Rotary and Polio Eradication
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November 2010
Subject to validation, a new world record for
simultaneous bulb planting has been achieved for RIBI (643 planters!) and
5.2million bulbs have been distributed and/or planted across Great Britain and
Ireland.
The Bill Gates $200 million Polio Challenge is now
up to the three-quarter mark and stands at just over $150 million raised, but
this still means we have some way to go to complete the challenge by 30th June
2012.
For further details:
www.focusonthecrocus.org
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Rotary and Polio Eradication
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October 2010
Purple Pinkie Crocus Planting
On the afternoon of the 6th October the Rotary Club
of Thorpe Bay planted 5,000 purple crocus corms in Southchurch Park,
Southend-on-Sea as part of the Purple Pinkie Thanks For Life Campaign.
A good turnout of members lead by President Garry Lowen ensured that the
planting was completed in 30 minutes and we now wait until February next year
to (hopefully) see the result of our labours. We hope to be able to
plant the second lot of 5,000 at Garon Park Golf Club, our meeting place.
For further details:
www.focusonthecrocus.org
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20th October

The
planting of Thorpe Bays second 5,000 crocus bulbs at 8.30 on a freezing
cold morning at The Garon's Park Golf Complex. |
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Red Dwarf meets Ewok at Bike Ride!
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September 2010
The Cat and Logray meet District Governor at
Another Successful Bike Ride
Red Dwarf star Danny John Jules (The Cat) and
Rotarian Mike Edmonds who starred as the Ewok Medicine Man, Logray in Star
Wars, joined Distict Governor Bob and his wife at the start of this year's
Foulness Bike Ride. They waved off 1,400 riders raising funds to support the
work of
Macmillan nurses in Havens Hospices - the aim is to fund a
nurse for a year.
This
year for the first time riders were able to book online via a system developed
by club members Nigel Gayner and Mahboob Raja which reduced our admin burden
considerably. The Ride was given fantastic support from the community as
volunteer marshals who were joined by Rotarians from Rochford, Rayleigh Mill,
Hadleigh Castle and the President of Blackwater Valley, District 1140, making
up the 130 that played a vital role in ensuring rider safety.
Last year's Ride raised £25,000 which
went to Southend Hospital's Bosom Pals Appeal. Our aim this year is to raise as
much again. We also support the Foulness Island Heritage Centre which
incidentally is open to the public April - Oct on the first Sunday of the
month. Planning for next year's Ride has already started so keep your eyes on
our events website for confirmation of the date at
www.thorpebayrotaryevents.co.uk or telephone 01702 525514
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Rotary and Polio Eradication
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September 2010
Purple Pinkie News
Rotary has now raised $144 million towards the Bill
Gates $200 million Challenge but there is still a need for fund raising for the
polio project.
Rotary District 1240 has ordered over 120,000 purple
crocus bulbs, whilst in RIBI as a whole the order now extends to over five
million! That should ensure a spectacular display nationwide next spring to
publicise the Rotary involvement in the End Polio Now campaign. The crocus
initiative will help to make the general public aware of all that we have done,
and continue to do, to eradicate polio from the world but the need is still for
further donations to finance the essential NIDS (National Immunisation Days)
that must continue until eradication is achieved.
The "Focus on the Crocus" website has been
developed to publicise exactly where Rotary Bulb Planting events are taking
place. These include a major event in Trafalgar Square on Friday 1st October
and events such as that by the Stevenage Club in D1260, working with primary
schools to get sponsorship of bulbs at 20p each and prizes for the best show in
the wackiest container in February! In our District, the Chelmsford Clubs are
working together for a mass planting in Bell Meadows/Central Park, Chelmsford
and the Colchester Clubs are also working on a similar project.
For further details:
www.focusonthecrocus.org
The latest full 'Purple Pinkie News' is available
from this website as a PDF document HERE
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Mines Awareness Trust Christmas Pudding Appeal 2010
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September 2010
The Rotary Club of Cwmbran Vale with the Rotary
Club of Thorpe Bay Land Mines Initiative
This RIBI approved appeal has been supported by
clubs in District 1240 for the last four years. The principal aims of the Mines
Awareness Trust are to provide support and training for local de-mining teams
and help for the victims of mines.
