Maria Lloyd (00:02.424)
Hello everyone and welcome to the My Local Marketer podcast. I'm Maria and today I'm speaking with Richard Nicholson from Maiden Erlegh Rotary Club. Richard, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. How are you? Very well, thank you. Thank you for inviting me. You're welcome. Well, we've already had one catch up, which was fascinating. So yeah, I've been really looking forward to actually recording it this time and so everyone else can hear it too. So I think the first thing to start off with, which I found particularly interesting before is

Richard Nicholson (00:13.519)
Very well, thank you, and thank you for inviting me.

Maria Lloyd (00:28.918)
What is a rotary club and what does it do? That was something I wasn't actually aware of. Well, a rotary club, if I I just start with the rotary movement is about 120 years, 120 years old. It's been around quite a long time. Started in the States and there's about 40,000 clubs around the world. I so there's some big, big numbers. But the our our particular club.

Richard Nicholson (00:34.293)
Well, a rotary club, if I just start with the rotary movement is about 120 years old, so it's been around quite a long time. It started in the States and there's about 40,000 clubs around the world. I mean, so there's some big numbers. But our particular club, Reading Maiden Erlegh, there's about 35 of us.

Maria Lloyd (00:57.678)
Reading made nearly this about 35 of us and we're a group of like-minded people who want to do things in the community and want a friendship group that we could do social activities with so it's a mixture of charitable activities as well as some fun social activities. mean you touched on there what

Richard Nicholson (01:02.197)
And we're a group of, I suppose, like-minded people who want to do things in the community and want a friendship group that we could do social activities with. So it's a mixture of charitable activities as well as some fun social activities.

Maria Lloyd (01:24.622)
that the Maiden Erlegh club like you said is social group but also has charitable activities. Now if I'm not mistaken what you said before is different rotary clubs have different focuses so what are the focuses for Maiden Erlegh rotary club what's your core mission? Well over the years it's developed and I mean I think our core mission is within our local community and we describe that as Earley Woodley and South Reading.

Richard Nicholson (01:41.108)
Well, over the years it's developed and I mean think our core mission is within our local community and I describe that as Earley Woodley and South Reading is predominantly around feeding the community which sounds a grand title but it's basically supporting food banks, churches that offer food into the community.

Maria Lloyd (01:54.77)
is predominantly around feeding the community which sounds a grand title but it's basically supporting food banks, churches that offer food into the community for people that need it so we put a lot of our efforts in raising funds to help support those sorts of activities so that's a first focus that we've got. The second would be around youth.

Richard Nicholson (02:09.673)
for people that need it. So we put a lot of our efforts in raising funds to help support those sorts of activities. So that's a first focus that we've got. The second would be around youth. Rotary is the whole organization is geared up to support schools and children's activities. So whether it's self-development, like we run a competition called Youth Speaks, which is

Maria Lloyd (02:23.77)
Rotary is the whole organization is geared to support schools and children's activities. So whether it's self development, like we run a competition called Youth Speaks, which is public speaking for youngsters, young musician, and we run a variety of competitions as well as support schools in setting up interact clubs.

Richard Nicholson (02:37.813)
public speaking for youngsters, young musicians, and we run a variety of competitions as well as support schools in setting up interact clubs. An interact club is a junior rotary club. So we try to do what the Jesuits did and catch people as early as possible.

Maria Lloyd (02:52.678)
and an interact club is a junior rotary club and so we try to do what the Jesuits did and catch people as early as possible but no it's to give young people as many opportunities as we can. I think that's brilliant and you touched on there like you said the mission to help the youth in particular with that project that you've got going

Richard Nicholson (03:05.597)
young people as many opportunities as we can.

Maria Lloyd (03:20.222)
which obviously that involves a lot of work. didn't realise how collaborative you were initially with schools and establishing a competition to promote. So could you share a bit more on how you actually, how these collaborations started, what you do, how you approach people to get these collaborations going, especially something like that, which I imagine is a year on year competition and takes a lot of work and planning. Yeah, I mean,

Richard Nicholson (03:48.181)
Yeah, I mean, we've established over the years, we've established contacts with different schools, different establishments. And that's by going out into the community using our contacts. I mean, within the club, have teachers, so we have some links into schools so we can use those links. We publicize our activities as best we can.

