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Home | District Governor

         DISTRICT GOVERNOR 2012/13

            ALEX BLAIR

 

Alex Blair, from Kilwinning in Ayrshire, is a relative newcomer to Rotary. In 2004 he was invited to “help out” the Rotary Club of Ardrossan and Saltcoats as a substitute in a curling game. This invitation came from PDG Vic Laing, who quickly persuaded Alex to join the club and became his mentor. As they say, “the rest is history…..”

                                                                                                

A keen club member he served as speaker secretary and PR and Communications officer before becoming club President in 2008. His first district role was in 2007, when he helped then DG Drew Hughes organise a World Record Golf event in aid of “End Polio Now”.  After his year as club president he joined the district team as an Assistant Governor. He was then selected as a GSE Team Leader and led his team to New Zealand in 2010. The following year Alex organised the incoming visit for the GSE team from Japan.

He became DGN in 2010 and also took on the role of district co-ordinator for the successful “Focus on the Crocus” campaign which resulted in over 100,000 crocus bulbs being planted throughout the district. As a follow on, over 80,000 bulbs were planted last year, helping raise the profile of “End Polio Now”.

In his DGE year Alex has concentrated on learning more about the wider world of Rotary and planning for the future. Rotary, in RIBI in particular, is facing major challenges, namely - decreasing membership and a relatively poor public image. To overcome these challenges Alex believes we need to change drastically, both in the way clubs meet and operate and how Rotary is perceived by the public. He is a firm believer in joint club projects, and is convinced that this could also be used to improve the public image of Rotary.

For 35 years Alex worked in the telecommunications industry. He started as an engineering apprentice in the GPO, became a maintenance Technical Officer and finishing up as manager in British Telecoms Finance Department.

After leaving BT he set up a small Environmental Trust, under the auspices of ENTRUST, specialising in local community improvement projects. Alex finally retired from this role in March this year.  He also had some fun doing a little TV and film extra work, and teaching basic computing. 

In his younger days his main hobby was sailing, all round the west coast of Scotland, Today Alex’s principal hobby is curling followed by DIY, Cooking and Genealogy.

Married to Kate for 40 years, their family consists of two daughters, Gillian and Fiona, and grandson Daniel.

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