3^rd. October 2022.

Report on the activities to date on the use of the Rotary Foundation Disaster Response Grant in support of Ukraine by the 4 Rotary clubs in Wolverhampton.

The 4 Wolverhampton clubs decided to work together and a subgroup was formed in order to apply for and manage the Rotary Foundation Grant in support of Ukrainian refugees arriving in the area.

The clubs are: Bilston and Wolverhampton West (represented by Bob Stolz,) Wednesfield (Stan Jukes,) Tettenhall (Chris Krausher) and The City of Wolverhampton (PDG Richard Green.)

An application for £4000, being £1000 for each club, was submitted on the 18^th of June 2022 and we were notified that the application had been successful on the 19^th.

In Wolverhampton, there is a vibrant branch of the Association of Ukrainians in the UK that meets at the ‘Razom’ centre (a Ukrainian word that means ‘together’) opposite the Ukrainian Church in Lower Merridale Street in the city. The Association was already well known to Chris Krausher.

We were thus able to make speedy contact with Ukrainian refugee families through the Association. A comprehensive list of requirements within the criteria for the grant was made available to us. The list was divided, broadly, into the headings:

1) Clothing and footwear.

2) School uniforms.

3) Babies and children’s requirements.

4) Food, hygiene and toiletries.

5) Educational and cultural needs.

There were 2 other categories which either fell outside the scope of the grant or we felt unable to respond to. (eg translation services etc.)

It was decided to apportion the list between the clubs as follows: 1 and 2 – Tettenhall and The City of Wolverhampton, 3 and 4- Wednesfield, 5 Bilston and Wolverhampton West.

Bob Stolz, with commendable speed, placed his total order on Amazon the day after the grant money was received and a handover ceremony was held, with the Mayor in attendance at the centre on the 22^nd of July. The items included whiteboards, a projector, writing materials,a printer etc.

At the time of this report the other lists are about 50% complete, with ‘hands on’ shopping being carried out, as we get to find out about clothing, shoe sizes etc.

A full record of receipts is being kept and photgraphs taken for submission with the final report.

PDG Richard Green, on behalf of the 4 Wolverhampton clubs.

ROTARY YOUNG MUSICIAN COMPETITION

Are you a young musician? Do you want the chance to perform in front of an audience and get feedback from experienced judges? The Rotary Young Musician competition will be held at Wolverhampton Music School at 2:30pm on Sunday 5th February. Any amateur young musician can enter providing you’re in full time education and no older than 18 on 31st August 2022.

You’ll need to sing or play two contrasting pieces of any style and your programme mustn’t be longer than 10 minutes. You can be an instrumentalist or vocalist of any level, and you can enter individually or through your music teacher. You’ll be performing in front of experienced judges who will be giving supportive feedback to help you develop – and you might win!

You can find the full Information Pack here – https://drive.google.com/…/1HFRxIH8irk5zb1G6FCq…/view… and download the entry form here – https://docs.google.com/…/1cX2cpR-ahgcqZq1xpwR…/edit….

Please send completed entry forms no later than December 16th 2022 to the competition organiser;

PDG Richard Green by clicking this link- Richard Green

Organiser,

Rotary Young Musician Competition.

At our lunch time meeting this Tuesday we paid our respects with a period of silence remembering Queen Elizabeth II. It was private and personal to us individually. We placed our flowers and flags and were very pleased to invite Paddington bear to join us as a special guest .We also had a wonderful collection of stamps and photographs bought in by one of our members. Lots of lovely stories about our time and our knowledge of the Queen and the Royal family. What a lovely meeting and what a lovely insight into Rotary friendships.

President Sylvia Morgan

It is with a heavy heart that I have to acknowledge the passing of a very gracious lady, a wonderful Queen who has served us for many years. She was not born to reign but destiny placed her in a unique position to do so. History will say what an amazing monarch she was. How lucky we are to have known her and to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to have been ruled by such amazing examples of love, kindness, strength and loyalty. She really does take our motto of Service above Self to a whole new level.

We now have a new monarch, King Charles 3^rd, her first born son. She will have made sure that he is more than ready for the task ahead .He has been schooled by the best and has already made his presence felt. Our country is in safe hands and he has the support of a loving family. We will say goodbye to our Queen with sorrow in our hearts. We will welcome our new King and do what we can to serve him to promote a better world for us all. Rotary salutes you your Majesty. We are your humble servants and with a united voice, we stand with you.

God save the King .

The President of the City of Wolverhampton.

Sylvia Morgan.

Several Rotarians went along to the nature play celebration at Boundary Way allotments on Saturday.

Rotarian Lisa and her mother run these learning centres in parts of Wolverhampton, Whitmore Reans and Merridale areas of the City. Giving children opportunities that they don’t have at home . They are encouraged to explore and find out about nature informally in what is called Wolves Play Cafe.We have supported this project in the past along with the Millennium Point Trust .                      It was so nice to see young children and their families enjoying the community spirit of this worthwhile project.

President Sylvia Morgan.

Some of the things we do in Rotary simply bring happiness.

I visited the Wolverhampton Ukrainian Community Centre today (2nd. September) to hand out a huge quantity of packets of M and M sweets to the refugee children. The centre is called ‘Razom,’ which in Ukrainian means ‘together.’

The sweets were obtained for us as a donation by Past District Governor Brian Reilly and the children shouted out with joy!

Hryhorij Kowalczuk (we know him as ‘Greg,) at the centre said “you made quite a few children smile today.”

IPP Richard Green.