2019

Rotary Matters w.c. 25 Nov (19)

The sight of a few kilts, tartan trews and scarves congregating in the Kintore Arms on Tuesday obviously signalled that something special was going on. Well of course there was, the Rotary Club of Inverurie members, friends and relations were celebrating St Andrew our Patron Saint. One wonders, in this fast moving, ever-changing world  if such occasions will be celebrated in ten years time?!  No matter, we still do and thank goodness for that, long may we continue to do so !

Sixty plus members and friends enjoyed an evening of good food and entertainment. On this occasion, the programme for the evening was in the hands of the Events Committee who came up trumps!  Well actually, it was one of their members Bill Duncan, who did the trick by inviting some of his chums from the Elgin Club to entertain us. To open the batting we had 'Three plus One'  (actually two Georges, a Ranald and Raymond!), three fiddlers and a pianist who played a great range of Scottish tunes with a bit of a Shetland bias. That set us up nicely for the Toast to St Andrew, delivered by Jim Royan  OBE,a very well known figure in Morayshire, a Master Butcher by profession, Jim has served as Chairman of Grampian NHS, he is a Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County and a fine speaker!

His Toast, took us to three different continents around the world where he participated in St Andrew's Night celebrations! A tribute to Scots who, for a variety of reasons may have left their native land but as well as their goods and chattels, they took with them their beliefs and traditions. With a few humorous asides thrown in for good measure, it was a thought-provoking tribute well received by the company.  The evening ended with another excellent session from the music group followed by vote of thanks proposed by  Murray Matthew.

The opportunity to have a raffle, raising funds for our charity commitments was not missed but the total raise is not yet to hand!    

Jim McColl

Photo  Captions

1 The Top Table – Mr & Mrs Diack,Mr & Mrs Royan, President & Mrs Mathers, Mr & Mrs Taylor

2 Three plus One, ready for the 'off'!

3 Principal speaker Jim Royan OBE

Rotary Matters w.c. 11 Nov (19)

Whether by accident or not, we Rotarians are constantly reminded of our motto 'Service above Self' and it came to the fore at this week's meeting.  For any organisation to run smoothly, much has to be done quietly behind the scenes and as a result, we might not recognise it, be aware of it, take it for granted even!  Our 'attendance officer' has decided that after about two decades of faultless service, he would hand the job on to someone else. Bill Murdoch, having served as Club Secretary for five years and President at the turn of the century has never let up in his support of the club. His meticulous, behind the scenes diligence in record keeping was acknowledged by the members on Tuesday night. His retirement form the role coming as a surprise to the members who accorded Bill a hearty vote of thanks.

The various committees reported on forthcoming events – a St Andrews Night special with guests, a re-arranged visit to the new Garioch Educational Hub, a couple of weeks break over the festive season  and linked with that a report from Sandy Lamb that 300 'Shoeboxes' filled with  small gifts had been despatched to needy families in countries like Romania.

Jim McColl

Rotary Invitation Evening 29th October 2019

.  We welcomed about 20 guests, invited by members who were entertained and informed about what it is like to be a member of a Rotary club at this present time.  I should add that, in that figure are included three members of the Turriff Rotary Club, it being their ‘scatter week’!  The programme designed and organised by Peter Donaldson was kicked off by him, explaining WHY we were seriously out to recruit new members. He was followed by George Ross one of our longest serving members on what it has meant to him to be a member. He was followed by Kay Diack, a newish, definitely younger member and what it has meant to her!  Then it was down to statistics and that was in the hands of an expert – Jim Sommerville.  Using modern technology ( no longer the projector and slides!), his presentation using computer and large screen took us through the areas of charitable work taken on and delivered by the club over the last 15 years. He also prepared a presentation in the use of Shelter Boxes in disaster situations around the world, indeed there was a shelter box on display showing the remarkable range of contents aimed at keeping a family sheltered and fed for days on end!

 

All this, together with a glass or two of plonk and a buffet supper, ending with a typical  mini-performance by the Glee Club will surely achieve our objective of recruiting a few new members. I am reminded of that WW One poster– ‘Your Rotary Club needs you’! Such a fine effort by Peter and his team deserves  a measure of success. Time alone will tell!

 

Please see bulletin below and group picture

Rotary Matters, w.c. 21 Oct (19)

The troops were called to order with a Trumpet Voluntary this week! Not the usual start to a Rotary meeting but it seemed appropriate on this occasion because the player was Hannah Reid who won our Rotary Young Musician Competition a few months ago.  As a result, she went on to compete in the area finals in Perth. A great experience for Hannah and though she didn't win she acknowledges that it gave her confidence a great boost. Keep blawin' yer trumpet Hannah, the troops much appreciated your performance!

