The Epsom Rotaract Christmas Meal 08/12/2012

Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas! The Rising Sun in Epsom was once again the site of our annual Christmas meal. A full house was present for a 3 course meal, complete with Christmas music, party poppers, crackers, secret santa and just general mucking about with poppers and string.

The table was a complete mess of paper and poppers (which were chucked about after they were used). Total carnage (in a nice way). It should be stressed that no one was harmed in the process of this meal.

The secret santa did not have a theme this year, but there were still plenty of interesting presents on display (£10 budget). Here's a laundry list of the gifts!

Laura and Katie got girly stuff like soap and candles., John got a quiz book and pen. Felicia got a diary.  Wendy got some puzzle books and chocolates. Simon got a bottle of wine. Ellie got some orange wooden thingys for her guinea pigs to gnaw on. Rob got a toy car, a 'bamboozle' game and some pictures of Cliff Richard (see previous Christmas meals).  Rob tried out the car and it worked very well.

Helena got mittens and hand cream. Rachel also got mittens. Caro got a sewing kit. Dan got biscuits for his dog and chocolate for him. And a book about travel locations for his holidays. Chris got a biscuit tin shaped like a radio (he does hosptial radio DJing).

Mark, who likes gliding/flying got a picture book of aeriel views of Britain (and chocolate). Anthony got a  QI book and a national geographic book. And David got a Buddha (he's not a Buddhist he just likes their quirkiness)!

A great time was had by all. Thank you to the Rising Sun for having us in their function room and to Simon for organising the meal!

Blood Donation at Bourne Hall 25/11/2012

What do you want from me, blood? Well, yes. Epsom Rotaract club members Katie and John attended a blood donation session at Bourne Hall.

The ultimate community event, John and Katie donated their plasma to help those who may need it in the future. Katie was donating for an 18th time and John for his 1st.

The dynamic duo registered with their questionnaires dutifully filled in, consuming water as they waited in the waiting area for their names to be called out.

Once summoned, they answered some more health questions. Then, they had their iron levels tested, with what can only be described as a 'stamp like' needle pricking their fingers. This, in turn, drew blood, which was injected into a pipette and placed into a cup of water. The blood floated successfully in water, meaning they qualified for the next stage: the chair.

These were new (according to the nurses), curved, dentist-like chairs with pillows at the bottom part of the chair. Strangely the pillows were loose so you had to hold it onto the chair with you legs. Very new indeed. The donors placed their arm on the arm of the chair. The nurses made sure to inject into donors 'non-writing' arms.

It was time for the needle. John was complimented by his nurse that he had a wonderful blue vein..... on his arm. The arm was swabbed as John relaxed and tried to enter into a sleep-like trance, whilst thinking happy thoughts.

It worked, as the needle (which didn't seem that large, although John wasn't paying too much attention) went in without any trouble.

John and Katie were left in their chairs for a couple of minutes, with the needles left in their arms and their blood flowing from a tube into a bag. They were instructed to ball up the fist on their blood donating arm and open it at regular intervals.

Before long, it was over. Katie and John were bandaged up, like a pair of battle scarred, blood donating warriors. Off they went to the snack area with the other veterans of donating, to consume crisps, biscuits and drink some more fluid.

As they left John and Katie got a picture post donation. John proudly displayed the blood donor guide that he recieved as a first time donor.

A very worthwhile event indeed. For more information about giving blood, go to : http://www.blood.co.uk/index.asp

Epsom Motaract Does Movember 2012!

After great success last year Rotaractors are giving Movember another go this year!As its 2012 the Olympic year, club member John has decided to grow Wiggins-like side burns to with his Movember Moustache! If you want to donate to see both monstrocities in full bloom go here: http://mobro.co/johnbishop

Mark has since joined the team and you can find the Epsom Motaract mo space at: http://uk.movember.com/team/456833

Update: The total raised for Movember was an incredible £123!

Present wrapping for Samaraitans Purse 10/11/2012

It was time once again for our annual present wrap/pub lunch! The idea is that we fill decorated shoe boxes with appropriate gifts to be sent as a Christmas present to disadvantaged children around the world. The boxes are filled with toys, games, suitable useful items for either boys or girls within a specific age bracket.

The shoe box scheme is organised by www.samaritanspurse.org  and is known as Operation Christmas Child.

The group split into two sub teams. One team, led by Rob went out to find some shoe boxes via local retailers. The other team, led by Wendy went to Poundland to buy the gifts.

