Ed chats to the young enthusiastic members of the youth branch of the Rotary club: the Chippenham Rotaract! They share about their personal motivations, organisation and activities, and Ed shares about some of our joint projects with the Rotary club. Get inspired, and feel welcome to join them if you find yourself wanting to contribute to their cause! For anyone aged 16-30 years old.
Kandu-Arts
S.H.O.P. - Social Hub of Positivity Podcast Episode #200
[Music] A photo! Welcome to the Sharp, I think this is the 200th edition, really excited today because we have the Spontaneous Podcast, the Sharp Social Health and Positivity, not in Enricade but in Candue HQ with these wonderful people from Rotor Acts, is that right? Yes. So, do you want to introduce yourselves? Hi, I'm Robin, I've been coming along for a couple of months now, six months, yep, that's good. That's fine, we're getting fun. Yeah, I'm Gemma, I'm the President of Rotor Act and I started coming just over a year ago. I'm Isabel, I've only just started coming for a month, yeah, come on, I'm here, enjoying it. Cool. I'm Tanya, I've been coming since whenever we started, but a year ago, doesn't it? Cool. Right, so now you're asking what is Rotor Act, so who would like to, Gemma, maybe as the President, you could explain what Rotor Act is to the wonderful audience here, there might be inclined to get involved, because that's part of what you do, is this people to do the voodoo that you do so well, yeah. Yeah, so Rotor Acts are a group for 18 to 30 year olds that volunteer, help the local community, do charity work, and more and most importantly, have fun together. We volunteered for Candoo Arts, your festival, yeah, our not-reset festival which is a great help. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I did. Your last joint, you then, and we've done some litapics at Chutnam Pride at the party of the park, we've done a few events so far, but hopefully you're going to start up and do some charity fundraising for some of our chosen charities. Cool. Anyone else got anything to add about this? I think it's just a really nice way to do some community stuff which you might have done in schools when you were in school, but then when you leave, you don't have that much. I don't know, social networking that you can do independently, and then- We can do the carry-on. We can do where you are, Candoo. Well, you haven't got as enough, that's the first thing, didn't you? Yeah. Yeah. You can, I can't believe you've done it. But that's the point, that's the point of why I want you to do this podcast, because even though, because it's part of Rotary, isn't it, which is an organisation which we've worked with in Zagreb, if you've heard the work that we've done in Croatia, and yeah, yeah, that looks like you've done it, Candoo, you've done it with Croatia. Okay. Let me explain. Right. So we have it, and we get support from the Rotary Club, that's on the station, because there's two Rotary clubs and Chipmen, and the one that is on the station hill is probably got a code number or something, isn't it, a serial number, 402 or something like that. But, 1200. 1200. 1200, which are, so we have a relationship, I've gone and done talks over the years, and we utilise the Rotary Hall program, our community, social, education, for a lot of us in this education. So we have a good understanding of Rotary. Rotor Act, is that quite a recent development in the sort of organisation of Rotary? Um, so Rotor Act's been around since the 1980s, however, had one of them done, fine, and we've just started this back up in, yeah, November last year, and Eddie, who's helped set it up, is actually trying to set up a few more of them around the southwest. They were huge back in the 80s, 90s, and yeah, they were like the main kind of flow for 20 year olds to socialise, and also do the charity work on Rotor Act. So it's interesting, isn't it, I think, cos my brother has been a lion, and I've been sort of like, I've been not on it for years, they just raise money all the time, you think, wow, that's amazing. No, we're an organisation that kind of does the, I can say, the dirty work, you know what I'm saying, we actually work with all sorts of communities. Whether the homeless communities are children-care, different parts of the community, mainly the ones that are challenged, so we're always sort of on the rock face. When you're looking for support for that, you know, there's obviously a whole conversation about why all these different challenges occur in society, and whose responsibility is both also about that, the elections perhaps, and I don't know if it's just that. But in the meantime, you've got these fantastic organisations which are non-politically aligned and non-religiously aligned, and I'm making a point about that. That's just rotary, at Rotor Act. That's what I'm saying. It's like, this is really interesting, that your main purpose is to do good, isn't it? It's to support society, and what can, that's a fantastic thing. I