Maria Lloyd (03:49.4)
We've established over the years, we've established contacts with different schools, different establishments. And that's by going out into the community, using our contacts. mean, within the club, have teachers, we have some links into schools so we can use those links. We publicise our activities as best we can through various media channels.

Richard Nicholson (04:15.541)
through various media channels. But the most successful route to form those collaborations is by getting out, speaking to people, visiting schools, talking to children, talking to teachers, and talking to really anybody that would listen to us that might have an interest in what it is that we're doing.

Maria Lloyd (04:19.374)
But the most successful route to make that, to form those collaborations is by getting out, speaking to people, visiting schools, talking to children, talking to teachers, and talking to really anybody that would listen to us that might have an interest in what it is that we're doing. Fascinating. And what sort of things when you have these conversations with different members of the community,

What sort of feedback are you getting? Are they in need of help with particular activities or is there something else that they need help with or focuses that they have? Yeah, it can vary. mean, for public speaking, then it's a competition. And if we can persuade people that the public speaking is a useful skill for anybody to have, then it's quite an easy conversation to have with people.

Richard Nicholson (04:56.123)
Yeah, it can vary. mean, for public speaking, then it's a competition. And if we can persuade people that the public speaking is a useful skill for anybody to have, then it's quite an easy conversation to have with people. Convincing people that Rotarians can help them with, for instance, interview skills.

Maria Lloyd (05:16.238)
convincing people that Rotariums can help them with, for instance, interview skills, helping pupils prepare themselves for the world of work by going through a mock interview. We've done that on many occasions and people find that useful. But what we try to be is flexible so that we can offer something that people want.

Richard Nicholson (05:25.141)
you know, helping pupils prepare themselves for the world of work by going through a mock interview. We've done that on many occasions and people find that useful. But what we try to be is flexible so that we can offer something that people want. I'll give you an example that we do our club does work up at Camp Mohawk, which is a

Maria Lloyd (05:46.362)
I'll give you an example that we do our club does work up at Camp Mohawk which is a facility above Wardrobe. Actually should I say this at that again? Please, yeah. Yeah, sorry. One of the, an example I can give is Camp Mohawk that we do activities with, sorry, we start that again.

Richard Nicholson (05:54.933)
facility above Wargrave. Actually, should I say this at that again? Yeah, sorry. But you have to one of the an example I can give is Camp Mohawk that we do activities with. Sorry, we start that again. One example I can give is Camp Mohawk, which is a camp just above Wargrave.

Maria Lloyd (06:16.701)
One example I can give is Camp Mohawk, which is a camp just above Wargrave that helps children with various learning needs. And we've spent time up there clearing leaves, planting crocuses, generally tidying the site up so we can be flexible and do things that will be useful, that we can add some value.

Richard Nicholson (06:24.424)
that helps children with various learning needs. And we've spent time up there clearing leaves, planting crocuses, generally tidying the site up. So we can be flexible and do things that will be useful, that we can add some value, but be useful to the people that are running the place.

Maria Lloyd (06:46.552)
but be useful to the people that are running the place. That's really good. I I love this idea of your focus on the youth because it's something that I've come across in different community groups, as I've explained to you before. They tend to be an older generation, but actually younger people working with older people, I think is such a beneficial relationship because like you said, you can teach them certain life skills that they're going to need in order to get through life and excel and do well.

but then likewise they have a different perspective which can be really useful for older people especially in how to communicate or just that useful energy I guess. So that's a really interesting focus. Do you have any comments on that? Yeah, well I can give an example. of the schools that we work with is Winnershire Primary School.

Richard Nicholson (07:33.959)
Yeah, well, I can give an example. One of the schools that we work with is Winner's Primary School. And a couple of our older members helped them run an interact club at the school. And the two guys out of there, won't mind me saying, are more of our elder statesmen within the club.

