The Rotary Club of Edinburgh

Bulletin 2,064 - 23rd June 2005

REVIEW

Attendance

The Club Assembly was held in an upper chamber of The Balmoral last Thursday. The room was full, had 2 visitors, Roy Redwood, Assistant Governor and Sinclair McLeod from Manchester. His Club was founded the year ahead of Edinburgh but enjoyed the presence of the Centenary bell shortly after it came to Edinburgh in May.

A Century in Flowers

On Wednesday (yesterday) Tim Simpson and Roger Thom of Currie Balerno Club, met James Hunter and formally opened the floral display at The Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. All the clubs in our zone contributed to a bank with some of the Rotary rose as well as a variety of roses in bloom. This acts as a backdrop to a Rotary International wheel made with in bedding out plants and a floral crescent on either side. The centenary (1905 - 2005) is set on a scroll at the base of the bank. We have a written caption prepared by Ed Lucas on prominent display. Bill Cantley deserves the credit for this piece of prominent publicity at the time of the Centenary celebrations in Chicago.

We should congratulate him for his tenacity and The City Council for their willing support.

Photo of the Rotary floral display at The Royal Highland Show.

Royal Highland Show Floral Display with James Hunter,Rodger Thom, Tim Simpson, and Alex Tait .

Royal Highland Show Floral Display - Display team staff - Council gardners.

Piscatorians in the Trossachs

A party of 8 anglers consisting of 7 members and a guest spent Friday, 17th June in 3 boats on Loch Vennacher West of Callendar. Conditions were idyllic, ie. A warm gentle breeze, light cloud cover, great for fishing BUT very few fish; - only 2 brown trout were taken! Explanations may be offered after fuller discussion! Nevertheless, the day was much enjoyed, especially after an excellent and lubricated lunch at the loch side while talking over matters piscatorial and rotational with our newest recruit, our vice-president elect!

Next date: Butterstone Loch on Friday, 22nd July.

FOCUS

The Five Centenary Bells

Our presidential party have been envoys at the Chicago Centennial Celebrations since the weekend. Festivities are in progress as we eat our lunch today. One distraction is the assembly of the bells, one of which (dare I say the most prestigious of the bells) came to our Club, with a fanfare of bagpipes by Iain MacLaren, in May.

The five Bronze bells were founded at the Conference in Brisbane in Australia to mark the Rotary Centenary. They were designed and cast by Russell Hampton and weigh about 10lbs each. Above every bell is a rectangular sign recording the Centenary of Rotary.

The individual bells parted company on separate journeys around the world. They were reunited as the fellowship of the bells in Chicago this June at the Centennial Convention.

The first bell visited the 100 oldest Rotary Clubs including Edinburgh, Dublin, London, Belfast, Manchester, and Glasgow. The second Bell toured Africa. It was taken to the oldest club in each country where the bell brought together representatives of the various Rotary Clubs, District Governors and other dignitaries. They wrote their greetings in the accompanying book and kept order with the special gavel at each visit.

The next bell went round the Countries of Asia and the Pacific. In Calcutta the Asian bell was announced with a fanfare of Jawan buglers in their uniforms. In Indonesia it was adorned with flowers and epic poetry. In Hong Kong used to raise funds for a hospital. Rotarians in Osaka were allowed to ring their bell when they registered for a convention.

The European bell has helped fund a youth orchestra in the Czech Republic and formed a ringing ceremony with other clubs on its visit to Poland. Now the bells are re-united in the fellowship of Rotary in Chicago.

PRATTLE

Taste The Flavour of Cambodia on 27 June

The International Committee invite you to an evening at Britannia Spice on 27 June where you will be entertained, offered an introductory drink and enjoy South East Asian food all for just £15. You will also be asked to gift aid £10 to finance our three projects in South East Asia. An after Dinner speaker who will give you some reflections on Cambodia completes the evening.

Our projects are, Pure Water & Literacy for Cambodia; Chey Santeak Ry Rural Children's Home; Kieng Klang Rehabilitative Surgery Hospital.

This is a bargain night out!

Tickets are available from Linda Gilmore.

Rotary Club of Paris Concorde

The Balmoral Hotel is, like the Hotel Crillon in Paris, is a member of the World's Leading Hotels. The newest Rotary Club in Paris feels a special accord with our Club through this link for people who dine in such style, and that includes you!

The Architect Jacques-Ange Gabriel built this 18th century palace for Duc d'Aumont in a classical style with an arcade, Corinthian columns and pediments, Louis XV interiors over a frontage of about 90 meters. The palace became the home of the Compte de Crillon and in 1909, an hotel on the Place de la Concorde.

Helping Hands at Kids Out

James Mason reminds us that for KidsOut this year we had over 50 school helpers from four local secondary schools. They were excellent ambass-adors and made entertaining the children much easier. Their interest and support was another of the strengths of the day.

THIS WEEK'S SPEAKER

Thursday 23 June 2005: Joan Burnie
Vote of Thanks: Bill Barr

NEXT WEEK'S Meeting

Thursday 30 June 2005: Presidential hand-over.
Bill Cantley and Judith Sischy

PREVIEW

Traditionally the hand-over meeting gives us an insight of the aims and aspirations of the coming presidential year. We had a foretaste last week with the Club Assembly.