International Boxing Tournament coming to Farnborough

Opportunity for Local Businesses to get involved

The Rotary Club of Farnborough has successfully concluded negotiations with the Amateur Boxing Association of England to stage a Farnborough based Senior International Boxing Tournament, England v Ireland.

John Batty Andrew Cox and the President Sean Usher

This high profile black tie event is to be held at the Maida Gym in Aldershot on Saturday the 30^th October 2010, just weeks after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi India and it is hoped that the successful boxing medallists will be on show at this event. All proceeds will be used to support The Rotary Club of Farnborough’s very popular bi-annual Picnic to Music In The Park event in 2011, which will once again be raising money for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

The picure on the right is of John Batty from Farnborough Rotary Club, Andrew Cox from the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and Sean Usher the current president of Farnborough Rotary Club

Don’t miss out! Limited tickets available

As a charity event this is an ideal opportunity for local businesses to get involved. Why not make this prestigious occasion your corporate event for your colleagues, friends and clients and book your own table for 10 at £70 per ticket including a 4-course dinner and the unique opportunity to see a full evenings programme of world class sport with the potential Great Britain and Ireland 2012 Olympic boxers in action.

If you can’t stretch to booking a table, or if you just want to get involved, why not take advantage of our low cost sponsorship packages.

This event is supported by a number of local businesses and  Rushmoor Borough Council

For further information please contact John Batty on  jcbatty1@yahoo.co.uk

More details and flyer click here

Every July, every Rotary club throughout the world gets a new president.

On the first of July Sean Usher became this year’s president.

Sean has been with the club since 2001.

A local businessman, he formerley owned two resturants in Farnborough, but now concentrates on internet marketing for local businesses.

Each president of the club brings something different to the club and there have been 51 previous presidents of Farnborough Rotary Club.

Sean wants to make sure that he has a fun year, but at the same time carrying on the good work of Rotary locally.

“We want to recruit new members, in fact we are always looking for the right kind of people to join us. We want men and women from 40 years upwards who want to give something back to the local community”.

The club consists of nearly 50 members, from all walks of life. “The common view held by the public is that rotary clubs are filled with posh bankers, in fact we do not have a banker in our club at all, yes we have an accountant, a couple of lawyers, an architect and other “professions” but we also have a driving instructor, signwriter, aero engineer amongst many other men and women from all walks of life”.

So if you are interested, please contact us through the website for more information and give something back to the community.

On Saturday 23rd January  Farnborough Rotary Club held a Burns Night.

It was a great success with nearly 80 people attending.

I made a video of some of the “dancing” but dare not show it for fear of being sued by members worried about their image.

Oh alright then!!!

Also I took some photos too…

A great night and we raised over £1600

Thanks to all who came, especially Sue Evans, Liz Howarth and Pam Minnet for all the cooking of the Neaps, tatties and other delicacies too

Thanks to Gerald Howard MP for addressing the haggis and to Andrew Clarke of Clarke’s Catering for donating the meats and John Grenham for his generous supply of breads.

The MC and main organiser was Jim Thompson

This is a news piece from Rotary International’s  Site for the UK and Ireland

RIBI launches Haiti Earthquake Appeal

Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) is launching an appeal for donations to help rebuild the thousands of lives shattered by the Haitian earthquake.

RIBI President, David Fowler is calling for contributions, which have so far helped victims of the Australia bush fire, the 2007 Flood Appeal and the Boxing Day Tsunami. The gifts will be used to provide long-term and sustainable support for the earthquake survivors.

David said: “700 ShelterBoxes* have already been despatched to the disaster zone, providing tents, clothing, blankets and cooking utensils to the victims.

“To keep this relief effort going, Rotary members are mobilising to raise funds, make donations and help in any way that they can. We are receiving offerings which will support the relief effort and enable victims to reclaim their lives.

“It is too early to tell just how long it will take to recover from this natural disaster. Haiti has been battered by storms previously and much of the population is impoverished. Rotary members from the six Rotary clubs in Haiti are working together and, in some cases, providing shelter for others in their damaged homes. This is where Rotary plays to its strengths.”

(*Click to see Sky News video about ShelterBox’s response.)

Any donations should be sent to:
RIBI Donations Trust
c/o Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland
Kinwarton Road
Alcester
B49 6PB

Please make cheques payable to RIBI Donations Trust and clearly mark your envelope with Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

If you would like to Gift Aid your donation, please download the Gift Aid Form.

