Newsletter - 272 - January 2016

Rotary Club of Stranraer

Monthly Newsletter No 272

 January 2016

Service above self

Best wishes for a Happy

and Healthy

New Year

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. — Albert Einstein

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

No – not an intro to a Cliff Richards song which many of us will remember!

BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO TOM STEVENSON WHO HAS BEEN AWARDED A B.E.M (British Empire Medal) as ‘Project Manager, Mull of Galloway Trail – For voluntary services to Walkers in the West Of Scotland.’

 This is a well deserved reward for being the hard working leader of this major project which has involved the whole Club!

‘Imminent Activities                          

Mon 4^th Jan – No meeting

Mon 11^thJan - usual evening meeting – Fellowship – to include finalising arrangements for the Burns supper

Fri 15^th Jan – usual 1pm - Children’s Lunch – with Richard Arkless, M.P.

Mon 18^th Jan – no meeting

Tues 19^th Jan – Burns Supper

Mon 25^th Jan – normal meeting at 1pm. The speaker will be Hugh Aitken

 Dates for your Diary

Fri 20^th May – Christian Aid Lunch

Sat 11^th June – Mull of Galloway Trail Marathon  

Fri 24^th June 2016 – 10^th Annual Golf AmAm

 Recent Events                               

Mon 7^th Dec – Club SGM

Mon 14^th Dec- evening – Fellowship meeting focusing on recruitment

Sat 19^th Dec – Christmas Street Collection – see below

Sun 20^th Dec – Christmas Collection at Morrison – see below

Mon 21^st Dec – An excellent Christmas Lunch was enjoyed by members and guests.

Mon 28^th Dec – No meeting

Christmas Collection   

Thanks to all those who participated in the collection this year which raised £1,224 which is being given to Turning Point to assist with providing a sensory room for local special needs young people.

Rugby

After Glasgow Warrior’s fantastic performance last season 6 of our members and one member from Kirkcudbright bought season tickets for this season as have 2 of our regular guests. Other members are welcome to join in for individual matches if tickets, which are in short supply for most games, can be obtained - just contact Tom Mitchell.

 The next trip is on 2^nd January to watch Glasgow v Edinburgh.

 A trip to Belfast is being planned for the match on Friday 12th February. It is planned to stay overnight at the Premier Inn in the city centre – used by us on a previous trip. Please let Tom know ASAP if you are interested in joining the party as a booking will need to be made soon!

District Curling

Well done to our rink of Hugh Parker, Donald McColm, Ian McIntyre and John Munro for progressing through to the next round!

Press Officer

Members should get in touch with Tom Mitchell, in his role as Press Officer, if they have anything they wish included in the Newsletter or reported in the press.

He particularly wishes photographs for publication and/or Club archives.

 Our websites are

http://rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1383

http://www.mullofgallowaytrail.co.uk/

Thanks to Tom Stevenson for providing the information below about the latter site:

 Unique Visitors        Visits                 Hits

2013         9,011                  24,392              475,938

2014       11,947                  30,173              696,104

2015       15,013                  40,611           1,011,254

 Fantastic!  – there were even 80 unique visitors on Christmas Day!

At present we have 11 adverts for accommodation and four for cafes and restaurants. News items continue to be added when appropriate and it is now possible to download an application for the Mull of Galloway Marathon Trail run from links on the website. 

(Do you sense a sigh of relief there?)

Seasonal thoughts

·       Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.

·       When I thought about the evils of drinking in the New Year, I gave up thinking!

‘Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let every new year find you a better man’ — Benjamin Franklin