On a rather similar theme, coincidentally in fact, our guest of the week was Lucy Watt who was sponsored by the club to participate in the Rotary Young Leaders (RYLA) camp at Nethybridge in the summer.  Invited to say a few words, Lucy described some of the highlights of the week with a degree of confidence – one of the benefits she has gained from her experience. She talked without a script though clutching a copy of the course programme!  Much of what came over depended on teamwork, each member taking their turn as leader, as they climbed, kayaked, played hockey and volleyball.  They listened to a variety of imminent speakers in the evening. It was a packed programme and when asked what the lasting benefit might be, Lucy immediately said – whilst thoroughly enjoying the various challenges, the new friendships made pleased her most!  Just shows, doesn't it – if you work hard, play hard, enjoy the company of others it leads to a happy and purposeful life! 

In thanking Lucy for telling her story, President Iain then presented Lucy with her Rotary Certificate for successfully completing the RYLA  course.   

Two forthcoming events were highlighted during the business session. Firstly, next week we have an open meeting with invited guests intended to emphasise the scope of the work we do for oor ain folk and for communities across the globe. You might describe it as a recruitment drive and you wouldn't be far wrong.  That was followed up by a report from Rotarian Bill Gray on arrangements for our annual St Andrews Night celebration, the entertainment coming from members of Elgin Rotary Club. We are in for a belter (I've heard them before!)

Jim McColl

Photo

Lucy Watt displays her certificate. 

Rotary Matters w.c. 14 Oct (19)

The meeting this week had an unusual start! President Iain Mathers had the pleasant duty of inducting a new member to the club.  Well that is not strictly the case,  we welcomed back to Inverurie James Kerr on a transfer from his club in Derbyshire.  I have mentioned James before when as a visitor he met up again with school mate Mike Hay. He has now come back to stay.  Unlike many football transfers these days, there is no money involved!  We are delighted to welcome this retired engineer to our midst.

Following the regular items like stewards required for this and representatives for that, there was included a sheet to put names on a list for another visit to the new Garioch Educational Hub (my title) to replace the Academy with an instruction to include shoe size! I thought they would have been past that stage of requiring  safety boots by this time!  Maybe it will be slippers, not to damage the new flooring!    

But then, all the business over, Stuart Watson was invited to introduce our guest speaker Amanda Ashton-Booth and her colleague Alastair Minty. There followed one of the bravest speeches I have ever heard!  In her mid thirties, Amanda proceeded to tell us a little bit of her own life,  like not meeting her mother and sisters until she was 10 years old, how at 16 years old she walked out of care to be on her own! The trials and tribulations of drug use and thoughts of suicide were not by-passed! BUT, she is now Director of a charity which works for and assists young people described as 'home leavers'.

A trifle nervous because she had never addressed a company before consisting of 25 adults ( mainly men), she was able to tell us how it really is, meeting young people just like herself at that age, giving them the reassurance that they are 'somebody' like anyone else with hopes and aspirations, dreams of career and why not? They deserve to feel that way  but don't believe that they can! In her present role,  Amanda can approach authorities with a certainty which can achieve results.  To the professionals who try the fobbing off attitude 'Yes, my dear, I hear what you are saying....blah, blah'.  She can reply ( and I use that well known Glaswegian expression) – 'Listen Jimmy, ah've been there'!  Truly, Amanda is on a mission, she has come through  a difficult time in her own life, not totally unscathed and she deserves all the support we can give.  Her mentor Alistair Minty must take credit for the  encouragement and advice he has provided and continues to offer.  He was able to chip in with comments on some of the technical aspect of the work which Amanda is involved in.  It was good to hear the inside story rather than constantly read the lurid tales beloved by some of the Press.

After questions, Bill Murdoch gave a very apt but succinct vote of thanks.    

J S Watson, Amanda and Alistair

Rotary Matters w.c.7 Oct. (19)

Two things dominated this week's meeting.  Firstly, President Iain welcomed guests from two of our neighbouring Oldmeldrum and Kintore/Kemnay and District. With one more group to come from the Huntly, they  were the competing teams in the first round of the Rotary Gavel  competition. This is an annual knockout  event and consists in playing a number of 'bar sports' for the want of a better expression. The selection of events which could include things like dominoes is the choice of the home club. It is usually a great evening of fun and camaraderie.

Our visitors were to hear something of the Club's plans for a special night at the end of the month which will centre on recruitment!  As many have commented in recent years, the social life of our communities is changing, clubs are having difficulty recruiting members but the needs of our communities and those much worse off in foreign parts, still exist. Peter Donaldson and his committee have designed a programme for the evening designed to highlight the aims and objectives of a modern Rotary Club. To prepare members for what is planned, he detailed the general format before handing over to Jim Sommerville who gave a masterly 15 minute presentation on the impact our club has made since it was founded back in the 1950's. Alongside the statistics he showed some examples of what the Rotary Movement has done worldwide for communities recovering from climate and man-made disasters. It is a remarkable achievement and we must continue to support our communities  at home and abroad. To succeed in supporting these  projects, we need to recruit like-minded people. Simple!

