last edited April 18, 2011

Chairman - Robin Varley
Committee members - Colin Bancroft, Haydn Davies, Hywel Davies, Dana Edwards, Peter Gardner, Godfrey Hill, John Pugh-Jones.

The role of Foundation service committee is to raise awareness in the club of Rotary Foundation, identify and support international projects, provide counselling and support for visiting Rotary scholars and identify suitable applicants for Rotary scholarships and Group Study Exchange schemes.

The Mission of the Rotary Foundation is to support the efforts of Rotary International in fulfilment of the Object of Rotary, Rotary’s mission and the achievement of World understanding and peace through local, national and international humanitarian, educational and cultural support programs. The Foundation has become one of the foremost non-governmental foundations in the world. It is said that every minute of every day Rotary will touch the lives of millions somewhere in the world. The Rotary Foundation is one of the world’s leading charitable foundations and each Rotarian can be justly proud of its achievements in the past, present and in the future.

Committee meeting 29 March 2011
Educational - Our Ambassadorial Scholar, Chi-Mao Wang, has almost completed his speaking engagements.  All his presentations had been well received and, for his final speaking engagement, he would be visiting the R C of Fishguard and Goodwick on 19 May.
Present indications were that there were no Ambassadorial Scholars in our District for next year.
Chi-Mao and his wife Ker-Hsuan would be staying in Aberystwyth for another two years after he completed his Ambassadorial Scholarship.  Although he would no longer be a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar the Club would maintain contact with Chi-Mao and he would be welcome to come to meetings from time to time as a guest.
Rotary Foundation Scholarships - Colin Bancroft reported on applications for Rotary Foundation Scholarships that had been received. It was proposed to make awards to the following:
Gabriel Jones – A three week project teaching disadvantaged children in Jaipur India.
Fiona Farrow – Voluntary work for a period of eight weeks at the Chey Chumneas Hospital in Cambodia with the Rose Charities Initiative.
Anna Charlotte Brophy, Heddwen Daniel and Rhianna Davies – Travelling to Lourdes with the Welsh National Pilgrimage for 5 days to assist the sick and elderly and help care for those in hospital.
Provided the allocations were within budget, Council gave authority for the Foundation Committee to proceed on this basis.
Recipients of awards were normally expected to give a talk to the Club on their return.
Colin said that he was reviewing the terms of the Scholarships but had no recommendations for consideration as yet.

Committee meeting 25 January 2011
Educational - Our Ambassadorial Scholar, Chi-Mao Wang, had settled well and was participating in Rotary activities.His speaking obligations were being met with talks given to clubs at Aberystwyth and Llandeilo with Swansea and Aberaeron arranged for 2 March and 17 March respectively.  The effort put into his hosting responsibilities by John Bradshaw was much appreciated.  Additional speaking engagements were being made and members of the Committee were ready to assist with transport.Gareth Cheesman, District Foundation Chairman, was due to speak to our Club on 15 February and topics to be covered had been suggested to him.
Humanitarian Grants - PP Colin Eagles had written to the Cambrian News to advertise the Club Scholarships and several applications were due to be considered.  An application had been received from someone who had already gone abroad before the advertisement had been placed.  Council agreed that the application could be considered on its merits in competition with others, but not before the closing date of the end of March.  Arising out of the discussion Council considered that the procedure should state that no decisions are made on applications until after the closing date and that no relatives of Rotarians should benefit.
Income - The production of Christmas Cards had been successfully completed by PP Mike Price and the surplus funds would go to local charities.  The sale of Christmas Puddings undertaken by PP Allen Carr had proved popular, the income going to the Adopt a Minefield Campaign.

Committee meeting 14 September 2010
Educational - The Ambassadorial Scholar from Taiwan arrived safely at the weekend accompanied by his wife. They have been accommodated by the University. John Bradshaw has had frequent communication with them during this period and will continue to offer any assistance they need during their years stay in Aberystwyth. Chi-Mao Wang will speak to our Club on 14 December 2010. To ensure awareness of the Rotary Foundation and Permanent Fund the District Chairman of Rotary Foundation,Gareth Cheesman, has agreed to speak to the Club on 15 February 2011.
Humanitarian Grants - The Malawi Hospital Vaccination Cold Store initiative has been dropped from the Club’s programme for the time being.
Income - The ordering and payment for Christmas Puddings has been arranged by Allen Carr. We look forward to their prompt delivery. The proceeds will be allocated to the  Clear a Minefield Campaign. The arrangement to provide Christmas Cards and Calendar Sheet is proceeding and Mike Price will be submitting  proofs in due course.

Committee meeting 15 June 2010
Rotary Foundation - The Foundation Committee recognise the importance of Rotary Foundation initiatives and as part of the Educational Programme the Committee intends to promote the benefits by inviting Alumni speakers to address our meetings to explain how it has helped their personal development.
Ambassadorial scholar - We look forward to welcoming the Ambassadorial Scholar, Chi-Mao Wang from Taiwan, who is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Shihlin. John Bradshaw has kindly agreed to be the host Counsellor for the year.
Group Study Exchange (GSE) - It is possible that we shall have the privilege of assisting a GSE when they spend a weekend in Aberystwyth during their period in the District.
Humanitarian Grants - We shall investigate collaboration with the International Committee to assist in the provision of a cold store vital for a successful immunisation programme in Malawi.
Scholarships - The Rotary Club of Aberystwyth will award Scholarships to deserving young people to help with their personal development as in previous years and £1000 has been set aside for this purpose. Colin Eagles will be the co-ordinator.
Polio Plus Challenge - This is a Rotary wide initiative and we have agreed a contribution of £1500 as a Club. The proceeds from the Wishing Well is to be dedicated as part of this and we shall develop with the International Committee the means of giving them support.
Christmas Cards and Christmas Puddings - these have previously been welcomed by Rotarians and Alan Carr and Mike Price will co-ordinate these activities respectively.

