Monday August 2nd - Cardiff radio Interview- RIBI PRESIDENT VISIT

http://www.radioglamorgan.com/

Today before President Jim went back home via RIBI in Alcester for two days of meetings...where does he get his energy? An interview took place at Radio Glamorgan...a lovely visit to see what 6 of the 8  Cardiff participating clubs have acheived and are committed to..Well Done All.. Both Jim and I had a great time. shame we couldn't stay longer but Jim neded to get off to Alcester to chair a couple of meetings...I think he may have been late as I had to be dragged away!

Hope he wasn't toooo late anyway...and keep up the good work at the Hospital Radio

Monday August 2nd - RC Newport St Woolos

Sunday August 1st - National Eisteddfod- RIBI PRESIDENT VISIT

Jim attended the Eisteddfod and assisted on the stands, particularly the Shelterbox tent.

After meeting many Rotarians who have taken part in the running of the Rotary stand and visiting Presidents a lunch and more talking on the stands, we went of to meet the newest intake of Rotary Young Leaders Award at Dolygaer. Another great group of young people. 

Then for the highlight...no not the nice steak Steve cooked but the sleeping in the Shelterbox Tent!!!!

Jim, Myself, Steve, Mike and Kay Parry, Steve Jenkins and a new Rotarian from RC Cardiff West - Carwyn went to bed in the tent...cosy..cwtchy..relatively quiet until tossing ad turning in the sleeping bags occured,,,they russle! snoring during the night....5am Music in the Pink Tent..zip when the toilet was needed... 6am wake up call by the steam roller  

Home now at 6.30am to get showered and ready to go to Cardiff for a radio interview....

But in times of need the Tent would house 10 people  who ahd lost everything! we are so lucky and so priviledged to be part of this wonderful concept which helps so many needy people.

Tonight its a Girls Nite in....The Tent!!!! can't wait!!!!

Saturday July 31st Cardiff Military Museum Cardiff Clubs visit - RIBI PRESIDENT VISIT

President Jim presents a RIBI President banner to President Roy from the RC Cardiff West at The Military Museum at Cardiff Castle.

Performances were by the Unknown Theatre Company Cardiff.

one of the dragons at the Castle grabbed Jim for a wee chat about why a Scotsman was in the castle...

Friday July 30th RC aberaron yr Cylch, Llannelli and RYLA - RIBI PRESIDENT VISIT

Thursday July 29th RC Abercarn and Newbridge

The Visit to RC Abercarn and Newbridge starts the few days of President Jims Visit

to Rotary in Southern Wales District 1150.

Can you speak in Welsh please?

The Spot Lights on You!

I'll sing your praises!

Thursday July 29th RC PEMBROKE - RIBI PRESIDENT VISIT

Wednesday July 28th RC Bargoed

Another great visit, except I got lost trying to find the venue,,worth it when I got there, a good clubn managing small numbers and now growing too..more power to their elbow...I look forwrad to seeing their projects throughout the year

Wednesday July 28th RC Newport Uskmouth

Tuesday 27th July RC Aberdare

A great meeting and lovely food at the Ty Newydd Hotel.

President John has a good club who are all working for a great year and do such wonderful things as well as enjoying themselves.a Busy program for the year ahead and I am sure will truely make a difference.

This club is also involved in the Eisteddfod week and have been a great contributor to the planning and efforts.

Tuesday 27th July Eisteddfod Meeting

Rotary will have a stand on the Eistreddfod and we are sleeping in the Shelterbox tent for the week, we have tonight finalised the arrangements at a meeting of the clubs involved and are looking forward to the events, including RIBI President Jim attending and he too will sleep in the tent for a night.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia

Organisation

The National Eisteddfod is traditionally held in the first week of August and the competitions are all held in the Welsh language. The Eisteddfod Act of 1959 allowed local authorities to give financial support to the event.