mean, beyond is a fantastic thing, yet I do understand that it's a social aspect, and I know that you do, give me an idea of some of the social gatherings that you have and what you do within them. It was the act that I would love for you. Yeah, yeah, we did the acts through, and it was the... All the time to come to that. It was the... Yeah, you do. You do. You do. It's called like the Platinum Olympics, and I was an act throwing archery, but we didn't get round to that. There was shooting a gun, and there was a pool. I didn't trade the war, do you think? Well, with the pool, it's special. A war here, he's in power, in power, and then he won't. Thank you. Thank you very much. So, I mean, that's just one example, but presumably you have other plans for different social... You went rock climbing. Yeah, so we're going to the Art Climbing Center. So we're looking at tonight, one of the things we've discussed in a day when all of us can go together, so there'll be just Rotor Act going to be there at the Art Climbing Center, not bits of Rotary and Rotor Act, it'll be just the Rotor Act. Yes, we also do work alongside, like, Rotary, so you will go help at their events and get the support from them, which is quite nice because we're gonna... I think they, yeah, they really want to see us get up and running and... Because nothing rules, if you're doing these, they're a lot older than you, all right, Sam? No, not hardly at all. Because I want to go and see when they're doing the Rock Climbing, what I'm saying is that you potentially could be the next generation of Rotarians, is that sort of, once you reach the top end of the age, Rotor Act, do you then become fully placed Rotarian? It's all optional, there's been quite a few Rotor areas come to Rotor Act and share, oh, I met my wife at Rotor Act or where they were part of Rotor Act in the '80s or '90s, and they've made friends for life at Rotor Act. And now they're in Rotary, so it's all completely optional, when people pass 30, it's not like they're too old to be Rotor Act, it's not, I'm still allowed, I'm breaking all the rules. I'm breaking the rules, you're crazy, it's through the rules. But I guess, yeah, if you enjoy what you're doing, the volunteer and everything, you would progress onwards. Yeah. So it's all linked together. The project that we were doing in Croatia is a documentary that we've developed about back in '91, before everyone, by you, were born. Was that when you were Slavian? That's exactly why this is why he said that front of almost... No, that was one of the nations I was part of, you're Slavian, yes. That's right, thank you, thank you. So when Yugoslavia dissolves... Went to hell, won't it? Yeah, we can only secure it on this podcast, I can say it now, and I can secure it. Can you get him? Yeah, basically, Rotarians in Wales and England, in the Primus area as well, got together convoys of support that went on for years, they've just basically got all sorts of medicine blankets, food, you name it, because everything was disturbed, because there was a civil war going on. So we've made a documentary about the guys from this end, the Rotarians, who then linked up with the Rotarians in Zagreb to coordinate how that food would get to these outlying areas. And it's an incredibly dangerous, really interesting documentary, so that was our part of the project we were doing with Cardiff, Rotarians and Zagreb, Rotarians. But it's like a big family, they're like, you know, as you said, you know, these people who've known each of the years, it was really uplifting, it was quite harrowing making the documentary, he said, I was only producing it for watching the raw footage, it was coming in and being developed. But to see that not everyone involved in the convoy was a Rotarian, but it was the Rotarians individuals that were inspired to help straight away, I think that says a lot about the nature of what a Rotarian is, and presumably what, how would you describe it? The Rotor Actor, yeah, you know, Rotor Actors, it does sounds a little bit like, some sort of far machine. But at the same time, you know, what a harm, lions, Rotarians, out to do good for society, I mean, where's the bad in that, it's a fantastic idea. And of course that you have social gatherings as well, because that's also part of it and that's really important, what's your motivation for being, well, I really, it's nice because I have like a community now, I didn't feel like there was very much in, well, wherever we are, and it's just, it's quite nice to meet up with people, socialise, but then you're actually doing good, and it just, it makes me feel really nice being able to go to here and help out and make that difference, however small, just, it's a difference, and it's nice working to do something, so, yeah, it's perfect, that's fantastic, what about you? For me, I think making, like Robin said, making that impact in your community, and I think most importantly, like locally, for me, is quite a big thing, when I joined, I