The Rotary Club of Edinburgh

This Month's News

Bulletin 1959 - 31st July 2003
Bulletin 1958 - 24th July 2003
Bulletin 1957 - 17th July 2003
Bulletin 1956 - 10th July 2003
Bulletin 1955 - 3rd July 2003

Bulletin 1959 - 31st July 2003

LAST WEEK

President Neville's Rotary grace reminded us to live less for ourselves and more to serve.

ATTENDANCE 79

Members 73
Visitors 5
Guests 1

Visitors included Neil Scholes, a surgeon from Adelaide, who is to be in Edinburgh for 6 months (please let him know if you can help with accommodation); also Robin Tatler IPP Musselburgh; and a regular - Paul Grace from Murrayfield Cramond.

Our own member Paul Watton has been as far afield as Seattle and Perth (Scotland).

DISTRICT GOVERNOR Ian Geddes

President Neville welcomed the new DG Ian Geddes from Tranent and wished him well in his year of office. Ian is a Herioter, and has taught French and Spanish at Loretto and now at Watsons. He joined Rotary in 1991 and has had a meteoric rise. He is the recorder at Lufness Golf Club, as Andrew Aikman will know.

Ian reminded us of the RI President's dream team - an acronym for "together everybody achieves more". He stated that our RIBI President Brian Stoyel in Plymouth calls his 29 DGs Pilgrims. This year's theme is "Lend a hand." To alleviate poverty he asked for donations of old clothing for the Bethany Trust. For better health he asked that no one smoked at meetings. For the vulnerable he thanked Jinty Kerr for taking on the job of District Protection Officer. He told us that Rotary has the largest non Governmental Foundation in the world.

On recruitment, Ian set a goal of 4 new members per club; one obvious source being women. In Tranent, every major enterprise now has a lady in charge and we should tap this pool of expertise. Another good source is from Interact clubs. These are a fundamental way to world understanding, peace and 2 way communication.

Ian told us of the Sunday Post's assistance and stated that if every club followed the example of Leith who donated £1,000, then with 190 clubs in Scotland, the total would be some £200,000. They generated this by fining the Scotland/Canada golfers for various misdemeanors. (how friendly!) Children's Hospice in Scotland is our preferred project.

Ian thanked Dick Allen for his leadership as District International chairman and noted our efforts for Tanzania.

Our DG then pointed out the jar of marmalade at each seat, kindly donated by Tiptrees of Essex. Eat the contents and then ask for donations to fill it up - with cash preferably. £10 per jar would bring in £1 million over the whole UK.

President Neville thanked Ian and pointed out that the Club now had a Protection Officer as well, namely Colin Mackay.

FUNDRAISING

Derek Pape reminds us that he accepts stamps which raise money for the JCF. More on this later.

YOUNG BLOOD FOR COUNCIL

We welcome Mike Berry on the council as our Public Relations Man. Any ideas to him. Talking about youngsters, I haven't heard from Fred Ainslie for a while. Did you know Fred that we paid £2,860 for a half year to RIBI and £1,562 to District for a full year.

TIT BITS and NEWS PLEASE

to editor lawsonfred@waitrose.com. Next Thursday my able assistant David Thomson will receive info. Ian Geddes says that we gave £106 marmalade money to Rotary Foundation, an excellent result. Eat up, fill up.

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Keith Frost referred to last week's comments on Scouts. Our member, Torvald Colliander, the Swedish Consul, came to Bonaly as a scout, years ago and is now a Rotarian; another connection with a service organisation. Apologies to Jim Brown, omitted from the list of VPs of the Scouts. Sorry, Jim.

DINNER at ARMY HQ Tue 5th Aug.

Bill Barr, Vocational Service, announces that this is very popular and is nearly sold out.

OUR SILK ROTARY BANNER

Sandra Campbell wishes to give it some TLC as it is beginning to look a bit the worse for wear. Can anyone help? Please speak to Sandra or Secretary John Havard.

THE FOUR WAY TEST

Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

DUSHERRE FESTIVAL

It is festival time shortly and Mohindra Dhall tells me of "Ramaya" recounting the victory of good over evil, where Rama kills the demon king Ravana to liberate his wife. He also told me disturbing news of 11 Heriot Watt students conned out of £1,000 each, on being promised work permits in IT, which never materialised.

Bulletin 1958 - 24th July 2003

LAST WEEK

President Neville gave a grace from the Women's Institute of Canada. Secretary John Havard asked members to complete the hotel questionnaire in view of the disquiet over the rise in the price of lunches to £14.

ATTENDANCE

Visitors came from California and Slovakia and also included a regular Valerie Prentice from Brisbane. President Neville wondered if she could be co-opted during her time in Edinburgh as she was a keen supporter.

