The Return

Editorial

(Heather and Simon)

Yes, just when you guys thought it was safe to open your post! We are attempting not to suffer from computer rage while writing another monthly newsletter.

This month's includes a few publicity suggestions taken from District Day and various club Presidents to whom we have spoken recently.

We are also including an article on a Community Event which Christchurch has been involved in (well, we haven't heard from anyone else yet due to the delay in getting the mailshot to you last month - we are sure to be able to leave Christchurch out next month).

Rotary Scholarships : are you aware of them? Do you know anyone who has been involved? The chance to learn a bit more can be found here.

Finally a slot which I hope will become regular : "Our Charity". By our reckoning District 1110 must be supporting 18 or so charities this year : let us know who they are!

The District Directory is still most definitely in its infancy. We need your club details to complete it. In the meantime a few key numbers are included in this newsletter. Please call and we will endeavour to help if you have any problems.

Publicity

(Heather)

In most clubs responsibility for publicity tends to rest with the President (yes, the overworked one!) and, if they are lucky, a Publicity Officer.

Several ideas have worked for publicising Rotaract. Hang a poster at your local library (if unlike Kev you know where this is) and/or obtain an entry on their database of clubs and societies. Dorset County Council have "Doris" and in the last 2 years Christchurch has had 5 new members from this source.

Send posters to local schools and ask them to be hung on staff notice boards. Also any firm likely to take on new staff - across the District a few names spring to mind, including Barclays, Nat West, Eagle Star, Skandia Life, Royal Insurance, Chase Manhattan, Abbey Life, KPMG, Grant Thornton, etc, etc.

Another idea is to purchase some club Rugby tops (or other clothing). I have yet to go out with mine on and not be approached by a Rotarian, Rotaractor or ex-Rotaractor; they can also help to bring Rotaract into a conversation with someone currently outside the Rotaract arena.

If you need an eye-catching poster like the one that Patrick sent out which Kevin from Ringwood created, then give Kev a ring or ask him when you report your sports results.

Other ideas which have worked include the free-ads (2 members for Portsmouth came from here last year), ads in your local rag, community centre, etc.

If anyone else has any ideas then please let us know and we will publish them.

Rotary Scholarships

(Heather)

This and the previous mailshot have both included material about the forthcoming Link Weekend being hosted by Rotary in our District. Many of you may well be wondering what the Scholarships are about, so here goes.

Every year, Rotary Clubs from around the world sponsor worthy professionals and students to spend a year working or studying in a country of their choice. This year (we are reliably informed) a contingency from Brazil is visiting.

As well as the Year spnsorships, Rotary also sponsors groups of individuals on a visit to another country to study their working practices and Rotary clubs for a four to five week period. From talking to one of the Andover contingent who went to New Zealand, such trips are invaluable.

Rotary is currently looking for hosts for some of the 150 visiting students so please see this month's mailshot from Paul Bryan of Eastleigh.

p.s. See you all at the Barn Dance!

Chernobyl Children's Lifeline

(Heather)

Yes, you guessed it, this is one of the three charities that Christchurch is supporting with fund-raising this year.

For the past three years, the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline has brought over 6000 children from the contaminated areas of Belarus to the UK. These children stay with families around the country.

Typically ten will be brought to an area to stay with members of the link that is active in fund-raising and then providing accommodation and family life for a month.

While in this country, the children have the chance to be children and go on outings whilst also being being fed food that is not contaminated, and receive medical care such as dentistry.

Christchurch Rotaract Club became involved by chance when a member of the Christchurch Link contacted the club as an ex-rotaractor to ask for a Rotary contact. The outcome was a very moving talk and then the chance to meet two of the girls from this year's visiting contingent.

Originally the Link were deparate for clothes for children aged ten to fifteen. I went into work on the Tuesday, talked to the charity co-ordinator of the building (8 stories high) and within a month 2 car-loads of clothes had been donated.

At the same time one of my members who is a Chemistry teacher at a local school told her tutor group who have taken up the cause as well and collected clothes. The same group has now set itself the challenge of raising money sufficient to bring one child (£300) accross next year.

If they manage this, a certain club will be painting their new tutor room.

In the meantime, Christchurch are donating £300 to the locl Link to start the fighting fund for the 1999 visit and will also raise more funds throughout the year.

If you wish to know more please contact me and I will forward you the information I have.

Contact Numbers

(Heather & Simon)

While the directory is being created please be patient. Use last year's contact numbers where this year's have not yet been posted.

In the meantime, if you have any trouble getting through please feel free to contact any of us on the numbers below and we will endeavour to help.

Simon Dobby
0958-729627 / 01489-614202
simon.dobby@kvaerner.com (District co-Secretary and President of Portsmouth & Southsea)

Heather Cooper
01425-622634
(District co-Secretary and President of Christchurch)

Patrick McDermott
01202-747365
(District Chairman)

Neil Godfrey
01202-517718
(District Vice and President of Poole)

Kevin Kynaston
01425-475813
(District Sports and President of Ringwood & Fordingbridge)