the GRAPEVINE
Message from President Fred Winkfield
Tis the season to be jolly …? How difficult that is when there is so much pain and suffering throughout the world. However, we. as Rotarians, can and do, make things happen that brightens the lives of others. The following is one such example.
Earlier in the month, our Club, together with Peninsula, were involved with a fundraising appeal by St. Pius X Primary School. The Head needed to raise money in order that the school
could purchase a Nativity Set. A costly item, that was certainly not in his budget!
He called upon the skills of an experienced fundraiser who, by chance, happened to be a member of the same Craft Group, as my wife, Sue.
Within a week of the request to help raise money, the group had organised a Christmas Fair at the school and the sum of £200.00 was raised. Continued on page 5
Our Party this year was somewhat LOW KEY, the proposed bash at Barrow Golf Club had to be cancelled, owing to insufficient interest. The alternative, at our Furness Golf Club HQ was a Soup & sandwiches affair, again because of insufficient numbers. We had 10 members attending !! But a splendid night despite the simple fare. Cock-a-Leekie soup (excellent) and then plate upon plate of sandwiches. Peter Garwood had also brought along some mince pies. For entertainment, we had first off a FREE RAFFLE, won by Dave Ward, a extendable scraper to get the frost off any vehicle screen, normal motor or HGV !
Then we had a £1 paid for raffle, something like a Secret Santa, everyone got a prize. All arranged by Peter Garwood, our Christmas Star !!! I got at Peter Kay book which I will read over the Christmas period.
Final draw was Frank’s Christmas draw for £50, in Frank’s absence Mike Silver did the honours and winning ticket was Norman Jessiman (also not with us this evening).
We were happy to see Len again, he was with us at the General Burgoyne and the Games night at the Red River Club.
Despite the pitiful numbers, we had a good social evening, plenty of laughs and a decent supper too. But where was everyone else ? A question Brian will be pursuing in the New Year. Best wishes to everyone and hope to see you all in 2023.
Last Saturday, 10th December, we held our 2022 Tin Collection at TESCO. It is about 30 years since we held our first collection. The TESCO was a completely different store and we were had a ramshackle set up. With roughly fashioned notices and orange tabards with our club name and rotary symbol on the back, from the front we were anonymous.
Changes we have made over the years have made our operation slick and professional. Firstly we changed our orange tabards (still got some) for hi-Viz jackets with our club name on the FRONT as well as the back.
The Geoff James had plastic notices fashioned which were tailored to fit a large TESCO trolly and a small
with zip ties.
TESCO shoppers, firstly they responded to our request for tins. In the early years we were inundated with tins of beans ! Generally our tin collection supplied the homeless shelter for about 3 months, not just in beans ! Cash collected was on at least one occasion exchanged for toilet rolls which ironically complemented the beans!
Over the years the tins have reduced but cash donations have increased.
This year we were pleased to give Pat the manager at Bath Street a cheque for £1000 and a couple of crates of goodies.
Two years ago a group of 17 Rotarians got together to provide some support to the NHS for what became the Mass Covid Vaccination Project.
The small group rapidly grew as the number of clinics increased, and the number of patients requiring a first and then a second jab, and then a 1st or 2nd or 3rd or 4th booster never seemed to stop.
During the last 2 years over 135 people have volunteered at Alfred Barrow Health Centre, members and friends of the three Rotary Clubs in the town, Furness, Barrow, and Furness Peninsula. They helped to marshall the car park, point people in the right direction, not to mention putting patients at ease.
Altogether there were 185 clinics spread over 175 Days. The volunteers contributed 14,156 hours of time to the project. They were involved in helping the vaccinators administer 114,510 covid jabs plus about 14,500 flu vaccinations.
All of this was organised by Rotarian Peter Garwood from the Rotary Club of Furness, who received many plaudits for his work behind the scenes, including the presentation of a BBC North-West Tonight Christmas star - see picture.
Peter can now get back to his 'day job', running Michaelson House Hotel in the town. He deserves a well earned rest and a great Christmas and New Year.
From page 1:
It was suggested by PDG Val Robinson that we make an appeal to the District Grant System and, as a result of which, we were able to present the school with a cheque for £600.00.
I understand from the Head that the children are thrilled with their Christmas Nativity. Not only can the children enjoy it this year, but, for many more years to come.
The Santa Dash, which was scheduled to take place on 10th December, had to be cancelled due to severe icy conditions. However, I understand that PPs Brian Boyd and Martin McLeavy, have new and exciting plans for this event in 2023.
Also on 10 December, the annual Collection for the Homeless took place at Tesco. As in previous years, the outstanding generosity of the community in Barrow was such, that we were able to donate £1,000.00 to the Homeless Society.
All that remains for me to do now, is to wish you and your families a Happy and Peaceful Christmas with my Best Wishes to you all for the New Year.
Hello everyone
It is my understanding that having been chairman of a charitable organisation for 22 years and now president of Hunstanton & District Rotary Club District 1080
That whoever is doing the tin Shake collection is the responsible people for the tins. Each tin has to be numbered and recorded when emptied, then placed on a register stating tin number, name of collector, place of collection, date and amount collected. If the tin is then handed to another person it has to be recorded again.
Sainsbury’s have no right to interfere with the sealed tins as they are not part of the charity that’s collecting. It is purely the Rotary Club or organisation that is doing the collection.
I hope this helps in some way. Best wishes
Looks like we have not been operating our collecting boxes correctly !!! What a load of !!!