PP Peter Wilson visited Braids where he discovered that our VP Bill Cantley was speaking on the Cockburn Society.

UNWELL

Greetings were sent to Gerry Cowie.

LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER

Margaret Semple, IPP Inner Wheel, spoke with a depth of feeling about her experiences in Africa. As a newly qualified teacher, she married at 23, only to be whisked off on her first trip furth of Scotland. Husband David had got an appointment as an education officer in Africa.

They sailed on the SS Braemar to Cape Town and Margaret was the pianist at Sunday services, her speciality being "Perils on the sea". In South Africa she was abhorred by Apartheid and the separation of the blacks. They then had a 5 day trip by train to Ndola on the copper belt. Dressed in high heels and stockings, she found the trip through the Kimberley diamond mines and over the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi, rather hot and sweaty.

Next, the drive on red laterite rutted tracks and a ferry across a river infested with crocodiles and hippos, led to her house - a tin hut with no electricity in the middle of the bush. Luxury came in the form of a fridge driven by paraffin. Headquarters was Salisbury.
However, Northern Rhodesia grew on her, with such highlights as a visit from the Governor General, Lord Dalhousie, in full uniform and plumed hat, wearing gym shoes, (because some of his luggage had not arrived) and Margaret playing the National Anthem on an old piano.

Then came the "winds of change" in 1964 and the independent state of Zambia was born. Things were not quite the same.

PP Peter Wilson remembered his trip to Uganda, also sailing on the SS Braemar. He recounted the tale of his visit from a Governor when the National Anthem was played every time he left his room - which was regularly on his first night, as he felt rather unwell. He thanked Margaret for her excellent discourse.

ATTENDANCE

It is sad to see long standing members leaving us. As some have done a great deal over many years, it seems a pity we could not be lenient, giving them permanent leave of absence. Unsung heroes in this category include Derek Ferguson, Ray Pia and John Gibb who did the Ranfurley Library. Congratulations to Nigel Watt as the new assistant manager at Gullane Golf Club, however, we will miss you.

FUNDRAISING

What a great job Ed Lucas did with his smarties' tubes. Our treasurer Alan Young tells me that to carry £833.70 in coins in shopping bags to find a bank that will accept them on a hot summers day, is quite a task. Well done Ed and Alan.

COMMENTS

Thank you Watson Forbes for your kind comments about my phraseology and the more informal newsletter. Jim Murray set a high standard and it is nice to know someone out there is reading these pearls. What has happened to your technicolour dream jacket you used to wear Watson?

Info. Etc. to editor please:

Fred Lawson,

Tel 0131 653 0250

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

It struck me that we have a lot of links with other service organisations. For instance we have 5 VPs in the Scouts, viz. Fred Ainslie, Keith Frost, Ed Lucas, Colin Mackay and Gordon Sims.

DINNER ARMY HQ Tue 5th Aug.

Don't miss this grand function! National Dress, Uniforms, Evening Dresses with medals and the grandeur of the Army HQ, coupled with wine and a super menu for only £25; this will be an evening of fellowship not to be forgotten. Contact Bill Barr, Vocational Service. (I have a difficult choice, as my mother's 90th birthday takes place that same day)

CHARITY LUNCH Jacqueline Easson

On 11th Sept, a share will go towards Challenge Enterprise.

Bulletin 1957 - 17th July 2003

RECEPTION GROUPS

Many have commented on how much more friendly the welcome has become, now that it is before you get into the inner sanctum and the request for £14 for lunch.

WEBSITE

[Lifted from bulletin!] www.edinburghrotary.org gets you into a pandora's box. The bulletin is e-mailed to Paramount Printers and to the web page each week. There are also photos of members at work and at play.

LAST WEEK

President Neville gave a grace relevant to troubles worldwide, based on one from the girl guides. He expressed condolences to Wally Udin, Consul General for Bangladesh, on the ferry disaster where 400 died.

Secretary John Havard reminded those Council members not attending the next meeting on Monday 14 July to give him a written report or send a replacement.

LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER

Our own member, Richard Philip, gave us a run down of his experiences as a vet. With qualifications from London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, he started in practice in the UK and then in New Zealand, moving on to join the Ministry of Overseas Development, working in exotic parts of the globe. His latest engagement was on foot and mouth control in Cumbria in 2002.

Although from a line of medics, he decided on being a vet, because animals cannot answer back; he found out that they can bite and kick! The doctor's first comment is to ask what is wrong with you, animals cannot. The most important thing is to have a rapport as animals can smell fear. Watch the animal's eyes and be bold. Walk smartly towards fierce dogs and take charge, don't run as they can outrun you. Richard stated that psychology was important. After stitching up the abdomen of a gorilla, he wound sticky tape round its leg. When it came round, it spent days on the sticky tape and didn't scratch its tummy. Clever!