Hundreds of tents, pavilions and little stands are erected in an open space to create the maes (field). The space required for this means that it is rare for the eisteddfod to be in a city or town itself but instead somewhere with more space. The car parking for day visitors alone requires several large fields and many people camp there for the whole week. The festival has a heavy druidic flavour, with the crowning and chairing ceremonies for the victorious poets being attended by bards in flowing white costumes, dancing maidens, trumpet fanfares and a symbolic horn of plenty. However, the heritage of this ceremony is of dubious provenance and owes its existence within the Eisteddfod structure to Iolo Morganwg, whose Gorsedd ceremonies were adopted by the Eisteddfod from 1819. Nevertheless, it is taken very seriously, and an award of a crown or a chair for poetry is a great honour. The Chairing and Crowning ceremonies are the highlight of the week, and are presided over by the Archdruid. Other important awards include the Prose Medal (first introduced in 1966).

If no stone circle is there already, one is created out of Gorsedd stones, usually taken from the local area. Such stone circles are icons all across Wales and signify the Eisteddfod having visited a community. As a cost-saving measure, the 2005 Eisteddfod was the first to replace the creation of a permanent stone circle with a temporary "plastic stone" circle for the druidic ceremonies. This also has the benefit of bringing the Gorsedd ceremonies on to the maes, as they were often held many miles away, unbeknownst to much of the public. The ceremonies may still happen elsewhere if the weather on the maes is not suitable. One of the most dramatic events in Eisteddfod history was the award of the 1917 chair to the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans, bardic name Hedd Wyn, for the poem Yr Arwr (The Hero). The winner was announced, and the crowd waited for the winner to stand up to accept the traditional congratulations before the chairing ceremony, but no winner appeared. It was then announced that Hedd Wyn had been killed the previous month on the battlefield in Belgium. These events were portrayed in the Academy Award nominated film Hedd Wyn.

Monday 26th July RC Llantrisant

Monday July 26th RC HAVERFORDWEST

Sunday 25th July RYLA WEEK 2

Week two

a group of unknowing youngsters of what is in stall for them, great things i am sure...

As usual Hugh had it all in hand and the team at Dolygaer never fail to get it sorted whatever it is!

I am looking forward to going back on Friday with RIBI President Jim to show them all off!

Saturday 24th July---paid work!

A day in work!!! and a hard day, 7am in Abertillery fro a wedding group, in Brynmawr by 9am for another wedding and all the regulars...whoa...but pennies are needed in the till...5 weeks until my daughters wedding, so cheques are being written left right and centre!

Friday 23rd July RC FISHGUARD AND GOODWICK

A lovely drive to West Wales, to visIt a magnificent Building which is now a hotel where this club meets.

good company, fellowships and food. The club is working hard to fund raise and do good locally as well as being committed to Rotary programmes.

It was good to hear of the work in hand and being planned for the year ahead, including their commitment to Focus on the Crocus..

The district is also delighted to have one of their members and the club secretary to boot...as an AG ..Chris Williams...a hard working soul...

Thursday 23rd July RC DINAS POWIS

A trip to a club I had previously little knowledge of, but whoa what great things they are doing, hugely commited to their community, a mini bus, a Dickensian event, lots of community projects and a friendly fun loving lot to boot...well done...and a wonderful meal too. 

A really hard working bunch and committed to projects locally, and internationally, building a bridge over an african river already supporting a african school, so much for Building Communities and Bridging Continents - this club was doing it already!

Will certainly be back on the First Friday Evening in December to the Dickensian event...

Wednesday 21st July RC SWANSEA VALLEY

An all time wonderful club, fun and fellowships and hard work with sleeves up jobs here, Three Gold stars and wonderful hospitality with great food.

A great club and good hearted people doing good for the community and beyond well done all...

A little club doing big things and getting RIBI priase..

and Geoffs wife Diane, daughter and sister in law are all sleeping on the Maes Too...'a girls night in the tent!'


Geoff and David who are an the District team are solid reliable friends and I am grateful for their support.

TUESDAY 20TH JULY..MEETINGS

A day of being busy, and no longer the Treasurer of my club, handed over to Ruth today.

Conference meeting at the Golf club after attending my own club meeting....

and had an impromptu meeting with the BBC might help us with the Eisteddfod even more..

