the president's corner€¦ · wish himself, maggie and their family continued success as...

THE ROTARY CLUB OF SWAFFHAM

President ... Claire Dunne

President Elect ... John Wallace

Vice President ... Jane Harding

Treasurer ... Bill Muir

Secretary ... Jane Harding

NEWSLETTER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF SWAFFHAM

MARCH 2013

As I write the sun is shining, the temperature has risen and there is a feeling that spring

is on the way. What a difference good weather makes!

As always there was a lot of activity in the club. Everyone who heard Cheryl Hill, the

recently appointed Principal of The Nicholas Hamond Academy, was impressed. She

outlined the changes she has implemented since September which are already producing

positive outcomes and her extensive plans for the future. Her enthusiasm and

innovative thinking are inspirational. We look forward to establishing strong links with

the school and supporting them whenever possible.

Even those who knew the late Noel Abel did not realise the extent of his business empire

so Tony’s excellent presentation to the club was of great interest to everyone present. We

wish himself, Maggie and their family continued success as their business diversifies.

Even though many of us lost money at the races on Friday night it was a fun event and

financially successful for the Vocational Committee who, helped by Ian Harding, worked

hard to sell ads and horses and find sponsors for the races.

THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER


The following morning saw members, partners and supporters wear bright yellow hats

as they did the annual Marie Cure Daffodil collection which brought in £786.06 which

is an impressive amount considering there was also a street collection on Friday.

A change of venue for a meeting is always enjoyable and where better than Lydney

House for our frugal lunch hosted by David and Sarah. Malcolm’s presentation on REMIT (Rotarians Eliminating Malaria in Tanzania ) was very interesting and the

figures on the numbers dying there were sobering to say the least. It is surprising and

disappointing that the media give it so little attention. One insecticide treated net costs

less than a cappuccino!

Congratulations have been sent to Dorothy following the news that she will be taking up

the post of District Governor Nominee 2013 -2014 . We all wish her the very best for her

future role in District 1080.

Now it is time for me to pack my bags and think of holidays. I have done some research

on Rotary clubs in Cyprus so hope to have something interesting to relate on my return.

John and Jane… the chair is yours for the next few weeks!

Claire

THE CLUB PROGRAMME FOR MARCH IS AS FOLLOWS:

Date

2013

Event / Speaker Duty

Member

Guests?

Mar 1st Friday RACE NIGHT Yes

4th Lunch Frugal Lunch -- at Lydney House Bill

11th Dr. Ilga Chakarbati-A day in the life of a GP Denis Yes

12th Tuesday Club Council Meeting

18th Aki and Maria - Ambassadorial Scholars Nigel Yes

25th Business Meeting Peter

Apr 1st NO MEETING - EASTER MONDAY


THE FAMILY OF ROTARY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

this month to

CLAIRE DUNNE (15th) and MIKE CORNWELL (30th)

FOUNDATION COMMITTEE

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Monday 18th March

Ambassadorial Scholars

and Maria KRISCH Saafelden, Austria

Aki ONODERA Sapporo, Hokkaido,Japan

will be attending our regular Monday meeting, which is open to partners . Sunday 28th July Proposed Summer Garden Lunch and Jazz Afternoon Tuesday 3rd September Charity Golf Day in association with Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind. All proceeds to End Polio Now! and the NNAB.

Denis Bishop, Chairman


We have had a busy time during the last month, but the Race Night has now passed (see below), so we can ease off a little! It looks that once we have collected all the advertising money we shall have made a surplus of over £1300, a super result for the evening, despite a reduced attendance. Thank you to all who attended for your generosity. Hopefully everyone there had a lively time and did not lose too much ! We are grateful to The George for the way they looked after us. Thanks to Monika Rackham for running the Tote so efficiently and to all those who acted as Tote sellers during the evening and to Alan and Sue Henry for selling the Tri-Cast tickets. We relied heavily on guidance in making the whole operation efficient and for that great thanks are due to Ian Harding, without whose advice and good humour we would struggle.(The photograph below shows him, typically, manning his post)

The 3 large Easter Eggs generously donated by Kinnertons are now sited at The George, the Red Lion (in the Market Place) and The Hilborough Swan. I will ensure that Members have a good opportunity to contribute at each meeting! The draw will be on Maunday Thursday (March 28th).

We are hoping that we are on the trail of a candidate for RYLA 2013 through the Youth Committee, but any other ideas will be welcome, as competition is no bad thing. The Committee will be considering more ideas for Vocational donations in the coming weeks as with the generous contribution from the VAF we have enough to purchase next year`s Dictionaries if required and to finance the remaining programme for this year.