His worry for the future is that the widening EU might see standards drop as less qualified vets enter the UK.

Fergus Gillies thanked Richard, getting a good response on his mention of camels with the hump and guerrilla tactics.

CURLING

Mel Wilson reminded curlers to give him their questionnaires for the new season and stated that new curlers would be welcome.

GOLF NEWS

The Rotary open at St Andrews was won by Ireland, with Scotland second. Hugh Lees scored a net 150 over the Old and the Eden, thus qualifying for the Scots team. 15 countries were represented with 70 players from Scotland.

The Capitals Quaich was played over Ratho last Wednesday. Capt. Keith Frost led his team to victory: Fred Lawson, Derek Ferguson, Robin White, PP Ritchie Campbell, Alan Hately, VP Bill Cantley and Gerald Goodban beat Dunfermline by 3 ½ to ½. Over the 8 years, the home team has always won and the score is now 4-4.

Next outing at Ratho on Tuesday 29 July 2003. Any golfer welcome.

ATTENDANCE

Visitors came from Osaka, Brisbane, Indiana and New Jersey. Also we welcomed ex member Cedric Sharp of the Salvation Army, now in Lahore.

MEMBERSHIP NOW 157

Numbers have remained steady over the year, with new members matching outgoing members. Apologies to PP George Holmes if he construed that he was failing to retain poor attenders. Au contraire, he does a difficult job well, thanks George. Glad to see the hips are coming along. Golf and fishing soon? Ed.

COMMENTS and CHAT

We are pleased to say that our new Honorary Member, George Brodlie, can still sing for his supper. At his 90th party in the New Club, he raised £300 in lieu of presents and donated this to the Sick Kids. Well done George, you can't keep a good man down.

Stray comments heard by the editor: Tom Willis is not a fan of food cooked in Wales. Murray Donald wonders if top tables are long to stop people sleeping at meetings. David Brown isn't sure about the new lights and thinks the flags should be in proper holders. A source close to Council alleges nothing of interest this week. His secrets are safe with me, until printed.

Bulletin 1956 - 10th July 2003

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Remember that subs paid by 31st July are £105, but thereafter they are £130.

LAST WEEK

President Neville Belton chaired his first meeting. The top table included our own member Paul Watton, i/c Military Police in Scotland, and President Neville gave an apposite grace in view of the sad loss of 6 colleagues in Iraq. Also on high table was Trevor Kyle, a director of Lyon & Turnbull, who was thanked for carrying out a valuation of our effects gratis.

Secretary John Havard promulgated a District membership seminar on Sunday 28 Sept. at Peebles Hydro.

PP Hamish Law and Howard Thomson, Flag Officer IFYR (International, Federation of Yachting Rotarians) attended a regatta at the Royal Tay Yacht Club.

The President handed a Presidential Citation to PP Peter Wilson from DG Maurice Halliday stating that the club had been reborn in his year of office.

The aforementioned Paul Watton is moving to Chichester, but invites Rotarians to a talk at Craigiehall on the Military Police on 5 Aug.

LAST WEEK'S SPEAKER

We were entertained by our own member, Keith Frost, who was asked by our speaker finder, Ian MacLaren, to jump in at short notice. He first spoke 13 years ago to give his views as a new Rotarian, and now he gave his views as an older and wiser one. He reminisced about sponsoring a new club in Kiev and of Liz Macswan serving most effectively as the first Lady President. He commended the new lady members and noted how the club was more proactive and progressive now. He listed several past presidents but, of course, we should note the one who was in office when the ladies were brought in with a 2/3rds majority, namely PP Hamish Law.

Keith's comments on fund raising were provocative, pointing out that Musselburgh raises £6,000 from a golf medal, that Philip Harris raised £20,000 for Sick Kids, Ritchie Campbell £20,000 from a gala dinner in the Sheraton and in Ottawa they make $60,000 from an annual Harley Davidson bike rally.

We are proud that Bob Hyslop did so well with our culinary evening, raising £20,000 for the van in 6 months; Fergus Gillies with the Great Scottish Walk, which raises £680,000 for 100 charities. Also Tim Simpson has shone with Kids Out and its wonderful fellowship at work and play.

Keith also raised the controversial aspect of Paul Harris Fellowships, stating that they should be for achievement rather than just payment of $1,000 to Evanston.

He concluded with one of his own poems about the high Atlas in Morocco.

GOLF NEWS

The Leslie Pringle outing at Biggar was attended by 19, who enjoyed clear skies and excellent conditions.

