Group Study Exchange Visit from Nepal

The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.

For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

Our Rotary district currently have a GSE team visiting from Nepal District 3292 under the leadership of Rotarian Nugal Vaidya.  Their first formal presentation was at the weekly meeting of the Mapperley & Arnold Rotary Club.  The host club had also invited other guests along including Sue Leyden of the Himalayan Trust UK.  Sue is the second daughter of Lord Hunt was was the leader of the successful 1953 British Expedition to Mount Everest.. The Mapperley & Arnold Club had supported the Himalayan Trust and Sue spoke about ongoing work to rebuild schools that had been devastated in recent earthquakes in Nepal.

 

Each member of the Nepal GSE team were introduced and spoke a little about themselves, their background, vocation and then shared different aspects of Nepal’s culture.

Round Table

Round Table and Rotary are organisations that share similar aims and objectives. I was thrilled that three members of Hucknall Round Table were able to come along to our latest meeting. Both groups are keen to combine and serve our community in the best possible way without any overlap and promoting a synergy of service organisations working closely together.

 

Tonight I hope, will be the first of many occasions when we can join together in fellowship.  Good banter was shared as well as receiving (and giving) useful insight into how both organisations run.   Long may it continue.

 

 

Chairman Lee Freeley of Hucknall Round Table and President Ian exchange club pendants.

The Fishtail Fund

On Monday 24^th September, I attended my first District Council meeting as Club President.  This follow a similar format to the Club council agenda, all be it on a larger scale

 

For myself, it was good to meet with Rotarians from all over the 1220 District.  The highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Martin Beaumont of the Rotary Club of Dronfield.  Dronfield Rotary Club have been working in partnership with the Rotary Club of Pokhara Fishtail, Nepal in a project known as ‘The Fishtail Fund.’

The Fishtail Fund was also highlighted at 2011’s District Conference when 4 Nepal gentlemen travelled to Scarborough (at their own expense) to promote the fund and to thank UK Rotarians for their support.

 

This is an excerpt from the excellent website   www.fishtailfund.com

 

Our Purpose:
To help clever children from poor Nepali homes to stay on at school.

Our belief:
The future leaders of a poor country will come from the children of today.
Only the educated are free.

Nelson Mandela:
Education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world:

The support we ask:
Just £5 a month buys an education for five years at school. £12 pays for a year at College or Sixth Form.

How we operate:
Support money raised by us is sent to our Trustees in Nepal and given direct to students or more usually to their head teachers

Welcome to The Fishtail Fund 2012-13. In our third full year we have expanded to almost 50 students. Most are at school. Three have entered the next phase, that is College or Sixth Form level.

We are at present not inviting support for any more students. Instead we are concentrating on improving support for our existing students so we can, if they meet our high standards, continue to college and university.

Please contribute to our College and University Funds

Please enjoy browsing through these 48 young hopefuls, the clever young people from Nepal, yet all of them desperately poor. They are tending cows, looking after blind uncles, selling vegetables, running families: yet still they are attending school and all have magnificent potential. Their biographies and photographs are inspiring.

 

Celebrate, too, their sponsors, who are trusting us, the Trustees, and above all putting their money and their faith in these remarkable students eight thousand miles away in Pokhara Nepal.

We remind you that for students and teachers, English is their third language, after Nepali and probably Urdu. English, the world language, is different across that world.

 

Pride of Hucknall

The Pride of Hucknall awards is now established as part of our community’s annual calendar where nominations are received to pay tribute to exceptional 11-17’s year olds. 

Hucknall & Linby Mining Community Brass Band once again provided an excellent repertoire of music to the packed audience assembled in the Central Methodist Church.

The nominees all received a medal from former Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping and shock hands with members of the organising committee (of which I was one).  I joked that it felt like the Cup Final presentations.