AGM 2009/10 report - 27th April 2010 (Chairman Colin Eagles)
Group Study Exchange - In September 2009, we hosted a GSE team from District 9500 ( S. Australia ). The four members and their Rotarian leader were hosted by President Meurig, Lis Owen Jones, William Williams, Alun Rees and Colin Eagles. Cultural visits to the Rheidol Power Station and the National Library were organised and vocational visits were arranged to suit the members vocations. Our club meeting was rearranged to the evening so that the team could make their presentation. The visit was a great success and the committee thanks everybody who made that possible.
Ambassadorial Scholar - Continuing the Australian theme, in September we were delighted to welcome our 2009-10 Ambassadorial Scholar, Wendy Swain. Wendy, a recent graduate of the University of New England, Armidale, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Armidale Central in District 9650 ( New South Wales, Australia ) arrived in Aberystwyth to study Library and Information Studies. Wendy's host counsellor, Rotarian Sonia Dobson, has done an excellent job helping Wendy adapt to life in Aberystwyth.
It has been a delight to have Wendy in the club and we were pleased to welcome her mother to our meetings during the month she spent in Aberystwyth. Wendy has been a true ambassador and she will have made 12 presentations during her stay in Aberystwyth. Wendy will have spoken at the Rotary Clubs of Aberaeron, Fishguard & Goodwick, Knighton, Llandeilo, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Milford Haven, Narberth & Whitland and Saundersfoot and the committee thanks those members who have helped with transport. In addition Wendy has spoken at our club and the Inner Wheel club and at the end of her scholarship she will speak to the club about her year in Aberystwyth. Her presentations have been of a very high standard.
Polio Eradication - This programme was incorporated into the "Thanks for Life" project which involved the whole club. The Foundation Committee thank Rotarian Huw Spencer Lloyd for organising the Window of Opportunity to showcase the Polio Eradication Campaign and the International Committee for organising the annual pig roast with the proceeds going towards the Gates Challenge. The club is committed to raise £1500 annually for 5 years and in March we were able to send our 2008-09 and 2009-10 contributions to RFUK. The money from the Wishing Well continues to accumulate towards next year's commitment .
Scholarship Grants - Four grants totalling £1100 have been allocated from the £1400 which was available, as follows,
£200 to Ceridwen Lewis to take part in a VSO project, Global Exchange in Bangladesh; £300 to Ifan Hywel to visit Patagonia as a member of an Urdd party ; £300 each to Stewart Gethin and Christopher Davies of 2nd Borth Scout Group to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden.
Christmas Cards - The committee thanks Rotarian Emlyn Watkin for organising the design, printing and sale of christmas cards with the profit (£114) going to Rotary Foundation.

AGM 2008/9 report - 28th April 2009 (Chairman Godfrey Hill)
Cards and Calendars - Christmas cards and calendars were purchased and sold to members with profits going to the Foundation Fund.
Ambassadorial scholar - The Kazakstani Scholar, Milana Karanayidi ,arrived in April to do a course in International Law. The duration of her stay is uncertain.
Scholarship scheme - Applications were received from eight young persons for grants towards the costs of overseas projects.Three applicants were approved for grants
One has gone to Kenya for three months with the Leap organisation undertaking a variety of humanitarian work.
The second will be climbing Mount Kiliminjaro with a University team on behalf of Childreach,to provide facilities for schoolchildren in Tanzania. The third applicant had to withdraw.
Foundation - Rotary Foundation’s proposed changes to its funding structures (to take effect in 2103) were considered by the Club. Members voted in favour of our District taking part in the three-year pilot scheme.

Report of the Foundation Committee for 2007/2008
Ambassadorial Scholars It was disappointing yet again this year that no Ambassadorial Scholars came to Aberystwyth.
Christmas cards All Christmas Cards and Calendars were sold with £1.15 of the cost of each Calendar sold, going to Rotary Foundation.
Coffee We also sold 48 packs of coffee and a further 90p per pack went to Rotary Foundation.
Scholarship Scheme We were given a budget of £1,000 again this year for the Club’s Scholarship Scheme. Four applications were received of which one did not meet our criteria. We were pleased that the other three were all from young people who are going abroad to carry out humanitarian work which are exactly the type of projects that we are anxious to support.
The committee donated the following sums:-£300 to Angharad Preston. She will participate in Global Exchange. She will spend 3 months in Stansted and 3 months in Indonesia staying with host families and will work towards bringing benefits to local communities in both countries.
£300 to Jonathan Evershed. He will spend 2 months in Nepal working for Info Nepal. During his stay he will be working in one or more of the orphanages managed by the organisation.
£300 to Francesca Sanders. She will be travelling to Swaziland for a 2 month’s stay. She will be working as a volunteer for the Telenti project. Francesca will assist in schools, children’s homes and non-formal placements.

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