Swindon Phoenix. District 1100 England Bulletin (aptly named) The Birdy

Transcription

1 Page 1 The Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix District 1100 England Bulletin (aptly named) The Birdy Issue number 40 Volume number 2 Number 18 of this Rotary Year The Four-Way Test President Rtn, Paul Parfrey Of the things we think, say or do; 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? President Elect P.P. Peter Collis PHF Sapphire 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Santa Run This Sunday President Nominee Rtn, David Coe Secretary; P.P. John Flanagan! Kiddies! O H o Ho H Treasurer; Rtn, Steve Weisinger Control + click on these hyper links swindonphoenixrotary.org Previous bulletins can be found thephoenixbulletin.weebly.com Website hits to date are. Details of our Santa Run 2012 swindonsanta.org.uk By to all members of Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club, Foothill Highlands Rotary Club, Tappahannock Rotary Club and other selected Rotary Club Members. The comments expressed in this newsletter, if not credited to someone else, are the thoughts & opinions of the Editor and therefore may not be the opinions of all the members of the Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix. Editor; Past President Peter Goldsworthy. P.H.F. Sapphire Winner of District 1100 Bulletin of the Year in a previous Rotary life

2 Page 2 Swindon Phoenix Rotary Meeting Date: 28 th November 2012 Host: Nicole Price Meeting commenced at 7.30pm with a welcome from President Paul and a warm welcome extended to partners and our guest speakers Denise O Sullivan and Anna Mitchell from TWIGS. As well as Honorary member Margaret Parsons Grace: An old Scottish blessing especially for the carnivores amongst us Some have meat and cannot eat. Some no meat but want it. We have meat and we can eat and so the Lord be thanked. Amen. A delicious meal of Chicken Liver Pate with Red Onion Marmalade and Ciabatta Toast, followed by Pan Fried Chicken Breast with Roasted Potato and Vegetables and Thyme Jus then ensued. After our usual ten minute tea and comfort break, Paul introduced our two speakers for the evening. Denise began the talk by asking how many of us had ever had any broken bones and a flurry of hands shot up. She then asked how many of us had ever suffered with a mental illness (at this point she did say that she didn t expect anyone to put their hand up in public). Denise went on to explain that talking about mental illness made people feel uncomfortable. At this point she introduced Anna to us and explained that Anna was a TWIGS service user. Anna began by explaining that she had never spoken publically about her illness before but was doing so today for three reasons; 1. To highlight the work of TWIGS, 2. To breakdown the stigma surrounding mental illness and 3. A free meal!

3 Page 3 Anna explained that in her midtwenties she had suffered three episodes of anxiety and depression but had then been clear for eightteen years, holding down a good job, raising a family and enjoying life. When the acute anxiety and crippling depression returned, it was like a switch had been turned on. Anna was signed off work (never to return), stopped driving, began getting in a state over illogical things and basically gave up on life. However, life goes on around those with a mental illness and Anna found it increasingly harder to get out of bed and function. Anna now volunteers at TWIGS, running willow workshops and helping out in their Olive Tree Café. She believes that TWIGS saved her life! Denise then took over again and through a series of slides told us all about TWIGS how it was set up, where it is and what it offers people with various mental illnesses. She explained how service users are referred to TWIGS and even told us about some of the activities that these users can take part in, for example learning gardening skills, conservation, arts and After several visits to her GP, medication that didn t work and visits to a therapist, Anna was introduced to the people at TWIGS. At TWIGS there was no stigma attached to being mentally ill and Anna slowly began to thrive. Her confidence grew and she developed a new skill in willow crafts.

4 Page 4 crafts, wood and metal crafts and landscaping to name a few. The ladies finished by inviting us all to their 2013 Open Days at TWIGS on Sunday 21 st April and Sunday 23 rd June. They then thanked us for listening to them and asked if we had any questions. Paul then went on to cover several items: Swim the Channel Challenge Thanks to all who volunteered on the day. There were 6 swimmers, swimming 450 lengths each. In the end they managed a total of 2912 lengths. The exact amount raised on the day is to be confirmed. However, Lynn P raised 140 on her Breakthrough Breast Cancer stall. Christmas Meal on the 12 th December at the Pear Tree in Purton. All money to be given to Paul a.s.a.p. A vegetarian option will be confirmed. Ian Gill told us about Eldene School and how we are donating another Easy Ears Listening Station ( 349) to the school at their Christmas fete on Friday 7 th December. John Fisher will be dressing up as Santa and Ian apparently is going to be a pixie. Photographic evidence is required! Ian also informed us that the 21 A4 framed pieces of art (drawn by the children of Eldene) are ready to be presented to the hospital. This will take place on Monday 17 th December and hopefully the Adver will be there to take photos. Pete Collis thanked everyone in anticipation for volunteering to collect money on either the 22 nd or 23 rd December, outside the Boots/Next area near Asda Walmart. This will be a static collection using our sleigh. Dress Code as from our next