Just last week, with some children from Uryside School a group  of our members were planting thousands of crocus corms to mark World Polio Day! The aim, started by Rotary and subsequently supported by the Bill Gates Foundation is to rid the world of the scourge of polio and we are nearly there!  The crocus flowers will all be purple! Why?When children in countries where the disease is still present immunised, they tick a finger in purple dye to indicate that they have had the treatment. Nifty eh?   

Jim McColl

Once again, the business part of the evening was pretty full of plans for coming events, recruiting volunteers for this and that, arrangements for next week when we host teams from two  other local Rotary Clubs clubs to participate in the first round of the annual Gavel Competition. I hope to report a home win next time. We then had an update on ailing members with, in addition a very warm welcome to Rotarian Howard Hughes having been struck off that list after quite a few weeks.  He is obviously still bereft having missed that fishing trophy which was mentioned last week, otherwise he was in good form. 

It was then the turn of President Elect Kay Diack to give what used to be called a 'MY JOB' talk! By jove you had to remain alert to keep tabs on her address which was delivered at breakneck speed  Kay works for Aberdeen City Council as head of the Service Department dealing with Homelessness, Poverty and Rehabilitation. Apart from this being a mammoth problem it is also a mammoth task.  For a start there are three groups/committees each with a special role to play – supporting homeless  people and their families, offering housing and accommodation  advice and dealing with statuary homelessness, allocation of council housing etc.  This includes simple requirements like matching accommodation to peoples' needs whether it be hostel, bed & breakfast, furnished or unfurnished flat etc. Believe it or not, the Council have nearly 400 temporarily furnished flats available for otherwise homeless families. In addition there is a welfare benefit team which  helps people to establish just what they are entitled to.

Not surprisingly, two of the major problems for management are related to staffing  - recruiting the right people and keeping them on board.  I'm sure it must have seemed to many of my colleagues that dealing with these problems and the related conditions like drug abuse, sexual abuse and re-offending must be very traumatic for staff, no doubt one of the main reasons for there being a significant turnover of staff and as a consequence perhaps making recruitment difficult as well.

We are a caring society and long may that continue despite the significant costs involved.  It is difficult to imagine a world where these problems would be a thing of the past but we must live in hope. Our heartfelt thanks to Kay were expressed by Bill Murdoch.

  

Jim McColl

Iain Mathers and his deptuy Kay Diack.jpg

Rotary Matters w.c. 23 Sept. (19)

A word of congratulations for a start this week!  A group of Inverurie Rotarians and partners attended the Old Meldrum Rotary Club's  20th anniversary celebration Dinner at Haddo last Friday night and were full of praise for an excellent evening. Everything about the evening receiving top marks, that included a wonderful meal provided by Country Foods, Alford! Speeches were excellent and not overdone as happens occasionally at these functions! The bonus, for those who were fit enough to partake, was an excellent ceilidh.  Well done Meldrum Rotary.

Our President Iain being on leave this week the proceedings were conducted  by President Elect Kay Diack, taking us smartly through the usual committee reports, she then handed over to Mike Hay who introduced our speaker, the well known local businessman Ian Sinclair. A past Chairman of Round Table, currently Chairman of BID. What was to be his subject? Local Politics? The Retail Trade? Family firms versus the Multiples?

It was none of these, we were treated to a journey – a short history of The Sinclair Family!  Starting with Dad, born and brought up in Unst, working as a car mechanic. Meeting Mum, also a native of Shetland.  A clue of what was to come from that early beginning came from a mention of Dad's hobby – in his spare time he loved mending watches! In one of the ironies of life, when Mr Sinclair senior returned from doing his National Service in the RAF, he discovered that his best pal had taken over his job as a car mechanic!  So the family moved south, to Leven in Fife and from there via  Reekie's  in Laurencekirk to their new tractor dealership in Inverurie.  Dad was still repairing watches in his spare time!

It was a great story of how the family got to where they are today. Their first shop on the High Street had a floor area of 150 sq ft, the first delivery of stock from the Glasgow wholesaler  fitted into a shoe box! Mother Sinclair was significantly involved as they moved to a larger premises measuring 1000sq ft before the most recent move to their current premises which includes a restaurant facility – with a floor area of 10,000 sq ft! The next generation of the family, Ian's daughter is now involved in the business.  

In business now for 40 years, the family decided to celebrate by raising £40,000 for charity and have just about got there!  They must be very content with their efforts and we congratulate  them for it. Rotarian Sandra Turnbull proposed the vote of thanks, singling out Quality and Customer Service as being key elements of their success.   The members showed their appreciation with a hearty round of applause.

