Rotary Magazine

In the latest edition of Rotary Magazine, we catch up with Tom Hamblet who has had quite the start to 2024, winning the BBC show MasterChef: The Professionals. But Tom's culinary journey actually started out when he won the Rotary Young Chef competition in 2014, which was his first ever competition! A decade on, his career trajectory is set to soar. We went to find out about that first competition, his hopes for the future, and what it's like behind the scenes on one of the country's biggest cooking shows. This edition also features stories on peace in Afghanistan, a climate change project in The Netherlands, and much more, plus your favourite regulars and club stories. Read more stories from Rotary Magazine at www.magazine.rotarygbi.org

Rotary Magazine is new and improved for 2024, now coming to you four times a year in print, a monthly digital edition and the regular audio version packed with stories from each print edition. This edition, we look at the story of Sir Nicholas Winton, a Rotarian and Holocaust hero who saved hundreds of children's lives during WWII. 'Nicky', as he was known, is the subject of a new film called 'One Life', starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, which tells the remarkable story of the Kindertransport. Also in this edition, Hollywood star Liam Neeson becomes and honorary Rotarian, and we speak to Garreth Murrell, a Rotarian who completed a 45-day row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Within this issue of Rotary magazine, the focus is firmly on membership. The reach is wide, exploring Rotary in its various forms through the eyes of Rotarians. These articles are brimming with ideas about how we move forward and how we can inspire the next generation to join our amazing organisation. This issue also coincides with the launch soon of the North Star project, an ambitious Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland initiative to grow membership to 60,000 by 2028.

This edition focuses on the appointment of Scotsman Gordon McInally as President of Rotary International in 2023-24, with an in-depth feature by Rotary Editor Dave King. Gordon's Rotary theme this year is 'Create Hope in the World', but his presidential themes stretch beyond bringing peace, while also prioritising mental health and empowering girls, demonstrating the continuity of leadership. Plus, there is also an extended feature chronicling Dave King's journey across Ukraine as he sees the impact that Rotary has had in the country during the war.

Loneliness is an often forgotten issue, but one which resonates in communities everywhere. It also impacts people of all ages. Far from being solely an issue for older generations, it is impacting the lives of young people as well. In this edition, we take a look at how Rotary is tackling loneliness, through often simple, but extremely impactful local projects. Plus, you'll also find stories on how Rotary has responded to the Turkey-Syria earthquake, a pirate-themed Rotary club setting sail for new horizons, and an interview with Rotarian author James Barrett, whose novel 'The Club' tells the quirky tale of a fictional Rotary club.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted an amazing response from Rotarians globally, with The Rotary Foundation awarding nearly $15 million in disaster response grants to more than 270 districts worldwide. Each of these projects has had a direct bearing on coping with the enormity of the humanitarian disaster which has followed in the wake of war in eastern Europe. In this magazine, we reflect on the work of the Ukraine Taskforce over the past 14 months, and take a Ukrainian viewpoint on the impact of that work.

The Rotary Foundation is Rotary's own charity. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, it has distributed more than $4 billion in grant funding to sustainable and impactful humanitarian projects around the world. Since then, it has become one of the world's most trusted charities. In this issue, we take a close look at the Foundation, how it works and the difference it is making through projects and scholarships around the world.

In this edition of Rotaray magazine, we take a closer look at Rotaract, a branch of Rotary for young leaders aged 18 and over. We speak to Rotaract members from across Great Britain and Ireland, including Chair James Thomas, about their journey, what they love about Rotaract and how it helps them give back to their communities. Also in this edition, enjoy stories of Rotarians overcoming personal challenges, from rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, to conquering a stammer to speak confidently in public.

For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth was the rock, the figurehead who provided stability in a turbulent world. So, in this issue of Rotary magazine, we pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her amazing life of service which touched people's lives in an unprecedented way. We also focus on polio to coincide with World Polio Day on October 25th. There are spotlights on Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries which have endured turbulent times, most notably with the devastating floods which swept Pakistan during August.

The UK was shocked when it was announced that poliovirus has been found from sewage sampling in London. In this month's issue of Rotary magazine, we shed a light on what happened in London and what lessons are to be learned. For Rotarians, the End Polio Now campaign sits at the heart of our work but it is only one part of Rotary's focus. This magazine also highlights the life-saving work of humanitarian organisations started by Rotarians including Shelterbox and Aquabox.