No-one who has heard of the widespread and gruesome
nature of the minefield problem has not shuddered to see the results of
indiscriminate and un-charted mine-laying upon innocent populations and has
yearned to be able to do something tangible to help. We hope that Rotarian
pudding-eaters and their friends and families will buy at least one of the
puddings and will then be able, while munching away at Christmas, to reflect on
the help they have thereby given to the clearance of another 3.5sq m of a
minefield. Full details are available at
www.rotaryxmaspuds.co.uk.

Most families buy a Christmas pudding. If they buy
the pudding from us, Mines Awareness Trust makes the profit. Even if members
don't want to buy the pudding for themselves, it is a remarkably easy item to
sell or give as a gift to friends and family. Last year several clubs purchased
puddings to donate to local organisations as part of the club's Community and
Vocational Service commitment - why not do the same in your club?
You will be aware however that the minimum order is
normally one case of twelve puddings at £10 each - a total of £120
and we are aware that some Clubs may wish to order lesser quantities of
puddings. The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay has therefore received the permission
of DG Bob Barclay and the Rotary Club of Cwmbran Vale to once again act as
distributors of the Christmas puddings within District 1240 and to accept
minimum orders of just two puddings. The price will remain at £10
including shipping and all proceeds will be forwarded to the Rotary Club of
Cwmbran Vale for the Mines Awareness Trust Appeal.
Last year 24 clubs in District 1240 purchased 468
puddings and we received many compliments about the quality of the puddings -
even repeat orders! Please help us to do even better this year. |
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Defibrilator Donation
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August 2010
Club Donates Life Saver to Police Air
Support
 PC Fay Edwards with President Garry Lowen, Pam Watson-Jones and Past
President Eddie Edwards,
The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay and Essex Police Air
Support Unit have teamed up to help save lives across the county.
The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay has generously
presented a defibrillator which is used to diagnose and treat life threatening
cardiac arrhythmias. The defibrillator cost £1,100.
Pc Fay Edwards from the ASU says: This
defibrillator is a fantastic piece of equipment and it will undoubtedly help
save lives. Only recently I was called to an emergency incident and if we had
the defibrillator the outcome could have been very different. It is absolutely
vital. Everyone in the ASU is now being trained to use the defibrillator and
will soon begin putting it to good use should the situation arise.
The Club was initially alerted to this need by Pc
Fay Edwards, whose father, Eddie Edwards. is the Immediate Past President.
Thorpe Bay gladly accepted the challenge and presented the portable electronic
device to the ASU during a ceremony on August 29th. The defibrillator will be
available for use at emergency incidents from October 1, once all ASU team
members have received their training. |
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The Rotary Clubs of Southend and District - Pakistan
Flood Relief
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August 2010
Rotary Clubs of Southend and District join forces
to raise funds to send shelter boxes to Pakistan
The Rotary Clubs of Southend and District joined
forces to raise funds to send shelter boxes to Pakistan. Led by the Rotary Club
of Thorpe Bay the clubs organised, in just 3 days, a street collection in
Southend High Street thanks to the help given by Southend Borough Council.
The Rotary Clubs of Southend and District joined
forces to raise funds to send shelter boxes to Pakistan. Led by the Rotary Club
of Thorpe Bay the clubs organised, in just 3 days, a street collection in
Southend High Street thanks to the help given by Southend Borough Council.
The Rotary Clubs of Southend and District would like to thank the
Council and the people of Southend for their help and generosity
Shelterbox, a Rotary Sponsored Charity, responds
instantly to natural and manmade disasters all over the world by sending green
ShelterBoxes full of lifesaving equipment Each box provides an extended family
with a tent and lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or
homeless for at least 6 months. The contents are tailored depending on the
nature and location of the disaster with great care taken sourcing every item
to ensure its robust and gives lasting value.
For further details:
www.shelterbox.org
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Fellowships for Hospital Staff
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July 2010
Southend Hospital Trust Press Release
The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay paid thanks to two
members of our staff recently by awarding them a century old honour. Judi
Sharpe, medical education manager, and Barbara Warner, senior fundraising
manager, were delighted to receive the Paul Harris Fellowship award, set up in
honour of the Rotary founder over 100 years ago, for their outstanding
contribution to the club and the community.
