Speaker Shannon Williamson

Meeting Friday 11th August 2017 

President Stewart introduced our visitors, Shannon Williamson and her sister Leanne, both pupils at Wallace High School. Shannon was the Club’s sponsored candidate at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards outward bound course at Abernethy, near Aviemore, a Rotary International program which offers young people an opportunity to participate in a program of physical and intellectual activities, which will develop skills in Team working, positive leadership, communication, problem solving and decision making, aiming to build self-confidence and self esteem
 
 After lunch Shannon spoke confidently and enthusiastically about her week at the RYLA camp. She started by showing a short video film, shot during the week, on a GoPro camera. The film showed the teams of teenagers cooperating and competing in a range of activities from rock climbing and abseiling, gorge walking, cycling, canoeing and raft and bridge building to mountain walking. All the while they were obviously highly motivated and really enjoying themselves. The wetter they were the happier they seemed! I was intrigued to see that the three-legged race and the wheelbarrow race have been reintroduced!
 
  There is no doubt that Shannon enjoyed RYLA. Her most often used words were ‘Amazing’ and ‘Fabulous’ as she described how her confidence grew during the week as she was pushed more and more out of her comfort zone. She is most proud of having climbed her first Munro, Cairngorm itself, an uphill struggle during which she was inspired by the knowledge that there is a restaurant at the top.
 
Rotarians were impressed by her confidence and easy manner. Shannon thanked the Club for her sponsorship and declared week at RYLA to have been a success, commenting that before she went she would ‘never have been able to talk in front of so many people’. Martin Ross’s vote of thanks was enthusiastically supported by all members.
Members were reminded about the BBQ at Rotarian Tommy’s home and of the forthcoming District Conference at Coylumbridge.

Sandy Leven