last edited February 15, 2010

Chairman - Michael Deaville
Committee members - James Carter, Richard Morgan, Gareth Williams, Maynard Samuel, Colin Bancroft, John Davies, Philip Evans, Eifion Lewis.

The role of the Community and Vocational Service committee is to identify areas of need, either directly or through local charitable organisations, within the community and provide the appropriate service work or financial assistance. Emphasis is given to the 'Ideals of service', acknowledging the fact that as a fund raiser and provider of funding, Rotary is merely one of many, but as a provider of service, it is without peer. The committee is responsible for raising the funds it distributes.

Committee meeting 8th June 2010
Committee meeting 30th March 2010

Committee meeting 26th January 2010
Christmas Collections - (Michael) The committee expressed satisfaction that these had gone smoothly and that over £3000 had been collected. The list of possible recipient organisations was reviewed and two changes were agreed: Aberystwyth & District Citizens Advice Bureau instead of Wales Council for Deaf People because the CAB is more local than the nearest Deaf Clubs; Lampeter DC and Ceredigion DC (meeting in Llandysul) The inclusion of Mid-Wales Colo-Rectal Cancer Fund (for Owain Glyndwr Ward, Bronglais Hospital). This was a late request dated 06/01/10, but enquiries by Club Sec. Colin indicate that an earlier request had gone astray. The committee was not in favour of the Fund’s suggestion that our donation be used to buy keyrings or fridge-magnets (printed with “Donated by the RC of Aber.), to be sold by Rotarians at a Launch event and at Morrisons on 13 & 20/03/10 respectively. Our donation should be directly targeted at the Fund’s declared aims of supporting patients, medical staff & equipment.
Thanks for Life Project - (John) “Window of Opportunity” (20 – 28/02/10).
Following John’s “groundwork”, Pres. Meurig has obtained permission for us to have a display in the window of the “Magic Point” premises in Owain Glyndwr Sq.
Message in a Bottle - (Gareth) Knighton RC have thanked us for the information about materials, and Michael has now sent samples to them.
Transport Volunteers - Age Concern (Colin) Rotarians had driven 6 cars for Christmas. Blind (Eifion) The meetings have moved to the daytime when clients can use public transport, so Rotary transport is not needed.
Vocational Visit - (Richard) Richard would soon have proposals to put to Club.
Possible distribution of the Christmas 2009 collection funds
Aberystwyth Riding for the Disabled - £500. Weekly rides at Rheidol Riding Centre for children from Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos. Judith Bray spoke to the Club
Aberystwyth Group of the National Association for Colitis & Crohn’s Disease - £200.Support group for people living with inflammatory bowel diseases.
Wales Council for Deaf People -£200. 47 groups in Wales inc Ceredigion Deaf Club, Llandysul & Lampeter Deaf Club
Aberystwyth & District Citizens Advice Bureau - £200
Aberystwyth Breastfeeding Group - £100. Fri am drop-in sessions for new mums. We donated £200 last year.
Papur Sain Ceredigion Talking Newspaper - £1000. “Going Digital” Project, £10k, in 2010 (40th Anniv’y) We presented plaque in 1991 (21st Anniv’y)
Arad Goch Theatre Group - £100. Verbal request for financial support for youth projects, during Club visit. MJD requested written info.
Cylch Meithrin Llanfarian - £100. Nursery education at Ysgol Gynradd Llanfarian. Classroom no longer available, so log cabin or portakabin needed.
Mid Wales Colo-Rectal Cancer Fund - £100. Support for patients, medical staff & equipment; O Glyndwr Ward, Bronglais H.
CRUSE Bereavement Care - £200. We donated £200 last year.
Kids Out June 2010 - £500. organised annually by Youth Activities Committee.
Total possible distribution - 3000