Monday July 19th RC CAERPHILLY VISIT

A visit with friends, is how this Official Visit will be remembered, This club is one of those which I had the priviledge of working along side when I was an AG and always a welcome there..a great visit and great things being acheived by this small club with a big heart, With two PDG's in the club they are off to a flying start and they all get stick into the plans and debates on what does and does not work, They changed their minds after listening to me about the Focus on the Crocus project and are now going to order some to get out into the communtiy.

Three of the club are going to sleep on the Maes at the Eisteddfod with me for the Shelter box promotion..Well done you all...

Monday July 19th RC BRIDGEND VISIT

A great start to the week with a visit at Lunchtime to Bridgend and it was a lot hotter tehre than when I left Brynmawr!

Good fellowships in this club and lots going on, a Cheque Presentation to a local charity;

The Sandville Self-Help Care Centre and the wonderful Sister Gwyneth Poacher.

"SANDVILLE Self-Help Centre had only four patients when it started in 1983. But thanks to the dedication and hard work of its founder, Sister Gwyneth Poacher, and her team, the centre has gone from strength to strength. “It has grown from those four people to what it is today.”

Mrs Poacher, who was awarded an MBE for her work, said the group met at the Sandville Hotel once a month for the first four years, before moving to the Court Colman Hotel, Penyfai, where they got together each week.

“We started as a cancer group and then it changed so that people could walk in and see us with any problem at all, which is how things are today,” said Mrs Poacher.

''Pat used to come and get a story from different patients every week, that’s how she managed to raise the money for us.”

The centre was finally bought in January 1990 and was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent.

“The centre is open seven days a week,” said Mrs Poacher.

“We have all sorts of therapies available and we don’t charge the patients anything for the treatments – we just ask for donations.”

The Sandville centre now boasts 15 beds, four of them in a log cabin, plus its own church.

“There are 80 volunteers who work at the centre and we have a strong support structure in place,” 

Sunday 17th July- RYLA

First of four Ryla weeks underway, good bunch of Young Pople there today and as usual Hugh has done a stirling job..Good people like him make Rotary things like RYLA so much fun..Thanks Hugh.

Signed 100 certificates so should keep Hugh happy and all but one of the young people arrived on time so the gorge walk got off to a great start!...I have promised to do one of these...so will have to work out what weekend promises to be warmest!

I await a after 11pm call from Jim Moulson! so the phone is coming to bed with me! as I have to get into work and do the wages early as Gwyneth is back in hospital...fingers crossed Gwyn..xx

Anyway a really busy week this week and somehow I have to fit in a dress fitting for the wedding! Never mind as I am enjoying it all so much...more tomorrow after Bridgend and Caerphilly visits..  

About RYLA


Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA participants can be ages 14-30, but most clubs and districts choose to focus on a narrower age range, such as 14-18 or 19-30.

[District 1150 holds their RYLA for 15-17 and 364 days year olds.. as at 18 they becoem adults and cannot house with children.]

RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to

Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth

Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders

Encourage leadership of youth by youth

Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities

Thursday 15th 2010

An Update of the RYLA programme for officers attending on different days, Eisteddfod planning nearly there.

RIBI President Jims visit nearly sorted with just a few changes...don't forget to come and meet him and hear his messages...

Clubs data updated where we have it and lots of i's dotted and T's crossed...

now for a wedding meeting with my daughter and her husband to be and a nice KFC as a treat...

Inner Wheel Handover in June

Inner Wheel Chairman for 2010-11 Is Jennifer Harris from Pontllanfraith, a good lunch and lovely welcome was received by Jennifer and the ladies and Jennifer and her Husband Spencer came to our District Hnadover last week where she said a few lovely words of support to Rotary.

About International Inner Wheel


The Objects of the organisation are:

1) To promote true friendship

2) To encourage the ideals of personal service

3) To foster international understanding

History:

Inner Wheel began on the 10 January 1924 when Mrs Margarette Golding presided over a club formed of Rotarian wives. The roots from which International Inner Wheel has grown were established in 1934 when the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain & Ireland was formed. In 1930's clubs were formed in Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

It was realised that unity is strength and members had the wisdom and foresight to form Clubs, later establishing Districts and then Associations and National Councils.