4th Carol Duffus 40
3rd Derek Ferguson 42
2nd Alex Wilkie 43
1st Graeme Forbes 43 BIH

Better Inward Half

PP Peter and Bunny attended the meal and presented the prizes. Bill Barr was welcomed to his first outing and David Henderson on his return after 8 years absence.

Next outing at Ratho on Tuesday 29 July 2003. All welcome, especially bad golfers and more ladies please to look after Carol Duffus (who actually is looked after very well!)

ATTENDANCE

Our member Feroz Wadia brought greetings from the Flying Rotarians at the Brisbane Convention.

The attendance report for half year to June shows 9 members with a perfect 25 and an overall 59% for all 157 members.

RESIGNATIONS

At the request of PP Alec Wilkie, terminations in the last half year are listed:
Elayne Burley, Dawn Burrows, Richard Field, John Gibb, Michael Lambert, George McMillan, Ray Pia, Bill Rutherford, Ken Smart, Ian Watson. All are counselled by PP George Holmes to encourage retention of membership.

CENTENNIAL BELL

5 bells are circling the globe. Our one started in Chicago on 1st July 2003 and is due in Edinburgh on 12 May 2005, returning to the Chicago Convention on 19th June 2005 (if still on schedule).

ERRATA and COMMENTS

PP Liz states that it is Fare Share. Comments welcome to editor.

Bulletin 1955 - 3rd July 2003

NEW MEMBER

Stewart Hayes Kinsman, BSc FRICS.

Occupation, Chief Executive, Hanover Housing Association.
Spouse, Margaret.
Hobbies etc. Sailing, Nat. History, Wines.
Classification, Housing Association.
Induction Date, 26/06/03
Club Number 170.

LAST WEEK

The death was announced of Ade Majiyabe, wife of RI President Elect Jonathon Majiyabe on 6 June.

Fergus Gillies thanked the 17 members who had assisted in the Great Scottish Walk in which 5000 walkers had taken part.

Members were issued with a sheet from Jack Aitken asking for the names of possible speakers for next session.

Ian Wood of The Scotsman newspaper presented the Leslie Pringle Medals to the winners of the City of Edinburgh Schools Championship organised by Edinburgh Leisure over the Carricknowe Course.

The winners were Stephanie Crolla, Portobello High School with a net score of 71 (80-9), and Bruce Mackay of George Watson's College with a net score of 69 (74-5).

Alan Hately thanked David Kirkwood for both producing the individual medals retained by the young golfers and for sponsoring the medals for the next five years.

The speaker was Nicola Grotlin of Liberton High School, one of the two pupils sponsored by the Club to take part in Challenge Enterprise.

Nicola described how she was one of 40 young people who assembled in Melrose on a Friday evening in March to take part in a varied programme which included presentation skills, learning about the Tourist Industry and Consumer Rights, what Rotary does and discussing whether leaders are born or made.

Sunday was devoted to a big negotiation between management and unions which at times became heated. It convinced Nicola that taking part in such negotiations in the real world was not for her. A project on marketing a product brought home the need to communicate and work with others to get things done.

Nicola concluded by thanking the Club for sponsoring her and saying how much she had benefited.

PRESIDENTIAL HANDOVER

President Peter before handing over the Presidential Chain and Badge spoke of having enjoyed a very happy year in office and of the support he had received from Rotarian colleagues especially the Council and the Convenors and in particular from Secretary John Havard who had kept him on the straight and narrow path.

He mentioned some of the highlights which gave him particular satisfaction; the 90th Anniversary Dinner, the Service at Cramond Kirk, the Burns Supper and Kids Out masterminded for the last time by Tim Simson, the success of Bob Hyslop and his team in getting the refrigerated van for Crisis Fair Share the innovative fund raising event 'Ready Steady Cook', the visit to Rockland by 25 members and partners, the Senior Citizens Outings the production of the Long Range Plan and the establishment of Fund Raising Committee.

He said it had been a great privilege to have been President of the Club and hoped that the same level of support would be offered to incoming President Neville.

President Neville thanked Peter for his kind words and said it was a tremendous privilege to be President. He said that Peter had led by example and had provided firm but democratic leadership and thanked him for all he had given to the Club. He then before presented Peter with his Past President's Badge.

President Neville then inducted Vice President Bill Cantley with his Medal of Office.
President Neville reaffirmed his intention to visit all the 26 daughter clubs and to receive a brief account of their development and to compile the information received in a book that would be available at the time of the Centenary. He looked forward to the visit of the Rockland Club and the efforts of the Fund Raising Committee as we seek to combine fun and fund raising.

Attendance

Members 74
Visitors 2,
Guests 9
Total 85

Other News:

- October  '03
- September '03
- August '03
- July '03
- June '03
- May '03
- April '03
- March '03
- February '03
- January '03
- December '02
- November '02
- October '02
- September '02