Committee meeting 17th November 2009
Thanks for Life Project - (John) “Window of Opportunity” (20 – 28/02/10). The “Magic Point” premises in Owain Glyndwr Sq. had been identified as a possibility, and John had made initial contact.
Message in a Bottle - (Gareth) Knighton RC had asked for info. Gareth provided details of the bottle supplier, which Michael will pass on.
Transport Volunteers - Age Concern (Colin) The rota has been updated, and is running smoothly. Blind (Eifion) The meetings are moving to the daytime when clients can use public
transport, so Eifion will not be needed.
Environment Project - (Lisa) (Rotary Environment Day 29/05/10). Lisa suggested that we concentrate on the Marine Environment, and the dangers of plastic, and would investigate the possibility of a beach clean-up event.
Christmas Collections - (Michael) CK’s (Dec 9), Co-op [Summerfield] (10 & 11),
Morrisons (17 & 18), Owain Glyndwr Sq (21, 22 & 23). Collection Rotas have now circulated at 2 Club meetings and are progressing well.
Resources needed for the collections were discussed. Gareth has collection tins, CDs etc and Michael would visit to assess the display material.
9 organisations have been identified as possible recipients of donations, as listed on p2. It was suggested that our collection publicity material could identify 4 by name, and 5 could come under “other local charitable causes”. The named 4 could be, Papur Sain Ceredigion Talking Newspaper, Aberystwyth Riding for the Disabled, Cylch Meithrin Llanfarian, Arad Goch Theatre Group (subject to further discussions and a written request for financial support for a youth “outreach” project)


Committee meeting 22nd September 2009
Correspondence - Since the last meeting, the expected requests for financial help had been received from
1. Aberystwyth Riding for the Disabled (the Club has also had a talk by the RDA).
2. Aberystwyth group of the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
Michael has written to both saying that they will be considered for donations from our Christmas Collections.
Requests have also been received from:
3. Wales Council for Deaf People (47 volunteer groups ~ Aber?)
4. Aberystwyth Breastfeeding Group (had donation last year)
5. Papur Sain Ceredigion Talking Newspaper (Going Digital £10k ~ William Williams)
It was agreed that Michael write to all 3 saying that they will be considered for donations.
Thanks for Life Project - Autumn was when we planned to start identifying empty shops for the proposed “Window of Opportunity” (20 – 28/02/10). Michael will ask one of our absent members to do this.
Christmas Collections - As a consequence of CK’s taking over the Co-op, Waunfawr (Dec 9, 10 &11), Michael had spoken to the manager of Summerfield which will be a Co-op by the time of our collections, and he is happy for us to collect there.
After discussions about the workload, including Morrisons (17 & 18) and Owain Glyndwr Sq (21, 22 & 23) it was agreed that Michael would seek a decision from Club Council.
Message in a Bottle - (Gareth 6 boxes (144 bottles) have been delivered to Age Concern. Another packing session is needed soon.
Age Concern - (Colin) Colin had organised transport by Rotarians for the latest Age Concern Lunch Club, and expected future monthly commitments. We will update the list of Rotarian volunteers.
Vocational Visit - (Richard) Michael will email Richard to ask if he will be able to report at the next Club business meeting.
Environment Project (Rotary Environment Day 29/05/10) Lisa volunteered to investigate possibilities.
Any Other Business - The three candidates for election of District Governor 2012 - 2013 were considered.

Committee meeting 28th July 2009
Correspondence received - A request for financial help (or raffle prizes etc) had been received from a family in Ferwig, Cardigan whose daughter has MPPS. Since charity money raised locally is spent locally, it was decided not to recommend any financial donation, and in our reply, to suggest that the family contact Cardigan Rotary Club.
Thanks for Life Project - Regarding the “Window of Opportunity” (20 – 28/02/10) and the use of an empty shop window, the relevant estate agents will be contacted in the autumn.
Christmas Collections - The Co-op, Waunfawr (Dec 9, 10 &11) and Morrisons (17 & 18) have been contacted to check that they have our collection dates in their diaries; it was noted that CK’s will need further checking after they have taken over the Co-op. The permit for collections in Owain Glyndwr Sq (21, 22 & 23) has been received from Ceredigion County Council. Regarding possible recipient “local charities”, the secretary of Aberystwyth Riding for the Disabled will write to the Club outlining their purpose; and also the Aberystwyth group of the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease will send information.
Message in a Bottle - Aberaeron Rotary Club had suggested that Canolfan Padarn and Mentro Lluest could be interested. A sample will be given to each organisation.
Age Concern - Transport support for the Lunch Club will continue.
Vocational Visit - Some suitable venues had been identified and the logistics of each regarding transport, visit, meals, timing etc. will be investigated.
Environment Project (Rotary Environment Day 29/05/10) - No discussion