kind of wanted to help more like teenage girls and the safety in public, because it stemmed on from my thesis that I did, which I did in Chippewa, I did a thesis on teenagers' experience of Chippewa's public space, so I did a whole, what happened with that, yeah, seriously, we looked at teenagers and Chippewa's and, new to reading, yeah, new to paint and paper, and I was like, welcome to reading it, it's an ordinary education, but yeah, I did it for a charity called Make Space for Girls, and they tried to advocate for more public spaces, so, yeah, I did that, and I was like, well, if there's any way that I can help my community, whether it's through that or through any other channels, then I'd be interested, so, when I heard about road track, I was like, yeah, I'll help, I'll have it, that's amazing, so where did you do that, what degree was it? I did a degree in Belfast, I was doing my Masters at the time, city planning and design, well, wow, that's amazing, and you, me, Gemma, I'm from Snowy Children and I'm a mom and daughter meeting, Gemma told me about it, it sounded fun, so I thought I'd jump, yeah. Yeah, but aren't you a teacher, which is also an amazing profession, particularly hard and, of course, it's been a lot more support, I get back into the politics of that, but that in itself is an amazing community, yeah, so, I love the, like, feeling of community within the school, you know, students have, you know, loads of opportunities and stuff, and I just thought, I'd like a top opportunity as well to do things, I mean, obviously I can support them doing it, but I thought it'd be nice to do something myself in the community. It's fantastic, because I say, there will be people say actually being a teacher in itself is such a massive contribution, positive contribution to society that you would quite rightly be, you know, in the evenings or weekends or whatever, to put your finger up when you finish marking 10,000 books and whatever and preparing lesson plans, et cetera. The endless tasks that a teacher has to do, but that you go out of your way to do that bit more, because the message in that I'm saying to anyone that might be listening is that that's what it needs sometimes, isn't it, that we've all got our careers or whatever to say careers, occupations, whatever, but that you are doing it outside of that to further help the society is really commendable. Well, it just is, you know, conversely our whole raisin d'etre is just that, and it's not like, and then at whatever five o'clock o, we all just got a feel, because then you actually help us do the other bits, where we're doing the social aspect of it, which is the festivals, the evenings, we do a lot of stuff in the evenings, you know, showcases, music, whatever, films at the rotary hall or cinema or wherever, but the idea is to continually have these occasions where people can come together and share the collective sense of being, whether it's a Christmas Easter or whatever, or just the end of term for our alternative education, that it's not just what's contained within the days that we work, it's about the whole thing. So, you know, what we set festivals at a weekend, lots of our stuffs in the evening after doing the alternative stuff, or all the workshops at our shop, or the social and other positivity. Madam, in the end, could you please tell us, Madam, tell me, because I tell you, yes, actually, what drove you here, what drove you to do that? Well, actually. Did it really? Thank you very much, to the local bussing. What got me involved in rotary and rotary, it's really about encouraging more volunteers and making a difference in the community, it's so important to bring people together and to spread like this joy, that everyone's got a sense of joy in it, we can make it contagious and everyone can make even a tiny bit of difference, even if it's just picking up a bit of litter, weakness, just sharing their thoughts or being a listening ear to someone else, or going to an event, there's so many different things that people could do that's free, that's all that it takes a little bit, that time where it's just an hour or two hours, it doesn't matter what it is, that makes a difference and volunteering can have a huge impact on the individual that does it and the people around them. 100% and during the day, you're a tutor on you, is that? English or maths? English or maths? I tested your maths on that day of your English. What, you want me to start putting cheeks going on? Okay, it's a little test, bless you sir, what place is it from? If it were done, when it's done, and it's for well, it would done quickly. If the assassination could travel with the consequence, I have cranked with his success then, but this bone might be the be-all and the end-all. Is this from a reasonable privilege? This is about going out to kill somebody, the worst crime ever thought on, but it needs a woman to be unsexed, she can't be a woman any longer, that's right, she can't be a woman any longer, she needs