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home - rotarycoventry

WELCOME TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF COVENTRY

Serving the community of Coventry and further afield

WE MEET AT MONDAY LUNCHTIME
LOCATION

The Four Season's Restaurant,
Kings Hill Nursery,
Kings Hill Lane
Coventry, CV3 6PS

TIME

12.30 - 2.00pm

FREQUENCY

Every Monday,
except bank holidays.

A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Michael Hammon

I would firstly like to thank my fellow members for electing me as Rotary President for 2018 - 2019, very soon they were asking Brenda if she could make them personalized quilts with their names, regimental badge and other information sewn on.
My first intention is to increase the membership of the club and it would be a fine achievement if we could reach fifty members by the end of June next year. Helped by all members of our club, it is my intention to look to people who are newly retired or about to retire to join those who have already expressed an interest in becoming members.
My second objective is to support committee chairmen and to attend the many social and fund raising functions the committees organize. Without the money raised it would be impossible for The Rotary Club of Coventry to support its nominated charities.
I am looking very strongly towards fellowship. As part of this initiative I am planning to organize a dinner in April 2019 to which a large number of Torquay and Southam 2000 Rotary Clubs are already planning to attend. Options and planning for the President's Party are also in hand.
Lastly it would be remiss of me not to consider the centenary of The Rotary Club of Coventry which falls in 2021. We have to accumulate funds for this and I shall work with the Honorary Treasurer to consider ways of raising money.  To achieve £25,000 in less than three years is optimistic but let us try.
With all good wishes to all.

LATEST NEWS FROM ROTARY

Monday 17th June 2019

by Bill Parkinson

Following the singing of The Grace, President Michael opened the meeting by giving a brief report on the recent Centenary Committee meeting. It is being proposed that in addition to an avenue of trees on the approach to the Charterhouse to be named Rotary Centenary Way, there would also be two benches and an information board detailing some of the 100 year history of the club. Also two events have been booked to  take place at the new Coventry Telegraph Hotel.

Michael went on to introduce our speaker for the day Paul Isherwood who represented the charity Penny Dropped which supports young people who have been drawn into a gambling addiction.

Paul spoke from personal experience having developed a gambling addiction as a teenager, firstly for arcade Slot Machines and then moving on to Fruit Machines. It was only with the support of his mother who persuaded him to attend Gamblers Anonymous that he was eventually able to break the cycle of compulsive  behaviour which resulted in him lying, stealing and losing his friends and his integrity in order to fuel his gambling habit.





        What had started out as harmless fun ended up with Paul spending every penny he could lay his hands on, his secret gambling addiction.

                      A member of Gamblers Anonymous came to his house and spoke frankly of his own 50 year gambling habit and he helped Paul and made him realise he himself didn't want to end up in the same situation.

                      Michael was pleased to present Paul with a cheque to further his work for this important charity.

                        Michael went on to report that Past Presidents David Cule and John Hartley are both in hospital. David is continuing to have treatment and John suffered a heart attack on Sunday 16th June and has had a stent fitted. We all wish both David and John a swift recovery and look forward to seeing them at our lunch meetings soon.


                        Rotary Tree Planting Ceremony at The War Memorial Park


                        The Tree Planting Ceremony was held at The War Memorial Park in Coventry on 25th February 2018. As President of the Rotary Club of Coventry. I was honoured to greet the following guests to the park -

                        • RI President Ian and his wife Juliet
                        • RI Director Brian and his wife Max
                        • Vice Chairman of the Rotary Foundation Ken and Lynn Schuppert
                        • RIBI President Denis Spillar
                        • 1060 DGN Gary Dancer
                        • 1060 DGE Bala Jaspal and PDG Paul Jaspal
                        • PDG Scotland Roddy Duncan
                        • Pam Harison - Canada
                        • Sheila Hurst - USA
                        • Spree Vallipurm - London

                        Along with PDRI Peter L. Offer, it was Rotary Club of Coventry PP John Hartley and VP Michael Hammon who were instrumental in arranging for the Hiroshima Memorial tree to be nurtured, delivered and planted within the park, without both of whom it would not have happened. Thanks also go out to the other Rotary Clubs of Coventry - Phoenix, North, Breakfast and Jubilee for their contribution.

