Rotarian's 'making blindness history' programme is exposed in June's Rotary Today.

Gaining national and international traction for club initiatives takes time and patience, particularly for small clubs like Stevenage Grange. It is pleasing therefore that Rotary Today made space to remind us that ROI needs on-going support to build on donations which have already funded 2,750 cataract operations and provided 1,500 ophthalmoscopes to 44 developing countries through ROI's eye-care partners SightSavers International, IMPACT and others.

WHO advise that restoring sight is one of the most social and cost effective health care interventions. Some 2m people in developing countries go blind needlessly each year. Children who go blind in a developing country are twice as likely to die before they are 13. Yet 75% of avoidable blindness is curable or treatable: An individual's sight and family livelihood can be restored for as little as £4 with the support of Rotary Foundation grants!

The Club is delighted to have won a competitive challenge to attract global interest at this years RI Convention (Booth 187 - Hall 5) & promote its and WHO's ambition to help irradicate avoidable blindness by 2020. If you are attending Convention why not stop by & say hello and pick up a copy of their DVD to show your Club. The DVD will also be available in your Club's folder at District Council.

ROI holds Convention Reception

Sponsorship by Austin's the Funderal Directors, has enabled Stevenage Grange to host a small international reception at the NEC. Past RIBI President and RI Director Keith Barnard-Jones and Club President Ted Coles will welcome guests.

So, if you would like to join in on Sunday 21st June at 5.15pm why not give Bryan Cornish, Chairman of the ROI Committee a ring on 01462 790804.  A formal invite will follow if not oversubscribed.

Club support in District 1260 can make a big difference

Success worldwide inevitably reflects the strength of local support.  Following the intial launch many Clubs in D1260 and RIBI helped others see the light.  Perhaps due to lack of experience the Club appears not to have adequately marketed its subsequent ROI achievements to some Members. Yet so much has been achieved for so little, so far, thanks to your and Rotary Foundation support.

Stevenage Grange is now looking to put together a major 3H Grant or equivalent, a first for D1260.  If supported it will make a real difference for a developing country on a regional scale. In addition, negotiations are also being undertaken to embrace a major UK benefactor to work with Rotary Foundation, under the Future Vision Plan, to provide serious funding to make blindness history a reality for many more.

If your Club wants to make a huge difference, help thousands more see the light and make blindness & poverty history for many more why not consider an annual donation as you approach your Club Assembly.  A donation of £250 could well yield £1,250 with Foundation support and pay for 100 cataract operations.

If you, or your Company would like to be asssociated with this sight and life-changing initiative, as a 'Founding' or Corporate Member, to support wider development of the cause please contact Rtn. Ray Turner FCA on 01462 813885.

A celebrity (Patron) or a empressario willing to discuss a  'Make Blindness History' concert would be a great first and provide excellent publicity for the cause and Rotary in general.  If you have contacts in this regard, please contact Stephen.  Don't forget ...

Donations attract Paul Harris Fellowship credits, as well as great publicity [and Membership] opportunities for your Club. 

If you would like further information on this developing global initiative sponsored by a local Club please visit www.roisight.org, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or phone 0044 (0)1438 880203