Rob, Simon, and John searched high and low for boxes and found it more challenging in previous years. They even took upon themselves to approach a well known 'adult' retailer with no success.

Eventually the boys found help from a supermarket chain who supplied them with some empty boxes.

The two teams than met up at Poundland. Rob and company informed Wendy and co that we now had 15 boxes to play with. Wendy, Caro, David and Rachel sprang into action and made sure we had 15 of everytthing to put into each box. After the gifts were purchased, it was on to the Haywain!

After a pub lunch, he group got to work and the 15 boxes were wrapped and packed up. Rachel very helpfully discovered online that Epsom Specsavers collected the shoeboxes. So we then dropped 15 boxes off to a very grateful and impressed bunch of Specsavers staffers!


A great, worthwhile activity as usual. Well done to everyone who helped out on the day!

The Camberley Rotaract Barn Dance 13/10/12

Grab your partner dosey do! Camberley Rotaract held their annual charity charity barn dance in aid of Step by Step (www.stepbystep.org.uk ) at Collingwood College.

It was a night of many significant happenings.

There were checked shirts, cowboy hats and dodgy and sometimes dangerous dance moves a plenty! Theres also a woman with a legitmate Olympic torch which we were allowed to carry and pose with if we made a donation.

New member Katie got to experience her first ever Rotaract barndance!

Plus, it was good to see the Rotaractors from other clubs, but there was more! On this night an Epsom Rotaract reunion took place, as Amy (along with her partner Rich) joined us for the evening! And she has a baby Rotaractor on the way!

Much fun and dancing was had. Rich was particularly enthusiastic and took a tumble whilst on the receipiant of the infamous 'basket.'

Epsom's table did well at the raffle with John winning some chocolates and Rich winning some cleaning products!

Perhaps the most significant news of all came one week later: Camberley Rotaract raised over £830 for Step by Step! Well done to Camberley and everyone who took part in the event!

Epsom & Ewell Borough Fun Day 29/09/2012

On Saturday the 29th September Epsom and Ewell Rotary Club jointly organised a celebration of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s 75th birthday with a Family Fun Day at Hook Road Arena, with around 6000 local residents and children attending. The picture below left shows the Mayor of our Borough Christine Long, who opened the day and to the right members of the parachute team descending.

Epsom Rotaractors assisted with car parking and marshalling during the day along with publicity work for Rotaract.

 

 

75 stalls representing many local charities and fledgling businesses raised funds and awareness and ran games for children. A main arena provided attractions throughout the afternoon, with displays of dance from Phillomena School, martial arts from Great Britain Martial Arts Academy, training by Surrey Police and riding from Riding for the Disabled Association. One of the main attractions was a parachute decent by a team of 4 from the Pegasus Parachute Display Team onto a cross in the centre of the arena. A dog show arena also attracted the crowds, topped off with a fun fair. Good weather ensured an enjoyable family day. The pictures below show members of the Pegasus Parachute Display team landing and taking the appluase of the crowd.


The event was just what our clubs hoped for, a day of celebration for the community and particularly for families. It was great that we had so many local charities represented, raising funds and awareness for their deserving causes and we also wanted to support small local businesses. There were many whose helped and support edthe of the event.The sponsors the Ashley Centre, RAC Club, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom Coaches, Toyota and GLL/Better, pitch and table holders, programme advertisers, Epsom Rotary club members. Epsom Rotaract members, Rotary supporters and not least the residents of Epsom and Ewell who attended and supported the day.


It was truly a community event, with money raised by the vast majority of stalls going to charity. £10,000 was raised on the day. Tony and Peter the Presidents of the clubs would also like to thank Duncan Cox from Ewell club, who has also worked tirelessly to organise the day, from a vision that he and Tony had. The pictures above show the Surrey Police display team in action on the left and on the right Tony and Duncan with an Olympic Torch

in support of the Rotary District wheelchair appeal.

The Penny Black Quiz 27/09/2012

Big news -on this night John, Chris & Katie aka the 'Quizzle Sticks' didn't come last in the quiz at the Penny Black Quiz!

Several weeks of coming last did not dampen this team's Rotaract-like indomitable spirit! Finally, after weeks of trying the team clawed its way up the leadernoard.

The team came 4th out of 6 teams with 74 points. They even took a victory pic afterwards - hooray!!