Rotary Club of Henley-on-Thames Youth Speaks 2010
Reading Blue Coat School at Sonning carried off five of the six challenge
trophies on offer at Henley Rotary Club’s “Youth Speaks” competition held
at the Kenton Theatre on Monday evening, playing to a large audience.
This annual prestigious evening (boosted by the sponsorship of 11 local
companies and individuals) was the local heat of the Rotary District 1090’s
public speaking competition for schools and youth groups and the winning team in
both age sections will go forward to compete in the zone final at Marlow Christ
Church Centre on Thursday, February 11th.
The number of teams competing this year was the highest ever, 16 in all
(six in the intermediate section and ten in the senior section). The
adjudicators – Mr Ken Fitt, Mrs Barbara Kershaw and Mr Tony Searby --
were kept very busy through the evening but were able to announce the results in
time for the prize-giving (kindly undertaken by the Mayor, Councillor Mrs
Elizabeth Hodgkin) to be completed by 10.30 p.m.
The Rotary Shield for the winning team in the senior classification (ages
15 to 19) was won by the Reading Blue Coat School’s B team (Josh Bennett,
James McKean and Ben Edgar). James McKean’s amusing speech on “Flying
High” also won the Irene Tapp cup for the best individual main speaker in the
senior group.
The adjudicators also highly commended three of the other teams in this
category, the
The age 14 and under category known as the intermediate category (for the
Henley Rotary Club cup) was also won by the Sonning school, this time by their
C team (Shamus Butt, Alex Chalmers and Matthew Bell) whose presentation
was entitled “Pessimism.” Shamus Butt’s performance as chairperson in this
enabled him to win the David Walden cup for the best overall chairperson of the
whole evening.
Another intermediate competitor was highly commended in the best
chairperson category, Prya Blackburn, who chaired the St. Lawrence Saints
team’s offering entitled “Marriage.” Her colleague
The Gabrielle Derbyshire cup for the best individual speaker in the
intermediate section was the fifth of the trophies won by Reading Blue Coat,
when their B team main speaker, 12-year-old Harry Ashcroft, impressed the
adjudicators with his speech on “Excuses.”
Henley Rotary Club president Karl Kuhnke concluded the long evening by
thanking everyone, the competitors, the sponsors, the organisers and especially
the adjudicators.
Rotary at a glance
Rotarians — men and women alike — volunteer
their efforts to improve the quality of life in their own communities and beyond
their communities' borders. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are
non-political, non-religious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. Club
membership represents a cross-section of local business and professional
leaders.
Rotarians initiate community projects that address
many of today's most critical issues, such as violence, drug abuse, youth, AIDS,
hunger, the environment, and illiteracy. Rotary clubs are autonomous and
determine service projects based on local needs.
Rotarians work with and for youth to address
challenges facing young people today. Through participation in Rotary-sponsored
Interact clubs (for secondary school students), Rotaract clubs (for young
adults), and Rotary Youth Leadership awards, young people worldwide learn
leadership skills and the importance of community service. Rotary Youth Exchange
gives high school students the opportunity to broaden their world view and build
international friendships.
Mission
The main objective of Rotary is service — in the
community and throughout the world. Rotarians build goodwill and peace, provide
humanitarian service, and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations. The
Rotary motto is "Service Above Self."
The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International was
created in 1917 for the purpose of "doing good in the world." It
supports Rotary's efforts to further world understanding and peace. Through the
Foundation, Rotarians sponsor international educational and humanitarian
programs, where some US$90 million is invested annually.
PolioPlus is Rotary's commitment to eradicating
polio. Through the efforts of Rotary and its partners in the fight against
polio, more than one billion children worldwide have been immunised since 1985.
By 2005, Rotary's financial commitment will reach a half billion US dollars. Of
equal significance is the huge volunteer army mobilised by Rotary International
for social mobilisation, vaccine transport and immunisation activities.
Rotary's international network helps link people in
need with Rotarians in other countries who can provide resources. The
Foundation's humanitarian programs improve health care systems, support
sustainable sources of food and water, and provide literacy and vocational
training — particularly in developing countries.
