The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
This Week's Bulletin
Bulletin 2,008 - 13th May 2004
WELCOME TO ROCKLAND VISITORS
President Neville welcomed 15 visiting Rotarians from Maine, USA, led by Bill Maddox and his mother Mary. Sadly Ed. Sleeper having recently died, his wife chose not to join the party. Their club has 100 members and Ken Gricus has been DG Rep 3 times and has had 28 years of perfect attendance. He says it is easier to make up now that this is allowed one week before and one week after. Bill Maddox thanked us for our warmth and hospitality and handed over a very generous cheque for $3,000 for the water project in Tanzania.
REV DR RUSSELL BARR, Cramond Kirk
Russell formally invited all to attend a service on Sunday, stating that this would be in the Presbyterian tradition and all are welcome from whatever faith, or of no faith.
Silver Tongued Star JACK AITKEN
Well done Jack. By all accounts you gave a marvellous commentary on the bus, assisted by clippie Sandra Campbell. All the Rockland visitors I spoke to were delighted and our own members also. George Holmes, in particular, waxed lyrical; as did Pres. Neville, who reminded us that Mrs Jean Thomson Harris, wife of the Rotary founder Paul Harris, was born in Comely Bank, buried in Newington cemetery and whose house in Chicago was called "Comely Bank."
DRESS FOR ROCKLAND VISIT
First prize to Colin Mackay, resplendent in the kilt; second to Linda Gilmore, complete with tartan bow tie; and worth a mention was Treas. Alan Young, our accountant with a smile, who won the worst tie contest - easily.
ATTENDANCE 98
Members 79, Visiting Rotarians 15, Guests 4.
This large attendance was particularly gratifying as it was a charity
lunch and the Balmoral kindly returns 50% of the takings, £686 in
this case. Visitors included DGE of 1230 John McLaren, whose District
is organising a reciprocal visit of Rotarians from Tuscon, Arizona in
June; they will come to us on 10th - after a Jack Aitken topless bus tour.
Alberto Santandreu had been to all Madrid clubs. Rev. Canon David Rimmer
had made up. Neville thanked the curling club for their invitation to
dinner, where he presented the prizes. He had also visited Aberdeen, our
2nd oldest daughter club.
LINDA GILMORE, INT'L SERVICE
Linda congratulated Malcolm Wylie, of whom more anon., for an excellent programme, fostering the twinning with Rockland. She thanked them for the marvellous cheque for $3,000, which took us up to $9,000; District and Foundation would be approached for matching funds to help with the water project. Tanzania was born in 1969 as a merger of Tanganyka and Zanzibar. (Africa uses lots of ZZs). It is home to the Zerengeti National Park and Mt Kilimanjaro. Machimbo is a shanty town of 15,000 people, outside Dar es Salaam. It has no sanitation or clean water and most of the children have permanent diarrhoea. Our funds will help Water Aid sink a bore hole and provide a water tank. Our link is Ian Urquhart's daughter, a teacher there.
Paul Harris Fellow MALCOLM WYLIE
A Fellowship is given for outstanding service to Rotary. Malcolm joined in 1979, has been on the Council as Classification Officer and serves on the ISC (International Service Committee). He is a past captain of the Curling Club, is a Methodist preacher and has planned this Rockland visit meticulously. President Neville had very much pleasure in bestowing this honour onto Malcolm. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to The Very Rev. Bill Johnston's grand-daughter, now a BA pilot.
WYLKEDIN GOLF, CARNOUSTIE
Vice Captain David Hay scored 91-18=73 & Alan Hately 100-17=83 on the Burnside; James Mason 85-8=77 & Scott Pentleton 75-4=71 (best scratch!!) on Championship course; our lowest 3 net scores totalled 221 (Aberdeen Balgownie won with 216). Alex Wilkie's grandfather presented this trophy when he was our President in 1918, hence the name Wylk and Edin, their telegraphic address.
QMUC - WHAT'S COOKING DANCE
Jacqueline Easson thanked Alistair Risk for organising this event again. Around £600 was made and the evening was a good night for fellowship and bonding (the latest in-word). Currie B will be in charge next year.
RECEPTION DUTIES Sandra Campbell
Having received a call from Drew Wightman requesting my presence early to receive the Rockland visitors, I found myself walking past the Café Royal at 10 a.m.; I heard revellers in a pub. called Penny Black, which I discovered opens every morning at 6 a.m!! Even earlier than the bar at the airport to steady the nerves.