ROTARY IN LONDON The Online Journal for the Rotary Clubs of London, District 1130 of Rotary International Autumn/ Winter Issue 2017 Front Cover ROTARY MAKING A ROTARY IN LONDON DIFFERENCE HEADQUARTERS www.rotarylondon.org ROTARY IN LONDON The Online Journal for the Rotary Clubs of London, District 1130 of Rotary International Autumn/ Winter Issue 2017 CONTENTS Editor’s Note 1 FEATURE: Risa Kodo in London 18 Rotary International President – Ian HS Michael Angelo Caruso: Rotarian and Riseley 2 Motivational Speaker 19 District Governor Mike Hodge 3 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CEO Chris Jones – Rise Against Hunger District Conference Gallery 4 World’s Greatest Meal Toronto Conference – Save The Date! 20 What has the FOUNDATION ever done for us? 5-6 “Lest we Forget” – Remembrance Sunday 21 “Appreciation Awards” 7 **Advert** 22-23 District Conference Gallery 8 Rotarians at the Lord Mayor’s Parade 24 London: A Magnet for Foundation CLUB ACTIVITIES Scholars 9-10 Multi-Clubs Workshop – Paddington; Club Merge – Kensington & Chelsea; Helevan “A Foundation Heaven Windfall” 10 to the Rescue’ - Enfield Chase; Woolwich – Bucket Collection; North London **Advert** 11 Disability Games 25-27 Dave King – Editor Rotary Magazine – **Advert** 28 GBI 12 Rotary Partners 29 New Rotaract Charter –Canary Wharf 13 PROFILE **Advert** 14 Dr Vasi Hollingshurst Daniel; Rotary Club London & The Soprano Birgit Beer 30-31 ‘Ode to a WheelChair’ – Anne W. Strike 15 Inner Wheel 31 Memory Walk for Dementia – Linda Robson 16 Famous Faces and Celebrity Supporters 32 Rotary in the News 17 World Polio Day 33-35 19 Information is published in good faith, but does not necessarily represent the views of the Editor of Rotary in London or of London District 1130. No liability is accepted for the actions of advertisers, as advertisements are accepted at face value. The Editor welcomes news items, articles, photographs and letters, but is not obliged to publish unsolicited material, reserving the right to edit for clarity and length. Contributors must ensure that material submitted never breaches copyright and must obtain necessary permission in writing for reproduction No responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage to material submitted to Rotary in London magazine. EDITOR’S NOTE A NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR… In a world bursting at the seams with conflicts/ and violence that threaten the end of time, unprecedented natural disasters, hunger, poverty and a plethora of diseases, Rotary through it’s ideals of “Service to do good above self” has stepped up it’s work in local communities and international programs to “make a difference”. The Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s own Charity aptly personify the engine room that drives Rotary, and it’s vaulting ambitious march to fulfil it’s local and international obligations. While on Page 2 the Rotary International President Ian HS Riseley tells readers about the importance and work of the Rotary Foundation, District Foundation Chairman Tom Hunt’s parody of “what has Foundation ever done for us”, the excellent Work/article by Grahame and Myra Williams - joint Co-ordinators for Foundation Inbound Scholars (pp 9-10), together with the link to a directory of London Foundation Scholars, prepared by Adrian Faiers, Dulwich, Peckham and Crystal Palace Rotary Club...all help to reiterate and testify to the essential role of “The Rotary Foundation” in Rotary. On Page 20, “Rise Against Hunger” CEO, PDG and presently Rotary International Zone 33 Membership Co-ordinator, USA, with Eric and Irene Russell, Rotary Club of Warrington, D1285, spoke passionately at Conference about it’s packaging meal program, designed to deal with consequences of conflict and violence, which has left millions without homes, and hundreds of thousands of children severely malnourished. Not only has the District Governor Mike Hodge made good on his commitment to his Charity Dementia, by participating in “Memory Walk” London, and inviting fellow Barnet “Dementia Club UK” Founder Lisa Rutter to ‘talk Dementia at D1130 Conference, most clubs in the District now run ‘Memory Clinics’. Indeed it was a first, (and a pleasure) to have welcomed an RIBI President, Denis Spiller to D1130 Parliament (District Council’, to discuss his “Rotary 2” Project. The District Chartered a new Rotaract Club at Canary Wharf, which argurs well for the future of Rotary membership. ***COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON TO ALL OUR READERS. R O T A R Y M A G Margaret James Cooper – Editor of RIL Online A- Email Article Submissions to: [email protected] Frances Ellen – Editorial Assistant; Sue Coleman - Editorial Assistance PDG Dick Nathan - Editorial ContributorZ ; Jonathan Nish – Webmaster Sydney Parker, Adrian Faiers, MargaretI James Cooper - Photography 1 N IAN H.S RISELEY – ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT Message for Foundation Month Dear Fellow Rotarian's, In many ways, The Rotary Foundation is an invisible In the Foundation’s centennial year, Rotarians surpassed presence in our clubs. Most