A press release from ShelterBox:

First ShelterBoxes arrive in Port au Prince

The first ShelterBoxes have arrived in Port au Prince and hundreds more are due to arrive later today.

The ShelterBox Response Team of David Eby (US), Wayne Robinson (US) and Mark Pearson (UK), who have been in Haiti’s capital since Thursday, took delivery of the first ShelterBoxes at Port au Prince airport yesterday.

The team say twelve of these boxes will be used to build an emergency field hospital at the airport.

‘We are helping build a field hospital with these tents at the airport,’ said Mark Pearson. ‘These are desperate conditions, amputations are happening every half hour. There’s an urgent need for tents at hospitals and this is our first priority.’

ShelterBox Head of Operations John Leach said: ‘The safety of our staff in Haiti is of paramount importance.

‘We are working with the agencies on the ground to ensure that ShelterBoxes are not only distributed speedily and efficiently, but that our team on the ground is able to work in a safe environment.’

Hundreds more boxes are due to arrive into Port au Prince later today from Miami on a chartered aircraft. Thousands more ShelterBoxes are being packed and shipped from ShelterBox HQ in the UK.

ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson said: ‘The devastation in Haiti has moved everyone here. We now have our boxes on the ground and it’s a privilege to help. The scale of devastation is huge.

‘By the sheer grit and determination of our staff and volunteers we have been able to respond in record time. Our thanks go to the teams of volunteers, as well as to our donors, who have allowed us to do this.

‘ShelterBox relies entirely on public donations and people’s generosity. We receive no institutional funding and no DEC money. I’d urge, if you can, to help us.’

Public donations are vital to ShelterBox’s continuing work around the world. To make a donation please ring 0300 0300 500 or go to www.shelterbox.org to donate online and get the latest updates on the charity’s response to the Haiti earthquake.

Now that the money is in, someone has to count it.

The money was banked early this morning.

But as you can see, it does mount up.

Last weekend Farnborough Rotarians raised £8500 for the Haiti disaster.

The money was raised over Saturday and Sunday at the Meadows Shopping centre.

All the money will go towards buying shelter boxes which can provide immediate help to those who need temporary accommodation. You can find out more from their website click here.

Sue Evans-John Anderson-President Brian Parker-Barbara Anderson-Liz Howarth at The Meadows

Decided that we were going to try and help, not by giving money but buying  survival boxes Called ShelterBoxes These boxes cost £490 each

So how did we mange it, well we hit the ground running Friday, applied for licences to collect money, designed some A Boards, got pictures and headlines from the National newspaper and Saturday morning we at the Meadows shopping centre.

We raised £8500 enough for 17 Shelter boxes and people were so generous, stuffing notes into the boxes and wishing us well.

Whats in a SHELTERBOX

At the heart of every ShelterBox is a ten-person tent. It is custom made for ShelterBox by Vango, one of the world’s leading tent manufacturers, and is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, high winds and heavy rainfall.

Every box contains a children’s pack containing drawing books, crayons and pens.

Phil and Liz woodford collecting at Marks and Spencers Camberley

Warmth and protection
In addition to the tent, the boxes contain a range of other survival equipment including thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets, essential in areas where temperatures plummet at nightfall. Where malaria is prevalent mosquito nets are supplied, as well a life saving means of water purification. Water supplies often become contaminated after a major disaster, as infrastructure and sanitation systems are destroyed, this presents a secondary but no less dangerous threat to survivors than the initial disaster itself.

Self sufficiency
A basic tool kit containing a hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters can be found in every box. These items enable people to improve their immediate environment, by chopping firewood or digging a latrine, for example. Then, when it is possible, to start repairing or rebuilding the home they were forced to leave.

Fit for purpose
Every item is durable, practical and brand new. The box itself is lightweight and waterproof and has been used for a variety of purposes in the past – from water and food storage containers to a cot for a newly born baby.

A key piece in every box is either a wood burning or multi-fuel stove – that can burn anything from diesel to old paint. This provides the heart of the new home where water is boiled, food is cooked and families congregate., there are pans, utensils, bowls, mugs and water storage containers.

With £8500 raised we can now buy 17 Shelterboxes.

Already 450 boxes have arrived in Port Au prince

Thank you to all who gave