SNL Nov 16 web

Swaffham Rotary Club
President’s Corner
On Monday 10th October Georgie Bell,
manager of the Merle Boddy Centre
talked to Rotary members and partners about
dementia. Well, “talked to” doesn’t really do her
presentation justice. In an informative, moving, and
often hilarious, exercise in audience engagement
Georgie led us to experience the confusions and
anxieties that attend the development of dementia
and to understand the vital importance of patience,
and of simplicity and certainty, in helping people
with dementia to interact with the world that seems
to be distancing them.
As a town with a high average-age population,
Swaffham is extremely fortunate to have the Merle
Boddy Centre. Occasional ‘dementia cafés’ have their
role, but cannot compare with the Centre’s five days
a week provision for up to fifteen dementia clients
each day with company, controlled stimulation and
an (excellent) hot meal. At the same time carers
and partners gain much-needed respite from their
responsibilities.
As austerity bites harder and sources of public
funding shrink, services such as these need more
and more support from charitable and private giving.
The Merle Boddy Centre is a model of well-managed,
professional, caring concern of which Swaffham
can be proud. Each year’s Rotary President has the
opportunity to nominate a charity for particular
support in her or his year. The Merle Boddy Centre
is mine.
The Colour Purple
Arts Festival Exhibition
The Exhibition organised by the Rotary Club in the
Assembly Rooms on the last weekend of October is
the climax of a month-long festival celebrating the
visual arts and showcasing the outstanding range of
artistic talent in Swaffham, and its surrounding area.
This year with nearly 60 exhibitors - both established
favourites and talents new to our Exhibition; with
over 250 works displayed in a range of media; with
the products of skilled craftspeople in ceramics,
silver, wood and textiles, the opportunities for
finding a work that suits your taste (and your pocket)
are better than ever.
We could not do this without help from our Festival
sponsors, led by Abel Homes, with help from other
supporters and advertisers. Many of our speakers
have given their services free or asked for a donation
to a charity. Venue services have been discounted. This
generosity means that we can increase the amount
that will benefit the charitable causes we support.
Above all we thank our exhibitors for continuing to
support us, and you, our public, for coming to our
events and demonstrating that Swaffham has a real
cultural life. Thank you every one.
The global eradication of polio has been tantalisingly
close for a number of years. The ‘End Polio Now’
campaign has been inspired by the international
Rotary Movement through the World Health
Organisation, funded by The Rotary Foundation, one
of the largest private international Charitable Trusts
supported by donations from individual members of
Rotary and, recently by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. As the number of countries reporting
cases of polio reaches low single figures a last major
push to achieve the final eradication of the disease
is needed. Purple is the colour of the dye marking
children who have been vaccinated. Rotarians are
planting purple crocuses throughout the country.
Purple crocuses are the emblem of this campaign.
Watch out for them next spring.
20
Tai Chi
Has been found to be beneficial for:
Helping relieve arthritis
Improving balance & posture
Tones muscle
Improve mobility
Promoting good health, Physical and mental
wellbeing and being fun
Our classes are relaxed,
friendly and fun – and a good
way of meeting new friends…
Contact us on: 01760 723102
barbara.smith58@yahoo.co.uk
NEW CLASS: Taster class on 20 th September
1.30pm at Narborough Community Centre.