Homelessness is a major issue worldwide with people being affected by it for various reasons, often not necessarily their fault, resulting in isolation, loneliness and fear of what will happen next. Families across Ukraine have felt its impact, losing their homes and fleeing for safety into the unknown. Here at Rotary, we gather together and find ways of supporting individuals facing these difficult times and provide aid and safety to those who are struggling.

With the outbreak of Covid-19 exactly two years ago, Rotarians responded in their communities to help the vulnerable and isolated. Once again with the crisis in Ukraine, this is our opportunity to demonstrate how we are humanitarians and People of Action. We speak to Rotarians in Ukraine about the conflict, Rotary in their country and their hopes and fears for the future. This edition we also speak to Jennifer Jones, who is set to become Rotary International's first female President when she takes office in July.

Empowering Girls has been a key initiative for Rotary across the world over the last year. In this issue of Rotary magazine, we explore a number of issues relating to this topic, including period poverty, women's health and more. For our cover story, we meet Father Peter Walters, a Rotarian and priest working to protect children on the streets of one of the world's most dangerous cities; Medellin in Colombia.

After COP26 took place in Glasgow recently, the environment has been at the forefront of global discussion. The same has been true within Rotary, with Protecting the Environment becoming Rotary's 7th Area of Focus. In this edition, we reflect on the urgency of the climate crisis, looking at Rotary's presence at COP26, a number of club projects addressing the issue and changes we can all make to have an impact.

This issue is filled with an array of interesting stories. It is World Polio Day on October 24th and to coincide with this key date we look at the situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover, and how that is going to impact on effort to tackle polio. We have got interviews with key figures within Rotary and the World Health Organization. Other stories include looking at the work on the Rotary Foundation and the need for legacy-giving, and we turn the spotlight on the Rotary Centre hidden in the Peak District near Sheffield, over 100 years old and the longest running Rotary project in the world. You can listen to individual stories with the following timecodes: 00:00:10 – Welcome 00:01:35 – The war against polio in a country of chaos 00:09:56 – Leprosy: A devastating disease of today 00:13:39 – Reach for the clouds – improving disability access 00:17:31 – We have never been closer to eradicating polio 00:20:54 – Rotary gets on board with Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust 00:28:33 – Giving hope to humanity 00:33:26 – Giving to The Rotary Foundation – what’s in it for you 00:39:46 – The longest running Rotary project in the world 00:43:43 – Wild polio virus vs circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus – What’s the difference? 00:49:35 – Making a difference in Malawi 00:53:22 – It pays to get corporate 00:56:38 – No living in a box with polio 00:59:19 – Editor’s letter with Dave King

Micro-finance lies at the heart of the August-September issue of Rotary magazine. Rotary members have contributed more than £1.3 million through the charity Lendwithcare enabling entrepreneurs from developing countries across the world to build their own businesses. This issue tells some of those stories and also looks at how credit unions in this country are helping the vulnerable in a post-Covid climate. Others stories include how we can do more to tackle child abuse, a look back at 50 years of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and we go to the front line of the climate crisis with disaster relief charity ShelterBox. You can listen to individual stories with the following timecodes: 00:00:06 – Welcome 00:01:22 - Rotary lends £1.3 million with Lendwithcare 00:07:18 - Climate Change is a Humanitarian Crisis 00:15:14 - Answer Lies in Soil (Rotary and Lendwithcare) 00:18:44 - How Credit Unions Help the Community 00:25:26 - Aunty Nancy is Shining Light in Malawi (Rotary and Lendwithcare) 00:32:37 - Child Abuse a Stain on Civil Society 00:40:04 - A Dark Secret Behind Closed Doors 00:49:27 - Reap the Rewards Toastmasters 00:59:33 - Fifty Years of Building Future Leaders 01:06:10 - Out of Disaster Comes Hope

The June/July issue is filled with an array of interesting stories. There is an in-depth look at literacy, we spotlight a food-waste project in North London, the Jaipur Limb initiative in India and take a look back at Volunteer Expo. which is a new, national event to encourage people to get involved in volunteering, while celebrating the impact of charities, not-for-profits and community organisations, which took place in May 2021. You can listen to individual articles at these timecodes: 00:00:00 - Welcome 00:01:39 - Reading Made Easy 00:07:56 - Good Food 00:13:06 - Give Someone A Limb 00:22:34 - Literacy How Rotarians Can Help 00:29:23 - Volunteer Expo 00:36:21 - Tales of a Reading Volunteer 00:39:56 - Creating a Dementia Friendly Society 00:46:25 - HRH Prince Philip Feature 00:53:26 - Rotary Young Citizen Awards 01:00:25 - & Finally