Please let me know if you have any Vocational ideas.

Simon

VOCATIONAL SERVICE


Swaffham Rotary Collection for Marie Curie Cancer Care

An apparent invasion of yellow leprechauns (see below) causing a rash of golden daffodil lapel

badges in Swaffham town centre on Saturday 2 March was actually the Swaffham Rotary Club

and friends collecting for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Thanks to Denis Bishop, Lawrie Garner, Alan Henry (top scorer with £115), Tony Hopping, Bill

Muir and Malcolm Whittley. Particular thanks to Thea Morris and to Mr and Mrs Wagstaff who

wanted to collect for Marie Curie in memory of a friend and who were put in touch with Claire

by the organisation.

The total raised - £784 - was slightly down on last year but up on previous years.

Well done the thin yellow line!

David Morris, Community Chair

COMMUNITY SERVICE


PAUL HARRIS – his early years

Malcolm offers us another extract from Roger Levy's excellent history

of Rotary.

Paul Percival Harris was born in Raucine, Wisconsin, USA on 19th April

1868 and at the age of 3 was taken to grow up in the house of his

Father’s parents. He regarded himself as a New Englander and liked to refer to the values and standards which he learned in his childhood and youth. His Grandparents could not

control a certain wildness of disposition. Eventually, however, he graduated in law from the

Iowa State University.

He retained a liking for practical jokes and general high jinks for many years but in the later

part of his life (he died in 1947 at the age of 78) he was a mild, friendly and charming man

and was elected President Emeritus of Rotary International in 1912. He married Jean

Thompson – a girl from Edinburgh in 1910 ( referring to her as “his bonnie Scottish lass”) She returned to Scotland after his death and died there in 1963. Before becoming a lawyer,

in a 5-year period he travelled the world. He worked as a newspaper reporter (twice),a

labourer on a fruit ranch; a raisin packer; a teacher; an actor; a cowboy; a hotel clerk; a

travelling salesman in marble & granite; a commercial traveller; a cattleman on a trans-

Atlantic boat; an agricultural labourer; a worker in a corn-canning factory and an orange

picker.

When he arrived in Chicago he found a business jungle but little employment for a young

lawyer. He was busy but “ Sundays & holidays were days of sorrow. I could go to the

downtown churches Sunday mornings but during the long Sunday afternoons I was

desperately lonely” This in turn, of course, led him to start Rotary. (Taken from “Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland “ by Roger Levy)

SOMETHING WORTH REMEMBERING

Don’t walk in front of me I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.

(Thank you Jane)


DESERT ISLAND

BOOKS

This month's castaway is JOHN WALLACE

A simple enough question........”Would I choose the eight books I would want to take to a

mythical desert island?” But, as others who have preceded me have found out and whose choices I have noted with interest, it spawns a whole host of questions which are far from

simple.

What help can I get with survival; do I take just books I know and love; do I take books I’ve often said I would like to read when I have the time; how do I match books to my mood with

only eight; and, finally, how can you boil it down to just 8?

Well, here goes. I noted a couple of earlier selections might have included a book on how to

survive, but they failed to make the final cut. For me this is the first priority. I have scanned

a few reviews and settled on the SAS Survival Handbook by John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman. I’ve no doubt that I shall blanch at some of the suggestions for things to eat. But at least I will get

ideas on what I need to do to survive, so the rest will be up to me.

At times I know I will need inspiration. Many years ago I read Lifeboat VC: The Story of Dic

Evans, Coxon. We are all in awe of the volunteer crews of lifeboats who habitually risk their

lives to save those in peril. This book was truly moving: during one rescue in a hurricane

force wind a wave lifted the lifeboat on to the deck of a sinking ship. The last member of

the crew scrambled on board and the next wave lifted the lifeboat back into the sea. But

Norfolk has its own lifeboat hero so I shall take instead Henry Blogg of Cromer by Cyril Jolly

to read about other heroic rescues.

“In prison, you come face to face with time. There is nothing more terrifying” is a quotation

attributed to Nelson Mandela. For me desert island = prison. Finding out how he can be

devoid of bitterness despite his harsh treatment, together with his self-deprecating sense of

humour and charisma makes Long Walk to Freedom my third choice.

I will need something to challenge my brain. Maybe concepts and theories I have previously

tried to come to terms with and failed. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking is

described as an attempt to explain a range of subjects in cosmology including the Big Bang,

black holes and light cones to the non-specialist reader. The critic said “Its main goal is to give an overview of the subject but, unusual for a popular science book, it also attempts to

explain some complex mathematics.” Sounds fine! Hope it won’t suffer the same fate as the text books on pure and applied maths I had 50 years ago!