AGM 2008/9 report - 28th April 2009 (Chaiman James Carter)
At the beginning of the Rotary year it was decided to continue with the projects that had been pursued in the previous year, with the exception of having a presence at the students’ Freshers Fayre to promote Organ Donor Awareness. It had become apparent that most of the students were being encouraged to enrol as donors when applying for driving licences and also in the literature they were given when enrolling at the university.
Christmas Collection - This had again been successful and most of the proceeds were distributed on Thursday April 2nd at a small reception which was held at the Richmond Hotel where representatives of the following organisations were invited :-
British Heart Foundation ----£1000
Diabetes Unit at Bronglais Hospital----£200
Cruse---- £200
Breast Feeding Support Group----£200
Plas Lluest----£200
Age Concern----£100
Kids Out - We are retaining £500 for the Kids Out event . The total proceeds of the collection were in the region of £2900 which means that there is still some £500 available for distribution.
Message in a Bottle - This project is still proceeding and we are receiving requests for supplies from various parties. We do however need to prepare some more supplies so that we are able to respond more quickly to these requests.
Age Concern - We are still involved with various projects with this organisation and our assistance is very much appreciated.
Visually Handicapped - We have been involved with the transport arrangements for their visits to the local Day Centre for many years on a fortnightly basis. It is possible that they will be asking for increased assistance in the future.
Vocational Visit - The arrangements for the visit to Big Pit are in hand and we are now being joined by a number of Probus members.
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A summary of 2005-2006 activities (Chairman - Colin Fletcher)
Message in a Bottle - Following Gareth Williams’s talk, Ceredigion W.I. had distributed 600 bottles through the Pat Griffiths (President Elect of Inner Wheel). Age Concern had been given a further 100 bottles and another 100 were to go to Michael Morgans of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade.
Heartstart - Glan Davies had been asked for dates and was in touch with the organisers of the course. At least 10 and not more than 12 participants were needed. Partners were welcome. The course was free but donations were accepted.
Age Concern Lunch Club and Shopping Support - The provision of drivers and cars for the Age Concern Lunch Club and shopping support was going well. It was understood that Age Concern now had access to a minibus to supplement the lunch club lifts provided by the Club.
Christmas Street Collection - £3,900 had been distributed to local Charities at an evening event held at the Richmond Hotel on 28 February.It was an enjoyable evening and the representatives of the local Charities were able to exchange information and contact details. June Jones of Ceredigion Crossroads has offered to come and give a lunch-time talk to the Club. A report, with a photograph, has appeared in the Cambrian News. We made a donation of £500 to the Beacon of Hope and they are planning to launch their Hospice at Home project at the Conrah Hotel on 15 June. Equivalent dates have been booked for Owain Glyndwr Square ( Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 19 to 21 December 2007) and at Morrisons (Thursday and Friday 6 and 7 December 2007) together with Thursday and Friday 13 and 14 December 2007 at the Waunfawr Co-op store. The licence for the street collection on Owain Glyndwr Square was expected shortly.
Institute of Cancer Research - Information packs had been distributed to the Public Library and Age Concern.
Barnardos - As recommended at the previous meeting, a donation of £200 had been sent to Barnardos. During her talk, Eileen Denekamp had referred to a sponsored walk, starting in Barmouth, that was due to take place during October. This was an annual event, that was stewarded and refreshments were provided in the form of locally prepared sandwiches and cakes. Details will be circulated when they are received as some Rotarians may wish to take part.
Rotary Stroke and Health Awareness Day – Saturday 28 April 2007 - Unfortunately, it had not been possible to take this forward this year. Material has been obtained from the Stroke Association and, given a longer lead time, it may be possible to do something next year.