Patricia Routledge – Facing The Music
Tickets can now be booked online at www.rotaryact.org OR by phone 08444 930 650 OR at the Charing Cross Theatre Box Office
Rotary World Record Attempt for “End Polio Now”
Join us for the Rotary Swimarathon this Saturday 25th February to:
(1) Set a new World Record for the most number of people swimming at the same time
(2) Raise funds towards the elimination of Polio
(3) Increase the awareness of Rotary
(4) Encourage more people to swim and stay fit
The past 22yrs have seen the Rotary Club of Grantham, England hold a highly successful “RotarySwimarathon” raising over £500,000 for local charities and deserving causes. In 2012 (apart from the usual event 3/4/5 Feb) they are holding an extra event – this will be in the form of a Rotary Global Swimarathon – setting a new World Record (presently 2533) for the most number of people swimming at the same time anywhere in the world and raising funds towards Rotary Internationals worldwide project to eradicate Polio. To qualify for the World Record attempt each swimmer will have to swim just 100metres without stopping within the hour.
What do you need to know if you would like to participate and attempt the World Record for most simultaneous swimmers & fundraise for “End Polio Now”?
Anyone can join the Rotary Swimarathon (& World Record Attempt).
The event is going to take place on saturday 25th February from 11:30-13:30 (Registration from 11:30; *WR attempt during 12-13:00) at The Porchester Centre, Queensway, London W2 5HS (Nearest Tube: Royal Oak, Bayswater, Queensway; Bus: 36)
There is no cost for you. However, donations are encouraged (suggested amounts: £2-3 for spectators, £5 for swimmers)
Hosted by Rotaract Westminster ( http://rotaract-westminster.org.uk ), with the support of the Rotary Club of London ( http://www.londonrotaryclub.org.uk/ )
London event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/150503621731281/
Overall Website: http://www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org/
Overall Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rotaryglobalswimarathon
Overall Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rotaryglobeswim
A Chance for Knowledge
THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this project happen!
A Chance for Knowledge is a project developed by Rotaract Club of Westminster and Rotaract Sofia Vitisha Izgrev Club. It was run under the supervision of Rotary of London and Rotary Sofia Vitosha and raised £2,000.
The main objective of this project was to supply new Braille machines to the School for Visually Impaired Children “Louis Braille” in Sofia which would enable new students to learn how to write. By providing them with four new machines Rotary/Rotaract helped with their educational advancement and social integration.
Watch our lovely president Yoanna speak about the project on Bulgarian TV here
Christmas Party and upcoming socials
Even though it’s already been some time, I just found this lovely picture from our Christmas party that I wanted to share with you. Everyone had a great time at Winter Wonderland, Hydepark, and we will have some more socials coming up. Join us for …
27th January – Rotaract London District Party at 6 York Gate (near Baker Street tube station). If you’d like to join, please contact Asya via email (asya.dzhaleva@gmail.com). Tickets are £10 until 25th Jan and £11 after that and will include food and soft drinks. Please bring your own drinks. Family and friends are welcome.
3rd February – Rotaract Salsa Night at La Pollera Colora (near London Bridge tube station). If you’d like to join, please find the details here.
Hope to see you there!
Connecting the world – Rotaract & Tripping
Our club meeting on the 1st of November was a great experience for everyone as co-founder and CEO of Tripping Jen O’Neal joined us to talk about the idea behind Tripping – a social enterprise which aims to connect people from all over the world.
Have you ever experienced a city through the local’s eyes? Well … then you know the difference! After having done much travelling herself and having hosted many travelers in her flat in London, Jen set up Tripping (a now San Francisco based social enterprise) to enable many others to discover the world “in a deeper and more meaningful way”. Get a map, close your eyes and point out a place. Type in the name on the Tripping website and you will get access to a variety of locals who are happy to be your host and give you the best tips and hints about their place (just like Rotaractors would). But …there is more to this! You as well can offer to host travelers who come to your city and exchange ideas, cultural differences and…why not some great memories of fun and joy.
New Rotaract Committee 2011 – 2012
The Rotaract Club of Westminster has appointed a new Club Committee for the Rotaract Year 2011 – 2012 in a great ceremony which took place at Charing Cross Hotel on 18th June 2011. Members, guests and Rotary representatives have all enjoyed a nice dinner followed by a cheerful handover ceremony. A big thank you again to last year’s team for all their hard work and dedication!
We now look forward to our next Rotaract year starting in September with lots of new ideas and enthusiasm:
Club President – Yoanna Tsvetanova
Vice President – Adrian Kreuser
Club Treasurer – Gonzague Bernard
Club Secretary - Luke Goffey
Social and Vocational Director – Gabrielle Considere
Charity Director – Eleonora Marchetti
International Director – Sarah Otner
PR Director – Christina Peters
During the summer month (July/August) Rotaract Westminster does not hold any formal club meetings because many of our members are away on holidays. Some of us do, however, like to meet up and explore London, have a coffee, etc.
If you are interested in joining us check the upcoming events section on this blog, Facebook (www.facebook.com/Rotaract.Westminster) or our website (www.rotaract-westminster.org.uk) for updates!
Rotaract 2011
Although this year has started off a little later than usual for most of us, due to extended vacations or scheduled work trips, the Rotaract Club of Westminster is preparing for another busy year!
For the very first time in our club’s history, the Rotary District Governor, David Storrie, visited our club and delighted us with his presence. It has also been great to have our supporting Rotary Club of Westminster East with us for the past two meetings, and as always, the lovely Lydia Johnson the Rotaract District President.
Rotaract and Rotary Summer Camp 2010 in London
St.George’s Day with Rotaract Westminster!
Friday 23rd April is St. George’s Day! If you are in London, come and celebrate with us England National Holiday and learn something more about it!
Service committment on keeping the local traditions and cultures is one of Rotaract main key point, and this time our club has decided to gather up together on St. George’s day to celebrate it.
A proper English Pub has been chosen for the event, where traditional English food and drinks will be available all day at a very cheap price. We will meet at 8.00 pm at the Founder’s Arms Pub, (52 Hopton Street, Bankside, London SE1 9JH) with a stunning view of the Thames from the South Bank, everyone is welcome to join us to learn and spread the word about the origins of St.George’s Day.
If you want to live a traditional experience, we recommend you to go to St.George’s Day Parade, which has not been on stage since 1585.
The Parade will represent St. George and some other characters of the time, and will go through a procession starting from the Armourers Hall at 11.45 am to St. Paul’s Cathedral. This parade is a fundraising event organised by City Livery company Armourers and Brasiers.
However, unlike St. Patrick’s day for Ireland, St. George’s day is not considered a Bank Holiday in England, even if it’s the National Day. Many “Georgian” supporters are trying to persuade the government to give England a Bank Holiday, in order to focus on what really binds all the English people together, rather than focusing on the differences that bring us apart.
It is also claimed that St. George was adopted as the Patron Saint of England after the English won the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Shakespeare captured the moment in this famous speech from the play Henry V (Act III, Scene I):
“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’”
Hope to see you there!
Marzia Trivellini
Useful links:
http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/index.asp
http://www.timeout.com/london/around-town/event/183690/790593/st-georges-day-pageant
