations Trust, to support long term sustainable projects
which will be required to help rebuild devastated communities. All donations to
this appeal should be made payable to the RIBI Donations Trust and sent c/o RIBI,
Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6PB
Haiti
Jaipur Limb Project – since the earthquake it has become obvious that there
is a great need for prosthetic limbs for those who were disabled. The charity
are proposing initially to finance the building of a workshop and consulting
area at the Bienfaisance Hospital in Pignon. Funding will also be required
for the training of orthopaedic technicians to a professional standard as at
present there are none in Haiti. An off road 4×4 vehicle will also be required
to access the more remote areas. Funds will be made available from RIBI
Haiti Earthquake Appeal to help with this long term sustainable project.
District 1160 have begun to collect unwanted/surplus crutches – perhaps you
can help.
Mary’s Meals – A number of Districts have been supporting this charity which
supplies meals for school children in many counties in the world. They have
been working in Haiti since 2006 in the Cite Soleil, a slum area, in Port au
Prince. Since the earthquake they have delivered medical supplies, helped 500
to relocate to their home towns, supplied 2000 families with food, clothing
and hygiene kits. They have also erected temporary shelters in schools to
restart classes and of course supplied meals. The charity founder Magnus
MacFarlane – Barrow on a recent visit to the USA, to set up an American
organisation, was interview on the CNN Heroes Show. www.marysmeals.org
Guatemala – Trade Aid, www.trade-aid.org, sent 10 Trade Boxes (5 carpenter and
5 builder) on 12th July to help the rebuilding. They will require funding when the
situation in Pakistan becomes clearer.
Namibia – Charity Drive Namibia -2010. The drive is organized together with the
Swakopmund Rotary Club in Namibia (District 9350) with the support of Namibian
Embassy in Stockholm and Namibian Tourist Board. Charity Drive Namibia is
organized in support of Mondesa Youth Opportunities (www.mondesayouth.org) –
a private school in Swakopmund area, that is fully dependent on donations. MYO
provides an alternative for state education system in Namibia. The organizers
are looking for a team of four persons from UK to participate in this drive. One
team will pay annual tuition fee of one student in this school. The Drive itself
(30.Oct. – 06.Nov.2010), as the name suggests, is a driving adventure with off-
road vehicles through the most beautiful and remote places of Namibia. More
information can be found at: www.andmoments.com/eng/trips/charity-drive/main
Keep doing what Rotarians do best:
Drew Hughes
RIBI International Resource Group Chairman 2010/11
Bookmark and Share

