Haddenham & District Rotary Club

District 1090    R.I.B.I. Club No. 1654

Welcome to the
Thame Witchert Blog 

NO PHOTOGRAPHS THIS WEEK - just lots and lots of words!

It was 8.00pm as President Roger took the stage to address the expectant throng, who had made some enormous sacrifices to adulate their District Governor.  The Pres swallowed hard and announced that the DG would not be coming, as she had lost the critical email message.  Instead he announced, we would engage in fellowship and continue the discussion on whether to change the name of our club.
A number of short announcements followed.  Martin Hector spoke of arrangements on the provision of club labour at the Thame Show.  Mike Pitcher exclaimed that there was no way he could possibly consider voting for anyone other than the Tories!
Martin warned of the possibility of bad language being used in the cow tent, while Peter Jones experienced extreme disappointment for not being allowed in the said tent.  I then overheard a voice say that his exclusion was no doubt, designed to improve the language therein.
Muted exultation followed when MH reminded everyone that the days graft included access to the member’s tent, where thirsts could be easily arrested.
After grace, we enjoyed lasagne, sauté potatoes and fresh veg, or beef and duck salad.  Members began to chat in disperate groups, all to a man joined by the umbilical chord that we all know as Rotary.  Fellowship in action!
I heard how the District 1090 colour magazine was an expensive way of telling other Rotarians how well they had done.  It had no impact on our communities whatsoever, and therefore would not serve to energise and recruit new younger blood.  After all, who could get excited about pictures of a load of old men, short on fashion sense!  Why don’t we have a regular slot on our local radio station to tell people how Rotarians have had a positive effect on the lives of those who form our communities?  Why don’t we publish in our Parish Magazines?
Meanwhile Chris Behan, who was filling in the Telegraph crossword at the dictation of Peter Clarke et al, found time to break off and share birthday congratulations with Martin Hector.  Mike Pitcher and I felt moved to discuss the poor showing of Tom Voyce for Wasps the previous day.  Had it been a school test, poor old Tom would have received a ‘seem me’, detention and 0 out of 10!
Peter Jones then did what he does best, brought us all back to Rotary business!  He told us about ‘Life Straws’, an invention which he had stumbled across and wished to champion within our District.  Peter informed us that they were a water filter capable of turning water, including salt water, into drinking water, for the princely sum of £3.  He advocated that Clubs should put one in every emergency aquabox they send to disaster areas throughout the world.  After receiving some innovative and interesting suggestions as to how the straw, which looks like a giant whistle, could be used, Peter offered to sell some of the free eighty or so straws he had obtained, to those members present.  The only taker was our most distinguished pensioner, Paul Harris Fellow, Past President and oldest member – Jack Lazenby, whom Peter attempted to extract £5 from.  But he was politely told, in that Yorkshire brogue, to ‘bugger off’.
Founder President Keith Smith launched the name change debate.  He said that he had always been opposed to such a proposal, since it emerged some years ago.  Now though, he saw the value in tying the Club to the village where most of the members lived and where a lot of good work was undertaken to benefit the community.  Hopefully, this would give prospective new members a sense of identity.  However, new membership would not necessarily materialise as a matter of course.  We would need to get off our base plates!  Vice President Ken Elphick stated that there seemed general acceptance for the proposal, but that a formal referendum was required and he would arrange for this for two weeks time.  It was noted though, that no change should take place until after the Waddesdon Horse Event and Eurotary 2007, due to familiarity with the current Club name.  Discussion favoured retention of the word Witchert in any new Club name as a link with the past and something which has a historical link with Haddenham.  The word ‘District’ was regarded as a la ‘Dads Army’ and therefore discounted.  There was overwhelming support for the Club to be called the Rotary Club of Bishopstone and Vale Villages, to inspire a community feel.
Ken Elphick stated that he would be sending out details of the District Conference due to take place in March at Eastbourne.  He stated that members should fill in the booking forms and return them to him.  Accommodation is booked at the Cavendish Hotel at £61 per night.

Rtn Peter Gehnich

Rotary Blog Monday 11th September 2006

It was a little noisier than usual at the start of the meeting with Nigel detailing duties for the Thame Show and President Roger presenting IPP Keith with the Past Presidents medal.  

How much of this was in anticipation of what our young speaker from Aylesbury prison was about to say was difficult to assess but Marit Roben, the Mentoring Co-ordinator at Trail-Blazers – who had not talked to a Rotary Club before – was soon in control.  Perhaps the fact that she promptly told us that she had a green belt in Thaiquando kept the banter to a minimum.
Trail-Blazers is a one to one mentoring and life skills programme that has been running in Aylesbury and Feltham Young Offenders Institutions for over seven years and it is a charitable institution. Marit gave us a few statistics showing the effectiveness of Trail-Blazers.  The statistics showed that 76% of male prisoners within the 15 to 21 age group re-offend within two years of leaving prison and that this reduces to 31% for those of the same age group that had experienced the mentoring programme. It costs £38,000 p.a. for board and lodgings in Aylesbury prison and about the same for police and legal fees each time an offence is committed. Marit had made her case!

This week, the presentation of The Grumpling Trophy was in the gift of Peter Davies.  After a little deliberation he awarded it to Peter Jones.

	Peter Davies, just as he was about to present Peter Jones with The Grumpling Trophy

Rtn  Ken Elphick

Rotary Blog Monday 4^th September 2006

The grand Waddesdon Village Hall played host to our meeting this week which, to the enjoyment of Rotarians, was held in further support of Rotary Charities. On this occasion, to disburse monies raised at the club’s annual sponsored horse event, hosted by the Waddesdon Estate.

In his welcoming address, Senior Vice President Ken Elphick remarked on the strong fellowship that exists in the club and which is complimentary to the serious Rotary business of charitable work extensively undertaken by club members. Both aspects were amply illustrated in the video presentations that Ken introduced.

Immediate Past President Keith Cullup was master of ceremonies for the presentation of monies to the assembled charity representatives as follows : 

Local Charities :

Ali’s Dream                   Thame Community Car                       Upward Bound Trust 

CHAT                         Stoke Leys School Fund          Ian Rennie Hospice at Home

Thame Rotary Club       Aylesbury 100’s Rotary Club       Waddesden Village Hall

International and Other Charities  :

Msandaka Deaf School, Tanzania    SNEHA Street Children       Pendyffryn Trust

Nicaragua School  - Korsa Rotary Club                        St Lucia Boxing Club

South Atlantic Medal Association

Recipients were each encouraged to and did, introduce their charities and the benefits delivered by their work. In receiving his award as top sponsored rider, Richard Inman reflected the general opinion of our riders of the very special place that ‘The Waddesdon’ enjoys in the riding calendar.

Keith made particular mention that Rotary may enjoy a unique position in charitable giving because other than direct costs, no expenses are incurred in running events, so that a very high proportion of the money raised is passed on to deserving causes. This is further enhanced by individual Rotarians electing to provide contributions through the Gift Aid Scheme.

In his closing address, President Roger Rickard referred to the commitment of Rotarians and the Rotary tradition that outstanding individual contributions however made, be recognised. And so it was, to the surprise of the recipients and the delight of the assembled company, that Roger presented the Rotary Paul Harris Award to Brian Holt and Ron Roberts in recognition of their energetic and sustained contribution to Thame Witchert Rotary Club.

The meeting closed with thanks to Frank Reedman and Rotarian wives for providing a wine and cheese buffet.

Rtn Alan Dichler