Maria Lloyd (07:44.448)
and a couple of our older members helped them run an interactive club at the school. And the two guys out of there, won't mind me saying, are more of our elder statesmen with the club. And they come away from those sessions with the primary school children really very excited, very energized by the fact that these groups are getting stuck into various exercises and.

Richard Nicholson (08:00.277)
And they come away from those sessions with the primary school children really very excited, very energized by the fact that these groups are getting stuck into various exercises and activities. And it's beneficial from, you know, it benefits both parties that they share their experience and expertise, but they get a lot of fulfillment and energy coming back over from the children.

Maria Lloyd (08:14.304)
activities. And it's beneficial from, you know, it benefits both parties that they share their experience and expertise, but they get a lot of fulfilment and energy coming back over from the children. that's wonderful. Such a good project to do. Now, it seems like you've cracked that nut. You're engaging with younger people. That's good. What challenges have you faced in the group and how have you overcome them over the years?

Richard Nicholson (08:43.06)
I mean our key challenge is always is membership is maintaining a level of membership so it's important that we don't become too stale and too set in our ways. need, I think as any organisation, need regular, know, new people coming in with new ideas, questioning some of the things that we're doing and

Maria Lloyd (08:44.494)
I mean, our key challenge is always is membership is maintaining a level of membership. So it's important that we don't become too stale and too set in our ways. need, I think as any organization, we need regular, new people coming in with new ideas, questioning some of the things that we're doing and coming to better.

Richard Nicholson (09:11.572)
you know, coming to better ways of operating. So getting new members is always a challenge. And, you know, we use any mechanism that we can to put ourselves out there so people know that we exist. And I know we talked in our previous conversation about how service clubs like Rotary, you know, are not that fashionable these days. But we've got to

Maria Lloyd (09:13.506)
better ways of operating. So getting new members is always a challenge. And we use any mechanism that we can to put ourselves out there so people know that we exist. I know we talked in our previous conversation about how service clubs like Rotary are not that fashionable these days. we've got to, we...

Richard Nicholson (09:41.649)
we believe that it's one of those fashions that will come back and you know as people as a result of Covid disappeared into their bedrooms behind their screens you know people will come back out again and mix socially and Rotary is an opportunity to have that experience and you know work face to face with you know as we said before like-minded people.

Maria Lloyd (09:42.35)
believes that it's one of those fashions that will come back. as people, as a result of COVID, disappeared into their bedrooms behind their screens, people will come back out again and mix socially. And Rotary is an opportunity to have that experience and work face to face with, as we said before, like-minded people.

Yes, that was one of the points that you mentioned before that I really latched onto because although I love ancient history, things come in waves, they go out fashion, they come into fashion, but I've never really thought of people withdrawing a bit as something that was just a trend. So yes, people are becoming more insulin and there'll be a point where people are more social again. So yes, I think that's a really interesting way of looking at it. So from that perspective, it's just trying to weather as much as you can.

next few years until people want to actually start communicating with others again and socializing because there's a real benefit to it. There's a real benefit and I mean having said that we our club particularly you know we've had two new members in the last in the last month you know and it's again they bring different experiences and you know we we so we I wouldn't want to give the impression that we we're desperate we're

Richard Nicholson (10:45.364)
They're a benefit. I mean, having said that, at our club, particularly, we've had two new members in the last month. it's, again, they bring different experiences. so I wouldn't want to give the impression that we're desperate. We're not desperate, but we are keen for people to come and join us and enjoy what we've been enjoying for a number of years.

Maria Lloyd (11:06.542)
We're not desperate, but we are keen for people to come and join us and enjoy what we've been enjoying for a number of years. And I think that's a sign of a good group really. You've got to constantly be looking to develop and try new things because if you wait until the point you need it, then there's a problem. You need to be constantly putting yourself out there. Yes, absolutely. Now you mentioned before you work on some amazing projects. How would you actually market what you do and promote them?

Richard Nicholson (11:27.398)
Yes, absolutely, absolutely.

