The Rotaract Club of Woking
In February 2005 we attended Camberley Rotaract's Annual Barn Dance which this year was in aid of the Rotahomes project in Fiji. The band "Rogues Gallery" played their barn dance songs and we did our best to do-se-do and all that, and had great fun learning all the moves. After a hearty Ploughman's Lunch we hit the dance floor again, and then had a raffle (in which Woking members didn't win a thing!).
On 9th October 2004 some members from Woking Rotaract joined Wimbledon Rotaract for a day of paintballing. We were joined by other people and split into two teams (pink and blue) of about 30 people and battled each other in various arenas with different objectives.
About 5 hours and many bruises later the pink team were victorious with about 91 points versus 24, but players on both teams greatly enjoyed themselves. In fact, we're already planning a re-match!
In early October 2004 we visited Denbies Wine Estate, the largest wine estate in England, conveniently located in our very own county! First we saw a short film in their 360° cinema followed by a tour of their wine making facilities and tasting of three of their wines in the cellars. Then we had a tour of the picturesque vineyards themselves, with some stunning views across the Surrey Hills, followed by a browse around their gift shop, then off to the requisite pub lunch!
On 20th September 2004 some members of Woking Rotaract had a tour of the facilities of Disability Challengers in Guildford, - a local charity providing play, leisure and respite to disabled children & young people.
The charity recognises that play is an essential learning activity for all children. Important life skills such as communication, co-ordination, motor and social skills are learnt through play. Often, disabled children are excluded from participating in challenging, exciting and adventurous play - either because mainstream recreational facilities fail to cater for particular needs, or because of prejudice or simply a lack of understanding in the community at large. Disability Challengers aims to fill this gap by providing suitable leisure opportunities for all children.
Their facilities are impressive, including a huge purpose designed play structure, a multisensory suite (including the best chill out room ever - see photo!), a soft play area and bouncy castles.
Disability Challengers is the second of three local charities to receive a donation of £300 from funds raised by Woking Rotaract. Shown in the photo are members of Woking Rotaract presenting the cheque to Natilie Walters from Disability Challengers.
On 6th September 2004 some members of Woking Rotaract had a tour of the Jigsaw CABAS School - a local independent day school for children with autistic spectrum disorders.
Kate Grant - the Executive Head of the Jigsaw school - spoke at length with us about the forming of the school 5 years ago and its steady growth to now providing a primary education for 28 children operating on two sites in Mytchett and Guildford. Emma Hawkins - the Director of Education - explained the fundamentals of their CABAS technique (Comprehensive Application of Behaviour Analysis to schooling), and how it provides a continuous assessment of not only each child's own progress but also that of the teacher.
The Jigsaw CABAS school is the first of three local charities to receive a donation of £300 from funds raised by Woking Rotaract. Shown in the photo are members of Woking Rotaract presenting the cheque to Kate and Emma.
The Banbury Camping Rally took place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, 2004. Over 200 Rotaractors from all over the country gathered in a field in Oxfordshire for a long weekend of fun. District 1140 and Woking Rotaract club were especially well represented, and we managed to get some prime pitches around a bonfire in the centre of the field. Each night there was discos or karaoke and a very cheap bar to keep us entertained, and during the days we went out to Cotswold Wildlife Park and the local swimming pool, and there was also a Welly Wanging competition (won by Chris from Woking Rotaract!).
In August 2004 we were given a behind-the-scenes tour of Mount Browne, the head quarters of Surrey Police, by no less than Chief Superintendent Jerry Kirkby. Jerry is well known to Woking Rotaract as he is also the Rotaract Liaison office for Woking District Rotary, and we almost didn't recognise him in his uniform! Jerry showed us around the new Contact Centre, where all the emergency calls are handled, then we went to the control room where a chap called Jason showed us how he controls several groups of officers - we even watched as he coordinated the search and arrest of a vandal, within minutes of the first 999 call. Then Jerry took us for a chat and a drink in their very own bar. Thanks Jerry for a fantastic and eye opening peek behind the scenes, and a chance to see the unsung heroes of the Surrey Police Force in action!
On a gloriously sunny day in July 2004 a few Rotaractors headed of to Brighton beach for a relaxing day out in the sun!
The 17th Annual District 1140 Ball was held on Saturday 22nd May 2004. There was a good turnout from Woking Rotaract, and photos of our Members are below.
Sunday 1st February 2004 at Egham Sports Centre, is where Staines Rotaract challenged us to badminton. After a couple of hours of huffing and puffing (and very red faces), we emerged victorious, 6 games to 2!! Woking were unstoppable and there was no mention of the Epsom Rotaract ringer we'd brought in!
Each year Woking Rotary collect thousands of pounds in the shopping centres and residential neighbourhoods, and each year Woking Rotaract help out whenever they can. To the right you can see Alex and David helping with collections in the town centre.
Eight members from Woking Rotaract joined Woking Rotary at their 2003 Grand Rotary Quiz in November. With a well stocked bar and fish & chips dinner we were more than happy. We split into two teams, "Woking Rotaract" - Alex, Zoë, Steve & Keri, on the right - and "The Alternative Woking Rotaract" - Dave, Kate, Mike & Chris (behind the camera) on the left. With their superior knowledge "The Alternative Woking Rotaract" completely thrashed "Woking Rotaract" 89-84, and we didn't do too badly compared to the overall winners with 104 (and they had the advantage of being the correct generation for the music round!).
Teymur Aliyev is the Vice President of the Rotaract Club of Baku in Azerbaijan. He visited an informal meeting of the Rotaract Club of Woking on 27th October 2003 while he was in England on business for two weeks. He showed us pictures of their work in Baku, and explained that whilst they have only recently had their 1st anniversary, they have already been extremely busy and productive on projects including cleaning the polluted Ganja Chay river, establishing a book bank to supply school children from low-income families with text books, providing supplies and renovation work to an underprivileged boarding school, and also raising awareness and funds for the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).
On a dark, cloudy night at the end of October 2003, District 1140 gathered in Banstead for Epsom Rotaract's Halloween Party. There were many scary costumes, as you can see below.
The sun came out for another very enjoyable district sports event organised by Wimbledon Rotaract in October '03. This time it was Frisbee Olympics, including matches of Ultimate Frisbee, 10-pin frisbee, frisbee archery, and frisbee discuss!
On a hot Sunday in September 2003 some members from Woking, Staines and even a couple from Epsom Rotaract decided to have a good English pub lunch followed by a lazy stroll around Virginia Water.
Members of eight clubs from District 1140 gathered at Nonsuch Park, Cheam on Sunday for a picnic followed by an afternoon of school sports. Much hilarity followed, as the photos below show.
