Dist. Gov.. Roddy Duncan

Rotary club of Stirling meeting of 14/10/16.

On the 90th anniversary of the granting of the club's charter, President

Alan Rankin welcomed members, District Governor Roddy Duncan and

Assistant District Governor Alistair Spowage to our meeting. Martin Ross

reminded members to collect their shoe boxes, to be returned filled by

7th November. Candidates for next year's Euroscholar will be interviewed

on 5th November. ADG Alistair Spowage presented the club with an award,

as the club with the highest member retention rate in District 1010 in

the past year.

President Alan had been looking back at the early days of the Rotary

club of Stirling as reported in the local press. The club first met in

the Waverly hotel on 22/10/1915 when it was addressed by councillor

George Hall, who saw Rotary, and its members, as an important part of

the structure and activity of Stirling life. The aims and objectives

were as they remain today, particularly "service above self".

Our speaker D.G. Roddy Duncan from the Inverurie and Kenmay club, brought

us up to date on current activities, and suggested how Rotary might

develop in the future. A recent independent report on RYLA supported the

camps as an excellent experience for the participants, and a worthwhile

activity we should support.

For the coming year he asked that we support three main activities. End

Polio Now. Starting in 1985 as Polio Plus we have, along with WHO and

Bill Gates achieved a 99.9% reduction in cases of Polio, but this needs

to be maintained and pursued in a few remaining problem areas.  Rotary

Foundation. This remains the largest charitable fund in the world, and

with admin costs of only 3%, supports a wide variety of projects

internationally. Membership remains a priority, especially attracting

younger members. He urged us to think out of the box about what we do as

a club, and with this in mind, his own motto for the district

conference is, "It's what we do that counts” For further information

www.stirling.rotary1010.org

The meeting on 21/10/16 is a business meeting. Visitor's host Jane Wilson.

Ian Richardson