Newsletter - 278 - July 2016

Rotary Club of Stranraer
Monthly Newsletter No 278
 July 2016



Service above self



Welcome to our new President, Bob Fryer, who has taken over from Ronnie Irving. Ronnie has handed over a thriving Club in very good heart.

Your subscription of £96 plus an optional donation to Foundation is now due.

Imminent Activities                      
Mon 4th July – Presidential Handover
Wed 6th July – Council Meeting at NWC
Mon 11th July – evening –Kenny Paterson – autobiographical talk
Mon 18th July – Jim Burns will be telling us about ‘Red bud’????
Mon 25th July – Michael Hills will be speaking
Dates for your Diary
Fri 1st August – Portpatrick Raft Race
Sat & Sun 17th & 18th Dec – Street & Morrisons Collections
Mon 19th Dec – Christmas Lunch


Recent Events
Mon 6th June –The speaker was Joe Gough of the Activity & Resource Centre. 
Mon 6th June - District Final of the Schools Quiz – see below
Wed 8th June – Kidz Out – our annual outing – see below.  
Sat 11th June -Mull of Galloway Trail Marathon and BBQ – see below
Mon 13th June – Our annual Club Assembly took place. There was discussion about our plans for the new Rotary year and membership.
Mon 20th June - presentation of B.E.M to Tom Stevenson by our Lord Lieutenant, John Ross, on behalf of the Queen in recognition of his work with the Mull of Galloway Trail.
Tues 21st June – New Tattie Night – see below
Fri 24th June – Annual Golf AmAm – see below
Mon 27th June – Wendi Cuffe, Economic Development Officer for the Stranraer & Loch Ryan Regeneration project brought us up to date on plans for the future of the town

Exemplary Service Award
This is an annual award to a person or persons, selected by the staff and pupils of Stranraer Academy, in recognition of exceptional service to the school and pupils. The recipient is allowed to nominate a charity to receive a donation of £250.This is a joint award this year to Fiona Fay and Stephanie Gosling of the Scotland Reads Programme. They have chosen a charity involved in education and autism. The presentation took place last week.

Mull of Galloway Trail marathon & walk etc
There is no doubt that this annual event, instigated and organised by Gordon Baird with the help of numerous members as marshals etc enhances the reputation of Rotary. The well organised and friendly run or walk is over terrain which at times is challenging while still suitable for all abilities.
After the exertion the dozen or so members who had helped and the competitors enjoyed a BBQ at the marina
The event was well covered in the Free Press in an article by Galloway Harriers who said ‘Definitely one for the annual diary’. Hopefully we will be able to get help from running clubs etc as it continues to grow!


New Tattie Night
14 members participated in the annual bowling competition then adjourned to the home of Ian and Kate McIntyre for the usual new tattie feast and drinks etc. Many thanks to Kate and Ian and their helpers for the great hospitality. We raised £100 for Kirkcolm Bowling Club and £90 each for Kirkcolm and Leswalt Community Councils.

Rotary Primary Schools Quiz
Our local winners, Glenluce Primary, acquitted themselves well in the District Final. Although they did not win they finished ahead of some well known and larger schools. Well done to them and to Tom Stevenson and Shona Irving (who stood in at short notice for Ronnie as he was unwell) for transporting them and an accompanying parent. The pupils are Jenni Brooke, Craig Murphy, Robert Orr and Wilson Sloan.



Defibrillator   
Everything is ready to go live after the training which will take place on Wednesday 20th July at the NWC starting at 6pm. If you have not yet done so, please let Tom Mitchell know whether or not you will be able to attend – more volunteers are required!

Rugby     
Our group of supporters and friends have made good use of their season tickets to watch Glasgow Warriors throughout the season.
All of our group have renewed their season tickets. Contact Tom Mitchell as soon as possible if you wish to join us as existing season ticket holders will have priority in getting extra tickets before they go on general sale!

Golf AmAm

An excellent day was enjoyed by the 40 teams which participated in our 10th Annual AmAm which was won by Pop’s Gang comprising Robert ‘Pop’ Allison, Joe Woods, Robert Johnstone and Harry Wilson. They are pictured beside the Audi TT Coupe which unfortunately they did not win as this was the prize for a hole in one at the 12th. Our commiserations are with Michael Cooke who achieved a hole in one – but at the wrong hole – the 6th! The prize was kindly ‘donated’ by Lomond Audi(Ayr) but had to be returned to them as it was not won!
The major sponsor of the day was Ken Binnie Financial Services whose ongoing support is very much appreciated. Our own John McClintock is also a major sponsor. As well as supplying a 10th birthday cake, he provided excellent catering at the 12th. Thanks are also due to various individuals and businesses for their valuable support.

Peter Baird, who now runs this event, ably assisted by John Munro and Neil Fraser and the many members who helped on the day should be congratulated on their hard work which resulted in a day which was not only enjoyed by the competitors, but raised around £4,000 for charities, taking the 10 year total to over £43,000.

The help of our friends such as Gail Munro and our local community in achieving this is very much appreciated.


Kids Out
Mike Sheppard and Malcolm Henry accompanied a group of pupils with their helpers from the Park Learning Centre to the Chocolate Factory at Twynholm. A booklet was produced by the school from which it was evident that they had a great day out and proves, if proof was ever needed, that this annual event is well worth continuing.

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.

We have articles in the Free Press and in our District Magazine on a regular basis.

We are in touch with Border TV who are interested in featuring the Mull of Galloway Trail in their Border Life programme.

Our websites are
http://rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1383
http://www.mullofgallowaytrail.co.uk/
We now have a presence on Facebook - thanks to Steve Dampney for organising

and finally

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes

England has no kidney bank but it does have a Liverpool

I tried to catch some fog but I mist