The Rotary Club of Edinburgh
Bulletin 2214 - 19th June 2008
Last Meeting - Thur 12th June
President Robin Wilson welcomed all present and especially “The Glasgow Boys”. He then teased his audience by recalling a conversation between Adam Smith and Samuel Johnson. Smith was extolling the the wonders of Glasgow, its its great industry, its arts and fabulous buildings, when he was interrupted by Johnson who said “Pray, Sir, have you seen Edinburgh ?” Actually the city was Brentford ! President Robin then called on Bob McIntyre, our Salvation Army member to say Grace before our meal. Service was slow in the hotel, no doubt Stewart Kinsman is investigating, but it gave time at the beginning for the usual
Secretary’s Announcements.
Bill gave numbers as 58 members, 5 visitors and 1 guest, total 64. He
mentioned that forms were available on the front tables for the Fresh
Start Walk on 20th June, and 3 members were walking and sought sponsorship.
Bill had received an approach from Emilio Mazzilliasili, who sought details
of Mrs Joyce Forrest who had looked after him with Messrs Swanston and
Campbell at our lunch in 1977. Can anyone help?
Next week is to be the Club Assembly at which Tim Simpson will present
his array of new Council Members.
Jeff Gibb explained he had only 13 stewards for the Great Scottish Walk
on 22nd June and urgently sought more.
Archie Bell spoke very warmly on behalf of the KidsOut Committee and shared
statistics of 230 participant children, 45 Rotarians and 65 School Helpers.
He thanked all the Rotarians who had been there and invited them back
next year. These thanks were echoed by President Robin himself, who went
on to thank the Committee for their work through the weeks of preparation.
Those present endorsed what had been said with their applause.
Visiting Rotarians.
President Robin then welcomed again President Brian Adams of the Rotary Club of Glasgow and his colleagues PP Ian Watt, PP Ian Callender, PP Ronny Young and Michael Gully, who had slipped in to lunch incognito. P. Brian expressed his pleasure at visiting Scotland’s “Second City” To which President Robin pointed out Glasgow’s reputation had been built on “Fags, Booze and Ships” Perhaps these were no longer Glasgow’s pride but they had the best known hotel in Scotland at H.M.P. Barlinnie. The final remark pointed out that the Wise Men came from the East , but were going to the West!Speaker Sarah Brown was introduced by Robin, who described her career to-date and called on her to address the Club on the subject of “Life Saving Chickens and other animals, the work of Vet Aid in Africa”. Sarah’s CV revealed that she was responsible for the Cow Parade , which raised lots of laughs and also £59,000 for VetAid. VetAid started by some Edinburgh Vets some 20 years ago concentrated on assisting countries in Africa where the tending of animals was a chief source of income. Over the years they had worked in Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia, all countries, where HIV was widespread and life expectancy was poor, dependent as so many of the rural population were on animals and agriculture. Illustrating her talk with her own slides, Sarah explained how the charity operated at home and overseas. From immediate food aid they quickly began to concentrate on income generation. They aimed to assist families to become independent of aid and become selfsufficient. While primary education was free Vet Aid was able to help children with books, equipment and the cost of uniform, and to help their older siblings to become themselves independent by rearing chickens, goats and cattle. Hence her title Life-saving chickens and other animals. The slogan of Vet Aid now was Working with animals means survival ! They had started in Mozambique, but now had to give up there because of a shortage of funds. Instead they were working in Somalia. In Tansania they are working with groups of women, who often gave the lead in rural situations, were self taught and worked to better life in their own villages. She quoted the women who had started making camel-milk toffee as a fund raising activity, and the mother who has educated herself to take a lead in her rural community. Apart from occasional visits to meet some of the people she had shown slides, most of her work was taken up with talking to groups of school-children, women’s guilds and Rotary clubs in Scotland where Sarah had a key educational role. She finished her talk with the above slogan.
Vote of Thanks.
Linda Gilmore was invited to propose the thanks to Sarah and this she did emphasising the importance of giving support to deprived peoples to grow their own food and animals and thus have longer and more productive lives.Final Toast.
President Robin closed with a toast to Rotary International and the Glasgow Boys in particular.Venice Rotary Tour Invitation.
We have received notice of a splendid escorted tour of eight days to view the architecture of Venice and District. Entitled “Paladio and Friends” it will celebrate 500 years of the greatest Italian Architect. Costs of accommodation, tour and visits are likely to be in the region of 1900 euros with transport to Venice in addition. “Paladio and Friends” can be taken up in June, July, September and October 2008. Contact Bill Barr or Colin Mackay for full details.St Mary’s Music School Summer Concert, Queen’s Hall, Monday 23 June. The Club contributed £3,000 to St Mary’s Music School which was used to commission a work by James Macmillan, “O”, which is having its first performance at their Summer Concert. Tickets £8 from the school, or from John Havard.