Richard Nicholson (11:37.3)
Well, I could give an example at the moment that we're working on. We've got our charity art and craft fair coming up at the end of October at Leighton Park School. And we're keen to market ourselves to the artist community. So we get lots of entries, lots of paintings to hang. But we're equally keen to market ourselves to the

Maria Lloyd (11:38.237)
Well, I could give an example at the moment that we're working on. We've got our charity art and craft fair coming up at the end of October at Leighton Park School. And we're keen, well, we're keen to market ourselves to the artist community. So we get lots of entries, lots of paintings to hang. But we're equally keen to market ourselves to the...

Richard Nicholson (12:05.639)
the public to come along and look at the art and hopefully buy some of it. So our main channels, we've developed these over the years using social media as much as we can. But good old fashioned leaflets and leaflet drops are equally successful. We have in the past, and I think we're to be able to do it this year,

Maria Lloyd (12:06.062)
public to come along and look at the art and hopefully buy some of it. So our main channels, and we've developed these over the years using social media as much as we can. But good old fashioned leaflets and leaflet drops are equally successful. We have in the past, and I think we're going to be able to do it this year,

Richard Nicholson (12:34.791)
had the electronic advertising display at Reading Station giving us a plug or giving us an advertising space. So that's something that catches a lot of people. But also word of mouth we find is useful to let people know what's happening. we get that, get, sorry, I'm rambling a bit here.

Maria Lloyd (12:35.07)
the electronic advertising display at Reading Station giving us a plug or giving us an advertising space. that's something that catches a lot of people. But also word of mouth we find is useful to let people know what's happening and we get that. Sorry I'm rambling a bit here.

Richard Nicholson (13:04.605)
Can I say that, to say that bit again? Yes, we rely on word of mouth as well because we get quite a few people in our network. We've used sort of newspapers, newspaper adverts, but I think that we've realized now is a dying medium, but it's one that gets less.

Maria Lloyd (13:04.758)
Can I say that bit again? Yes, we rely on word of mouth as well because we get quite a few people in our network. We've used sort of newspaper adverts, but I think that we've realised now is a dying medium, but it's one that gets less...

Richard Nicholson (13:33.267)
less response than we've had before. But we've, think in the in the past four or five years we've developed our sort of marketing activity a lot more that you know Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, things that were a bit foreign to a lot of us you know we are all quite familiar with them now and and how we operate.

Maria Lloyd (13:33.486)
less response than we've had before. I think in past four or five years we've developed our sort of marketing activity a lot more, but you know Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, things that were a bit foreign to a lot of us, you know we are all quite familiar with them now and how we operate.

Amazing. Well, that goes back to what we said before about being able to adapt to new conditions. Yes. Yeah. Now, on the back of that, is there anything that you think you would benefit from training per se in order to help the group develop and fulfill your mission? I think I'll stick with social media to start with. We are quite...

Richard Nicholson (14:06.343)
Yes, yeah, yeah.

Richard Nicholson (14:18.611)
I think I'll stick with social media to start with. We are quite okay from the technical point of view that we can upload our posts, our information, put in our comments for Twitter and all of those types of activities. But the general marketing skills and presenting

Maria Lloyd (14:27.98)
okay from the technical point of view that we can upload our posts, our information, put in our comments for Twitter and all of those types of activities, but general marketing skills and presenting the work in a most attractive way possible would be something we could learn from.

Richard Nicholson (14:46.419)
the work in a most attractive way possible would be something we could learn from. Because we classify ourselves as willing amateurs at the moment, rather than professionals in what we do. So I think that would be one of the key parts of training. I think...

Maria Lloyd (14:54.826)
because we classify ourselves as willing amateurs at the moment rather than professionals in what we do. So I think that would be one of the key parts of training. The second area I think would be around general marketing.

Richard Nicholson (15:15.987)
Excuse me. Yeah. The second area, I think, would be around general marketing. We think we've got a good product to sell or to engage the public with. It's how we do that most effectively. We're enthusiastic. We'll put a lot of effort in.

Maria Lloyd (15:24.972)
We think we've got a good product to sell or to engage the public with. It's how we do that most effectively. We're enthusiastic, we put a lot of effort in. Maybe we put effort into things that aren't the most productive and I think we can learn the skills better of marketing and...