of what we do in our clubs our goal of raising $300 million. If you were part of that and our districts, on a weekly basis, we do without the achievement, you have been part of something active involvement of the Foundation. But our tremendous. Somewhere in the world, someplace you Foundation is invisible in our clubs in the same way the have probably never been, people you may never meet foundation of a building is invisible when you’re in it: Just will lead better lives because of you. Ultimately, it is our because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not holding Foundation that lets us make good on our core beliefs: you up. that we can make a difference, that we have an obligation The Foundation that enabled Rotary to take on polio to do so, and that working together, as well and as is, in many ways, the foundation upon which our Rotary efficiently as we can, is the only way to effect real and service is built. For 100 years, since it came into lasting change. existence with a first donation of $26.50, the Foundation has supported and strengthened our service, enabled our ambitions, and allowed us to be the organization that we are. Because of the Foundation, Rotarians know that IAN H.S. RISELEY if we have the ambition and put in the work, very little is truly beyond us. It is an incredibly effective model that we have here in President, Rotary International Rotary, one that no other organization can match. We are completely local and completely global: We have #ServiceAboveSelf local skills, connections, and knowledge in over 35,000 #RotaryMakingaDifference clubs, in nearly every country of the world. We have a #PeopleOfAction deserved reputation for transparency, effectiveness, and #EndPolioNow good business practices, and because we are highly #WeAreThisClose skilled professionals as well as volunteers, we achieve a #TheRotaryFoundation level of efficiency that very few other organizations can approach. To put it simply, a dollar given to The Rotary Foundation has a great deal more muscle than a dollar given to most charities. If you want to spend a dollar on Doing Good in the World, you can’t do better than to spend it with the Foundation. That is not just me speaking out of pride; it is verifiably true and is reflected in our rankings by independent organizations. 2 MIKE HODGE DISTRICT GOVERNOR 2017 – 2018 UP AND ABOUT THE DISTRICT... First Family at Rotary Conference 2017 – Stratford Upon Avon District Governor Michael Hodge ’s first visit to Gants Hill Left: With past District Governor David Rotary Club on the 19 of September 2017 where he Palmer at The Rotary Club of enlightened the members and guests with his views and Barkingside stories about Rotary and shared his vision for the future. On behalf of Rotary Club of Gants Hill, District Governor Michael Hodge presented a Cheque of £1000.00 to District International Chairman Francis Uwaechi for his “Classroom in a Box” Project. Rotarian Francis Uwaechi entertained the meeting with songs related to Rotary. On behalf of Rotary Club of Gants Hill, District Governor Michael Hodge also presented a Cheque of £500.00 to Margaret from Leprosy Outreach project aimed at eradicating Leprosy in Nigeria. This is a project RC of Gants Hill has been sponsoring since last year; this was also one of the focal charities for Gants Hill’s annual Presidents Ball last year. From one Mike to the Other! Mike Hodge giving the ‘Badge of Office’ to his successor Mike Wren. From the Redbridge Rotary Club. 3 District Conference D1130 Conference 2017. Stratford upon Avon A Gallery of Conference Makers With thanks to Conference Chairperson Robert Morris, Hon Secretary Alan Coleman (both above right) and team 4 5 What has the Foundation ever done for us? With apologies to Monty Python’s “Life of Brian”, I ask: What has the Rotary Foundation ever done for us? “Nothing!” I hear the cry go out. “Nothing ... apart, of course, from initiating and spearheading the eradication of Polio!” (Since 1985, Rotary’s contributions of over US$1.6 billion and invaluable hands- on service have helped reduce the annual number of new cases by 99.99 %!) OK! Apart from Polio Eradication, what has Foundation ever done for us? Nothing! ...apart, of course, from offering Clubs the opportunity to undertake significant international humanitarian projects through Foundation funding. (Since 1965, over 38,000 Grant projects have been carried out in over 200 countries) OK! Apart from Polio Eradication and Global Grants, what has Foundation ever done for us? Nothing! ...apart, of course, from sponsoring the largest international scholarship programme in the world. (Since 1947, over 43,000 Foundation Scholars from over 130 countries have participated) OK! Apart from Polio Eradication, Global Grants and the Ambassadorial Scholarship Programme, what has Foundation ever done for us? Nothing! ...apart, of course, from the Vocational Training Team – VTT for short (Formally Group Study Exchange) where non-Rotarians from different professions are given the opportunity to experience vocational, educational and cultural points of interest in another country.