The Rotary Club of Edinburgh

This Week's Bulletin

Bulletin 1,993 - 29nd January 2004

FRAE THE TOPPLY TABLE

Secy. John drew attention to the 1020 District Magazine with 2 pages re Edinburgh. Treas. Alan Young asked for details of creditors for the annual accounts and any exceptional expenditure anticipated for next year's budget. £1,000 gift had been made for the Tanzanian Water Project, bringing the total to £3,000. A-Secy Robin noted that 11 had signed up for the Aberdeen conference 29-31 Oct. Earlybirds would get into Conference Hotel.

ATTENDANCE, Melinda Wallace 74

Back to our more normal attendance. Members 68; Guests 1, Visiting Rotarians 5: from Musselburgh Pres. Jimmy Raitt, PP Robin Tatler, VP Harper Cuthbert and James Peace (be with you, not Jeely). Jimmy thanked us for the gift of a visitors' book, stating that our gift of the same for their 25th was nearly finished, so this one should last till the 75th. Visits away included Fred Edwards to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Jomtien, Thailand also Neville and Elisabeth to the Glasgow Burns Supper.

MUSSELBURGH 50TH Charter Dinner

Our club was represented by Pres. Neville and Elisabeth, PP Graeme Forbes, David Henderson and yours truly Fred Lawson. The speakers included Pres. Jimmy Raitt (Watsons), DG Ian Geddes of Tranent (Heriots), Lord Cameron of Loch Broom (Ed. Academy) and Gordon McInally of S. Queensferry (RHS), who will be RIBI Pres., at age 46, in the Rotary Centenary Year. We wish him lots of luck and he has our support.

WHEN IS THE 23RD THE 19TH?

When you play golf at Muirfield with Fergus Gillies, Jack Aitken and Ronnie Sinclair. A freezing cold NE wind had us with layers of sweaters, except Fergus who sported an open necked summer shirt. Fergus and Fred lost at the 4th hole of sudden death, i.e. the 22nd. We had the usual fantastic lunch and excellent claret. £20 each for the day. Not bad value! And there were ladies playing the course.

GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE

Jacqueline Easson has details of GSE programmes open to non Rotarians aged 25-40. Available in USA, Canada, Brazil, India, Russia and Australia. Centred around Adelaide District 9520, the Oz. trip is for 1 month in April 2005. Something for the kids?

VPE JUDITH SISCHY, PLANNING

"It was wonderful to receive Bill Barr's presentation on the many charitable activities undertaken by club members. When the Long Range Planning Group met, we suggested an audit of this nature. Little did we know it would produce such an impressive array of activities. Well done all concerned. What better tool for encouraging new members?"

International Golfing Fellowship

Life membership of IGFR is $150 to Jack Bushong, 2622 Gerol Court, Galveston, Texas 77551. Club members include Fred Lawson, Ronnie Sinclair and our South African Trophy winner Alex Wilkie. The 2004 Championship is May 17-21 at Charlotte, N. Carolina, cost $1,978. 2005 Queensland, 2006 Turkey, 2007 Manila. The 50th Rotary Open at St Andrews is June 13-17th 2004. Scotland needs you. See Alan Hately, Sports Officer. Handicap certificates required, up to 2 months old only.

Miss Joy Blakney, Leprosy Mission

Joy was born in Argyll, worked in Bridge of Earn Hospital as an Occupational Therapist and had a stint abroad with VSO. She is now in charge of 5 establishments for Capability Scotland (previously Scottish Council for Spastics). In Feb. Joy went on a sponsored trek in Nepal and visited a hospital in Kathmandu. Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) is from a bacillus passed on by coughing and sneezing. There are 600,000 new cases a year in lesser developed countries, notably India. 95% of the world is immune, but millions are suffering. It is unpreventable but treatable with MDT for up to 2 years (Multi Drug Therapy). 11 million have been cured and are no longer infectious, but the stigma remains. The leprosy mission has 2,300 field staff and a £12 million budget. Early detection can result in a cure, but rehabilitation is required to get over the rejection of the "untouchables". Loans are provided to buy livestock or stock for a shop. In the west we complain if we wait 30 minutes for a bus. In India, a woman walked for 30 days just to get to a bus.
Rev. Andrew Anderson thanked Joy for being an excellent replacement for John McConnell, who was now in better health.
Spanish Paying Guest To Learn English
Alberto Santandreu asks if anyone, preferably with teenage children, could take a 17 yr old girl, Blanca from Valencia, for July 2004. 0034616 606406 [Email address available - not shown on website]

FUND RAISING COMMITTEE

All requests should go through the FRC. Details needed include aims, funding, and timing. Forms are available from Secy John. To raise the funds, members preferences include Wine Tasting, Antiques Night, Dinner, Race Night, Charity Ball and Golf