The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
Bulletin 2121 - 10th August 2006
REVIEW
Last Week's Meeting - 3 August 2006
The day was warm and the ambient temperature within the Carlton Hotel
high enough for President Fred to permit removal of jackets and ties.
Many members gratefully took advantage of this dispensation but no shirts
or "semmits" were discarded and the basic proprieties were maintained.
Attendance was 68 including one visiting Rotarian and one guest - a gratifying
improvement on the two previous meetings.
The visitor was Paul Grace, member and Past-President of the Murrayfield-Cramond
Club, and the guest was Ian Bell, Services Manager of the Royal Bank of
Scotland.
John Urquhart conveyed cordial Orcadian greetings from the Kirkwall Club
which he had recently visited.
The Guest Speaker was John Anderson M.B.E., Chairman of the Edinburgh
Children's Panel since 2000 and Head of Professional Practice for the
General Teaching Council for Scotland whose remarkable C.V. includes University
degrees in Music, Education and Law and which gives as his secondary occupation
"Church Organist".
His subject was "The Children's Hearing System in Scotland - 25 years"
and he described how this had been started in 1971 as a result of the
recommendations of the Kilbrandon Report of 1967. The system has no counterpart
in other parts of the United Kingdom and its long-term objective is the
elimination of juvenile delinquency in Scotland. John Anderson outlined
the organisation, composition, responsibilities and powers of the Children's
Panels in Scotland which conduct the Hearings which deal with the problems
of Truancy, Anti-Social Behaviour, Juvenile Crime, Child Abuse, and Adoption
and emphasised that 80% of their work related to the care and protection
of children. Their guiding principle is the paramountcy of the child's
welfare and human rights.
There are some 2,000 members of the Children's Panels all of whom are
volunteers serving an average of five years.
They are widely representative of the whole of Scottish society and they
receive no remuneration. Recruitment to the Panels is a continuous process
and there is no age limit.
The Children's Hearing System is an enlightened
civilised way of dealing with juvenile delinquency most of which has its
origin in family problems, and its achievements are something of which
Scotland can be justifiably proud.
This admirably lucid and informative address gave much food for thought
to its audience which responded warmly to Douglas Osler's polished well-turned
vote of thanks.
Children's Panel Recruitment
More volunteers for service on Children's Panels are required. Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a Panel Member can obtain more information and an application pack by contacting Jane Lockhart Tel <number removed>, email: <email address removed>.
What to see at the Fringe
Fergus Gillies has reminded the Bulletin of a talk given to the Club about
five years ago by Sandra Brown concerning the Moira Anderson Foundation
which she set up and her book entitled "Where there is Evil"
on how that charity came into being. The purpose of the FOundation is
to raise funds for the support of victims of child abuse and in recognition
of her work for it, Sandra received the O.B.E. two months ago. During
this year's Edinburgh Festival, Sandra, Scotswoman of the Year 2005-2006
is putting on a one-woman show at the Fringe called "One of oor Ain"
(7.10pm 5 evenings a week Smirnoff Underbelly
56 Canongate) which tells the moving story of her own personal involvement,
and which she has already presented in Airdrie, Glasgow and London.
Proceeds will go to the Foundation - a charity well worth supporting.
The President's Questionnaire
The President reports that his questionnaire is being returned at a reasonably satisfactory rate but he would very much like a 100% response and he urges all members who have not yet returned the questionnaire to do so without delay. The Editor has strong views on a number of the issues raised in the questionnaire but, of course, the Bulletin must at all times remain strictly impartial.
The Festival Cavalcade Collection - 6 August
Thirteen of our members rattled their buckets to great effect on Sunday
afternoon. We were raising funds for KidsOut, Christmas Parcels and OAP
Outings. The collection was on Princes Street during the Edinburgh Festival
Cavalcade. Whilst it did seem quite hard going compared to the Tsunami
collections, we still achieved our goals with a total of £754.05
and a few Euros, over the day. Our star collectors were Forbes Ridland
and two of our ladies, Carol Duffus and Anne Havard. David Brown, Fergus
Gillies and Fred lawson had some fun following the floats and Carol told
us that she danced to extract donations from the crowd!
However everyone did their bit and promoted Edinburgh Rotary on a day
when there were plenty of people to notice our presence.
Editorial Vacation
Eve Crow and Tim Simpson have very kindly undertaken to act for the Bulletin Editor during his absence on holiday. Eve will deputise for him on Thursday 10 august, on Friday 18 August and on Thursday 31 August. Tim will cover the meeting on Thursday 24 August.