The unsuspecting duo received their awards at a
celebration ceremony held at Southend's Sands Bistro last month, also attended
by our chairman John Bruce. Barbara became the club's first ever non member to
receive the award in recognition of her fundraising work at the hospital and
its benefit to the community.
"I was honoured and very surprised to receive
the award. The work the fundraising team does really is a team effort so I will
be sure to celebrate this success with them," said Barbara.
Judi, who has been a member of the Rotary for nine
years, has held pivotal posts as programme secretary and, more recently,
secretary; a role which is key to ensuring the club operates effectively. The
award was also given in recognition of Judi's huge contribution to the
education of doctors in Southend and, in particular, her support of junior
doctors.
Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay president, Garry Lowen
said: "The club was delighted to honour Barbara and Judi whose work and
support to others extolled the key values of Rotary which are service above
self." |
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Kids Out
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June 2010
Southend Entertains Kids
Firstly on behalf of the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay
we congratulate our fellow Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Southend-on-Sea for
organising a superb day in conjunction with Philip Miller of the Adventure
Playground.
This year there were 50 children from Milton Hall
Primary School together with 5 staff and five of our Club members, all suitably
attired in white T-shirts and blue Baseball caps. There was no doubt that this
event was a resounding success with Jon Baker the Home School Liaison Officer
informing me that the children were still bubbling the following day.
While we could have invited
more children it was decided to select 50 children who had shown some
improvement in any aspect within their school - so from better behaviour to
better attention and work in the classroom to better performance in school
activities - the competition was strong as they strived for their 'ticket'.
This also helped to keep up the high standards in
the school which had recently been recognised by OFSTED and placed a positive
marker down for next year. Their behaviour and politeness was a credit to the
children and the staff - indeed it was a real joy to be part of this day with
the possible exception of the decibels in TALK. I was reliably informed that
the volume was at a lower level than usual - can you believe that! So a
fantastic day with so much joy and fun had by all - a really worthwhile
initiative and I am up for it again next year subject to my ears recovering.
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Golf Day Supports Peaceful Place
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June2010
£9000 Donation to Peaceful
Place
The Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay held its traditional
annual
Charity Golf Day at Thorpe Hall
Golf Club on Monday 7th June. Rachel Riley from Countdown presented the winner,
Gary Wavell, with the Peter Lagden Trophy which was donated in memory of Peter
Ladgen, a founder member of Thorpe Bay Rotary Club, who organised the event for
many years. The winning individual Gary Wavell came in with 41 points (won on a
countback ). Lyn Cast won the Ladies Individual Trophy. The winning team,
The Dampers scored 122 points.
152 golfers from all over SE Essex took part and in
spite of the difficult economic climate, the event raised close to £6433.
A cheque for £9000, including monies from previous golfing events, has
been handed over to Celia Riley of Peaceful Place, an organisation which offers
specialist care and support for people living with younger onset dementia.
The members at
Thorpe Hall Golf Club, many of whom paid to play on their own course, gave free
use of their superb facilities! The event raised £2000 from generous
sponsors, especially Fairfield BMW/MINI, French & Associates Ltd. and DMG
Delta who gave their support in tough times. A huge thank you to all members of
Thorpe Bay Rotary Club who worked to make this a very successful day.
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New Members for 2010
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April 2010
Two new members have already joined in 2010:
They are:
Gaynor Thompson
Judith Hansford
Judith, pictured here with President Eddie Edwards,
Immediate Past President, Penny Popham and Honourary Junior Member , Nicholas
Popham, has been attending Thorpe Bay events for a number of years, spured on
by Daughter, Penny and Grandson, Nick.
Nick in fact has been attending since before he was
born! |
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Even More New Members for 2010
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July 2010
Another three new members have joined in 2010:
They are:
All three can be recognised in our
members section and we look forward to a long and
happy association with all our members in the coming years.
Thanks go to Loretta Andrews, our Membership Services
Chairman for her amazing efforts during 2009-10. She truly deserves the
Rotarian of the Year Award!! |
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