Rotary Foundation Future Vision Plan – August 2010 Newsletter

Welcome to Future Vision Pilot News! This monthly newsletter from The Rotary Foundation provides Future Vision pilot districts with information, tips, and resources to guide them through the grant process.
WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS MONTH?
Submitting online applications
Applications for Rotary Foundation District Grants and Rotary Foundation Global Grants are available to pilot clubs and districts for submission online through Member Access. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Before applying for grants, clubs and districts must be qualified. Districts must complete the online qualification process. Clubs then complete the club qualification process managed by the district. Once the district is qualified, it may apply for a district grant.
Once districts and clubs are qualified, they may apply for a global grant. The global grant application process has two steps:
  1. Grant sponsors submit a proposal to provide a brief description of their planned activities and objectives. The Foundation works with sponsors to determine whether the proposal is complete and eligible.
  2. Sponsors of eligible proposals are invited to submit a full grant application.
Planning for global grants scholarships
The Rotary Foundation has compiled a list of study institutions in pilot districts. Rotarians may use it to determine whether an institution is located in a pilot district. The list is provided for reference only, and the Foundation neither recommends nor endorses any particular institution. Remember that global grant scholars must adhere to the eligibility guidelines for Rotary Foundation Global Grants.
Applicants do not need to provide proof of admission before the sponsoring clubs/districts submit a global grant proposal; however, such proof must accompany the application. Proficiency in the native language of the host country and in the language of the program of study is mandatory. All applicants who wish to study in a country where the native language is not their own are required to complete a Foundation-approved lan­guage proficiency test. For more information, please see the Language Requirement FAQ (in English only; other languages will be available soon).
Pilot districts might consider developing a relationship with a local university that has a program in an area of focus. The university can send names of admitted scholars to the district for possible sponsorship as a global grant scholar.
Pilot and nonpilot district collaboration
Do you have questions about how pilot and nonpilot districts can work together during the Future Vision pilot? Find answers here.
PolioPlus support under Future Vision
At their June meeting, the Trustees decided that Future Vision pilot districts may not use district grant funds to support travel to PolioPlus National Immunization Days. Districts that have included such funds in their district grant spending plans should remove these items.
Rotary Peace Centers communication
Pilot districts are encouraged to submit candidates for the 2011 Rotary Peace Fellowships program at no cost to their district. Rotarians specifically charged with recruiting, evaluating, or assisting district applicants can e-mail their contact information toRebecca Crall at The Rotary Foundation to be included on mailings about important program updates and changes.
Endowed naming opportunities
At their June meeting, the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation approved guidelines for endowed global grant naming opportunities under Future Vision.
The Trustees reaffirmed that gifts to the Permanent Fund, with spendable earnings directed to the World Fund, are the highest priority for Permanent Fund support. New endowed global grant naming opportunities offer major donors the option of supporting a specific area of focus.
Donor options vary depending on the size and purpose of the gift commitment. For more information, contact a Rotary Foundation Major Gifts officer or the Office of Planned Giving (847-866-3100).
YOUR PUBLICATIONS
For clubs
For districts
District Rotary Foundation committee and seminar manuals
Future Vision pilot versions of the District Rotary Foundation Committee Manual and Rotary Foundation Seminar Manual will be available at the end of August. The seminar manual includes informationon planning a district Rotary Foundation seminar and suggestedsession topics; PowerPoint presentations on each topic (PolioPlus, Rotary Peace Centers,Rotary Foundation grants, stewardship and qualification,Foundation funding, and fundraising) will be available as well.The publications will be e-mailed to district governors, districtgovernors-elect, district Rotary Foundation committee chairs, andthe grants, PolioPlus, and fundraising subcommittee chairs.
A major mailing, including RI training publications, was recently sent to all district governors-elect. Governors-elect in pilot districts should see the online Future Vision addendums to the following publications (click the link to download the addendum):
Some pilot districts received copies of the nonpilot version of theDistrict Rotary Foundation Committee Manual. We apologize for the confusion and will ensure that the pilot version copies are e-mailed to pilot districts as soon as they are ready.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Q: What is “sustainability” as it relates to global grants?
A: The Rotary Foundation defines sustainability as the capacity for maintaining outcomes long-term to serve the ongoing need of a community after grant funds have been expended. Click here for more information about sustainability.
Bookmark and Share

Paddington Rotary Club Dragon Boat Team Racing for the All Stars Gym Charity

Following on District Governor David’s stated aim to encourage fellowship and

cooperation between neighbouring Rotary Clubs, I am sending you this excerpt prepared by Seema Kehar, joint captain of the Paddington Rotary Club Dragon Boat team, the ‘Paddington Bears’. She reports on the annual Paddington Basin Waterside Partnership Charity Dragon Boat event. This took place on Thursday 15thJuly 2010.

On Thursday 15th July I joined a team comprising 10 paddlers and a drummer (from the charity we were supporting – the All Stars Gym). Our aim was to work with Paddington Rotary Club to fundraise money for All Stars Boxing Gym and Youth Club.  We collectively entered under the team name of “Paddington Bears” and we had an eclectic collection of 10 people with one aim – win. Many of us had never rowed a Dragon Boat before let alone sat in one so after a safety briefing and quick coaching class we were let loose in the Paddington Basin canal on a rather windy day.  We were told repeatedly that we were all winners amongst the mountain of participants but that had no real effect and the competitive spirit of the boat shone through. We were in it to win it!  After hours of racing we were finally through to the semis and then the finals. The end result was that we had a photo finish with the other team. The other team claimed victory allegedly by 2 hundredths of a second!!! But we understood that we could not have a clean sweep with the trophies – collecting our medals while the cup went to the opposition we were greatly cheered to learn we had won the best prize of the day – a cup for the team that had raised the most money for charity beating all the other entrants. This is currently displayed on my desk soon moving to a display cabinet at Paddington Rotary club.

