The Rotary Club of Edinburgh

Bulletin 2,052 - 31st March 2005

REVIEW

Attendance

Last week there were 66 members and 1 visitor at lunch in the Balmoral. Alan Dickson, our speaker on The Paralympic Movement was able to remind us of the role of Phillip Harris in disabled sports in Scotland.

Notice of the Annual General Meeting

In terms of By-law IV, Section b, the Annual General Meeting of THE ROTARY CLUB OF EDINBURGH will be held on Thursday, 26 May 2005, immediately after lunch (12.30 for 1 p.m.), in the Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Nominations are required for the Nominations Committee for the Rotary year starting on 1 July 2005. Nominations should be signed by the proposed candidate as well as by the Proposer and Seconder and be in the hands of the Club Secretary by Friday, 6 May.

Holyrood Parliament Visit

A tour of the new Parliament Building has been arranged for Thursday 19th May between 6 pm and 8 pm for Rotary members, partners and friends. This is a social visit with an opportunity to view the debating chamber and other important areas of the building and enjoy a wine tasting in the garden lobby.

The aim is to promote the Rotary Club in its centenary year and to highlight the benefit of Rotary to the community, through the Jubilee Charity Fund and the individual effort of members.

President Bill will introduce the evening followed by a short presentation from Lord James Douglas Hamilton MSP. We will also be inviting a cross party list of distinguished MSPs determined by the size of our party.

The cost per person is £14, cheques to Fred Lawson, Judy Kay or John Havard.

FOCUS

Challenge Enterprise

Over the past three years, the Rotary Clubs in our District have joined forces to provide a weekend for senior pupils with a business related agenda. The District arranges residential accommodation for around 50 delegates taken from secondary schools throughout the region. This year they again stayed at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle, by Kincardine.

Tulliallan offers ideal facilities. The study bedrooms for the students include en-suite showers. The catering is appropriate to this age group and there is a good teaching suite of lecture theatre, tutorial rooms and a comfortable breakout space. The delegates sponsored by our own club were Clare Stuart of Broughton High School and Michael McDade of Liberton High School.

The project brings together some diverse Rotary Clubs for an ambitious educational weekend for 5th and 6th form pupils. The aim is to give delegates an insight into various aspects of business and sets challenges, which will help them to develop their confidence and business knowledge. The weekend is a mixture of the following:

• Short lecture/talks from different areas of the business world.
• Group challenges relevant to the business world, stemming from the lectures.
• Business simulation exercises.
• Debates.
• Preparation and delivery of group presentations by the delegates on a business theme.

Our Rotary Club organises the Negotiation exercise taking up Saturday afternoon. Four of us act as facilitators after a talk from John Howison, our leader, to a Union Management scenario written by Wendy Goldstraw. At the end there is a reporting and assessment meeting. We get very good reviews from the students on our input.

PRATTLE

Member Report

Last week we heard the sad news that Loudon Hamilton has died. He was ill for a long period, more or less since he moved to the country. He will be well remembered as an attractive member of the Club. He set up Fresh Start, which he ran for many years. He gave invaluable help on the Kids Out committee where he was kind and quietly efficient. Qualities, which I am sure, he showed throughout his personal and professional life.

Centenary Cook Book

Jacqueline Easson is finalising the illustrations and production of the Centenary Cook Book with Paramount Printers. A team of our members have been hard at work converting measurement to metric and imperial measure, and proof reading the recipe book for the Club. We are now very close to seeing this lavish production in print. We hope that many of you will see this as the solution to Christmas or Birthday presents in the coming year for a modest outlay of £10 per book. (Not bad for a personal gift to the in-laws!)

Senior Citizens Outings

Ian Huggan is looking for Volunteer Drivers and Escorts for the Senior Citizens' Outings. They are to be held, on Tuesday 17th and 24th of May.

We will need about 6 cars on each date for the pensioners, with a driver and an escort, in each car. After a pleasant drive in the country, the evening will then be spent at a Hotel in Peebles High Street where tea and entertainment will be provided.

Our guests come from a number of Residential Homes in the City. They have been selected as people who will benefit from a change and a good evening out.

A night At The Races - April 1st.

Alan knows that you and your friends will enjoy yourselves if you just make up your minds to come along tomorrow night, to Murrayfield Wanderers Club at 7.0 pm.

THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER

Thursday 31 March 2005: Dr Alison Elliot
Moderator of the Church of Scotland
Vote of Thanks: Russell Barr

NEXT WEEK'S SPEAKER

Thursday 7 April 2005: Catriona Mawdsley
Aloe Vera - The Miracle Plant
Vote of Thanks: TBC

PREVIEW

The Editor looks forward with interest to discover what Aloe Vera is and why it might be a Miracle Plant. Live and learn next week.