Sometimes I will need a lift, something to make me laugh. One book had me rocking with

laughter on the train commute home - a sin in eyes of fellow commuters - and struggling to

suppress a chuckle long after I had put it down to go to sleep. Wilt by Tom Sharpe hit all the

right buttons for me. His other books amused rather than reduced me to helpless laughter.

I noticed recently one book retailer was offering a Tom Sharpe Collection for £9.99 - 8 books

shrink-wrapped so that should count as one choice! That should ensure enough laughs for

the duration of my stay.

Quizzes are not me, I need longer to dredge the depths of my memory than any self

respecting quizmaster will allow. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” is probably the only famous first line which on a good day I could promptly name book and author. It is a few years since I

saw the film, longer since it was a series on TV and even longer since I read the book. Now I

will have the time to re-read this classic. How many other books have inspired a year of

events to celebrate the bi-centenary of its publication?

(http://www.prideandprejudice200.org.uk) .

I might not do well against the clock, but I do like the challenge of a crossword. This

commuter’s briefcase contained lunch, a morning paper, a book and a few (unclassified,

honest!) official papers. Over the years I had spells reading most of the broadsheets. They

were better than tabloids at marking out your “space” in a crowded train. The crossword was the lunchtime challenge. I never understood the thought process of most of the

Guardian’s compilers. I did O.K. with the Times but seldom finished it. So a bumper book of

Telegraph crosswords should prove more of a challenge than a frustration.

My final choice is linked to the two given books. I was envious of the way religious

education was taught at the school my daughters attended. They learned about a number

of faiths and lifestyles whereas at my school Religious Knowledge was narrowly focussed on

Christianity and mainly the established church. Slightly odd because our teacher was a

Welshman and a free church lay preacher. He was a keen Reading Football Club supporter

and a number of fellow pupils and I would stand with him on the terraces at Elm Park long

after we had left school. Together, we watched many forgettable encounters in the old

third division. An all round good egg, but now I shall broaden my knowledge by reading

Comparative Religion by F B Jevons alongside The Bible.

Julia will tell you that I am never happier than when I am pouring over a new Screwfix

catalogue. Not a book and free so perhaps I could take one along for the odd wistful

moment I when I need a whatd’yacallit or thingagummy to make my new accommodation more bearable. You can always find it in Screwfix!

John

http://www.prideandprejudice200.org.uk/


Thank you to Knitters

Some months ago I got involved with organising the knitting of garments for newly-

born babies in Africa whose mothers had no baby clothes, so that their “fish and chip babies” were sent home in newspaper. The idea was to knit a single piece garment, following a simple pattern, and using up any odd bits of wool. Dark colours

preferred, and white a definite no-no. Babies’ hats could also be knitted.

Several friends and acquaintances got involved, including a number of Rotary wives,

and in turn involved their friends, resulting in my being handed industrial quantities of

garments. Last month Bill and I delivered several hundred to the Hampstead offices

of the charity “Knitting for Peace” for distribution. They were a bit amazed at the numbers, and very pleased to get them. I have now been sent some knitting patterns

for slightly larger children’s clothes, this time with sleeves, should any one wish to

carry on knitting.

The picture shows James from “Knitting for Peace” with the 5 large bags of tee-shirts

that we handed over. Many thanks to all those who contributed and got their friends

to get knitting too. Well done.

June Muir


GOD'S PHARMACY

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye.

The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...

And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and

function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four

chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes

are loaded with lycopene and are indeed pure heart and

blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart.

Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today

shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper

cerebrums and lower cerebellums.

Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now

know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes,

they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones.

These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium

and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body

pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of

the body.


Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of

the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs.

Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it

balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical

cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado

from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of

nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141

of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow.

Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the

numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the

glycaemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the

mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of

the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help

clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce

tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working

companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous

free radicals from the body.

(Thank you Jane. Ed.)


BRAINS OF BRITAIN!

(SOME FRIGHTENING RESPONSES TO RADIO/TV QUIZZES)

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

Bamber Gascoyne: What was Gandhi's first name?

Contestant: Goosey?

ROCK FM ( PRESTON )

Presenter: Name a film starring Bob Hoskins that is also the name of a famous painting by

Leonardo da Vinci.

Contestant: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

BEG, BORROW OR STEAL (BBC2)

Jamie Theakston: Where do you think Cambridge University is?

Contestant: Geography isn't my strong point.

