Speaker Philip Allison

Stirling Rotary meeting 29th. May 2015

Senior Vice President Peter Mehta opened the meeting by welcoming members, together with our visitor James Macpherson.  Following the Council meeting on Monday, June 1st., the annual Club Assembly will take place at the Golden Lion on Thursday evening, June 4th., 6.45 for 7pm.  The latest edition of the club’s Round Up magazine, compiled by Sandy Leven, is now available for members to view on line. A number of members were elsewhere, manning our stand at Gardening Scotland.  This ran from May 29th. to 31st. and would result in a highly satisfactory sum collected for Scone-based Scottish Charity Air Ambulance.

The speaker was our own Philip Allison, lawyer of renown, who talked at some length and in considerable detail about wills and powers of attorney.  The latter is arranged when a person is, at the time, in sound mind, but wishes to anticipate circumstances under which someone else may have to take over or assist in his or her affairs.  This power is often but not always vested in spouses or children, who are likely to have the person’s interests at heart.

Once the power of attorney is set up and invoked, the individual or individuals so empowered can take on a number of duties.  These include dealing with bank accounts, paying expenses, signature of deeds, arranging insurances and handling financial affairs generally.  The foregoing are known as continuing powers.  By contrast, welfare powers only come into operation if the person loses capacity, as certified by a medical practitioner.  Activities covered include therapies, social activities, holidays and travel.  It is not expensive to set up these arrangements, with a lawyer generally being able to undertake the work for a few hundred pounds.

Vote of Thanks was given by Gordon McCulloch and well supported.  There will be no meeting on Friday, because the Club Assembly occurs on Thursday evening.  For more information on Stirling Rotary, please refer to the club’s website at www.stirling.rotary1010.org.

Ranald Ross-Watt
Communications Convene