to pour some spirit into her ear to make her so twisted that she can manipulate her husband to make sure he doesn't, he has to do it actually, the husband does it? What place is it then Ed? No, I'm asking you. Is that what you're saying? What place is it? Well done. Oh, good. Well done. Well done. Well done. Well you just quoted it. I know. But I don't know that many, there's very famous quotes from up there, isn't it? Is this a dagger I see before me, Sandor? You know, that's good, I'm impressed. No one else? She's good, maybe she can't work with us. But now I've done you and listen to this tango, do something like that. Right, so you do that and then, because I totally agree with you, that actually people can make a difference and sometimes we as individuals in our collective society, for me the idea of community is common unity, that which unifies us commonly. So what do we all commonly think is something important in society? No, the audience. Well what? 100% but if you were to, if we, we could do an experiment? No. Yes. Quality, justice. Yeah. No one would have. Yeah, does that eat? Okay. So if we were to say what? So it depends what country you're picking. No, no, I don't. I don't think it does. And that's because our values are different from them. No, I don't think that. There you go. Go to North Korea. Don't care. That's political. You're talking about different communities. What commonly unifies human beings? So what are the physical needs of human beings? A food. Yeah. Drinking. Just a water. Community. No, no, no, physical. Physical. So you've said it. Exercise. Air. Water. Food. Yeah, so, but you can define them. Doesn't matter what part of the planet you're on. You need those things. Then you talk about the emotional needs of human beings. Right. And they're the same. I know the word. How do you get them? How do you access them? Through what regime or through what geographical whatever is determined by your geography and sometimes the philosophy of your, so say, leaders. But what's interesting about this and why, like I'm saying, a war starts in Croatia or Yugoslavia and people in Rotarians, I think very specifically in Wales, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Whoa, whoa, whoa. One second. This is a print. Those kids are going to be styling. We've got to do something about that. What are you talking about? What are you talking about? I don't know. It's bad. Well, it's impersonation. But as you told George, he said, "What are you talking about?" They said, "I'm not doing more impersonations because it makes you get shot." But the idea that people say, "Yeah, no, because you know this war and you can slap it." "Oh, we've got to do something about it." And they just went crazy. What they did and how they did it. I'm just using it as an example of how I know Rotarians think what motivates them. And this is why it's interesting doing this because obviously the more people that, even they just pick up a bit of litter, even if they're just thinking beyond their own needs. And I understand. God, do we want to understand we work with so many, have done with 26 years old this year. Not me, obviously. Stop it, Robert. It's the organization with worked up in the other countries internationally, but mainly in the other countries, but mainly in this area. And when you look at how people perceive even chipping them as a community, our reality of working with some families and you go, "I don't think majority even the councillors." Understand just how incredibly dark some people's lives are in this town, in this very vicinity. It's really, really shocking, which is why it makes it harder when you have disjoint between councillors acting politically for a political philosophy. In reality, what about the reality of these poor kids or these physically and emotionally poor? So, for us, it's a stark reality to meet people. And I met you guys in... Don't let me be on the book. No, no, it's not good. You can say. Hey, hey, we talk for hours. Thank you. Sorry about that. You met some of the other Rotarians. Yeah, Eddie. Eddie, do you know what I did? Do you know what I did? Do you know what I did? Oh, yes, I am. Yes, sir. Of course. And her brother was helping out on the PA. And he laid the Rotarians, sort of, worked out. What a great family. But that's amazing. That's amazing to be in the flow of things and, "Oh my God, it's just that." It's amazing that you're doing that. That's why I want to have this conversation to go, "Okay, well, let's tell more people." Because I don't know how many people you can physically have in your... Do you call it a clerk or your sector? There are many people. Right, exactly. So you want to enlist people... And we're going to put the details of how... Sam's going to get the details of how we're going to do that. We'll put this on his podcast. And anything else you want to say? Because I'm aware that you have other things to talk about. So you think other than this, but this might be useful. I think I'll