Pride of Hucknall Nomineees

The Committee

Southwell Charter

 I’m discovering that many Rotary Club Charters have their own characteristics and traditions.   Once such tradition occurs at the Southwell Club Charter which is held in the historic Saracen’s Head Public House, Southwell.   This is famed for being the place where King Charles I spent his last night as a free man in May 1646, before surrounding the next day during the English Civil War.


The Execution Warrant for King Charles I



 

Roast Beef always features on the Southwell menu I was told.  The Beef is also brought out and carved in front of the Charter attendees.  I happened to have been seated next to David Steel, a retired Butcher and Past President of Southwell, who also did the honours of carving the meat.  I did ask that he give me a generous portion!

 

 

The sweet was Bramley Apple Crumble.  The Bramley Cooking Apple is almost exclusively a British variety, but the most important cooking apple in the UK.  The first ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ tree was grown in Southwell after a young girl called Mary Ann Brailsford planted apple pips in 1809.  The cottage in whose grounds the tree grew was sold to the local butcher, Matthew Bramley in 1846.  Henry Merryweather asked Bramley if he could take cuttings from the tree and start to sell the apples in 1856.  Matthew Bramley was in agreement but only if the apples bore his name.  The first Bramley Apple Tree still stands in Southwell today and is considered a treasure of the town.

The speaker was Peter Cook, Headmaster of the Wellow School and former Rugby Union star.  Peter spoke about the impact of fate and luck in both his sporting and academic careers, and his message was one of encouraging everyone (including his students) to strive to achieve the best they could. 

U3A Diamond Jubilee Quiz Night

Hucknall Rotary Club entered 2 teams in the Diamond Jubilee Quiz ran by Hucknall’s U3A group.  U3A stands for University of the Third Age and offers its members many interest groups as well as a monthly meeting with an interesting speaker.  U3A would describe themselves as ‘Creative, leisure and educational opportunities for semi-retired or retired people.’

SVP Alan with his good lady at the Quiz

 

Hucknall Rotary Club supported the group’s inception in 2008 and Rotarian Richard White was the first Chairman of U3A.  We have maintained close links ever since, supporting each other’s events.

The Quiz was superbly crafted together by John Ellis and was an enjoyable evening.  The one question that no-one knew the answer to, but caused plenty of groans was in the round of questions themed ‘1952’ the year Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne.

The question was “Which vehicle was first seen on English roads in 1952?”

Despite many guesses, I don’t think anyone came close to the correct answer, which was  (get ready to groan…)  

 

“The TV License Detector Van.”

The Four Way Test

One of the internet Rotary forums I belong to asked the question, “How does your club close your weekly meeting.”  Until I read some of the posts, I never realised that there were different ways of doing it.  I assumed that the way my club closes was the standard approach right across the organisation.

Hucknall close with all Rotarians and guests standing and saying the International Toast which is “Rotary and Peace the World over.”  Many clubs finish their meetings with this  toast. The members don’t think twice about it – but they should. It isn’t an idle wish, but a vision that our organisation really can make happen.

In 1940 the world was at war. Paul Harris, founder of Rotary wrote in The Rotarian magazine that February: ‘Must the best genius of men be devoted to the science of war and none to the science of averting it?’

The Second World War began to clarify views within our organisation that we could and should strive to make our world a far more peaceful place. After the war, The United Nations were formed. Around 100 Rotarians were deeply and fundamentally involved at senior levels in the formation of the most famous of all Organisations for Peace. Many people, even Rotarians don’t realise that Rotary has such an incredible history of ground breaking work in this field.

Some clubs close with their national anthems, others closed with the recitation of Rotary’s Four Way Test which was devised by  a U.S. Rotarian.  The statement and the principles it embodied also helped many others find their own ethical compass. Soon embraced and popularized by Rotary International, The Four-Way Test today stands as one of the organization’s hallmarks. It may very well be one of the most famous statements of our century.

Herbert J. Taylor, author of the Test, was a mover, a doer, a consummate salesman and a leader of men. He was a man of action, faith and high moral principle.