On the Barclays front, I was sponsored by many colleagues, friends and others raising a good total of £510 for the charity. This was then matched by Barclays so the charity will get another £510 added to the pot. Other crew members also raised money and we are still receiving sponsorship. We will attend a presentation at the weekly Club Dinner on 21st Sept when we will hand over the grand total to All Stars Gym.

We were happy to make a difference here – Since being established in 1974 the All Stars Boxing Club has become an institution within the local community, embodying the skill, discipline and camaraderie which is essential in team boxing. The club has produced champions on a regional, national and international level and continues to increase its reputation within the boxing world. However, aside from its sporting accolades, the club has managed to achieve another great success that came about as a product of its existence.

Although creating a competitive boxing squad was the initial goal of founder Isola Akay MBE, something else was realised whilst on this journey to success. For many of the young people involved, including those who did not end up representing the club in boxing, the All Stars Gym became something stable in their lives as well as a place to escape the negativity of life in volatile surroundings. If you are familiar with the Harrow Road area you will know it is a place of contradictions, situated closely to an abundance of wealth yet riddled with high rates of drug-related crime, violence and gang culture. Amongst this the All Stars stands defiant, offering the youth a safe environment where not only boxing is taught, but also the skills of discipline, respect and self-worth can be learnt to be carried on throughout life. The profound and lasting effect All Stars has had on people is what makes it unique, more than a boxing club and a necessity in the community.”

Greetings and best wishes to you all from the Rotarians of Paddington. I look forward to meeting you in the near future.

Kind regards

Murray
Rotary Club of Paddington

Bookmark and Share

Rotary International President 2012/2013 Nominated

The 2010-11 Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2012-13, having functioned in accordance with the bylaws of Rotary International, has indicated that it unanimously nominated AkujuI Tanaka of the Rotary Club of Yashio, Saitama, Japan, for the office of President of Rotary International for the year 2012-13. Biographical information for Rotarian Tanaka is available on the RI Web site

Bookmark and Share

Thanks for Life – Focus on the Crocus – Update for Club Presidents

THANKS FOR LIFE
FOCUS ON THE CROCUS
17th August 2010
Dear President
I take this opportunity to thank you and your members for their magnificent support
for this project. I am sure that you will be pleased to know that London District has
Top place for number of bulbs per Member, Second place for Total Number of bulbs
and Third place for number of bulbs per Club. This includes all 29 Districts of RIBI.
214 per Member……………………..367,000 in Total…………………..4545 per Club.
The Bulbs will be with you during September for planting in September/October for
flowering (hopefully!!) during the week that contains Rotary Day 23rd February
As you know the object is to promote the awareness of Rotary and also to publicise
our campaign: END POLIO NOW.
We must now turn our attention towards raising the money required to meet ‘The
Gates Challenge’ and so raise the funds necessary to carry out the immunisation of the
children and ‘Rid the World of Polio’.
This can be achieved by having “Purple Pinkie Days” possibly in Schools and for
each Club to have their ‘Window of Opportunity’ perhaps in a vacant shop during the
week beginning 20th February.
Although you can still use the ‘Posters’ that I sent you last year, there are new posters
that can be downloaded from the…. ribi.org web site…‘Thanks for Life’ page.
where you can find all the information for this campaign including a large number of
resources to help you.. You will recall that last year our Clubs raised the magnificent
sum of £40,000 .LET US TRY AND BEAT THAT FIGURE.
More imminent is the ‘Flagship’ event in Trafalgar Square on 1st October where
the ‘International Flower Bulb Centre’ will be planting crocuses in containers, with
the help of the public, TV GARDEN CELEBRITIES will be teaching the public
how to plant bulbs and be given bulbs to take home. Our own RIBI President will be
present together with a prominent London figure, to open the event.
The object of this event is to promote ROTARY/END POLIO NOW. I would like as
many Rotarians as possible to be in Trafalgar Square, as we have hired the Square for
5 hours,10/3pm and we will have Rotary Stands to be manned with publicity material
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP BY ATTENDING.
One more request please…I would like to have photographs of the site where the
crocuses are to be planted and also the location (by e-mail if possible)……………….
BEFORE & DURING PLANTING & WHEN THE BULBS FLOWER. With
this information I can publicise the campaign for you and also place it on a
countrywide map that can be accessed by the public to give us further publicity.
Please continue giving your magnificent help with this project.“END POLIO NOW”
Yours in Rotary friendship
PDG DON MERRITT
07836 722732
Bookmark and Share