Jim McColl

Speaker Ian Sinclair and Michael Hay

Rotary Matters w.c. 16 Sept. (19)

There are several 'good news' elements to report following this week's club meeting. Firstly, congratulations were  extended to Rotarian George Ross on his Lifetime Achievement Award  presented at the recent Pride of Inverurie Awards ceremony, for his contribution to business, the community and the Rotary Club over a significant length of time. On the sporting front we learned that Rotarian Howard Hughes was runner-up in Rotary's 2019 Scottish Angling Championship held annually at the Lake of  Menteith. Howard brought the trophy home last year and was determined to do so again despite not being in the best of health. Undoubtedly he will be disappointed to be beaten by just one fish! In the circumstances he thoroughly deserves our congratulations. Before moving on it was announced, as had been suggested last week that the club had bought and presented to the Academy a freezer to enable them to improve their Breakfast Club service!

Our speaker this week was club member Jim Hatter in his role as an Assistant District Governor.  Basically, despite the grand title, he is the information link between a group of clubs in this area to the Rotary area in Scotland, referred to as District 1010.  The information flows in both directions!  By the way, we are preparing to welcome a new club into District 1010 – at Ythanbank. More information on that in due time.

On this occasion Jim's message 'from upstairs' echoed what we have been working on for some time – the need to recruit new people but also to look after existing members. This latter would seem rather obvious because in my time, I can remember very few who have left the club for no other reason than being dissatisfied. His main topic, however, was to bring to our attention a project which the clubs in District 1010 are being  asked to support jointly and that is the Charlie House Project. I quote 'Their aim is to build a centre in Aberdeen offering parents and carers the chance to recharge their batteries  safe in the knowledge that the children with complex disabilities will be in the care of specially trained medical staff.'

We will sign up to that project and you will no doubt be hearing from us! That might sound like a threat but as I have said in the past we don't beg for money!  We might ask for your help but in return we will offer a heap of options for you whether it be a concert, a quiz night, a flashy dinner or some other service.  We don't just take – we give, not every time but for projects like Charlie House, as they say in modern parlance – that's a no-brainer!   

Jim McColl

Rotary Matters w.c. 9 Sept. (19)

We had an informal gathering of the Inverurie Club this week – nae jaikets and ties, nae tap table, and a buffet style meal! A sign of times to come perhaps? It gets my vote!  An information night so-called, as members were invited to deliberate on the outcome of our Council's meeting last week.

There was however, a rather important ceremony to proceed before all else and that was for President Iain to present Rotarian Mike Hay with his Paul Harris Fellowship Medal, lapel pin and certificate to mark his long and dedicated service to the club. Let me quote the official line:

'The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation's way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to Rotary Foundation programmes .It is named for our founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905. Rotarians can designate a Paul Harris Fellow as a tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of Rotary.'

As our President said in his address ' 

Mike Hay has been an outstanding Rotarian for 36 years. He has held every committee convenor post and served as our President for 2 years in late 90s.The award is based, not only on the foregoing but on Mike's overall attitude, being a most willing Rotarian, where nothing is too much bother. Mike…you are travelling in the path of your father, an original member of this club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

In his reply, Mike made reference to his father Johnston Hay's dedication to Rotary indeed he described it as being brought up with Rotary! Club members expressed their delight in the usual fashion.

Another good news story was drawn to our attention regarding the work of Rotary at home and abroad!  This time it was the latter. It was brought to the attention of members that one of our Group Study Exchange students Tracy Thomson, now Tracy Morse, has just received an award from The Scottish Malawi Partnership for her 20 years work in Malawi.  An environmental health specialist Tracy works for the University of Strathclyde but has been based in the University of Malawi since 2000 where she has led collaborative research projects focussed on preventative community health with particular emphasis on water, sanitation, hygiene, food safety and air quality.

Another fine example of how Rotary can create opportunities for young people!

Jim McColl

Mike Hay receiving his PHF from President Iain Mathers

Rotary Matters  w.c.2 Sept. (19)

It was with a degree of expectation that I attended our regular meeting this week, because our guests were to be members of the new Associates Group.  Let me remind you of this organisation, set up a year or so ago. The idea basically was to identify people in our area, willing to serve the community as we Rotarians do, but who didn't necessarily wish to belong to a formal club!  Mentored by Rotary club members, they would  look to identifying projects to benefit our Inverurie society.

Regular matters of business were dealt with quite expeditiously before President Iain handed over to Rotarian Jim Hatter who introduced the Associates - Neil Bailey, Judy Whyte and Dawn Lynch.  