                        The day itself was bitterly cold but the sun shone and all those present dismissed the cold and enjoyed the ceremony where I gave a brief history of the tree and introduced RI President Ian who gave a short speech prior to placing the tree and digging the first sod of earth.

                        All those present then had the opportunity to place the soil around the tree. The tree will now be cared for by the City of Coventry's Parks Department.



                        The full story of the Hiroshima Memorial trees goes back to 6th August 1945 when the Atomic Bomb destroyed Hiroshima City. In the spring of 1946 it was noticed that a tree which had been located near the Head Post Office and apparently destroyed, began to show signs of life and shoots were showing from the root stock. The Japanese council officials had the stump transferred to the site of what was to become the Peace Park. In the following years when the tree seeded, these were collected and put into sachets of 24 seeds as tokes given by the Mayors of Hiroshima to international dignitaries who visited the city as symbols of peace and reconciliation throughout the world.

                        In May 2008, Mr Jose Hiraga, a friend of PP John Hartley, visited Coventry and brought a packet of 24 seeds for the Council to germinate and plant the trees around the city. These were presented to Lord Mayor Dave Batten in the presence of George Miles, the then Chairman of Coventry Association for International Friendship. There was always an intention to plant a tree in the Memorial Park although enquiries with the Parks Department some time after revealed no evidence of any seeds which had germinated. John had however removed six seeds from the packet prior to the presentation. Three were given to George Miles and three to Mr David Carriage from Nuneaton. Unfortunately George Miles died. Mr Carriage however, eventually managed to raise two of the three seedlings. After nearly ten years these are now 14 inches high. One of which we have just planted in the War Memorial Park. We are informed that when mature the tree could reach 35-40 feet. 

                        Robert Villette President Rotary Club of Coventry


                        Youth Speaks Competition 2019


                        The Youth Speaks Competition was held on Friday 25th January 2019 at Bablake School.

                        The event was very successful and the six teams taking part all did exceptionally well. Th event was organized by many Rotary members and their wives.

                        The winning team was Blue Coat Church of England School and Music College who spoke about The Effects of Social Media. The runners up were Whitley Academy Blue Team who spoke on Perfection - The Front Cover.

                        Matthew Hanesworth, Peter Raistrick, and Aaron Jones of the winning Blue Coat Team


                        Lola Ashley, Eve Bannon and Ava Foskett of the Whitley Academy Blue Team, runners-up

                        Best speaker in the competition was Eve Bannon from Whitley Academy Blue Team

                        WHAT IS ROTARY?

                        The Rotary movement consists of men and women who want to help: young children here in Coventry and overseas; those who need a helping hand here in the UK; those faced with natural disasters overseas.

                        Rotary initiated the Polio plus campaign in 1984 when there were hundreds of thousands of cases worldwide. This year there were just 343.

                        Rotary runs countless humanitarian projects both locally, nationally and internationally. For more information see “Rotary at a glance”.

                        Each member enjoys business as well as social networking opportunities, whilst giving something back to those less fortunate and having a great deal of fun at the same time!

                        Find out more details about Rotary at Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland, and also, with a world view, at Rotary International

                        THE ROTARY CLUB OF COVENTRY CALENDAR 2018

                        THIS CALENDAR COMBINES SPEAKERS, DOOR STEWARD'S AND SPEAKER'S HOST

                        Henceforth it has been decided that the duties of both the Steward and the Visitor's Book shall be combined. Members are reminded that it rests with them as individuals to arrange for a substitute and then to notify the Secretary. The change should be recorded by deleting the printed name and writing the amended name on the list on the notice board.

