 Ms Jacqueline Chen is studying for a MSc in Global Health and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford with support from Rotary Foundation (sponsored via a Global Grant).
She is hosted by Windsor & Eton Rotary Club and last night was the guest speaker, together with Annie Welden (also a Rotary Scholar), at the dinner event organised by our club and Windsor St George. Her presentation highlighted the need for a robust healthcare system focused on continuous improvement in any country (including those well developed such as UK or USA) with particular focus on adopting new technologies. An Introduction to the Rotary Scholarship Programme This is one of the world’s largest privately sponsored international scholarship programmes. It started in 1947 with the aim of furthering international understanding and goodwill, and over 70 years later it continues to be a great success. The current scholarship model started in 2013. Rotary Scholarships are funded by Global Grants and are for overseas graduate study under one of Rotary’s six Areas of Focus for one to four years. More Rotary Scholars come to study in the UK than in any other country. Over the last few years, there have been an average of approximately 180 Rotary Scholars each year. In this current academic year there are around 240 Rotary Scholars. During their studies abroad, Rotary Foundation Scholars are hosted by a club local to their place of study. They have opportunities to take part in club activities, meet the other Rotary scholars hosted in the district and to visit other clubs to speak about their studies and career aspirations. We are extremely fortunate to have a large number of Scholars visiting our District each year. The majority study at the University of Oxford, but we also have some at the four other universities within our District: Oxford Brookes, Reading, New Bucks and Brunel Universities.
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 Fiona Winters, Ruth Mendy, Windsor & Eton Rotary Club’s President Ralph Cooper, Anushka Sagar, Matilda Kemp, George Burden More success for Trevelyan School on Friday night as they not only hosted a mighty fine event but their Intermediate team also won through to the District Finals in Reading on 27th February. Ten teams from Wycombe, Ascot, Sunningdale and Windsor took Youth Speaks to the next level. All teams did themselves proud and brought their “A” game. In the Intermediate section, “Money can buy happiness” was convincingly debated by Fiona Winters and Anushka Sagar, ably chaired by George Burden. Matilda Kemp & Ruth Mendy joined them for the photo to celebrate the team win with Windsor & Eton Rotary Club’s President Ralph Cooper whose daughter happens to be Head Teacher at Trevelyan, so he was beyond proud. Wycombe Abbey won the senior competition with their debate “Can I Change the World?”. Chair Alyssa Conradie, Proposer Felicite Baroudel, Opposer Chloe Davis offered very convincing arguments from both sides just taking the top spot from Windsor Girls. Youth Speaks is the most rewarding competition for not just the competitors ;) We would like to congratulate all teams who took part, as follows: Intermediate Teams
Intermediate judges Joanna Olamer-Scott, Clem Virgo, Dr John Eckhart (chair). Senior Teams
Senior judges Veronica Stabbins, Brian Lee and Roger Clark (chair). Thank you. Jon Davey, Youth Chair, Windsor & Eton Rotary  What a jam-packed and fun club meeting we had yesterday, not only did we hear from Zoe Ovens about the amazing work that Berkshire-based charity Daisy's Dream does but we also had visitors from Maidenhead Bridge Rotary and Howdens Rotary Club; as well as investing our new Vice President Adrian Benge! About Daisy's Dream Established in 1996, Daisy’s Dream is a professional support service which responds to the needs of children and families affected by life threatening illness or bereavement. They work predominantly in Berkshire and the surrounding areas, with a pilot project running in East Cheshire. Originally set up to meet the needs of children who had been bereaved, over recent years they have expanded our service to encompass families where there has been a serious illness diagnosis. Zoe explained that they offer a flexible service which is tailored to meet the individual needs of each child and their family. This may include:
The death or serious illness of someone close can have a devastating effect on a child or young person. With the right support and information however, children and young people can be helped to understand what has happened and learn to move forward in a positive way. Research shows that, without the opportunity to express and explore their grief, bereaved children and young people may be at risk of future health, social and educational difficulties and disadvantages. This is in addition to the impact of the bereavement on their emotional health and well-being. Zoe explained that every 22 minutes a child looses a parent in the UK and that services are so stretched children affected aren’t getting the support they need, hence why Daisy’s Dream is filling that gap. The charity supported a total of 702 children last year, with 90% of those cases being referred to the charity via schools. It costs £400,000 to run the charity each year and this money is all raised through groups, corporate sponsorship and grant applications, they do not receive any government funding. Therefore they are looking for help in the following ways
Finally Zoe explained why the charity is called Daisy’s Dream… everyone believes this is the name of the Founders daughter, when in fact the daughter was asked what to call the charity and she decided to name it after the family pet.. Daisy the Labrador! Now when you see their mascot out and about you’ll know why its Daisy the Dog! Find out more about the charity here: www.daisysdream.org.uk
 I love organising the Rotary Youth Speaks Competition every year because it allows our young people to shine. This year Trevelyan Middle School & St Edward’s Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School fought for the Intermediate prize and Windsor Girls fought for the Senior prize amongst themselves in the prestigious Jafar Hall at Eton College. What a story to tell at dinner parties in years to come. Teachers are very busy people with lots of demands on their time so they need to have a real passion for Youth Speaks to give it the time and commitment required. Thankfully, this year the new English teacher at Windsor Boys came and watched the competition and said she would bring boys teams next year… hurrah, they are engaging again… would love to see Dedworth Middle School join in if anyone reading this has any influence? The topics for this year’s debate were:
All the students gave an amazing account of themselves, sharing their thoughts on their chosen topics with passion and belief normally only seen on TV when a CEO is fighting their corner. Richard Allen of the Green Room led our Intermediate judges and gave each team a clear summary of their performance, enthusing all to keep debating. The Intermediate winners spoke on “Money can’t buy happiness” with George Burden as Chair, Fiona Winters Proposing the topic and Anushka Sagar Opposing. Edward Shekiluwa, chair of the other team, won the Best Speaker prize with his very engaging performance using his god given smile to light up the room. David Knowles-Leak chaired the senior judges and underlined the importance of taking part being character building and that all local schools should join in. The younger team from Windsor Girls won again this year on the topic of “Mobile phones have a positive impact on today’s society”. Chaired by Olatz Bulson-Roman, Proposed by Scarlett O’Shaughnessy and Opposed by Lydia Sampson we all turned our phones to silent mode so we hear the debate ;) Scarlett won Best Speaker and so walked away with oodles of Amazon vouchers so she can buy more books, videos and mobile apps! Because of circumstance, 2 teams from each category are going forward to the next round to be held in February where they will be competing against teams from Ascot, with the winners going through to the District Finals in March in Marlow. As Chair of the Youth Committee I am exploring an idea of how I can take the energy from this competition and bottling it for the wider community to help young people find their voice. Thank you. Jon Davey Chair of Youth Committee  Windsor and Eton Rotary Club, Community and Vocational Committee are pleased to support DASH for the second successive year.
As a charity, DASH works within a framework that acknowledges the gendered nature of domestic abuse and addresses root cause issues of violence against women, which are embedded in the historical and cultural unequal status of women in society. Weaved within all their practical work is a commitment to help each victim explore and understand their experiences and the effects upon them and their children, build upon identified skills and strengths with a view to build their resilience, confidence and self esteem. They support all those within our community affected by Domestic Abuse by delivering a range of specialist services that will break the cycle of abuse enabling individuals and families to thrive. As a Rotary Club we have supported them on numerous occasions and were pleased to present them with a selection of books to deliver to people being supported in time for Christmas. The books purchased will cover a variety of children’s age groups and also parents who are equally in need of support. The picture shows just a selection of the books which have been donated. Last night saw over 100 Windsor & Eton Rotarians, their partners and friends enjoy a festive-themed Christmas Party at The Castle Hotel in Windsor and much fun was had by all... as the photos show! We were also joined by our District Governor Frank Quinn, who seemed to enjoy pulling his cracker! Guests arrived to a fabulously decorated grand staircase which led up to a drinks reception where glasses of bubbles were enjoyed by all! A sumptuous 3-course dinner was served in the grand ballroom whilst festive tunes played in the background and guests enjoyed each others company, exchanging the usual aghast faces as the traditionally cheesy cracker jokes! After dinner entertainment ensued with a music quiz, guessing the year the number one hit was in the chart, with grand applause to anyone who manged to get them right! Of course no Christmas party would be complete without some dance-floor fillers, and guests were not disappointed, quickly leaping up to join in such classics as YMCA and All I want for Christmas... A superb evening catching up with friends, enjoying festive cheer and simply having fun! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!  Some years ago, a new acquaintance asked me what should have been a simple question: “What is Rotary?” I opened my mouth to reply and then stopped short with the realisation that I simply did not know where to begin. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t know what Rotary was. The problem was that Rotary was — and is — too large and complex to easily define. We are a member-based organisation, a club-based organisation, and a service based organisation; we are local, regional, and international; we are community members, business people and professionals, working and retired, active in nearly every country in the world. Every one of our 1.2 million members has a unique set of goals, experiences, and priorities; every one of us has a unique understanding of Rotary.
To me, Rotary is defined not by who we are, but by what we do — by the potential that Rotary gives us, and the ways we realise that potential in meaningful and lasting service. Rotary has been around for a long time: 112 years. In some ways, we’ve changed tremendously, as we’ve grown, matured, and adapted to the changing needs of our members and communities. In our fundamentals, however, we remain the same: an organisation of people with the desire — and through Rotary, the ability — to make a difference in our communities, and the world. We answer the question “What is Rotary?” with our actions, by making a difference through our service. As an organisation, we recognise how important it is that the world understand what Rotary is, and what we do. At the same time, we know that it is more important than ever to allow our clubs to define Rotary service for themselves. As Rotarians, we have more flexibility than ever to decide how we want our clubs to meet, work, and grow. We’re focused more than ever on making sure that Rotary reflects the people it serves, with more women and a more diverse membership. And we’re working hard to ensure that Rotary remains the world’s pre-eminent volunteer service organisation, by emphasising long-term planning, sustainable service, and continuity in leadership on every level. We will answer the question “What is Rotary?” with the theme Rotary: Making a Difference. However each of us chooses to serve, we do it because we know our service makes a difference in the lives of others. Whether we are building a new playground or a new school, improving medical care or sanitation, training conflict mediators or midwives, we know that the work we do will change people’s lives — in ways large and small — for the better. Whatever motivation each of us had for joining Rotary, it is the satisfaction we find in Rotary that causes us to remain, the satisfaction of knowing that week by week, year by year, we are part of Rotary: Making a Difference. Ian H.S. Riseley President, Rotary International, 2017-18  With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you to find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career.
Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness; and this is something we offer, and pride ourselves on, at Windsor & Eton Rotary Club. Benefit 1: Volunteering connects you to others: One of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organisations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills. One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Benefit 2: Volunteering is good for your mind and body: Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health, such as:
Benefit 3: Volunteering can advance your career: If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first. Benefit 4: Volunteering brings fun and fulfilment to your life: Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energising escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life. Join Windsor & Eton Rotary Club and start your volunteering today...  During 2019-20, Rotary will host a series of presidential conferences around the world, focusing on Rotary’s relationship with the United Nations and the UN’s sustainable development goals that many Rotary service projects support. In 2020, the United Nations will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its charter and its mission of promoting peace. Rotary was one of 42 organisations the United States invited to serve as consultants to its delegation at the 1945 San Francisco conference, which led to the UN’s charter. For decades, Rotary has worked alongside the United Nations to address humanitarian issues around the world. Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status that the UN offers to nongovernmental organisations. “Rotary shares the United Nations’ enduring commitment to a healthier, more peaceful, and more sustainable world,” Rotary International President Maloney said. “And Rotary offers something no other organisation can match: an existing infrastructure that allows people from all over the world to connect in a spirit of service and peace and take meaningful action toward that goal.” Rotary at the start of the United Nations Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.
During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.” Officials from Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States met in Moscow in 1943 and called for the creation of an international organisation to maintain peace and security. The next year, representatives of those countries plus China held conferences in Washington, D.C., to discuss how to go about this monumental task. Those sessions became known as the Dumbarton Oaks conference, where delegations from the four countries developed a proposal for the structure of the new organisation. After the conference, Rotary published “What Can Rotarians Do Following Dumbarton Oaks?” It included the proposed charter, talking points, and suggestions for discussing with club members how the United Nations would relate to Rotary’s goal of advancing international understanding. It also emphasized the importance of having a plan ready for when the war ended, rather than waiting until the fighting stopped. After World War I, “proposals for international cooperation failed because of lack of enlightened public opinion to support them,” it explained. Discussions among members “will help to create an informed public opinion.” “Timely Questions on Dumbarton Oaks” followed to help Rotarians understand the complexities of the proposed charter. The flyer presented different perspectives on the security council and other aspects of the UN as topics for Rotary club programs or discussions. At the same time, governments around the world were carefully studying and reacting to the work done at Dumbarton Oaks. From April to June 1945, delegations from 50 nations attended the United Nations Conference on International Organisation in San Francisco (often known as the San Francisco conference). Their task was to write a charter acceptable to all of them. The delegations were assisted in this historic effort by a large number of staff, advisers, and consultants. Rotary International was one of 42 organisations the United States invited to serve as consultants to its delegation at the San Francisco conference. Each organisation had seats for three representatives, so Rotary International’s 11 representatives served in rotation. The people officially representing Rotary included the general secretary, the editor of The Rotarian, and several past presidents. Other Rotarians from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America served as members of their own nations’ delegations. Rotarians also served as consultants to their national delegations. Just before the meetings began, Rotary International published and distributed the “Pattern for the San Francisco Conference” pamphlet. “It is a splendid opportunity for the individual Rotarian to fulfil the objective of International Service,” the document proclaimed, “by taking part in the debate on this scheme of world government.” Throughout the rest of 1945, The Rotarian and other publications kept Rotary members informed about issues and developments related to the new organisation. Editorials and articles clarified issues, provided additional insights and talking points, and updated readers on what was happening and the people involved:
After the UN was established, the 95-page booklet “From Here On!” contained the exact text of the UN Charter on one side of every two-page spread with annotations and questions designed to stimulate discussion on the other. With this layout, Rotarians could use it to learn and lead club discussions. The Charter, it explained, would be effective only if “free citizens” worldwide were determined to give it vitality. “The Rotarian faithfully following these pages,” the booklet said, “will find himself treading the path to service.” In 1946, Rotary published a supplement listing the major accomplishments of the meetings held by the UN General Assembly in January and February of that year. Later articles in The Rotarian kept the United Nations and its work on the minds of members:
Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status offered to a nongovernmental organisation by the UN’s Economic and Social Council, which oversees many specialised UN agencies. The Rotary Representative Network maintains and furthers its relationship with several UN bodies, programs, commissions, and agencies. This network consists of Rotary International representatives to the United Nations and other organisations.  More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN We take action to empower educators to inspire learning at all ages. OUR IMPACT ON EDUCATION The Rotary Foundation supports education through scholarships, donations, and service projects around the world. Rotary members make amazing things happen, like:
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