The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
Bulletin 2125 - 7th August 2006
REVIEW
Last week's Meeting -31 August 2006
The President reminded the meeting that the Golf club had apologised in advance for the likely depletion of numbers at Rotary lunch due to members' participation in the District Golf Championship at the new Roxburghe course. The Wednesday outing took place at North Berwick Glen where our member Jinty Kerr is Vice Captain and due to be first ever Lady Captain of the whole Club. The golfers missed her unavoidable jaunty presence and signed a get well card wishing her a very speedy recovery from her operation. Their visit had been most enjoyable. They were enthusiastic about a record attendance, the fantastic views from the clubhouse and of course that Fergus Gillies had won the championship.
Attendance
Notwithstanding the above, a hearty welcome was given to 57 members present, 1 visitor and 2 guests. Now retired and visiting family in Edinburgh, our guests, Ted and his wife Rem Gilfillian, from the Diaz Probus Club of South Africa, were given a top table reception along with our visitor and speaker Gordon McInally. Ted spoke movingly of the work in which they had been involved in at the Xinavane hospital Mozambique. As a result of a 1998 RIBI Rotary project. £5000 had been donated to upgrade and rehabilitate the hospital, which was situated in a poor area. Edinburgh had donated funds for a washing machine which he assured members had been put to good use and was much appreciated. Torvald Colliander looking bronzed from a summer sojourn in Sweden brought greetings from various clubs there but in particular that of his home club in Angleholm. John Wheeldon looking just as fit, a hardy veteran of nearly 96 summers offered greetings from a visit to his former club of Glenrothes, Fife
Applications for Membership.
The Secretary intimated for the second time applications for membership by Malcolm Shanks, husband of Heather Shanks, proposed by Bill Gatherer; Malcolm is a retired Project manager and Electrical Engineer. John Williams an Investment Pension fund Advisor is proposed by Keith Frost, and for the first time Dr. Prasad Bollina, a consultant urologist who lives in Ravelston who is proposed by Mohindra Dhall.
Guest Speaker
It was indeed an honour to have Gordon McInally, who has been President of South Queensferry Rotary Club, and of RIBI and is to be an RI Director, as guest speaker. His wife Heather and able supporter, is a member of the Rotary Club of Linlithgow Grange. He is an elder of the Church of Scotland, keenly interested in rugby, golf and football (Hibs) and is a busy dental surgeon in Murrayfield. He was indebted to his business partner for holding the fort to allow him to speak at lunchtime. Gordon is a Patron of Hope and Homes for Children. In his time in office as RIBI President Rotary's Africa Hope Centennial project helped to alleviate despair and deprivation for 5,000 children orphaned by AIDS or genocide. Rotary Clubs raised £750,000 to provide shelter; food and access to medication, guidance, education and training to ensure eventual self reliance. Rotarians from Rwanda and South Africa worked with Hope and Homes for children using the funds raised by rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland. Gordon visited Rwanda and South Africa to see the scale of the problem and observe the work done by Hope and Homes. He was humbled by the shattering evidence of the ravages of genocide in Rwanda and the seriousness of the situation in South Africa as a consequence of the killing and subsequent Aids epidemic. He promised the children he met to tell people about them and to try and help them. Rotary money and the support of individual Rotarians, clubs and districts within RIBI has rescued many of the poorest child-headed and grandparent-headed families in Rwanda and South Africa and transformed the family's future.
Grandchild
Following the tradition of our club Malcolm Wylie collected the Rotary Silver Spoon he had happily purchased to for his grandchild Orla Beth Wylie Mackay. Orla (the word of the week) means "Irish golden princess" and the club sends good wishes for an enchanting future in keeping with her name. Our Immediate Past President Poet Laureate Judith Sischy gave an appropriately poetic vote of thanks.
Zone Wide Composite Hosting
Currie Balerno are undertaking to be the Coordinating Club for a Group Study Exchange party from Africa. Their Past President Rodger is taking care of the day to day programme. Hosts and a bit of taxiing for a team of 5 are required for Mon - Thursday 23-26 October and Sunday 29 October, around the weekend when they attend the 1020 conference in Aviemore. Individual Rotarians can opt to join a zone wide pool of providers or individual clubs can offer to provide for an individual team member with one, two or three clubs hosting. Names to the President as soon as possible.
The 82nd RIBI Conference will take place at Bournemouth on 13-15 April 2006. Registration forms are available from the Secretary. Do take your copy of the latest RIBI and 1020 Magazines which are now available at reception.
Jack Aitken, with a GSE Group from Johannesburg, is repeating his extremely popular Royal Mile Walk on 16 September at 9.30 am from the castle Esplanade. An opportunity to walk and listen to Jack should not be missed. Sign up with him for further details. .Further details from the Secretary if you wish to attend Daughter Club Portsmouth and Southsea 90th anniversary celebration on Tuesday 14 November. Bunny Wilson can supply copies of her late husband and former Past President, Peter Wilson's book which she is willing to sell at a reduced price and give the proceeds to charity. The Secretary will, however, be absent on holiday till 17th September. In his absence please refer to the Assistant Secretary or the President.
Barry Cryer Evening on 29 August.
Through the kind offices of Judith Kay, Barry Cryer OBE a distinguished Rotarian, celebrated comedian, compere and after dinner speaker effortlessly entertained a scintillating audience at Carlton hotel on 29 August. Barry had been unwell after his arduous festival fringe appearances over three weeks and it had been feared he might have to cancel at the last minute. His consummate professionalism carried him through with light hearted repartee. Special thanks are also due to Tim Simpson who also demonstrated his professionalism in sizing up the charms of two attractive Polish buskers in Rose Street who came to add to the entertainment with skilfully played classical music on the violin. Barry's wife cajoled guests to buy raffle tickets and his lovely granddaughter presented the prizes. The evening raised around £1200 for the Jubilee charity Fund. Whilst the wine was imbibed with gusto, the canapés were considered to be rather poor quality and the President reported that representations to the hotel had resulted in a free glass of wine being available at the meeting on 7 September.