Rotary club of Aberystwyth

Established
1947

Committee meeting 1 April 2008
Photography Competition
Judged by Prof. Cecilia Crighton.  Juniors sponsored by Mr Malcolm Slater.
Secondary
1. Gwenllian Tawy                    Penweddig
2. Ceridwen Lewis                   Penglais
3. Kathryn Harper                    Penglais
Junior
1.Elinor Thomas                       Ysgol Gymraeg
2.Sion Manley                          Ysgol Rhydypennau
3.Lily Sedgwick                        Ysgol Rhydypennau
Special thanks to Rotarian Geraint Thomas for this activity.
Young Chef
Penglais and Penweddig took part but due to unforeseen circumstances there was no “ cook-off”. Penglais went through to the next round. Unfortunately no further prize was won but by all accounts it was an excellent competition.
Penglais winner                         Hayley Daniels  18 pupils
Penweddig winner                    Liana Ellis Jones           15 pupils
Thanks to the Food Technology staff from both schools.
War Memorial Grant £450
Three applicants all from Penglais School who applied without delay. This presentation will be made this Thursday morning 9.30 at Penglais School.Any Rotarian who would like to attend please see me afterwards.
Youth Speak Competition
Despite positive rumblings from both Secondary Schools, the teams were not forthcoming for either the Welsh or the English competitions. Perhaps we should focus on Young Farmers Clubs rather than the schools for next year, as they actually participate in a similar competition at present.
Mock Interviews
Both schools expressed an interest but there was no uptake. We will try again this year. Timing perhaps needs to be addressed as examination time appears to get earlier every year.
RYLA
More encouraging news in this area. Three girls from Penweddig expressed an interset and after interviews Tirion Pearson was selected to represent the club. Tirion will attend during week 4. August 08.
Kids Out
This will take place on June 11^th. Rotarian Michael Deaville is undertaking the arrangements. An excellent day was enjoyed last year with Penglais, Llwyn yr Eos and the Young Carers. A big thank you to all Rotarians who came to help on the day. Food was purchased from Dilys Morgan Talybont.
Young Musician
Winner Heledd Griffiths  Piano Ysgol Penweddig
A collection raised just over £200 towards Urdd Eisteddfod Ceredigion 2010.Heledd took part in the 2008 final at Nantyffin Llandisillio last week. All participating musicians were of a very high standard. Heledd played superbly but was beaten by a flautist from Milford Haven. Her performance was a credit to our club. The final which takes place in Brecon on May 10^th should be a treat. The event was sponsored by Walkers Electrics and Cerdd Ystwyth.
Certificates
This year the certificates were provided by The Cambrian News.Thanks to Mr Hywel Wyn and Rotarian Liz Owen- Jones.
Many thanks again to all my committee members for all their hard work during the year and for the support of our president Rotarian Eifion Lewis.

Committee meeting 22 January 2008
Cookery competition
The Penglais competitor was the area representative but was unfortunate not  to go through to the next round. The Penweddig winner went with her to help as did the Penglais cookery teacher, Mrs Hague. Rtn Geraint Thomas drove them all to Pembroke.
Cheques of £20 and £25 were donated to each participating school toward an item of kitchen equipment.
Requests for sponsorship from local relevant businesses were turned down.
Photography competition
Been and judged
Only five schools participated this year;  Penglais, Penweddig, Ysgol Gymraeg, Rhydypennau and Mynach. We need more money for prizes in future years - Malcolm Slater gave £50 this year but all other requests were rejected.
RYLA
Four Penweddig pupils have expressed an interest and have been spoken to - they will return application forms by the end of next week - date of the interview to be arranged
Certificates
Rtn Liz Owen-Jones has very kindly agreed to provide 'distinguished' certificates for the competition winners.
Young musician competition
This was held at Penweddig school last Thursday and was a great success. The event was very well supported and all who attended were delighted with the music. There were 8 competitors; on the Flute, Euphonium (2), Piano (2), Clarinet, Trumpet and the Violin. The winner was Helen Griffiths on the Piano. The competition was judged by Glyn Evans.

