International Service committee 2011-2012
Chairman - Paul Finch
Committee members - Bryn Button, Hugh Davies, Phillip Evans, Lisa Francis, Iori Jones, Mike Price, Alun Rees

The committee's function is to raise the awareness and effectiveness of international and world community service provided by districts and clubs. It's aim is to identify and suitable causes and projects and take the responsibility for raising the supporting funding.

Committee meeting 15th November 2011Pig Roast - Paul recently met with Celia Gardener and Wendy Davies from the Inner Wheel.  At the meeting we agreed that next year s Pig Roast would be held at Celia and Peter Gardener s home and the preferred date is the 29 th July, but to keep Brynamlwg in reserve.  We will consider including a band for music and perhaps a Pork and Pimms theme.
Mary's Wheels - We have worked closely with Ysgol Gymraeg, with the children and school reacting very positively to the charity and filling over 115bags.  Geraint Thomas was our main link with the school and we thank him for his efforts.  The bags were collected by Mary s Meals on the 15 th November and the Cambrian News was there to record the event.  A letter of thanks is being sent to the headmaster and children.  The Chair to make a further approach to Commins Coch, St Padarn s, Plascrug and Llanilar primary schools to see if they would like to support Mary s Meals back pack project in the New Year.
Chiradzulu pharmacy project - We meet with Bryn following our previous committee meeting and agreed in principle to support the installation of an air conditioner unit the Pharmacy at circa £1,400 recognising that raising the funds would take us into the next Rotary year and was dependent upon getting 50% of the funds from Rotary District or other donations. Bryn was asked to provide more details to enable approaches to be made.
Fund Raising Event in Spring 2012 - We discussed what type of fund raising event we should hold next Spring.  The favourite idea was to hold a Trolley Dash event at Morrisons, and a fall back option an evening event either a dinner with a guest comedian or speaker, or a silent auction.  However, it was agreed to first approach Morrisons to see if they would agree to a Trolley Dash. Chair to approach Morrisons accordingly.

Committee meeting 20th September 2011Funds - Our main commitment for the year is Polio Eradication.  Currently our funds stand at circa £1,200.  This is made up by £591 from pig roast, £300 carried forward from last year; £86 from the tomato sauce bottles, plus just over £200 from the Wishing Well.  We are well in line to achieve the target for Polio Eradication, but will need to secure further funds in support of Mary’s Wheels and Chiradzulu, and ensure there is a carry forward for next year’s Committee.  We revisited funding again at the end of our meeting.  It is clear we will need to plan and hold an event next spring and that this should be our main focus at our November meeting.  All Committee members to consider and put forward ideas in time for our next meeting.  We also need to ensure we plan the event in consultation with our other committees to ensure there are gaps between fund raising events.
Pig Roast - Celia and Peter Gardner have offered to host the ‘pig roast’ again in 2012.  We agreed to accept this kind offer, but also to keep the option of Brynamlwg open in case their personal circumstances change before next summer.  We considered whether to change the date of the event to mid July so as to avoid summer holidays and events such as the Eisteddfod.  We agreed that the final choice of date should be agreed with Celia and Peter to fit in with their needs.  Finally we discussed whether to continue with the pig roast or move to a BBQ event.  We agreed to keep with the pig roast, but revisit in April to ascertain availability of John Bradshaw and support team.  Chair to meet with Inner Wheel and to confirm our acceptance of Celia and Peter’s kind offer.
Mary’s Wheels - Five local primary schools have been approached to partner us in support of Mary’s Meals back pack project.  We have received confirmation from Ysgol Cymraeg and Geraint Thomas kindly agreed to talk to the school children.  The school is writing to parents to gauge the level of support, but we anticipate a request for 150 plus school bags.  We have 40 in stock. It was agreed to approach Charlie’s Stores to see if they will again sell us the bags at a discounted price.  Chair to make this approach.  We will need to plan an event to raise funds to cover the cost of the additional back packs.
Chiradzulu pharmacy project - Further communications from Bryn has confirmed that the cost of installing the air conditioner at the Pharmacy is around £1,000.  Bryn is arriving back from Malawi in the next few days and we agreed to meet with Bryn in 2 or 3 weeks time to consider how we might make progress and whether we will be able to commence raising funds during the current year.
Shelter boxes - We have received a letter from a Girl Guide living in Machynlleth asking for funds to support her in her Baden Powell Challenge that includes raising £590 for a shelter box. After discussion we agreed that the Chair to reply explaining that our funds for the year are already committed and include raising funds for Shelter boxes, and congratulating and wishing her well.
Tea Leaf Trust - The Chair read extracts from the Rotary Club of Nuwara, Sri Lanka who are seeking funds in support of this charity.  We agreed that with our other commitments already entered into this year that we are not in a position to support this charity at present.  However, in our reply suggest they approach our new Committee next July when decisions will be made on which charities to support will be made.  Chair to write accordingly