Dawn was invited to kick off  because as a Depute Rector in Inverurie Academy responsible for Targeted Support , she was able to get right to the nub of the project – To help young people whose lives are blighted  by poverty!  Firstly, in setting the scene Dawn gave us a few statistics – there are about 1000 pupils at the school with 120 teachers.  Many new families have come into the area and believe it or not, there are 30 different languages spoken!  The responsibility of schools is not just teaching and learning  but well-being too and that brings us closer to the target project.  There are children in the school who are in foster care, single parent families, children as carers for older members of the family. In other words we read about these situations in the newspapers every other day and  for many of us, this was a wake-up call, it is happening right here in Inverurie.  The group have identified one major facet of this scenario – food!  Many of the children at risk may hardly ever have a square meal!   

So, by setting up a breakfast club in school, these children can be 'fed and watered' the better able to face the day's school work.  Where does the food come from? The school already have arrangements with local supermarkets to receive food items that are left over from a day's trading – bread, for example but how can you store it?  Therein lies the first challenge for our Associates – they need a Freezer, aye maybe more than one.  The project is up and running

At that juncture, Judy took over and answered one or two of the questions that were quite obviously stacking up – the availability of facilities, the relationships with food banks  and other organisations already in operation, how to overcome the stigma of isolation  which some of these youngsters may feel. Then Neil, in summarising, dealt with the more general challenge of child poverty, the logistics of implementing their plans and looking ahead to providing opportunities to the  help the young people to overcome their growing embarrassment by providing courses to improve their chances of employment.

After questions, Rotarian Mike Hay proposed a Vote of thanks. What a cracker of a project and I can tell you as the meeting broke up, there was already a discussion going with some of the members on size of freezers, health & safety rules etc.  Inverurie Rotary Club will pull out the stops  to help the Associates with this project.  That should be no surprise,  they've been doing this sort of thing for our community since 1953! 

JimMcColl

Rotary Matters 27th August 2019

Inverurie Rotarians hear of the challenges of the Aberdeen to Inverness railway line

With only 7% of travellers using the Inverurie to Inverness line there was no chance of dualling being done in that section. Phil Wray, Stakeholder Manager for Bam Nuttall, the main contractor, outlined the work since 2015, taking the double line to Dyce, and now to Inverurie. While the line was again open, the full operation of increased trains would not be felt until December.

26 Rotarians with three guests, affected by the work, Duncan Naismith, Charlie Milne and Bill Christie, from Kintore, fired questions around the technical aspects of the track including widening of the land, cut and fill and particularly the challenges of the many bridges. Archaeological work was discussed but no material finds were identified, other than the work done over the old canal. Those with technical experience, were delighted to hear that of the 150,000 tons of ballast and 200,000 tons of stone used, 97% had been recycled. With the new trains, the Don Viaduct had been a major challenge, with widening and strengthening accomplished.

Showing the work being done as at April, Rotarians were given a train driver view in a 10 minute visual presentation ride on the 17 mile length of the track, by Paula Jackson, Assistant to the Manager

A 3D visual presentation was made of the new Kintore station, which was to have 150 car park spaces. This drew questions on the technicalities, but also mention of the likely addition of future housing, and the hoped for increase in existing properties. 

(Those of younger years, were surprised to hear that post Beeching, in 1966, there had been 2 lines from Aberdeen to Kintore, but the cuts had reduced this to one)

Rotarians voted the presentation and discussion over an hour to be one of the most interesting meetings of the year.

Bill Duncan, from Elgin complimented the work done in Elgin and Forres and thanked Bam for a most professional presentation on the work done between Inverurie and Aberdeen.

Picture….Phil Wray & Paula Johnson of Bam Nuttall (Railway contractors) with Eric Massie of Inverurie Rotary

I

Rotary Matters w.c. 19 Aug (19)

There was a bit of a sporting air to the evening's proceedings of the Rotary Club of Inverurie this week, firstly the President welcomed back to the team after injury (an afa sair leg) past President Ian Ewan, suitably rigged oot wi a wakin'stick! It was good to have Ian back amongst us. I should add that it is an element of our regular weekly business to up-date the members on the health and well-being of fellow members and their families especially when assailed with illness.

To continue the sporting analogy –  transfer is in the air! The gentleman I mentioned last week – Jim Kerr, has applied for a transfer from his current Derbyshire club to join us here in Inverurie (no fee has been mentioned!) but one thing I can say is that Jim will be made most welcome as he returns to his home area.

I started off with a sporting reference but it could just as easily have been a family context, such is the nature of Rotary. We had a return visit of Messrs McCartney and Rothnie from our 'grand-daughter' club in Oldmeldrum, connected with their upcoming dinner at Haddo, to celebrate their 20th anniversary.  Strange expression you might think but let me explain. When a new club is proposed in any community, the existing nearest club to that community is invited to mentor the embryo club through the setting-up process and thus it is  referred to as the Mother Club! If my memory serves correctly, our Daughter club would be Ellon who then mentored the Meldrum Club – got it?    If I got it wrong, you can bet I will be told in no uncertain terms!

