The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
Bulletin 2133 - 2nd November 2006
REVIEW
Last Week's Meeting - Thursday 26 October 2006
The Charity Lunch attracted a gratifying attendance of 72 members and
two guests, one of whom was Mrs Sheila Holmes, a past President of Edinburgh
Inner Wheel and wife of George, our own Almoner and Piscator Maximus.
Hon Secretary Bill Barr rattled off no fewer that 13 Secretarial intimations
like a burst of machine-gun fire, but with perfect clarity. Not a second
was wasted and Bill's performance must surely have broken all records.
Grandsire's Award
To hearty applause Ritchie Campbell received from President Fred, on behalf of his recently arrived fourth grand-child Anna, a Rotary commemorative silver spoon.
Induction of New Member
In presenting Malcolm Shanks for admission to the Club Bill Gatherer saluted his professional achievements as an engineer and industrial designer and outlined his impressive involvement in voluntary organisations and in a number of charitable activities. As the husband of Heather he could almost be regarded as a ready-made Rotarian and there was no doubt that the Club would fully exploit his skills and his enthusiasm.Having welcomed and formally admitted Malcolm, President Fred warmly endorsed Bill Gatherer's encomium and paid tribute to Heather's notable services to the Club which he felt sure would be emulated by her husband.
Annie Gunner
The Guest Speaker was Ms Annie Gunner M.Phil., Director of Community Care Providers Scotland (C.C.P.S.) and member of the Boards of Directors of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (O.S.C.R.), of the U.K. drug treatment charity, Phoenix House, and of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with a Disability (E.A.S.P.D.). She also serves on a number of advisory and reference groups relating to Scotland's voluntary and charitable sector. In her address entitled "Hanging Together" - Charities and Collaboration Ms Gunner gave an eloquent and illuminating account of the extent to which the provision and maintenance of community care and public services in Scotland depends on the activity of charitable and voluntary organisations. For the community service charities to function effectively it is essential that they coordinate their efforts and collaborate closely in their dealings with Government and with regulatory bodies. The achievement of such collaboration is the most important function of O.S.C.R. and in her capacity as Director of C.C.P.S. Ms Gunner exerts an important influence upon its actions.This was a vivid and stimulating presentation within 15 minutes of a remarkable amount of very surprising information and it was a highly interested and considerably enlightened audience that responded warmly to a vote of thanks proposed appreciatively by Ian Huggan.
Sick List
It was intimated that the triple coronary bypass operation which Keith Frost was to have undergone on this day, 26 October, had been postponed and members united in the hope that he would not have to wait much longer for it.Eve Crowe is due to have a knee replacement in early December and will be unable to participate in Rotary activities until her convalescence is complete.
Arts Committee - The Scout Gang Show
It is hoped to organise a Club party to attend the Scout Gang Show at the King's Theatre on Thursday 23 November at 7.0 p.m. The ticket price is £10 and members interested in joining the party should contact John Havard not later than Friday 3 November.
The Rotary Calendar
The Rotary Calendar for 2007 is now available at a cost of £3.50. We are told that it is a big improvement on the calendars produced for the last few years. For every calendar purchased £2.00 is credited towards the Club's contribution to Foundation. Calendars may be ordered through the Hon Secretary Bill Barr, or Stuart Monro.Photographic Competition
Entries are invited for the Edinburgh Rotary Photographic Competition, 2006 and must be submitted by 30 November. There are four categories - Rural, Urban, People and Rotary - one prize will be awarded in each category. A maximum of three photographs may be entered in any one category and the entry fee is £3.00 for each photograph, or £10 for four. All photographs entered must have been taken during the past three years and prints must measure 6" by 4". The name of the competitor and the category of the entry must be written on the back of each print. Information and entry forms from Jacqueline Easson.Canadian Rotary Curlers
A team of Canadian Rotary Curlers will be in Edinburgh on 19 and 20 November, and on the evening of Monday 20 November there will be a Celebratory Dinner in their honour at 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. in the Hibernian Football Club's Corporate Hospitality area in the North Stand, Easter Road Stadium. Tickets for the dinner are priced at £35 (including wine) and all Rotarians, curlers and non-curlers, are cordially invited to what is expected to be a special occasion including entertainment as well as dinner. Further information will be displayed on our Club notice board.Children's Christmas Extravaganza
On Sunday 10 December there will be a party for Rotarian children from 2.0 to 5.0 p.m. in the Royal Over-Seas League. Rotarians, friends and relations wishing to devote three hours exclusively to Christmas shopping can be assured that their offspring will be comprehensively entertained. For further information contact Sarah Baxter or Judy Kay.