Committee meeting 25 September 2007                                                    

Committee meeting 31 July 2007 

Swansea regional meeting.
    ●The main issues raised were:
    ●Police checks
    ●Difficulty in getting schools to participate
    ●Selection of candidates for R.Y.L.A work
    ●Do the activities offered by Rotary meet the needs of modern youth.

Programme
As before, but with a little tweaking:
    ●Photography Competition – subjects linked to the Urdd programme.
    ●Instrumental – possibly a change of venue in order  to raise the profile of the event.
    ●Some of the committee to visit the secondary Schools in the catchment area to promote Rotary activities during the first few weeks   of  the new school year.

A summary of 2005-2006 activities (Chairman Hywel Wyn Jones)
Youth Speaks Competition. Despite an encouraging response initially from both secondary schools, it had not been possible to secure teams for the English or Welsh-medium competitions, partly because those who had shown interest were otherwise committed to other school activities at the time. There was an indication that Penglais would be interested in engaging in next year’s senior (English-medium) competition as it appeared to complement an aspect of the Welsh Bac. syllabus for English. Penweddig would also be interested in entering the Welsh-medium competition, and early notice of the zone event would be helpful.
Young Musician. The local competition had been held on 24^th January 2007, at Ysgol Penweddig. There were two entrants – Gethin Phillips(euphonium) and Gwydion Hughes (trumpet) - both of  Penweddig. The adjudicator, Mr J Glynne Evans, complimented both entrants on their high standard. Rotarian Ian Rees acted as accompanist. The winner, Gethin Phillips, progressed to the Zone competition which was held on 20^th April at Nant-y-ffin, Llandysilio.The event was publicised in the ‘Cambrian News’. The competition was organised by Alan Wynne Jones on behalf of the Committee.
Young Chef. Mrs Cira Hague had conducted a local competition ay Penglais School in accordance with Rotary’s rules, with Chris Williams (chef of ‘Harry’s’) as adjudicator. 36 pupils had entered, with four selected to take part in a ‘cook-off’, from which the winner, Sonia Korana, was selected. She competed in the Zone competition at Pembroke – on Monday 5^th March. Arrangements would be made to issue a certificate to all those who had participated in the local round.
Photographic Competition. The club held a successful Photography competition for primary and secondary schools, in the Autumn 2006. There were 35 entries on the theme “Autumn”, and the adjudicators were Professor Cecilia Crighton of the UW Aberystwyth School of Art, and Mr Malcolm Slater, photographer. Prizes were awarded to a total of nine entrants (3 senior, 6 junior). The winning photographs were displayed at the School of Art during November. Prizes were sponsored by Malcolm Slater and Jessops.
‘Mock Interviews’. Both  Penweddig and Penglais schools had expressed an interest in a ‘mock interviews’ event organised by Rotary, and arrangements are under consideration.. Ysgol Penweddig favoured mock interviews for year 11 pupils, as soon as possible after the Easter break. Penglais had indicated a preference for a programme for year 12 (1^st year sixth-form),  to be held in the last half of June after their examinations.. Club members with experience of recruitment interviewing had been invited to indicate their willingness to participate. Arrangements were also in hand for Rotarians to assist with a mock interviews event organised by ‘Careers Wales’, at Penglais School on 27^th April.
‘Kids Out’. The date for this year’s ‘Kids Out’ event had been set as Wednesday, 13^th June.  will The Rotary District co-ordinator, Don Carsley, had been notified of the club’s wish to participate, and contact had been made with local organisers of groups (special needs children, and young carers) who had been invited to indicate the number of likely attendants. Arrangements would be made for coach transport and packed lunches, as in the past.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). Contact had been made with Penglais School, through Mr Brian Clissold, with a view to receiving a nomination for attendance at a RYLA course at Dolygaer in August 2007.