This family element  which pervades the Rotary organisation means that wherever you be, you will be made welcome by the local club! Where might that be?  At home here we just check your wee booklet (every Rotarian has one!) which is entitled 'Rotary Connects Around the World'! Our version covers an area called District 1010. and that covers Scotland  north,east and west from Stirlingshire. For example President Elect Kay Diack, back from a holiday on the Fife coast spoke warmly of visits she made to two clubs in the St Andrews area! 

Lastly, Rotarian Bill Duncan reported on plans for the Club to be present at the next Group-fest event to be held in Inverurie Town Hall on Saturday 7th September when the general  public will be able to meet representatives of a very wide range of organisations and clubs in the area. An exciting chance for us to explain what we are all about.  We'll be there from 10am till 3.30pm. Be sure to come and see us.   

Jim McColl

Rotary Matters w.c. 12 Aug (19)

It was a sombre start to the meeting this week as President Iain Mathers invited past President Stuart Watson to mark the sad passing of Past President Dick Slater by delivering a short Eulogy which was  followed by a minute's silence.

As many have said before, Stuart could/should have been a Minister of the Kirk rather than an Ironmonger!  He hits the spot every time, his resumé of  Dick's contribution to Rotary

over the years and indeed his role in Inverurie society was just right. This included Dick's part in the setting up of the Garioch Rugby Club and his contribution to the work of St Andrew's Kirk. Our thoughts are with Diane and  the family at this stressful time.

On a brighter note, the President welcomed a guest Rotarian from the Belper and Duffield Club in Derbyshire and thereby hangs a tale! The man in question is James Kerr who's father worked for Hay's Lemonade! He and Mike Hay had much to talk about as they remembered 'the old days'! That's Rotary – a nationwide, nay, a world wide club.

Eric Massie, organiser of our very successful outing to the Pitscurry project last week, reported that he had been invited to join the party welcoming the Britain in Bloom Judges to Inverurie  and was   happy to say that they seemed highly delighted with the town displays which augurs well however results of the competition won't be announced for a few weeks.  He then went on to detail coming events for the club such as the annual Golf Competition and a further visit to the new Community Education Centre being built to replace the Academy.

In the meantime, John Nicol and I have been sussing out potential sites for a crocus planting bonanza in aid of the End Polio Now campaign

Our meetings might be rather subdued through the summer season but the work of Rotary carries on! 

Jim McColl

Rotary Matters w.c. 5 Aug. (19)

It was a fine night in more ways than one  for our visit on Tuesday to the Pitcaple Environmental Project colloquially referred to as the Pitscurry project. 14  members with family and friends enjoyed a delightful supper in the The Buzzard Cafe followed by a short tour round the horticulture unit. For quite a number of the company, it was their first visit to the facility which grew out of the Aberdeenshire Council's  Harlaw Unit, now no longer, to train young adults with learning and/or physical difficulties.

The company assembled on the wooden decking terrace outside the cafe and I think it would be true to say that first timers were gob-smacked by the panoramic view across to Bennachie – it is quite a stunner.  As it happens, this was a very appropriate place to start our visit because the terrace with  the surrounding balustrade and flight of steps down to the garden area were built by a team of Inverurie Rotarians led by Eric Massie! A mammoth task, a job beautifully done and certainly well appreciated by staff and visitors alike.  Indeed  the team have just finished a wee bit of seasonal maintenance on the structure.

After the meal, Eric took a few minutes to describe our involvement with the Pitscurry facility. It started off with building a shed to house equipment - at little or no cost!  Thereafter it was time for a stroll round a part of the garden, including a series of polytunnels. The principle reason was to view a novel hydroponics set-up being used to grow strawberries!  I wonder how many realised that this is also where the hanging baskets are filled and grown on, to be used for display in Inverurie each summer?  There is another Rotary involvement in that exercise too.

The vote of thanks to Eric and his team and to the cafe staff was offered by President  Elect Kay Diack.  

Jim McColl

Photo Captions

1 A number of members and guests listen to the welcoming remarks from Chairman Iain Mathers.

2 'Gaffer' Eric explaining our long involvement with Pitscurry!

