A belated Happy New Rotary Year to you all! First up for the new year is a change in name of this email - we thought that 'Members' Newsletter' is more suitable as a title as it is sent to all members of RIBI with an email address on the RI database.

We have created a new section on the RIBI website for easy downloads of RIBI documentation such as the Constitution and By-laws and Insurance, it is called Resource Downloads and you do not have to log in to the Members' Area to access it. The RIBI Directory is now available in the Members' Area and by download only as a result of a General Council decision.

Rotarians and clubs are reminded that circularisation to other Rotarians and clubs is only permissable by sanction of the General Council. Please do not abuse the RIBI directory or give it to anyone outside of RIBI and this includes charities. Clubs that display their email addresses on their club website must also be aware that by putting this type of information on the public facing pages they may become the target for unsolicited mail.

Any feedback as always welcome to secretary@ribi.org

Annemarie Harte, Secretary/CEO, RIBI

RIBI is working with The Eden Project and the International Flower Bulb Centre (IBC) in Holland to plant purple crocus bulbs from the beginning of October so they will be in flower for Rotary Day – 23rd February 2011. These purple flowers represent the colour of ink dabbed on a child’s little finger to indicate that they have been immunised against polio.

To add some excitement and a bit of Rotary fun, why not take part in the RIBI Challenge to set a New Guinness World Record for planting bulbs? If you can find at least 322 people who are able to plant a minimum of 5 bulbs each in an hour, in a single location, you could be in with a chance of setting a NEW WORLD RECORD for RIBI…  contact DG1260 Amanda Watkin (awatkin@peoplerealm.com) for detailed rules and entry forms.

The aim of Focus on the Crocus is for Rotary clubs across RIBI to contact their local schools, residential homes, local councils and other community organisations to ask them to identify suitable sites and, hopefully, take part in planting the area with swathes of purple crocus bulbs in the autumn – this will become a reminder of the essential need to continue the fight to eradicate polio from our world.
 
Please help us mark this vital work with a blaze of purple colour next Springtime!
Don’t delay - October is not far away, so contact your District Thanks for Life Coordinator and order your crocus bulbs NOW!

Looking for something to do on Sunday 18th July? Why not hop over to the Isle of Man TT Parade Lap in aid of Thanks for Life?

The Rotary Club of Douglas have rescheduled a TT Parade lap starting at 10am and it's only a £5 donation to Thanks for Life to enter. For more information click here.

RIBI is currently investigating the use of Moodle as a tool to help Rotarians at all levels to grow their knowledge of Rotary and its many projects. This could be helping a new Rotarian become familiar with the organisation or assisting a Club President or District Foundation Chair prepare for their year.

We would be keen to hear from any Moodle practitioners with either technical or user abilities with a view to joining a small team headed up by the RIBI Leadership Development and Training Committee. This is a perfect opportunity to help the organisation develop an online learning facility that will benefit every Rotarian across RIBI. Please reply to ldtc@ribi.org

The Secretariat has been looking at new opportunities for clubs that will help them support local projects through grants and funding that is available via the Government and National Lottery for example. We have now launched a ‘Funding Search’ in the Members’ Area of the RIBI website. This search enables clubs and districts in Britain and Ireland to access almost 9000 funding opportunities that are researched and updated every day.

There is a comprehensive search engine e.g. location, purpose and the opportunity to view eligibility criteria for funding before completing unnecessary applications. We hope that this initiative will save clubs time and work. We will also be able to monitor the usage by clubs. Log on to the Members’ Area of the website with your email address and password and give it a try and don’t forget to let us know what you think, your feedback is always appreciated.

With the announcement that Ed Futa will retire as General Secretary at the end of June 2011, RI has launched a search for a new General Secretary. This position serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Rotary International which means overseeing 600 employees, a budget of over $100 million and the Foundation assets of over $980 million.

Based in Evanston, Illinois, USA, the General Secretary reports to the RI President and RI Board. Candidates should have significant executive experience, international business exposure and the ability to work across cultures. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential and preferably experience in the world of charity activities. Rotary International has appointed the largest global recruitment consultants, Korn Ferry International, as the external advisers to the appointment. The Board, however, is particualrly interested in any recommendations or applications from within the Rotary movement and any such opportunities should be referred to rotaryinternational@kornferry.com

The website for the RI Zone Institute is now live. The Institute takes place on the 13th and 14th of November in Hanover, Germany and is for Rotarians in Zones 11 to 19.

Lots of information including hotel booking is available on the website so why not take a look and consider spending a weekend with your fellow European Rotarians.

The RIBI Donations Trust Haiti Appeal has now exceeded £110,000.  Many thanks to all clubs and districts who have given so generously for this disaster. The Trustees are currently assessing the applications for funding for two long-term and sustainable projects in Haiti. As soon as the evaluation process is complete and a decision made, details of these projects will be published on the RIBI website.

The Haiti Appeal remains open, and all contributions will be gratefully received and put to good use.