Committee meeting July 19th 2011Polio Eradication - Nothing further to discuss at present.
Mary’s Wheels - Alun Rees (outgoing chair) confirmed that a payment of £126.21 was recently made to conclude the 2010/11 support for the charity.  We agreed we will need to make contact with local schools at the beginning of the autumn term and before our next committee meeting.  Action:   Paul Finch agreed to discuss with other Committee chairs the possibility of a combined approach as it is evident other Committees intend to continue links with schools in the area.
Chiradzulu pharmacy project - We discussed recent emails from Bryn Button (currently in Malawi) proposing a scaled down version of the previous project to install one air conditioner for the Cold Room, part of the Pharmacy at a cost of around £2,000.  We agreed to support this project for £1,000 and to consider fund raising events for this.  In addition once we have sufficient information on the project we will make an application from the District to match with a further £1,000.  Action:   Paul Finch to email Bryn Button to update him on the committee decision and to ask him to provide more detail on the proposed installation.
Shelter boxes - Nothing further to discuss at present. Ndi Moyo - Given the decision to support the scaled down Chiradzulu project support for this charity will need to be postponed.
Working with Others . See action at 2 above
Pig Roast - Paul F gave a brief update on progress.  Following discussion the following actions were agreed. Table and chairs to be collected on Saturday at 2.00pm Alun Rees agreed to act as co-ordinator on the Sunday, Paul F to provide details of volunteers Alun R also agreed to call in at the Council offices to obtain a licence for the day.

AGM 2009/10 report - 27th April 2010 (Chairman Peter Gardner)Pig Roast at Nantcellan - The year started with the Pig Roast in July at Nantcellan , a successful day with a total income of £2017- 20 which after deduction of expenses of £357-71 gave a profit of £1659- 49. This was shared almost equally between Rotary and Inner Wheel. Our share went towards the club’s contribution to the Polio Plus project.
The Shelter Box project - The year brought mayhem and destruction to many areas of the world from natural disasters, The Club has responded by sending a total of £!500 sufficient for three boxes. In addition Geraint took the lead in liasing with three primary schools Plas Crug, Penparcau and Comins Coch to raise money sufficient for their own box. This was not a case of just squeezing money from innocent children but to form the basis of an educational project in following their numbered box to it’s final destination and possibly beyond.
The Malawi water aid project - In November, Bryn discovered that 8 locally financed bore holes had found no water and it was probable that our chance of success was the same. Since then he has concentrated on the alternative project of the temperature control of the Chiradzulu Hospital Pharmacy requiring new refrigerators,air conditioners and the construction of a false ceiling to reduce the spacial volume to be cooled, to avoid damage to medication. I have exchanged e-mails with him. He has after some delay he has received a quotation which was raised a week later due to an “error” on the first one and is now £20,994- 69. Bryn is now looking elsewhere. I have suggested to him that at this high cost we are going to need sound justification for the project to be accepted for a matching grant at local , District and Central stages .I asked him whether there was authenticated evidence of drugs and vaccines being damaged in the past , or the inability to use either of these knowing that they would be damaged by the high temperature. He agrees and will investigate