Service above Self Winchester Rotary, UK Bulletin - July 2011 Leadership and Teamwork We know that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to do it alone, and quickly gets into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. When the lead goose gets tired, he or she rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Finally, if a goose gets sick and falls out, two other geese will also fall out of formation and follow him or her down to help and protect. If we apply this living metaphor to us; we will 1 be all the stronger. The President writes… R.I.2011-12 Logo Welcome to a New Rotary Year! On Handover Evening Richard gave a most enjoyable and entertaining review of the past year. I’m sure you will all join me in thanking him for all he has done to ensure that the club is in such fine fettle as he hands over the reins. Fun and Fellowship have been very much to the fore with Richard at the helm, and he and Maureen have been hugely successful in bringing the two clubs, Rotary and Inner Wheel, together for many enjoyable occasions. We wish them a happy retirement from their Presidential roles and look forward to their continuing involvement and support in our many continuing activities. Looking ahead, a full programme has been prepared for the coming year. In each quarter there will be a major occasion at the Holiday Inn. On August 8th. we are privileged to welcome RIBI President Ray Burman as an honoured guest. President Ray is known to be a most inspiring and entertaining speaker, an occasion not to be missed. th. Then on December 19 there will be our Christmas Dinner for which great entertainment is being arranged. Moving into 2012, the joint meeting with Inner Wheel on February 27th will be very special indeed. Through John Wilkinson’s Education Uganda connections, we are honoured with a visit from The High Commissioner for Uganda, Her Excellency Joan KN Rwabyomere, who will speak about women’s rights. th. April 16 will be a major fundraising dinner when Alastair Stewart will be “interviewing” Ann Widdecombe, both of whom are generously giving us their time. We know these two celebrities will provide a most entertaining evening and attract a wide audience. Do please put these key dates in your diaries now and consider inviting family and friends, especially any who might be potential members. Finally, I would like to record my thanks to the Directors all who supported me last year and helped me plan the coming year. Across the world this week there are some 33,000 new Club Presidents taking up their roles. I am surely one of the most fortunate to become President of Winchester, such a special, diverse and vibrant club. Have a great year! 2 David Farthing Handover Night Seamless continuity Denis to Richard to David. David Farthing’s chain of Office. Janet Farthing receives her badge. Giles Peck, President-Elect. Gill Russell, Honorary Secretary. Wednesday Breakfast President Richard, Iain Steel and some of the guests. in The Hampshire Room. 20th June, 2011 Lunch Charter Day Rotarian Colin Eames 84th. Anniversary Speaker 3 New District Governor Nominee 2011-12 On Friday July 1st. John Eade became the new District 1110 Governor Nominee 2011-12 at the District Handover Dinner. Caroline Millman became the first female District Governor. Others in attendance were David Farthing, Colin and Polly Cook, Ian White and Inga Tully. The Club congratulate John and appreciate that he will be particularly busy in the next three years! Cook’s Tours Supporting Armed Forces week, City guide Colin Cook took Honorary Member Lt. Commander Amanda Hassell and members of her Worthy Down team on a special two and a half hour tour of the city. They visited the Cathedral, Winchester College War Cloister, Wolvesey Palace, and St Giles Hill, and are pictured where they started at Peninsula Square. Florian Sprung’s Triumph “National Three Peaks Challenge” was completed last weekend, completing all peaks in just under 29 hours (a bit slower than Julian, but then he wasn't carrying a Shelter Box!) Thank you again for your tremendous sponsoring. So far all 8 participating Ambassadorial Scholars raised £3,775 for Shelter Box. The team on top of Snowdon: (top from left to right) Jerry, Max, Atif, Florian, Jessica, James, (bottom from left to right) Andrew, Iain, Ryan. A New Dementia Support Group Ten former volunteers who were committee members of the Winchester Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society are starting a new group in Winchester, independent of the Society, to provide support to people with dementia and their carers. This follows the Society’s disbandment of all its 236 branches and their volunteer-led committees and their replacement by a wholly management-directed structure. The Society has retained an office in Winchester, though the manager there is now responsible to an Area Manager in Reading. The new group - Winchester Dementia Support – starts with no money and no premises, as the financial reserves of the previous branch have been subsumed by the Society into a county-wide account. Consequently, the group – all of whom have many years’ personal experience of dementia care and the running of a variety of support services - has to start on a very modest basis. Immediate plans are to continue a monthly “Music Time” event held at Kings School, launch a monthly tea party at the same venue, and continue to provide individual advice and support to carers with whom members were already in personal contact. Longer term, however, the group could be interested in the possibility of some volunteer support from another volunteer-centred organisation, such as Rotary, to help with general activities. 4 In addition to this, REPOD (Rotarians Easing Problems of Dementia) has a good website: www.repod.org.uk Paul Harris Fellow – Brian Bull Evening Meeting Brian was born in Cheltenham and moved to Weston-Super-Mare in 1946, attending the village school where his father was Headteacher. From Weston Grammar School he went to Kings College London, graduating in English followed by Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 1959. He later acquired another BA Honours this time in Psychology and later still added a M.Sc. with Distinction in the Psychology of Education. His career in Education started Regular promotions took him to with teaching in a secondary appointment as Sub Dean of the school in London. He moved School of Education. His to a primary school in Didcot, Psychology, meant that he was Berkshire before reaching the understandably chosen to take a higher echelons as Lecturer in leading role in planning the Education at King Alfred’s revised Bachelor of Education College in 1966. degree at the now University of Winchester. Colin Eames, President Richard, Brian Bull & John Cranmer John Cranmer, Brian’s former Principal, writes: “Brian was deservedly well-liked and respected for his fair- mindedness and good humour. He retired after a distinguished career and Rotary service became a beneficiary of his skills and rich experience”. Moving to that Rotary service, Brian joined us in 1996. Brian quickly identified with Youth Activities which in those days was Youth Speaks, Kids Out and the Peter Symonds College Business Challenge. He was soon elected a member of Club Council. His contributions to the Club Bulletin were much appreciated, not just by the Editor. “Dumb Blondes, Hormones and Flower Power – what do these have in common” was one article reporting Youth Speaks. In 2002-3 Brian was Vice President and chaired Club Service committee. He was an enthusiastic member with Paul Russell and Warner Hall of the new Sponsored Walk project team and for several years oversaw the laborious registration process on which the successful organisation of the walks depends. Brian’s Presidential Year 2003-4 got off to what he described as “a flying start” with support for Le Havre de Grace Club’s proposed Matching Grant for equipment for a hospital in Riga, Latvia; the Triathlon, Gems of East Winchester; Last Night of the Proms; and the Peter Symonds College Business Challenge. That was the first month. In August he and Ann were “at home” to members on August 10th – the hottest day since records began and at the meeting on August 11th permission was given to remove ties. District Conference, he said, was “very good for recharging the Rotary soul” – a successful and enjoyable event. In toasting the guests on President’s Night, Brian reflected on how much his involvement with Rotary had widened his horizons. Involvement with other local service clubs was exemplified by a Ten Pin Bowling event with Inner Wheel, Soroptomists, Rotaract and Round Table. Being Past President did not mean being past it for Brian for more recently he has chaired the International Committee and served on Club Council. Brian’s approach to life is to “Lend a Hand”. This may be in connection with the Workers Education Association, of which he was Chairman of the Winchester Branch; with golf – he is a Seniors Section Committee member at Avington; with Rotary – in the coming year he will be Club’s Sports Officer. Brian married Ann in 1962.