Richard Nicholson (15:41.541)
maybe we put effort into things that aren't the most productive and I think we can learn the skills better of marketing and tuning our efforts to the right places.

Maria Lloyd (15:52.526)
tuning our efforts to the right places. Thank you for sharing that, Richard. Yes, that's really, I think that's the same for a lot of businesses and people, to be honest, because social media is so important in the fact that it's free. Anyone can do it, but there's so much information out there. So unless you spend hours and hours educating yourself, posting, interacting, it can be very daunting. So yeah, I think that's a very, very common one. Now,

You, we've mentioned all the amazing work that you do and we haven't mentioned any figures. Last time you said a couple of figures which really struck me with how much you've actually raised which I think really shows that you you're just one group working what you've actually contributed. Do you have any figures you can share with everyone? Yeah I mean as a club we've been around for over 35 years and we've done a rough calculation that we've raised in those 35 years more than

Richard Nicholson (16:39.443)
Yeah, mean, as a club, we've been around for over 35 years and we've done a rough calculation that we've raised in those 35 years more than three quarters of a million pounds. So more than, you know, £750,000. So that's quite a figure. Okay, so over a long period of time. But that's all money raised within the community.

Maria Lloyd (16:51.502)
quarter of a million pounds, so more than you know 750,000 pounds so that's quite a figure okay so over a long you know a long period of time. But that's all money raised within the community. Specifically things that we've done we from our art fair that I previously mentioned we buy meals

Richard Nicholson (17:09.683)
Specifically things that we've done, from our art fair that I previously mentioned, we buy meals that we can distribute to, as I said, food banks and share schemes. And over the past three years, we've distributed 7,000 meals to various organizations to pass on to people that will benefit from them.

Maria Lloyd (17:20.248)
that we can distribute to, as I said, food banks and share schemes. And over the past three years, we've distributed 7,000 meals to various organizations to pass on to people that will benefit from them.

I mean, that is incredible. think it just goes to show, like I said before, the amount of if all these groups in Reading are doing that, that is a big help. And that is money being raised in Reading, but it's going towards the local community, isn't it? I believe that Whitley is a focus because you're in South Reading, but also central, I believe. Yeah, we've we've worked with Cirdic, which is the church drop-in centre in the centre of Reading.

Richard Nicholson (18:01.299)
Yeah, we've worked with SIRDIC, which is the church drop-in centre in the centre of Reading, to support them in a number of projects, providing food for them and clothes and a variety of things over the years. Also the Wycliffe Centre as well in central Reading, which provides a food service for

Maria Lloyd (18:11.886)
to support them in a number of projects providing food for them and clothes and a variety of things over the years. Also the the Wycliffe Centre as well in Central Reading which provides a food, a food service for the needy and in some cases homeless people. So we've done we've done work there. So yeah it's it's a variety.

Richard Nicholson (18:30.61)
the needy and in some cases homeless people. So we've done work there. So yeah, it's a variety. In Whitley we've provided frozen meals and again supported a food bank there as well as in Whitley and in Earley as well.

Maria Lloyd (18:41.038)
in Whitley we've provided frozen meals and again supported food bank there as well as in Woodley and in Earley as well. That's wonderful it's really good to be giving back to the local community. So what's what is there going forwards for Maiden Erlegh Rotary Club? What are your plans for the future? What do you intend to do? Well we'd start off with more of the same

Richard Nicholson (19:04.976)
Well, we'd start off with more of the same. We intend to keep our food activities going because, unfortunately, it would be nice to say we don't need to do that anymore, but there's group or proportion of people that still need and benefit from the food banks and the share schemes.

Maria Lloyd (19:10.478)
we intend to keep our food activities going because unfortunately it would be nice to say we don't need to do that anymore but there's a sufficient group or proportion of people that still need and benefit from the food banks and the share schemes but also the youth activities I've mentioned already Youth Speaks, the public speaking competition

Richard Nicholson (19:32.7)
but also the youth activities. I've mentioned already Youth Speaks, the public speaking competition. We are keen to run some other different competitions. Young Musician would be a competition that we would like to get youngsters involved with. There's a Young Environmentalist competition that we'd like to get involved because I think it's...