5 Page 5 AOB: meeting on 9/1/13, there will be a NO JEANS dress code at all meetings. Gents are reminded that as well as trousers, they should wear jackets. Santa Run Paul shared slides of the site at Lydiard and went through roles that had been allocated already to volunteers. There will be a role for everyone on the day, some earlier starting than others! Dragon Boat update Golds explained that behind the scenes people had been very busy, but until we get our charity number we could do no more regarding sponsor forms etc. Andy G is awaiting a reply from his company as to whether they would be the main sponsors for the event or not. Guide Dogs John F has raffle tickets and calendars for sale. Name the Moose - 1 a square in order to name the moose donated by Lynn P. All money to be given to Rotary charities. Skittles Phoenix Club won by 3 points in their skittle match against Wotton Bassett District Club. There will be 3 more games in January 2013 and 8 people will be needed for each match. Birthdays: Vicki Flanagan 50 today. Holiday Tat: Tony and Jacqui went to Telford and brought back a bottle of M&S mulled wine Club: 1 st Number 30 Kevin Brown 2 nd Number 59 John Flanagan 3 rd Number 11 Elliott Causton Finally, Paul thanked everyone for supporting him and Lynn as well as the club. Meeting closed at 10:15pm. Nicole, I think you just broke the record for sending me a report for when I opened my s this morn-

6 Page 6 ing it was already there waiting for me, so I checked the time stamp on the and saw that it arrived at this morning. Other members (well I actually mean some of the chaps) take note and remember how efficient lady Rotarians are! so you lazy boys out there, in future..just try & BEAT THAT!! Editor Hi All, Darren has send me the below which I want to share with you all. Thanks again to Pete for organising the flowers and delivering them to Ceri, Darren and Joshua. Paul Hi Paul, Ceri & I would like to thank you all for the lovely flowers Peter Collis delivered to us and Baby Joshua. I had hoped to thank you all in person on Wednesday evening but Wednesday is my first day back at work after a couple of weeks Paternity leave and its going to be a long day for all the family. I will of course see you all on Sunday (bright and early), Joshua, my new alarm clock is already training well to assist my early morning wake-ups! I wish everyone a fantastic Christmas & New Year if I don t see you all before. See you all in 2013 (or Sunday!). Yours in Rotary, Darren, Ceri & Joshua. And Now- a seasonal picture of the President with his fairy wand!

7 Page 7 25 November the Swim-a-thon to raise funds at David Lloyd Leisure The target was to swim the equivalent of the English Channel and back again which is 1,344 lengths each way so 2,688 lengths (28 Miles) Look how long this pool is it s a long way now multiply that by 450 and see the distance some of these stalwarts swam for charity...and FUN!?? Sabrina (organiser) = 409 Hannah = 450 Rachael = 128 Clare = 450 Amelia = 40 Chris = 450 Jason = 450 Adam = 450 Daphne = 44 Valerie = 44 Ben = 12 Rotarian and partners who helped out on the day were; Paul and Lynn Parfrey (08:30-15:00) David and Mandie Coe (09:00-11:15) Peter and Peggy Goldsworthy (11:00-13:30) Nicky Horn (11:00-13:30) Thanks Paul Paul Parfrey President 2012/13 Golds comments; as a length counter, I have great admiration for all those that took part in what was a gruelling challenge and you will see above that Ben did 12 lengths, well I wish I could swim as comfortably and confidently as this young man who is aged about 6 years of age. Well done to all of em! The Length counters Here's a very welcome snack and drink pause. Fro some of the swimmers Lynn & Peggy were front of house promoting for Swindon Phoenix s other events including our next Sunday s Santa Run and got a lot of interest and donations.

8 Page 8 Oh is there a Santa Run somewhere this weekend? A bit of advanced warning! Mark these dates THIS Sunday 2nd December The Santa Run at Lydiard Park Wed 12th December The Swindon Phoenix Christmas Meal & The Pear Tree Purton Fri 1st March Sun 3rd March 2013 District 1100 Annual Conference Torquay 5-8th April Phoenix Weekend in Ireland organisers President Paul & Lynn Parfrey (details soon-ish) 20th April Know your Blood Pressure Day Brunel Shopping Centre Saturday 15th June 2013 is the date for the President's end of year bash. Details to follow over the coming months as our Club Administrator organises it :-) Sunday 30th June THE Dragon Boat Race at Coate Water Country Park. This list is by no means all that is planned keep checking both the Birdy and the Website for updates. Wednesday 3rd July Handover

9 Page 9 Our grateful thanks once again to The Swindon Advertiser for this wonderful PR Please buy the Adver if you don't already do so they support us so well, it s the least we can do to support them!

10 Page 10 Pensioner's reply re Tesco Didn't like shopping there anyway! Yesterday I was at my local TESCO s Store buying a large bag of Winalot dog food for my loyal pet and was in the checkout queue when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.. What did she think I had, an elephant? So, since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Winalot Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn t, because I ended up in hospital last time, but I'd lost 2 stone before I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pockets with Winalot nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in queue was now enthralled with my story.) Horrified, she asked me if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off the kerb to sniff an Irish Setter's arse and a car hit me. Other Websites Swindon Phoenix supports & recommends to our readers That s all Folks!- but remember, we are t he Rotary Club of the 21st Century Rotary International Theme 2012/13