Jamie Theakston: There's a clue in the title.

Contestant: Leicester

GWR FM ( Bristol )

Presenter: What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963?

Contestant: I don't know, I wasn't watching it then.

BBC NORFOLK

Stewart

White:

Who had a worldwide hit with What A Wonderful World?

Contestant: I don't know.

Stewart

White:

I'll give you some clues: what do you call the part between your hand and your

elbow?

Contestant: Arm

Stewart

White:

Correct. And if you're not weak, you're...?

Contestant: Strong.

Stewart

White:

Correct - and what was Lord Mountbatten's first name?

Contestant: Louis

Stewart

White:

Well, there we are then. So who had a worldwide hit with the song What A

Wonderful World?

Contestant: Frank Sinatra?

BEACON RADIO ( WOLVERHAMPTON )

DJ Mark: For 10, what is the nationality of the Pope?

Ruth from Rowley Regis: I think I know that one. Is it Jewish?


RICHARD AND JUDY

Richard: On which street did Sherlock Holmes live?

Contestant: Er. ... .....

Richard: He makes bread . . ...

Contestant: Er .. ........

Richard: He makes cakes . . ...

Contestant: Kipling Street?

LINCS FM PHONE-IN

Presenter: Which is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world?

Contestant: Barcelona.

Presenter: I was really after the name of a country.

Contestant: I'm sorry, I don't know the names of any countries in Spain ..

PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC GMR)

Phil Wood: What 'K' could be described as the Islamic Bible?

Contestant: Er... .... .....

Phil Wood: It's got two syllables . . .. Kor . ..

Contestant: Blimey?

Phil Wood: Ha ha ha ha, no. The past participle of run . . ...

Contestant: (Silence)

Phil Wood: OK, try it another way. Today I run, yesterday I . . ...

Contestant: Walked?

JAMES O'BRIEN SHOW (LBC)

James O'Brien: How many kings of England have been called Henry?

Contestant: Er, well, I know there was a Henry the Eighth ... ER. ER ... Three?

STEVE WRIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON (BBC RADIO 2)

Wright: Johnny Weissmuller died on this day. Which jungle-swinging character clad only in

a loin cloth did he play?

Contestant: Jesus.

PAUL WAPPAT (BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE )

Paul Wappat: How long did the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israel last?

Contestant (long pause): Fourteen days.

(Thank you Malcolm. Ed.)


SCHOOL 1963 vs. 2013

Scenario :

Johnny and Mark get into a fight after school.

1963 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best friends.

2013 - Police called, and they arrest Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both

expelled even though Johnny started it. Both children go to anger management programmes

for 3 months. School governors hold meeting to implement bullying prevention programmes.

Scenario :

Robbie won't be still in class, disrupts other students.

1963 - Robbie sent to the office and given six of the best by the Principal. Returns to class, sits

still and does not disrupt class again.

2013 - Robbie given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADHD – result

deemed to be positive. Robbie's parents get fortnightly disability payments and school gets

extra funding from government because Robbie has a disability.

Scenario :

Billy breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his

belt.

1963 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a

successful businessman.

2013 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care; joins a gang; ends

up in jail.

Scenario :

Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.

1963 - Mark gets glass of water from Principal to take aspirin with. Passes exams, becomes a

solicitor.

2013 - Police called, car searched for drugs and weapons. Mark expelled from school for drug

taking. Ends up as a drop out.


Scenario :

Johnny takes apart leftover fireworks from Guy Fawkes night, puts them in a paint tin &

blows up a wasp's nest.

1963 - Wasps die.

2013 - Police & Anti-Terrorism Squad called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism,

investigate parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated. Johnny's Dad goes

on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly in an airplane again.

Scenario :

Johnny falls over while running during morning break and scrapes his knee. He is found

crying by his teacher, Mary. She hugs him to comfort him.

1963 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing footie. No damage done.

2013 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in

prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy and ends up gay.

(Thank you Neville. Ed)

My thanks to the many people who sent in contributions to this month's edition. Ed.

The Rotary Club of Swaffham

District 1080. RIBI No. 1095

"The Pedlar's Post" Newsletter - Issue number 93 - March2013

Editor : Alan Jones

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

All editions of the newsletter are available on the club website

(www.swaffhamrotary.org.uk) and can be downloaded.

ROTARY MEETINGS

At The George Hotel, Swaffham Tel: 01760 721238

1st Monday: Lunch, 12.30 for 1.00pm

Other Mondays: Dinner, 7.00 for 7.30pm

the president's corner€¦ · wish himself, maggie and their family continued success as...

Documents