Maria Lloyd (19:38.902)
We are keen to run some other different competitions, young musicians, the competition that we would like to get youngsters involved with. There's a young environmentalist competition that we'd like to get involved with because I think it's the environment, climate, know, are issues that are very current and are becoming even more important.

Richard Nicholson (20:00.997)
the environment, climate, you know, are issues that are very current and are becoming even more important. And the more that we could help or promote people and young people to think about those issues, the better they're not going to go away. So we'd like to put more effort into that. And also within schools provide, you know,

Maria Lloyd (20:08.994)
more that we could help or promote people and young people to think about those issues, the better they're not going to go away. So we'd like to put more effort into that. And also within schools provide a different opportunity like our interact clubs, are junior rotary clubs. But again, just to...

Richard Nicholson (20:29.734)
a different opportunity like our interact clubs, which are junior rotary clubs. But again, just to give some sense of community within the young people and help to develop them and they'll make their choices in life as they grow up. But if we can help in any way as they develop, then we'd be very grateful to do that.

Maria Lloyd (20:38.84)
give some sense of community within the young people and help to develop them. And they'll make their choices in life as they grow up. But if we can help in any way as they develop, then we'd be very grateful to do that. Well, it sounds like all your 35 members will be kept busy for the next few years at least, Richard. I think there will be, yes. So are there any final thoughts that you'd like to leave our listeners with today?

Richard Nicholson (20:59.184)
I think there will be, yes.

Richard Nicholson (21:07.538)
Let me just, sorry, check my.

Maria Lloyd (21:09.71)
No, please check.

Richard Nicholson (21:16.103)
Yeah.

Maria Lloyd (21:16.29)
Yeah.

Richard Nicholson (21:19.324)
think the key thing about Rotary and if it's successful and hopefully we have had success over the years is that being part of the community, we're not exclusive, we are not a group apart from anybody else, we are part of the community wanting to do things in the community and the only way we can do that really is

Maria Lloyd (21:19.522)
think the key thing about rotary and if it's successful and hopefully we have had success over the years is that being part of the community, we're not exclusive, we are not a group apart from anybody else, we are part of the community wanting to do things in the community and the only way we can do that really is

Richard Nicholson (21:49.189)
looking for opportunities and people letting us know things that we can help with. And over the years we have picked up a lot of things where it wasn't a need that we were aware existed, but we have been able to, once we were aware of it, have been able to get involved, not necessarily in terms of money or finance, but in terms of work, clearing somebody's garden that needed to be done.

Maria Lloyd (21:49.398)
looking for opportunities and people letting us know things that we can help with. And over the years we have picked up a lot of things where it wasn't a need that we were aware existed but we have been able to, once we were aware of it, been able to get involved, not necessarily in terms of money or finance but in terms of work, clearing somebody's garden that needed to be done.

Richard Nicholson (22:18.31)
because of illness or disability, painting, a variety of things have happened over the years. We are generally able-bodied and can do things. So our big wish is to be part and be involved as much as we can in the community.

Maria Lloyd (22:18.508)
because of illness or disability, painting, a variety of things that happened over the years. You know, we are generally able bodied and can do things. you know, our big wish is to be part and be involved as much as we can in the community. I think that's a great final message, Richard. I think it just goes to show that anyone can use that really, whatever you want to do, wherever you're

mission is, whether it was personal part of a group, you need to put it out there because if people don't know you're there or what you do, they won't be sending information your way. So you need to tell as many people as possible. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Richard, thank you so much for your time today. I really enjoyed this as I did last time. And yeah, good luck with everything at Rotary Club in Maiden Erlegh. Absolutely. Thanks, Maria. Lovely to speak to you.

Richard Nicholson (22:58.298)
Absolutely. Yeah, yeah

Richard Nicholson (23:09.074)
That's lovely. Thanks Maria. Lovely to speak to you.

Maria Lloyd (23:13.747)
There we go. What did you think, Richard?

Richard Nicholson (23:16.783)
good.