During the American Depression he was tasked with rescuing an ailing company.  As he thought about an ethical guideline for the company, he first wrote a statement of about 100 words but decided that it was too long. He continued to work, reducing it to seven points. In fact, The Four-Way Test was once a Seven-Way Test. It was still too long, and he finally reduced it to the four searching questions that comprise the Test today.

Next, he checked the statement with his four department heads: a Roman Catholic, a Christian Scientist, an Orthodox Jew and a Presbyterian. They all agreed that the Test’s principles not only coincided with their religious beliefs, but also provided an exemplary guide for personal and business life.

And so, “The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do” was born:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all Concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

In 1942, Richard Vernor of Chicago, then a director of Rotary International, suggested that Rotary adopt the Test. The R.I. Board approved his proposal in January 1943 and made The Four-Way Test a component of the Vocational Service programme.  Herb Taylor transferred the copyright to Rotary International when he served as R.I. president in 1954-55, during the organization’s golden anniversary.

Eloquently simple, stunning in its power, undeniable in its results, The Four-Way Test offers a fresh and positive vision in the midst of a world full of tension, confusion and uncertainty.

Although as a club we are aware of the Four Way Test, it can be easy to take it for granted.  Last night was the monthly Business meeting of Hucknall Rotary Club, and prior to us closing with the International Toast, we recited together the Four Way Test.  This is something that I hope we now practice at all our business meetings.

 

I would walk (500 miles)

When I received an email from President Richard Carter of Bakewell Rotary Club, inviting all Rotarians to spread the word about their forthcoming Annual (2^nd year) Tunnel Tramp, I immediately thought that it was something I could get involved with.

The Tunnel Tramp is not a vagrant living in a tunnel, but rather a walk along Monsal Trail in the Derbyshire Dales.  In 2011, redundant railway tunnels were opened along the route for walkers and cyclists.  Bakewell Rotary Club saw a great opportunity and organised a Sponsor Tunnel Tramp (or walk) walkers a choice of 5 miles, 12 miles or 16 miles circuit.

When I decided a fortnight ago to do the walk, I told friends that I would love to do the 16 miles but realistically being so out of condition, 5 miles was a better target.

Friends who know that I’m all or nothing guy, encouraged me by telling me that if I could walk over burning, hot coals then I could manage 12 miles.  I hadn’t allowed much time for training but knew I could walk 5/6 miles comfortable.  I decided that I would make a decision on the day.

The tunnel tramp was superbly organised by Bakewell Rotarians and I appreciated their friendly conversation at the check-in points. 



President Richard (left) at the start of the walk

 

 

The walk started at Hassop Station.  Anxious to give myself as much time as possible to go the full distance, I was the first walker to set-off.  I was also the first person to reach the first check-in point, 2 ½ miles along the trail at Monsal Dale.  I continued as the next stop was Millers Dale (another 3 ½ miles along)  and it was my intention to stop here, eat my lunch and rest for about 30 minutes before deciding whether to turn back and do 12 miles or go the full distance.

 

I still felt good at Millers Dale so decided to continue the further 2 miles up to Topley Pike.  When I got there and started chatting to the Rotarians there, one of them Roy Pickles, shared one of my other passions.  Both Roy and myself had attended the Barnsley v Blackpool football match the previous day.  A late friend of Roy’s, Frank Moore, was a well-known Barnsley Football supporter.  Frank Moore had been a season ticket holder at Oakwell from 1914 until his death in 2008 at the age of 102.  Frank had moved to Buxton but still went back to Barnsley for every game.  Roy had taken Frank to every game for the last eighteen years and had continued to attend these four years following Frank’s death.  Had I not decided to go the full distance, I would have missed making this wonderful new acquaintance.