                        Monday 10th June

                        Door Steward & Visitors' Book:
                        Ray Thompson

                        Speaker:

                        Alzhimers - Caroline Ward

                        Speaker's Host:

                        Phil Hodgson

                        Monday 17th June

                        Door Steward & Visitor's Book:
                        Bob Townsend

                        Speaker:

                        Signs and Dangers of Youth Gambling - Paul Isherwood

                        Speaker's Host:

                        Kipnyango Seroney

                        Monday 24th June

                        Door Steward & Visitors Book:

                        Bill Parkinson

                        Speaker:

                        The Precious Sisters - Mark Reckitt

                        Speaker's Host:

                        David Joyce



                         





                        FURTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

                        Saturday 15th June - International Coffee Morning at Serena's @ 10am - 12pm

                        Monday 17th June - 5 Presidents Meeting @ 2:00pm

                        Monday 17th June - Community Service Meeting @ 2:00pm

                        Wednesday 26th June - International Meeting at Roma's house

                        WE ARE COMMUNITY DRIVEN

                        WE BELIEVE IN A ONE WORLD FAMILY

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                        NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

                        Here you'll find our past newsletters. Simply click on the newsletter you wish to read and it will download the PDF file for you to read and/or print at your own pleasure.

                        CURRENT NEWSLETTER

                        January 2019
                        December 2013

                        ACTIVITIES

                        Here are some of our latest events

                        TREASURE HUNT

                        On Friday 28th Rotary members had the pleasure of taking part in the Treasure Hunt which was once again ably organised by Past President Ray Thompson. So popular was the event that there was a waiting list to take part! Members pitted their wits against Ray's devilish clues to find the answers. In the end 'Team Bond' managed to pip everyone to the winning post. Keith Chapman has reported the event in poetic style!! Hope there will be more odes in the future.

                        A Friday Night in Allesley

                        At the Rainbow Inn in Allesley Rotarians did meet.
                        We came there for a purpose - our annual walking treat.
                        The Treasure Hunt, devised by Ray, commenced from this location,
                        requiring skill and knowledge too, with careful observation.

                        As we set off along the path the rain was light but steady,
                        though some remained in dry surrounds with liquid comforts ready.
                        But as we walked the rain grew fierce, and clues were hard to find,
                        with KBO we pressed right on, though some grew faint of mind.

                        At last some golden words appeared within the instructions neat:
                        'Now cross the road and make return' - a dignified retreat!
                        And so we did - the second lap more tricky than the first.
                        The rain it eased, but not the clues - some of them got worse!

                        At last, in drizzle faint, the welcome Rainbow came in sight.
                        There was a choice to carry on - but that would take all night.
                        So welcome food and drink were there, along with friends and fun.
                        The fish and chips are wholesome - when they eventually come!

                        The Peter Harris trophy shield was well and truly won.
                        The soggy sheets were analysed to find what we had done.
                        The usual gang of spritely youths had carried off the prize,
                        alongside those more senior, who role was to advise.

                        And so we thank Nelly and Ray for such a jolly night
                        of fun and fellowship and guile, which turned out quite all right.
                        But next year just a little ask, and please don't get upset -
                        for easier clues, and earnest prayers - that it will not be WET!

                        Keith Chapman

                        A VISIT TO HERBERT MEDIA

                        On Friday 7th July, members of the Vocational Service Committee visited the Herbert Museum by invitation and were treated to an excellent introduction to the work of Herbert Media by Kerrie Suteu, Creative Media Officer and Simon Wellman, Film-maker & Trainer, both highly qualified in their respective fields of education and training. 

                        Herbert Media is an established body within the Museum, with a specialised media team which enjoys the use of a professional digital recording studio, broadcast-standard video production equipment and the necessary incidental facilities to enable the full use of the array of equipment. It has an outreach of fundamental importance for school children and students in Coventry; primarily from the special schools and colleges in the City such as Hereward College and Baginton Fields.

                        The experience afforded by Herbert Media to these young people can be life-changing, turning any one of them from an introvert, uncertain and socially-unresponsive individual into an outgoing, confident person with an awareness of personal capabilities. The great majority of those who have passed through Herbert Media have gone on to lead successful, independent lives in their chosen careers in art and architecture, design, film-making and theatre. All this comes from a dedicated team of just four people.

                        We had the pleasure of being guided by Kerrie and Simon through the different media components and who spoke with evident enthusiasm of their roles in the work of Herbert Media. It was quite a revelation for all of us, visiting club members, who had known little or nothing of that work which was so clearly explained to us.

                        David Cule

                        CONTACT US

                        Contact us

                        If you have any queries, or wish to join Rotary Club of Coventry, simply complete this form and our Club Secretary Brian Winstanley will be in touch in due course.