Welcome to the Rotary District 1120 Web Site

An addition to the family

My week started with two days at RIBI General Council where together with the President of RIBI and my 28 fellow Governors we discussed weighty matters of Rotary State.  Some of our conclusions and recommendations will come up at the Saturday afternoon Business session, on 17 April, at the RIBI Conference in Bournemouth – one good reason to be there!  We talked at some length about the current RIBI Membership Campaign which has been run in one of the four Regions, and has been moderately successful in attracting new members aged between 30 and 55.  That’s good, and there are improvements to make in the other three Regions, but (and you may have heard me say this before) all of us still have to attract new members into our own clubs by ‘Getting Our ASKs in Gear!’

Being District Governor is, I find, a good job, but it got a bit better on Thursday when Jill and I were invited to take part in the chartering of a new Interact Club.  The club is sponsored by Senlac Rotary Club and their members had worked hard to help the club reach its first milestone.  Its name is Senlac – St Mary’s Interact Club and it meets at St Mary’s School in Bexhill - ‘a very special place’.  The school is well respected, both nationally and internationally, for the work it does with young people who have speech and language and social communication disorders and many also have other complex medical and/or physical needs.  In their recent report OFSTED commented that 'learner achievement, particularly in communication and independent mobility, is outstanding' and curriculum planning provides an opportunity for each learner to 'reach for the sky' and achieve challenging targets'.  And Rotary has taken an opportunity to play a part in this special place.  The President, Louis Spenceley, and his 14 fellow Interactors were proud of their new status, totally committed to it and will be an inspirational addition to the family of Rotary in District 1120.

Two other matters on our General Council Agenda were the Rotary Foundation and ‘Thanks for Life’, both of which need our wholehearted support.  The Foundation’s reserves are growing again, but it continues to need our support so that it can support us in the work we do.  ‘Thanks for Life’ is nearly upon us and Senlac – St Mary’s Interact Club is planning a non-uniform day and expect to raise £1,000 to support the campaign to fight polio – how does that ambition compare with your club’s?