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Hamble Valley, and Reg Ling, Double their Money the Fast Way
Following on from Hamble Valley’s successful Makaphutu ‘Big Night Out’ fund raising evening on 15th March, see report in the last Rotary News, swift action was needed if a Rotary Foundation one-for-one matching grant was to be secured. The deadline for the submission was the 31st March ! After this date grants are reduced by 50%.
However, by the time the adrenaline and the euphoria of the evening had worn off, not to say the effects of the heavily discounted house wine, eleven days had elapsed and quite uncharacteristically for Hamble Valley not a line had been written on the application forms ! Only five days left for all the administration, the obtaining of DG’s signatures, the approving by our project partner in South Africa, it was impossible, or as the French say,
impossible !PDG Don Short, his shadow cast upon his study wall from the burning of the midnight oil, suddenly in Archimedean parlance called out "I’ve got it!" Despite the hour Don telephoned Mr. Makaphutu, aka ‘The Matching Grant Motivator’, the one and only, and he who never sleeps, Reg Ling, from the Valley of the Itchen. Don, who also never sleeps, other than at the occasional club meeting, outlined our need for help. "Leave it to me" was all Reg said in his confident and comforting manner, and added "Don’t worry Don. I’ll call you soon".
So, on the following morning, Wednesday, 27th March, and before his two hours in the gym, Reg telephoned South Africa and, for starters, established a project to purchase a robust vehicle for transporting the children to school and assisting with the grannies outreach project. This was followed by discovering some unused previous years DDF monies for Hamble Valley, and squared away a proposal with the District Matching Grants co-ordinator, Dennis Meadus, to use the money for the aforementioned vehicle project. It was at this point Reg learnt that DG Colin was in the Isle of Man and would not return until 4th April ! A snack lunch followed by a call to early morning Evanston to get approval from them to accept an application without the DG’s signature succeeded. To round the day off Reg wrote a draft matching grant application, sent it to South Africa for comment and approval, and, in parallel, had discussions with Hamble Valley re content and strategy ……. and so to bed.
The following day, Thursday, 28th March, and after his three hour work out in the gym, Reg arrived at the Hamble Valley regular lunch meeting, with all the necessary documents for signature, prior to submission to the Rotary Foundation.
All this was magnificently orchestrated, and achieved, in only forty-eight hours. But there’s more …….in rhyme just in case, dear reader, you find the prose getting heavy.
Dot the ‘eyes’ cross the ‘tees’, signatures of both DG’s,
Check again, don’t miss a thing, very thorough is Reg Ling.
Send it off to Evanston, now relax all work is done.
Some may think this statement’s true, if you do – you’ve not a clue !
Ask the expert, he will say, send an e-mail every day,
Phone them, "Where’s my matching grant?" "Please get lost!"-- "No I shan’t!"
"Oh, OK then", Reg heard them say, "Your grant’s approved, third week in May"
Well folks, what an achievement, just fifty-seven days from start to grant approval! Could this qualify for a place in the Heinz Book of Records? That is the end of a success story to be right proud of, and all the chaps at Hamble Valley would like to publicly thank Reg for his help and dedication.
The matching grant process is not the traumatic problem it may first appear. If you, or your club, need any information, or encouraging ‘words of wisdom’, I am assured that Dennis Meadus, the District MG man, or Reg himself would be happy to be of assistance.
Stop Press……..The Eagle has landed ! The Rotary club of Hillcrest in KwaZulu – Natal has recently advised that the vehicle has now been purchased and is in service, see photograph below. The sign writing includes mention of Rotary sponsorship in the name of the Hamble Valley club.
Frank Watkin
Club Correspondent
Hamble Valley Rotary Club