Rotary Matters w.c. 29 July (19)
Another quiet night in the office!  Just 20 sat down for our meal and that included three guests!  In degrees of importance, I have to say that  the lead topic and one which saddened members was the resignation letter from Graham McWilliam read out by President Iain Mathers. An exemplary and hard working member of the club over the years Graham will be missed by the members for his contributions to the club and for his efforts on behalf of Rotary, most notably his energetic involvement in the annual Kids Out event at Craibstone. As in so many situations in today's society, 'pressure of work' is the main reason for Graham's decision.  We are sorry to see him go, we wish him and his family well and who knows, in times to come, he might seek to join us again – now that would be a welcome outcome.
A pleasant surprise was the arrival of two stalwarts from the Oldmeldrum club Messrs McCartney and Rothnie!  Well known to most club members they were met with the usual banter!  The purpose of their visit was to publicise the 20th  birthday of the Oldmeldrum club!  Yes indeed, time flies as they say – the club was formed in 1999 and will celebrate their 20th  with a dinner at  Haddo House on 20th September.'How many tickets would you like guys and gals?'  There upon the level of banter was raised somewhat as someone (who shall be nameless) asked how many tickets the Meldrum club would require for our Wag of Wags dinner next April?
It was a rare nicht at the Rotary and next week will be another as we move out to Pitscurry for our regular meeting followed by an informal tour of the gardens etc.  We pray that it will be another fair nicht – weatherwise!   
JimMcColl


Rotary Matters w.c.22July (19)

As we are right in the middle of the holiday season, not surprisingly only 20 members attended Tuesday night's meeting.  It was ever thus!  That said, there is always a bit of business to be done indeed the Admin Committee which was convened as soon as the main meeting was closed, actually lasted longer! The principal aim was to move forward elements of the 2019/20 programme which had been approved at the AGM. 

Like so many organisations, Rotary has an ageing membership and therefore recruitment of new, younger people to continue the charitable work programmes which is our hallmark, is number one priority. How we tackle that is the main objective of the Admin committee. As a result, we spent most of the time on two elements, firstly – we have to make ourselves more attractive by becoming less formal and secondly, by doing a bit of positive advertising with the main aim of expanding our potential 'customer' base! The first we have already started to do and the second is our next priority – open meetings to illustrate some of the community projects that we are involved in thus encouraging people to become involved.  Watch this space!

I have to report a fine PS from last week's meeting! Father Gerald , back home in Uganda, following his visit to Scotland has been in touch with Rotarian John Nicol to say thank you for the hospitality he enjoyed when he was with us AND to report that the project to bring fresh water to over eleven thousand  people in his community can go ahead, following positive hydrology tests. Rotary and its supporters does it again and we need to be able to continue with such projects at home and abroad.   

Jim McColl

Rotary Matters w.c.15 July (19)

It turned out to be a busy night in the Kintore Arms on Tuesday with 24 members attending in addition we welcomed three guests.  After the meal, we customarily spend a few minutes on club business which this week included an item on Christmas!  We are only just passed the longest day for goodness sake! Aye maybe so but we must plan ahead and on this occasion we were all handed out books of raffle tickets for the Christmas Car Raffle in aid of The Archie Foundation and other charities! This annual event culminates in the car being on display in the Bon Accord Centre through December with teams of Rotarians on duty each day, selling tickets with final draw made

on Christmas Eve.

Our charity theme continued for the rest of the evening, our first guest to be introduced was Erica Banks, PR And Fund-raising Executive of the cancer charity Friends of Anchor.  She made a brief speech bringing us up to date with the current £2 million project to build a special facility for the treatment  and care of cancer patients and their families. So far, the  fund-raising efforts have raised over a quarter of the required amount on target to meet the required total. President Iain then handed over a cheque for £3 thousand raised at our WAGS dinner. As one famous comedian used say 'not a lot' but I am immediately reminded of that old saying 'many a mickle maks a muckle'!

Tickets for Archie, a cheque for Anchor, it doesn't get better than that  or does it?  On stage  next, introduced by Rotarian John Nicol, who's wife Catherine joined us for the evening, came The Reverend Father Doctor Gerald Wamala all the way from Uganda!   You my remember my earlier report about John & Catherine's visit to Monde  last year, explaining that with Rotary backing, a new school had been built for the community with accommodation for two  teachers. Our guiding light on the project Father Gerald, was able to bring us up to date with what has happened since. For example, during the building of the facility, some of the young lads were employed by the contractors! In the region of 350 children are being given a real chance in life by attending school sessions.  Suffice to say that the community have embraced these improvements with enthusiasm, giving them hope for a better life for their children. As he said, rather succinctly 'when you stop to think about what has happened you must also give thanks'. 

I thought it was a bit special that, on the same evening, we could bring together representatives of two projects aided by the Rotary Club of Inverurie - at home and abroad.

Jim McColl

Rotary Matters w.c.8 July (19) by Jim McColl

The holiday season is definitely with us – you can tell by the weather! Seriously, our Rotary evening on Tuesday was remarkably quiet with only 22 members in attendance. Apart  from the weekly business, updates on members who are unable to attend through illness and greetings from other clubs visited that was just about it- but not quite!