just add something, if that's right. Yeah. In COVID, during the COVID years, we saw massive influx and massive increase of people. And that's an increase of people volunteering because they have to. Because they were the elderly that were stuck at home that couldn't go out and eat more people that were sick. And there was a huge drive, a huge recruitment for volunteers. And that was very common, and then people went back to work. And volunteering suddenly wasn't a mainstream, normal thing. It's kind of left society. One of the things about Rotary and Rotorack, but really Rotorack, in this case, is to get the volunteering part of life. Yeah. So that it's within us, everyone here, everyone who comes to Rotorack, it's not just about socialising. Centralising is a lot of fun, and we look at every fortnight, but it's also that we know we're making a difference. And COVID, it's come, it's still around, but the worst part of it is gone. But volunteering, we're all waiting in need. There's always going to be something to do to make a difference in the world. 100% as well said. That's really interesting as well, because of course, society changed for a while, didn't it? Funny that there was a whole period where the skies were clear there were no planes. The air was clear, the birds were singing, the sun was shining, and I thought that was just a coincidence. But, in a way, I would have thought that lots of people suddenly started to rethink their lives and go, "Wait a minute." Now, it's ironic that obviously at the time where she's not going to say there's no problem. Political, right? No. But everything's political, everything's political. That you basically have a situation like, "Oh, we're going to do this, you know, we're going to give you what? You're going to give us our tax money back to survive, because what's the alternative? You're not going to work, and you're going to say, "What?" That they should loot shops, keep going. So, yeah, we're going to give this great idea, it's called, "What, giving people a segment of the money, our collective wealth back, to survive in a massive, say, worldwide pandemic." I agree with you that actually what happened is that people started to react and behave and communicate in a completely different way that they started to see what true values were, and it was quickly consumed again, and literally provoked you to eat out, to help out, which turns out the ending helped out was COVID spread. But at the same time, when nobody could do any of that, I think you're right. We started, so it was announced on Tuesday, the day after we did, because we'd run over mics. We started our first digital open mic. So, people just said, "From their phones, and their bedrooms, or have you, or whatever, I just sent songs into every Wednesday from the very same." COVID was announced on Tuesday, Wednesday night, our first digital, I bet it was the first one in the country. Not as a competition or any prizes, but it's like, "No, no, this will help people because they don't have something to focus on." We've got, wait a minute, we also got the international entries, but basically, we've got people trying out instruments for the first time in there, because these new hobbies that they've certainly got time to do, and putting the sounds out on this thing. It's the most beautiful thing we've just tuned in avidly to get about anything else I was on. Every Wednesday, for three years, we did that, and it allowed people to share their lives in a really interesting way. Not that would suggest that everyone watches every episode, but if you hear the introduction to each one, it's a diary of that, because it's every week for three years. You hear what the headlines are, because Brian Reed, bless him, he was introducing it in his car at Tony's house with his phone for three years. The hobby wasn't there for three years, it was obviously going to do stuff in his car, but he still arrived. Is he still alive? Don't you say? I mean, it wasn't that dangerous, he was saying, "No, you can't laugh, you can't laugh." Yes, it was very important, but it was really interesting how people suddenly looked at what was needed and how neighbours possibly communicated in a much more minute. We need each other in a way that we generally don't think we do. Spending at a thousand miles an hour, just another speck in the cosmic shower, all the universe held within the flowers here. Messing with your head just to feel somehow, getting more cares for a body out, looking through the stars for a sign of gold. Turn your head away from the earth, look for the answer I've lost. With all refugees on a raft, we're all standing around in the stars. Speaking at a thousand miles an hour, trying to communicate the power, holding out to sudden end with love. Standing on the ledge, having every time, getting on your clam 'cause your dream turns sour, looking through the stars, you hope there'll be a sign. Turn your head away from the earth, look for the answer I've lost. [MUSIC PLAYING]