Page 4 - Rotary DIN Jun 2016
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RIBI BOURNEMOUTH He praised the work that Rotary has and is still
CONFERENCE undertaking in raising funds for this area, while
validly questioning whether Rotary has beaten the
Impressions from Bournemouth publicity drum loudly enough about its
involvement and success to date. The vaccine will
by William Wills Assistant Governor, D1175, be changed from an oral one to a more effective
Plymouth and South Hams syringe-administered dose, which is more
expensive.
Bournemouth attracted 1500 delegates to the 91st
RIBI Annual Conference over the first weekend in John Humphrys, the broadcaster, closed the
April. We were inspired, motivated and afternoon. He was brave enough to answer the
challenged. audience’s questions. He would not be drawn on
his view of Boris Johnson, but he did say he would
Rotary International President Ravi and RIBI like to interview HM The Queen.
President Peter Davey’s message to the
conference was that the organisation has to In the evening, there was a dinner, followed by a
change or die. RIBI had fewer than 50,000 Big Band concert by the Royal Logistics Corps.
members with an average age of about 74.
Moreover, we did not have anywhere near enough On the Saturday, Steve Brown, Britain’s 2012
female Rotarians, according to Ravi. Clubs had to Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby captain, whose
be more innovative to reflect their local Olympic wheelchair was sponsored by Rotary,
communities and needs. Greater use must be inspired with his tales of triumphing in a brutal
made of satellite and e-clubs. Presentations on sport, having broken his neck as a young man.
the success of both were well received.
The 2016 Rotary Young Citizens awards were
On the Friday afternoon, we heard from Baroness presented live in BBC TV by presenter Ellie Crisell.
Gillian Shephard, deputy chairman of the Social Two of the five awards were nominated by Rotary
Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, which clubs in District 1175. The first was to Madison
monitors the progress of improving child poverty Glinsky (St Ives), who has raised £55,000 to date
in the UK. by busking with her violin in the Cornish town,
her funds going to the Children’s Hospice, Little
We then heard from Professor Sir Liam Harbour, in St Austell (more about Madison on
Donaldson, chairman of the Independent page 8) The South West’s other award went to
Monitoring for the Polio Eradication Programme. Tiverton High School’s Interact Club for the
formation of the club and the innovative ways in
which they have raised funds during the year.