 

 

8 miles gone, 8 to go.  The walk back to Millers Dale was quite gentle.  Again I enjoyed great conversation and fellowship with Rotarians.  The next leg was the first time I felt I was tiring, but I knew I had to get back to Hassop and that kept me moving.  My MP3 player proved to be a good companion as songs by Iron Maiden, Metallica and The Cult kept me pacing my steps.

 

 

 

 

As I entered the last mile, I could feel a blister on my foot.  I was pleased though, that I had managed 15 miles relatively blister-free. 

Just after 4pm, I completed the walk and felt proud in the achievement of walking all 16 miles.  Not bad for an unfit, overweight, middle-aged bloke!

Finished !

 

My check-in card

 

 

After winding down, I drove home.  Later that night I was struggling to walk to the kitchen, but no-one can take away from me that I did it – the full 16 miles.  What’s more, I plan to go back next year.

Click here, to view more photographs

Suits You Sir

Cindy Rossiter of ‘Color me beautiful’ was the guest speaker at the latest meeting of Hucknall Rotary Club held at the Horse & Groom, Linby.  Cindy has been working as an image consultant for the last 21 years, as well as various additional charitable roles, and brought an enjoyable and humourous presentation to the meeting. 

Cindy explained how we all, whether we realise it or not, form immediate impressions about people the moment we meet them and the image we present contributes significantly towards that imprint.

In the 1980’s a milestone book by Carole Jackson entitled ‘Color Me Beatiful’ encourage people not just to think about the impact their clothing made on others, but also how to style colouring and clothing to your best advantage by also taking into account your natural colouring (consisting of hair, eyes, skin tone).  Since then, prominent people including politicians and business leaders, have used image consultants.

President Ian has his image consulted

Cindy explained how each person has a dominant “characteristic” in their colouring: Deep, Light, Soft, Clear, Warm & Cool and then by using Club President Ian Young as her model demonstrated how different colours looked better when matched with  the individual colouring characteristic.  My characteristic was ‘Deep’, defined as dark and rich.  One Rotarian not know to bestow praise lightly was heard to comment, “ I hate to admit it, but she’s right.  It makes perfect sense.”

To conclude, Cindy carried out a quiz to see if we could guess (or knew) what traits were suggested by the wearing of certain colours: Conservative (Blue), Sophisticated (Black), Confident (Red), Happy (Yellow),  Sensitive (Purple), Nurture (Green) Out-going (Orange)  & Pure (White) .

If anyone is interested in an image consultation or seeks further information, Cindy can be contacted by email  cindy.rossiter@talk21.com or via her website www.total-image.co.uk

Road Safety

A couple of years ago I received the telephone call that every parent dreads, "There's been a road accident involving your child on the way home from school." The sudden outpourings of panic, fear, shock and emotion in that moment cannot be expressed. Once I arrived at the accident site, the paramedics were there already and my child, although badly bruised and severely shaken, was okay.

In the last 10 weeks, our community has been deeply affected by two fatal bicycle road accidents. There have also been other serious and fatal accidents that has brought the issue of road safety in Hucknall to the fore. School friends of the boys involved have been an inspiration in launching road safety campaign and trying to educate others about road safety

This morning I attended a networking meeting Others attending also had road safety on their minds. I am a believer in all people and groups working together for the greater good. This is what our national president John Minhinick calls joined-up Rotary. I arrived at the meeting feeling that the Rotary Club should be doing something regarding to road safety.

Pupils from the school spoke very passionately about improving safety. Also present at this meeting was the County Councillor responsible for Highways and a local Police officer who is extremely motivated in getting the community to come together in order to educate all ages about road safety.

He particularly encouraged everyone to use the excellent material produced by the Department of Transport called 'Tales of the Road' and said that education was the key. Rather than several small projects taking place and all going in different directions, it was recommended that a Road Safety Committee is formed with support from all groups.

'Tales from the Road' is an excellent resource which deserves greater usage and Road Safety education is an area where I hope that Rotary will be able to help make a difference in our community.