The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians

The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians has been flourishing within RIBI and now has the highest membership outside North America.

Each year we hold a series of one-day events ideal for Private Pilots hiring club aircraft as well as those who have their own or shared aircraft. But those arriving by road are equally welcome – you do not need to be a pilot to join, just a Rotarian and interested in aviation.

Membership of The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians gives:

  • Regular contact with others who share your interests – Rotary and Aviation
  • The opportunity to take part with other members in visits at home and abroad, to Air shows, Museums, Rallies, Reunions and other aviation events
  • A distinctive IFFR pin badge acknowledged by Rotary International
  • UK Bulletins telling of past and forthcoming events in Britain and in the rest of Europe, and World Bulletins describing IFFR activities worldwide
  • A worldwide Membership Directory of IFFR members

Whilst membership is only open to current active or honorary Rotarians, once you have joined you may usually bring a friend, spouse or partner to events – ideal if you share an aircraft with a non-Rotarian. Combining an interest in aviation with the fellowship of Rotary makes an ideal basis for pursuing the Objects of Rotary in an enjoyable fashion.

For further details see our web site or go straight to our application form.

Bookmark and Share

Bradford Peace Seminar

Interest: Club Foundation Chairs

Bookings are now open for the 2010 Bill Huntley Memorial Peace Seminar at Bradford University on 30th October.
This year the seminar will be held in the Great Hall. This is a bigger, better and more convenient venue than before and we can accommodate much larger numbers.

Don’t restrict the attendance to Rotary - bring your friends; spread the word; support the Rotary Peace Programme!
Click here to find out more and to access the online booking form. We look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes from
The Bradford Host Area Committee

Bookmark and Share

Pakistan Rotary Flood Appeal

The RIBI Donations Trust has set up a Pakistan Flood Appeal with the express purpose of raising funds to aid the affected communities in Pakistan during the reconstruction phase following this emergency. It is not intended as an emergency response fund – the funds will be restricted in their use.

Club members should decide whether they want to assist in the emergency phase or in the longer term. The public should be informed of the purpose for which the money is being collected, and the charity for which the money is intended. We do suggest that, where clubs are wanting to raise funds for the immediate emergency problems, they select the charity or organisation that best meets their needs e.g.ShelterBox, Water Survival Box, Aquabox, Lifebox, Lifestraws or even the DEC. The Donations Trust is not equipped to respond with any immediacy, and these other organisations are fully equipped to do just that.

We understand that once the demand for ShelterBoxes is satisfied or stocks run out, that charity may not be able to continue with its aid, so there is no guarantee that funds raised for the Shelterbox response to the Pakistan disaster will be applied specifically to Pakistan. Club members and the public do need to be made aware of this. There are other charities that can play an important role during this emergency phase. Please contact ShelterBox direct if you have any specific queries and not the RIBI Secretariat – ShelterBox is an independent charity.

Please remember that local authorities usually require charity numbers on applications for street collection licences. Those clubs which do not have their own club trusts can use the RIBI Donations Trust charity number, 1119688, if they are collecting for the RIBI Pakistan Flood Appeal only. Otherwise, please contact the chosen charity direct.

Cheques for the RIBI Pakistan Flood Appeal should be made payable to ‘RIBI Donations Trust’ and sent to the Finance Department at the Alcester address.

Bookmark and Share