The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
Bulletin 2124 - 31st August 2006
ROTARY TOPICS
Attendance
The Edinburgh Festival season brought us five visitors who increased our own attendance of 65 members up to a total of 69. The visitors included Howard Mark from Cleveland, North Yorkshire, Martyn O’Reilly from Wilanow, Warsaw, Poland, Hap Chandler from Sandy Springs, Georgia USA, Steve and Vicky Wallace from Lake Elsinore in California.
President Fred had a Yorkshire grace for us to help welcome Howard at the lunch. It mostly dwelt on appetites, which seemed perfectly acceptable.
New Members
Two potential new members were announced. Keith Frost has proposed John Williams for membership. He is an investment advisor and lives in Barnton. Malcolm Shanks, a retired Project Manager and Electrical Engineer is proposed by his wife, our member Heather.
Bournemouth RIBI Conference
The 2007 Rotary International (in Great) Britain (and) Ireland conference is to be in Bournemouth between 13th and 15th April next spring. RIBI President Peter is making a great effort to make this an attractive event in a modern refurbished conference centre.
The conference apart, there are a variety show and dance and military band concert to entertain delegates in the evenings. The Inner wheel also has a conference back to back with Rotary. Robin Wilson will soon be booking Hotel rooms and would like to know who would like to join our party.
LEADING ARTICLE
Humanitarian Aid for the Ukraine
Graeme Forbes and Fergus Gillies responded to an appeal from the Brassenthwaite Club by helping to dismantle masses of hospital equipment from the old ERI building. The Brassenthwaite team were great and for them this is a major club project in recycling valuable hospital equipment. It was heavy, exciting and risky work. This bunch of stalwarts worked flat out for two days like a hoard of ageing “Borrowers”. They scoured the building room by room to liberate anything from babies bedding to a fully operational X-ray room.
The project has been running since 2001 when Birstall Ludites Club took flood relief to the southwest of Ukraine. They visited a hospital and saw the shocking state of the buildings and lack of equipment. They obtained help from local clubs. Brassenthwaite joined in and found a source of large amounts of clinical hospital equipment and expertise.
Convoys have run every year since. They have changed the emphasis of the supplies since 2002 concentrating on high value medical support taking items which have a value of at least ten times the cost of transportation. Each truck/trip costs circa £2,000 for fuel, ferries and some accommodation. They have the trucks provided free by a Rotarian from Holmefirth.
Fergus and Graeme had a great time being part of what Rotary is about - many Clubs coming together on a project. Great team spirit and the satisfaction of knowing you are really making a difference. - Graeme Forbes
PERSONAL COLUMN
Honor Elizabeth Butters Simpson
David Simpson brought greetings from the Rotary Club of Anstruther. He has also just had another grandchild. Following our tradition, he has been sold a Rotary silver spoon to give to the child.
Lunchtime Speakers
Stewart Kinsman has taken over from Rajid as our Speakers Secretary. His tenure begins in October and he has a full programme up to Christmas. All ideas for speakers and contacts will be much appreciated. Stewart asked members to fill in a survey on speaker preferences, circulated on the tables. He is also looking for two members to lend assistance with greeting the speaker and advising on the suitability of speakers.
Air Accident
Ferroz Wadia is an active international flyer with record numbers of visits to Rotary Clubs all around Europe and still further a field. He has been making his way to South Africa. Today we learned that Ferroz has written off his light aircraft. Whilst we are told that he is un-hurt, this will be a particular blow to our World President elect of the International Flying Rotarians. Let us hope his insurers are generous.
Antiques Road Show
Martin Cornish is arranging an Antiques Road Show. We would be able to obtain valuations of a favourite treasure; followed by an auction of donated items. Martin will tell us more when the plans have been finalised.