People of Action


Extracts from IPDG Maggie’s speech at the Handover Lunch


WOW what a year we’ve had as we’ve all celebrated the Centenary of Rotary in Wales. We said at the start of the year that we would support both the Cardiff and Llanelli Rotary Clubs as they celebrated their centenaries but boy do you like to party and you have all ensured we have had a year long celebration – thank you.


RIBI also celebrated our centenary by bringing their Champion of Change


Award Ceremony to The City Hall in Cardiff and our National President Denis ensured our Centenary was highlighted even further at his conference by having the legendary Phil Bennett as one of his main speakers, plus Bridgend Male Choir as part of the Friday evening entertainment. We also held a great event at the Senedd where the First Minister spoke very knowledgeably about Rotary and presented certificates to our District Champion of Change nominees and to Howard Craven our National Award winner. Did we achieve all our goals? Let’s start off with those received from our RI President Ian Riseley. His aim was to highlight peace through our six avenues of service and we had a good number of Rotarians and Interactors from our District who attended his Peace conference in Coventry in February. He asked each club to support environmental sustainability by planting at least one tree for every member – we more than doubled that target – well done. What about the goals set for us by RIBI President Denis – well it was all about membership and the concern that the average age of Rotarians across RIBI is 74 so Denis asked his DG team and their AGs to identify 10 areas in each District where we could either start up new clubs or create a satellite group from our existing clubs. We know we have very successful traditional clubs, most of whom are increasing their membership, but to ensure the future


You may have noticed a small change in the layout of your Spokesman this issue. Rather than chronicle the many activities of the clubs in the district I have wanted to give proper space to some of the really worthwhile and interesting stories that have come up this summer. Alison’s ‘You Can Change’ about an initiative in Parc Prison, Steve’s Wales-wide clean up the rivers campaign, our involvement in the National Eisteddfod and the visit of two National Presidents. And what about the two high fliers who gave up promising corporate careers to take on a pub in Brynmawr and through that found Rotary?


I hope you agree that to give more depth to these important stories shows what Rotary in Southern Wales is really aspiring to. Service Before Self has never seemed more appropriate.


Having written that, I am always conscious of the occasional overheard complaint that stories are sent in and not used. My answer is that I welcome all contributions and will always endeavour to include at least one from every club which is sent in. Round the Clubs is the platform for keeping everyone in touch and however mundane, your story will find a berth there.


As input to Spokesman improves my problem is balancing the enthusiastic clubs which send in article after article giving me the somewhat unenviable task of trying to decide how to deal with a seemingly unbal- anced flood from certain clubs. In the end this is an editorial decision and based loosely on ‘is it of interest to others’. Please keep sending them in, because Spokesman is showing non Rotarians what we do and the good we are causing and hopefully the enjoyment in doing that.


Copy date for next issue is 20 April 2018 and I can’t wait to see those stories roll in. Cover picture is Marilyn and Pierre Gwet of Brynmawr Club. Marilyn is this year’s President. Read their story on page 25.


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District and several of our clubs have already set up satellites/alternative meeting times and attracted younger members but this is still work in progress and part of a three year plan. To help us with our membership plans RI and RIBI launched their People of Action Public Image Campaign at the start of the year and produced the State of the Nation report for us to understand how the public would welcome support. As you will appreciate I was delighted to receive on your behalf at the RIBI conference the national award for having the highest % increase in membership. So please keep up the good work and let’s ensure that all those areas identified come to fruition in Clive’s year.


we also have to be able to attract younger business professionals, some of whom are time poor but want to give back to their community. So we have identified 14 areas in our


Plus, of course, we had our own District goals – to leave a legacy for our centenary by creating awareness of and promoting


Conference comes home


Next year, by popular demand, our Rotary Southern Wales Conference returns to Wales. DGE Peter and the conference team invite you to come along to Swansea and enjoy Wales’ Waterfront City and an amazing destination. The conference will take place during the weekend of 11th to 13th October, in the Swansea Marriott Hotel, nestled between the bustling Maritime Quarter, Swansea Bay and Swansea City Centre.


Conference is not just for those who like the range of inspirational speakers we will have on offer, but also for those who want to enjoy a weekend by the sea, socialising with good friends and great entertainment. Swansea also has a lot to offer in terms of cultural attractions, historical places and museums, as well as being a haven for various water sports, so there is plenty to do if you want to extend your stay.


Look out for further information in the next edition of the Spokesman.


Maggie finally takes a seat while husband Bill is thanked for his efforts.


Dementia Friendly Communities and the Dementia Friends awareness sessions. Thank you to all the Clubs who have taken this on board. I believe about ¾ of our members are now Dementia Friends and at least nine of our Rotarians have trained as Dementia Champions so are now available to visit our Clubs and deliver the interactive Dementia Friends session without having to go through the Alzheimer’s Society. Plus many of our Clubs are working on various projects to ensure their communities become Dementia Friendly. Personally I see this as an great outward facing service project where we are seen in our communities working with other business leaders which can only be good for our image and promote membership. The Government’s challenge is that all communities should be Dementia Friendly by 2020 so we will continue this project in the District. We have been fundraising for the Tenovus “Closer to Home” project and the aim is to raise £25,000 so that we can badge up one of the treatment rooms as a Rotary Treatment Room. We are about half way there and there are quite a few more fundraising events coming up shortly. We have also continued to promote the eradication of polio project and thank you to all the clubs who have held fundraising events; film premiers; planted crocuses; sold crocuses; made and sold jam, given talks to schools and other groups, you also lit up buildings in purple in October and as a result our District received fantastic international recognition in the November Zone newsletter for your tremendous efforts. We are all very aware that until we see the very last case of polio and remain polio free for at least three years we can’t give up. Thank you for your continued support.

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