  



We're for Communities

Rotary’s National President visits the East Midlands

The President of Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) and his wife, John & Sheila Minhinick, paid their visit to District 1220 over these last few days.  The Rotary Clubs of Belper and Amber Valley were hosting a joint meeting on Monday 10^th September at the Lion Hotel in Belper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having a free night, I decided to make the most of the opportunity and attend the meeting.  The hospitality I received from Belper Rotarians was superb and I enjoyed their company immensely.  I even thought that the Lion Hotel served Magners on draught although it may well be that I didn’t see the barman pour from the bottle!

 

Myself (centre) with RIBI President John & Sheila Minhinick

 

After dinner and the formalities of club business, RIBI President John spoke and sought to inspire the listening Rotarians by encouraging them to think of exciting ways of attracting and keeping new members.  Crucial to this is new publicity entitled ‘We’re for Communities’

In order to continue successful community projects and attract new members, RIBI President John suggested three little words held the key ,  “Joined Up Rotary.”

Joined Up Rotary is everyone working together, within the club, within the community, within Rotary districts to serve the community by beneficial projects. 

 

RIBI President John also challenged his listeners to think about the image of Rotary and what type of event reporting would be of interest to potential new recruits. 

RIBI President’s John’s closing remarks was that Rotary was all about the three F’s : Fun, Friendship and Fellowship.

District Bowls Competition

Last year, Hucknall not only hosted District 1220 Bowls Competition but used home advantage to full effect  ended the day victorious.   Today, as I travelled over to Burton Joyce Bowls Club to watch our team of Jack Gray, Allan Johnson & Ashley Maddock defend their trophy, it felt like the third leg of a Triathlon.  Most Rotarians could hardly compare to the physique of Olympic Triathlete, however our version consisted of golf on Friday, fishing on Saturday and now Lawn Bowls on Sunday.

As defending champions, Hucknall were obviously the team to beat as our opponents raised their games so that they could boast of beating the Champions.

 

For more pictures, click here

Hook, Line and Sinker

Hayes Farm was the venue for Hucknall Rotary Club Fishing Match as members gathered to see who would finish the afternoon being crowned the best angler in the club.

 

Lots were drawn to allocate pegs and having no experience of fishing, I never realised how complex putting a rod together was.

 

 

In a close finish Mel Stanley did enough to beat off his nearest competitor, Ashley Maddock.  Ashley, as Chair of the House, Sports & Social committee presented Mel with the winners trophy.

 

Click here to view more photos of the Fishing Match

 

 

 

 

 

Charity Teed Off

I hope no-one misread my title!  Friday 7^th September saw Hucknall Rotary Club and the Hilltoppers Golf Society work together again in raising funds for equipment for the new Cystic Fibrosis unit being constructed at the City Hospital, Nottingham.

The most read blog to date to date was ‘Chasing the Dragon’ which raised £ 500 towards our target of raising £ 7,000 for the project. 

The latest fund-raiser was a Charity Golf Day held at Ratcliffe on Trent Golf Club.  20 Teams of 4 entered and the winners were the ‘American Golf’ team.  My only experience of playing golf has been on the computer where I once managed to complete the course with a score of par under six, however I know that I can never better that score.

I arrived in the evening for the auction, raffle and presentations.  Peter Sherlock (Past President of Hucknall Rotary Club and committee member of Hilltoppers Golf Society) acted as the evening's Master of Ceremonies.  Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club Captain Mick Brown kindly welcome me although his first act was issuing me with a captain’s fine as my mobile phone rang just as I entered the golf club!

 

Caroline Kew, Nottingham University Hospitals Fund-raiser spoke and introduced Caroline Spencer who spoke movingly and what it means to live with CF and the impact this new unit will make on her and others with the illness.  Many sufferers of illnesses are able to form meeting groups in order to come together as people who know what others are going through.  I didn’t realise until listening to Caroline Spencer that people with Cystic Fibrosis are unable to meet together for fear of cross-contamination of viruses that may be carried.   The new unit, which will be the most innovative in the country, will allow patients to speak and share with each other using video conferencing technology.