The Rotary Foundation's educational programs include
Ambassadorial Scholarships, the world's largest privately funded source of
international scholarships. More than 1,300 scholarships are awarded annually
for study in another land. Grants are also awarded for university teachers to
serve in developing countries and for international exchanges of professionals.
History
The world's first service club was the Rotary Club
of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The club was formed 23 February 1905 by lawyer Paul
P. Harris and three friends — a merchant, a coal dealer, and a mining
engineer. Harris wished to recapture the friendly spirit he had felt in the
small town where he had grown up. The name "Rotary" was derived from
the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.
The first Rotary club was formed to promote
fellowship among its members. Word of the club soon spread and other businessmen
were invited to join. By the end of 1905, the Rotary Club of Chicago had 30
members. Three years later, a second club was formed in San Francisco,
California, USA.
As Rotary grew, its focus shifted to service and
civic obligations. Early service projects included building public "comfort
stations" near Chicago's City Hall and delivering food to needy families.
In 1913, the 50 Rotary clubs then in existence contributed US$25,000 for flood
relief in two US Midwestern states.
By the end of its first decade, Rotary had grown so
large (nearly 200 clubs and more than 20,000 members) that a district structure
was required. During Rotary's second decade, clubs were launched in South and
Central America, India, Cuba, Europe, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand,
and South Africa.
During World War I, Rotary discovered new areas of
service — at home in war relief and peace-fund drives as well as in active
service and overseas in emergency efforts. After World War II, many clubs
disbanded during the war were re-established, initiating a new era of service.
Clubs in Switzerland and elsewhere organised relief efforts for refugees and
prisoners of war. Forty-nine Rotarians participated in the 1945 United Nations
Charter Conference in San Francisco.
The Rotary Foundation was established in 1917 as an
endowment fund and became The Rotary Foundation in 1928. When Paul Harris died
in 1947, Rotarians donated generously to the Foundation as a memorial.
The Rotary Foundation's first program was Graduate
Fellowships (now called Ambassadorial Scholarships), which sent 18 students
abroad to seven countries in 1947.
23
February 1955
Efforts extending over some years to
form a branch of the Rotary International in Henley were brought to fruition
Friday last when, at an inaugural dinner at the Catherine Wheel, 29 founder
members voted unanimously in favour of establishing a club, the territorial
limits of which will embrace the Borough of Henley, the area of the Henley Rural
District Council and the Parishes of Wargrave and Remenham.
The dinner which was held two days
after the Rotary Movement celebrated its Golden Jubilee, was presided over by
the chairman of District No.9. Rotarian Chichester-Miles and the large
attendance included the President of Rotary International in Great Britain and
Ireland, Rotarian Birchnall and many representatives from other clubs in
District 9.
Founding Notes...District Extension officer Henry Colbeck recalls
that efforts to form a club in Henley went back to 1948 but it was not until
July 1954 that he met three Gentlemen at a meeting in Maidenhead who talked to
him in earnest about a club in Henley. Those three were Arthur Rowe, A.S Martin
and Paul Rosewarne, who eventually presided over the first official meeting on
February 25th 1955. That meeting and several others after that, were launched,
according to a former member “on a sea of Vodka”. Reg Pearce, founder member
and local watchmaker had offered the rowers accommodation in his flats on the
Fair Mile. There were great celebrations when the Russians beat Leander by two
and a half lengths in the final of the Grand and when the crew returned home
they left behind a large quantity of their favorite tipple.
During all the time of formation,
doubts had been expressed whether a dormitory town like Henley could provide
“a sufficient variety of classifications who would be able to keep up the
attendance rule.”
Finally on July 25th 1955 this Club
was presented with its official charter at a special dinner at the Catherine
Wheel.
We meet at Henley Golf Club, Harpsden,
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire except for emergencies.
Meetings take place each Tuesday - 12.15 for 12.45pm
EXCEPT any 5th Tuesday in the month - 7.00 for 7.30pm.
If
you wish to join us for Lunch, please contact our Secretary
Rtn. David Tapp
by Monday 12pm
To book and for further information
telephone 01491 575730 or e-mail davidrtapp@uwclub.net