In 1967 International Inner Wheel was formed which gave an opportunity for qualified members in any country to serve as Officers and to strengthen the unity of the organisation throughout the world.

Today:

International Inner Wheel links together members in different parts of the world including Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia & the America’s. 

Wednesday 14th RC RISCA Official Visit

A lovely evening spent with a few good Rotarians, fighting on with small Numbers, but are ready to do all they can to make sure they keep their community having a Rotary Club.

Thanks everyone for your friendship and a lovely meal

Tuesday 13th RC MORRISTON Official Visit

A Club who enjoy what they do led by a President who likes to do what he enjoys...

well done RC Morriston oh and Russell!!!!!

Monday 12th RC SWANSEA Official Vist

A great Visit to RC Swansea, Good fellowship lovely food and great plans for a great year ahead...

Well Done All...

Sunday July 11th 2010 - Peace fellow Becky Palmstrong.

http://peacefellows.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/the-other-side-of-south-africa-world-cup-reflections/

Well if you have had a day of wondering what to do and then decided to sit and do whatever...and then at the end of it wondered if you wasted the day...go look at what Becky Palmstrong has been doing, an amazing young woman who just blows me away...this is why Peace Scholars are worth it..and why we are so proud of Becky and why we sponsored her in our District...Keep blowing us sway Becky!

What is the Rotary World Peace Fellowship?

The Rotary World Peace Fellowship offers individuals committed to peace and cooperation the opportunity to pursue a master’s level degree in conflict resolution, peace studies and international relations at one of the seven Rotary Centers for International Studies located in leading universities around the world. The Berkeley Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution is one of the seven centers funded by Rotary International. Up to ten Rotary World Peace Fellows join the Center each fall to study for two years in a wide range of disciplines emphasizing issues of peace, human rights, conflict resolution and international studies.

On a personal side of what I have been doing on my Rotary Journey - end of week one of fifty two...after church I came home and have been Rotary planning and doing... all day as well as having a nap at 3pm! can't remember when i did that last! must be getting old me thinks! I have had a wonderful Rotary week and look forward to the next 51....

now I am waiting for Steve to come home from Edinburgh and to hear what a weekend he had on our future son in laws stag weekend!

Literacy Programs and the way forward

I was delighted to be able to go to one of the school presentations today of Dictionaries for year 6 leavers..a Wonderful welcome from the St Marys Church In Wales School and the 30 reciprients of a dictionary each.
The club had already been to a similar presentation at Coed Y Garn School in Nantyglo and have 2 more schools to make presentations to next week...A good start on Literacy this year and I hope many other clubs are doing the same in the communities.

RC Ammanfod Carnival - Saturday July 10th 2010.

A Great Carnival even with the poor weather conditions, A club who all seem to put their backs into the job and enjoy it as well. The Inner Wheel club also worked so hard in the refreshments tent and a whole Rotary approach to the job in hand...Well Done all...

The Difficult part was judging who were the winners....so hard but i think we got the job done right...well the winners thought so anyway....Assistant Governor Clive felt his job was to help me with the umbrella so I could write my marks down! thats a good Assistant we agreed and Gill I noticed had to hold her own brolly up...sorry Gill!

It was great to see so many take notice of the Shelterbox tent and personally great to see the Lifestraw be part of it too. 

A week of already seeing Rotary doing different things in different ways and making me proud to have chosen this great organisation to be a member of..we have so many experiences and make a difference, but the friends we make onlong the way make a difference to us as well. So its a win win all around..and I saw good friendships in the R.C of Ammanfod that was for sure...

A day at Work and family life...xx

A Day at work whilst Steve gets ready to go to Edinburgh for our Son in Law to be's Stag weekend....minus my younger son, which is a shame.....

A week can have many faces and changes from highs to lows.

A week where as a family we had a great day on Sunday and a new life to look forward to..