This is a worthy cause and over £ 2,250 was raised on the day going towards our target of £ 7,500. The Hilltoppers, together with the Rotary Club of Hucknall, plan to  purchase 2 ultrasonic nebulisers and a Treadmill Tunturi T Track T90.

 

 

 

Click here to read more about C.F., plans for the new unit and our fund-raising activities.

 

If you would like to help us in our efforts, either by attending or arranging an event, or by making a donation, please get in touch:

 

Email: info@hilltoppersgolfsociety.co.uk

 

Tel: Ian Peat on 01949 875 135 or Rtn. John Hill on 01623 409 686

 

Hucknall Rotarians Crowned World Champions

At the first club meeting held in September, two members were acknowledge and congratulated for being crowned as World Champions during August.  While most eyes were focussed on the Olympic show taking place in London, the really serious competition was taking place 120 miles east of the Olympic stadium.

 

In an epic contest a team of nine men who had never completed before ended the tournament as winners and were duly crowned World Champions.  In their journey to the title they defeated the defending champions who were aiming for a hat-trick of victories.  Included in the winning squad were Hucknall Rotarians Jack Gray and Stuart Whitehead.  How many Rotary clubs can boast, not one, but two current world champions.  Gentlemen, we are proud of you.

 

In a ‘sport’ that certainly predates the modern Olympic games and dates back to the middle ages, ‘The Jolly Rogers’ of Nottingham defeated ‘The Pippin Doggers’  in the Dwile Flonking World Championship held at the Dog Inn, Ludham Bridge, Norfolk.

 

I resisted the temptation to write the headline:

 

‘Hucknall Rotarians crowned World Champions at Dog Inn.’

 

The following report from the Hucknall Dispatch describes this age-old traditional game:

 

 

A GROUP of Hucknall men on a stag weekend boating on the Norfolk Broads brought home more than a hangover.

The team of nine found themselves entering an age-old traditional pub game at one of their ports of call and came away as world champions!

It was at the Dwile Flonking Championships, held at the Dog Inn at Ludlum Bridge, that the Hucknall team, dressed as pirates, competed in this traditional drinking game.

“Hucknall is now on the map thanks to the drink-fuelled enthusiasm and skill that led to The Jolly Rogers’ team grabbing victory,” said a delighted Jack Gray, the groom’s future father-in-law, who captained the team.

During the game, ‘flonkers’’ use a pole to launch a beer-soaked cloth at opponents, with the aim of giving them a wet slap in the face.

And it seems that this group of ‘flonking’ amateurs from the Dispatch district had all the skills necessary to take the title.

Jack added: “We were mooring the boat when this lady approached us and told us about the contest. Recognising we were on a stag weekend, she suggested we enter.

“It was a cracking day and we all had a great time with everyone cheering us on shouting ‘Pirates, Pirates’.

“The contest is already on Youtube and is due to feature in a TV documentary on dwile flonking championships.”

Experts are split over when the game was first played.

Some say that it may have started in Norfolk and Suffolk in the middle ages as a traditional form of entertainment, while others believe it was invented by a group of Suffolk printing apprentices in 1966.

The word ‘dwile’ comes from Suffolk dialect meaning dishcloth and ‘flonk’ may have come from ‘flong’, a printing term to describe a paper mould used to create a type impression.

“We now have to return next year and defend our title,” added Jack, whose daughter Kirsty is due to marry Rob Gauntlett-Munn. “And I’m sure our antics will be mentioned in the best men’s speeches at the wedding.”

 

The winning performance can be viewed here:

Our main speaker at the meeting was Past President (twice) David Spencer who joined the club in 1984 who spoke about his work experiences in the Steel Window Manufacturing Industry.