The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
Bulletin 2,057 - 5th May 2005
REVIEW
Attendance
The Club had 66 members and two non-Rotary guests last week. Alberto Santandreu who was on one of his Edinburgh visits brought the best wishes of the Madrid Club whilst Forbes Ridland had warmest greetings to pass on from Dunfermline.
New Member
Heather Shanks was inducted into the Club last week. She was a primary school teacher and head of the junior department at Heriots School. She is a Director of Fresh Start, which collects and distributes from the Edinburgh Furniture Initiative.
Heather is married to Malcolm, has two daughters and is interested in travel, they have a caravan, and she promotes interest in Diabetes.
Clamouring for Help
A whole series of spring and summer projects urgently need people to come forward to offer themselves as volunteers and to provide help. These include:
- 14 May Breast Foot Forward - Marshals required, 5.30pm start of evening walk from Meadowbank (Organiser Bill Bryden).
- 17 May Senior Citizen's Outing - 5 drivers, Outing sets out for Peebles at 6.00pm.
- 24 May Senior Citizen's Outing - 4 drivers. Outing sets out for Peebles at 6.00pm (Organiser Ian Huggan).
- 8 June Kids Out Day out for 220 children, day starts at 9.00am to 2.30 pm (See Colin Mackay, Ronnie MacDonald).
- 7 August Festival Cavalcade - dress up as Pooh Bear or a clown, or be part of our collection teams for Club charity funds. (Organiser Fred Lawson).
A Rotary Visit to the Holyrood Parliament
50 have decided to join the visit so far and there are places for up to 60. The response from the MSPs is far less impressive, but Fred Lawson is on their case and the wine tasting is organised.
FOCUS
Rotary First Responders
One of the current projects for RIBI is to raise public awareness of issues such as (CPR) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and also to encourage training within Rotary clubs and the general public.
Mike Chad in Biggar is very keen to see the Rotary in our District undertake training and then become "First Responders" in emergency situations whilst waiting for the arrival of the Ambulance Service. The training would ensure that some one suffering from a heart attack was given appropriate attention as fast as possible.
Sandy Buchan has looked at this and concluded that in a rural situation there are great benefits. However for a City club with emergency services close at hand, the necessity of recruiting "First Responders" may be less critical. There is still the crucial period between someone collapsing and the arrival of emergency services for which we would be well advised to prepare.
It is estimated that 70% of cardiac arrests occur outside hospital, most of these occur in the home. A bystander, often a relative with no medical expertise is likely to be the first person on the scene, and yet less than 1% of the population have attended a basic resuscitation course.
Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a cardiac arrest more than doubles the chances of survival. The British Red Cross run a "Save a Life Course" of two hours duration, this covers management of the unconscious casualty and resuscitation procedures for adults.
In order to organise a training session, we require a group of at least 12 to make up a class. The instruction would be provided by professional coaches from The British Red Cross at Beaverbank Road. The costs is £5 for a session. If you wish to attend please contact Sandy Buchan at the Club or on 667-1127.
PRATTLE
Tit Bits by Bill Barr
We had an excellent Rotary lunch last week. Bill's vegetables included protein-enriched beans barred by him to the side of his plate. Bill said that despite the caterpillar, he enjoyed his meal in Hadrian's.
Charity in Hadrian's Restaurant
To day, The Balmoral Hotel, are generously donating half the proceeds from lunch to our charity fund. Attendance at the quarterly charity lunches is a tremendous boost to our activities, which are always in need of funds.
Breast Foot Forward
With hardly a blush, Fred Lawson put in an appeal for marshals to help with the organisation of Breast Foot Forward. Before stating that he would be on holiday and passed the baton on to Bill Bryden. Bill did not recover his surprise sufficiently to protest. The least we can do in return is to give Bill some support on 14 May. Incidentally everyone from the past has had a good time at this event, as well as volunteering!
Quarterly Speakers List
- 5 May - Maxine Lowry on Edinburgh Headway Group
- 12 May -Scott Walker, Eurojam-European Scout Jamboree 2005
- 19 May - Joan Burnie, Journalist Agony Aunt for Daily Record
- 26 May - Rotary Club AGM Rotary Bell
- 2 June - Gordon McInally, RIBI President
- 9 June - Dr Renee Bleau, Paisley University, Psychology Division of University
- 16 June - 5pm drinks for 6pm dinner at The Balmoral - Club Assembly
- 23 June - Douglas Forsyth
- 30 June - Presidential handover meeting.
- 7 July - Sophia Fraser - One City Trust
THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER
Thursday 5 May 2005: Maxine Lowry,The Edinburgh Headway Group
Vote of Thanks: Bill Bryden
NEXT WEEK'S SPEAKER
Thursday 12 May 2005: Scott Walker, Eurojam-European Scout Jamboree
2005
Vote of Thanks: Colin Mackay
PREVIEW
Scott is a Scout leader with the Haymarket troop. He makes an annual appearance in The Gang Show at The Kings Theatre, and coordinates and markets the show. He has travelled far and wide with scouting and should prove an interesting speaker.