My poor Son being a man and supporting his family makes me realise how old we are when we see our children be so grown up and realistic...our paths are meant to be travelled from the day we were born and we become stronger by the troubles set before us...a child not meant to be born, but the happiness it bought to the family will not be forgotten... 

A week of highs and lows...xxx But a Journey that makes us the people we are...and many have so much less than us taht it makes us better people to realise our pain is nothing in comparision...but it doesnt stop the hurt and pain...chin up Shane and Suzi...xxx 

So off to work and wait to hug the kids later...xx and make sure Steve packs his underpants!!!!

  

Thursday 8th July

An admin day...theres lots of paper work in this role I am finding!

Wednesday 7th July RIBI Projects and Eisteddfod meeting

A busy day, RIBI Projects meeting where I am Liaison Governor and I took the opportunity to deliver mum to my brother in law in the car park! 10 days with me was enough for her, but she is being delivered back after the first Genral Council meeting in the same manner...love her!

A good day at RIBI and I alos bought some posters and leaflets back for the Eisteddfod.

A quick Drive! back to be at Ebbw Vale for 6.30 and the Eisteddfod meeting..which was great and one more left before the event...well done team and all the hard work will be worth it.

A Day at the Bowling Competition...and a great day too Lunch of chicken at the Llandrindod Hotel Hosted ably by Presient Alan and by the club, follwed by a short drive to the greens for an afternoon of bowling and fun...and my mum came to, she enjoyed it as well...Won by RC of Merthyr Tydfil this year so they have to undertake the organsiation for next years competition now. 

The weather stayed good even though it threatened to have a bit of rain, but it favoured us and went well...Well Done RC Merthyr Tydfil and also to Machen for the wonderful organsiation of the day.  

Visit to Cardiff West Club July 6th 2010..

A final evening visit to the new R.C Cardiff West Club.
A lovely evening of fellowship with new and experienced Rotarians attended by IMPDG Bob who is a very proud new dad to this club!
Again good food, company and wonderful entertainment.

District Bowls Competition - July 6th at Llandrindod Wells

RC Rhondda Official Club Visit 05-07-2010

RC Rhonddas First female member inducted by me on my first official day as DG...whoa....I was so proud of this event and Jannette will make a superb Rotarian....

President Jeff..an amazing Rotarian with wonderful amounts of energy and passion about the causes close to his heart...

Then Two for one Jannettes Partner Martyn is also inducted the same day...and all from the marketing campaign...

and a Cheque for £1000...bought two shelterboxes....what a visit...Thanks All....x

First Official Club Visit RC Carmarthen July 5th

I was fortunate enough to be present for the handover at the Carmarthen Club and it truely was a great event,,,

President Marian and I agree its been a wonderful day so far..but the sun is in our eyes Steve....and a Sapphire PHF was awarded to a local Buisness man who is a very strong supporter of the club....a wonderful start to the year. 

First Official Duty of the Year 2nd July RC Rhondda Handover

A brilliant start to the year. A lovely club Two PHF's awarded and a nice meal with kind hearted Rotarians and their wives and families...

Officially District Governor July 4th Handover

A fabulous Day at the Aberavon Beach Hotel in Aberavon. Nr Port Talbot.

I was inducted as DG and now have the responsibilty of The office.

I had a great day albeit a bit stressful as it was soooo hot and my hair flopped! But the atmosphere was good and people seemed to enjoy the event. Luke Millard the young Chellist was awesome and the Cefn Fforest Primary school amazing...

It was so well attended that obviously lunch took a bit longer than planned and we ran a bit behind, but it seems as if noone really minded too much...

Brian and Martyn did a wonderful job in organsing the lunch which was a change to the normal Tea..and Colin was again an excellent Sergeant at Arms.

Thanks to my family for coming along and I think Our Lexi now has a few new friends! Watch out at the wedding Steph I think she might steal the show.

So now the hectic Diary begins....

I am so excited and can't wait to meet lots of Rotarians who I have not been able to meet before and see Rotary in their Communities...Good Luck to all the New Presidents in Rotary in Southern Wales [ District 1150]..we will have a great year full of fun and acheivements.