Under the Chairmanship of our new mannie in the hot seat President Iain Mathers, the Club Council met BEFORE the meal – something was brewing! More of that in a moment. Firstly it was announced that one of our guests next week would be Erica Banks from Friends of Anchor. As well as giving us an update on the workings of the charity, Erica will receive a £3000 cheque from the club part of the proceeds from our WAGS dinner, held back at the beginning of May. Believe it or not, plans for next year's event are well under way when we will have a WAG of WAGS event!  What's that, do I hear you ask?  Quite simple, we bring the winners of the last four Wags competitions together to compete against each other, at stake is the title Wag of Wags! Next year, because the availability of the Town Hall is in question, the event will be held out of town – at Lochter Activity Centre! Planning, planning, planning – it takes a lot of time but the results justify the efforts to get it right, on the night!

We have another guest joining us next week – all the way from Uganda! Father Gerald Wamala, who co-ordinated the the Monde Primary School Project which Rotarian John Nicol visited last year and which I described some weeks ago. Father Gerald is assured of a warm welcome by the club members..................and all of that explains the meeting of our  Club Council which I mentioned earlier!  It was to ratify plans and funding for the next phase of the Ugandan project – providing fresh running water for a community of 11,000 people!  

Next week is going to be a belter!

Bulletin No 1 for July 2019

There will be a Bulletin every 2 weeks with further updates following Council meetings and news of interest.

Rotary Council for 2019-2020

Office bearers and Council Conveners are:-  Iain Mathers (President) Kay Diack (Pres. Elect), Robbie Maitland (Community), Peter Donaldson (Admin), and Howard Hughes (Events). Sandy Lamb(Youth Activities). Also on Council (Eric Massie & Bill Duncan). 

        Rotary Matters by Jim McColl

Week commencing 1st July 2019

I missed this week's meeting because I just had to be elsewhere and the attendance officer was aware  of that  – a simple courtesy which members, for the most part, accept!  This was the proper 'Hand Over' week, I had obviously jumped the gun with my last report!  No matter, there was something that our new President Iain Mathers said last week which rang a bell with me  and I would like to share it with you.

During his remarks Iain made reference to the fact that he had been a Rotarian for over 30 years and  in a humorous aside, he made the point that he had managed to dodge the role of President for that inordinately long time (though it had been suggested from time to time!). We look forward to his reign with pleasure and expectation!

It started me thinking on various tacks,for example, I have also been a member for over thirty years and the average throughout the club won't be far short of that. With a membership of over 30 it amounts to quite a significant service to the community and the disadvantaged in the wider world! That is only one club, think of the Rotary network worldwide, mind boggling isn't it and what do we get out of it?  What's the attraction?  Obviously, being in a position with like-minded individuals to help others in need  and in another sense, we help ourselves by forming friendly relationships which last a lifetime. The bonus is, wearing that little Rotarian Badge in a lapel is like wearing a badge of friendship, wherever you go!

On a slightly flippant  note, we are like a bag of sweeties!  Allsorts! A mixture of shapes and sizes, colours and flavours to suit everyone!  Two things are not allowed to be discussed  - politics and religion. Are we setting ourselves  above them? In a sense we are because Rotarians are for humanity. Undoubtedly we have our own private beliefs regarding both forbidden subjects but for the purposes of Rotarian aims and objectives we can keep them to ourselves as we work to improve the lot of mankind. A big statement to make but how else can you describe the world-wide efforts of the Rotarian movement?

Under Iain's leadership, we look forward to working together to better the communities we live in as well as the disadvantaged in foreign lands.  In doing so, we expect to enjoy another year of fun and laughter.

New President Iain Mathers takes over from J G Ross with President elect Kay Diack

Week commencing 24th June, 2019

It was changeover night on Tuesday – out with the old and in with the new!The serving President George Ross handed over to incoming President Iain Mathers. His Deputy and President Elect is Kay Diack, Mike Barron resumes as Secretary with Charlie Taylor continuing as Club Treasurer.

George has had a busy year and though fraught with periods of ill-health, as a Master Baker and successful Businessman, he knows how to deliver – on time!  He has put in a tremendous stint again this last 12 months and for that the Rotary Club of Inverurie and the people we serve are thankful. 'What's his secret?', you might well ask! In my view the answer is quite simple – he likes people! Apart from running a business with terrific support from dear wife Betty and the family, George has, for many years, also been a leading figure on behalf of his trade in the Trades House organisation in Aberdeen -what is their principal aim?  Looking after people, see what I mean?  I can't think how many years it is since we started the Glee Club but JG was in there from the start. As our principal MC (and budding comedian), as soon as he steps on the stage, he comes alive even when privately he might not be feeling 'the tops'.  Well done JG, you have put in a terrific stint on behalf of the Club and the people we serve – and so say all your fans!

Now then to business, but first, President Iain welcomed our visitors and there were quite a few  - five of our Associate members, our two young nominees to attend the RYLA ( Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) summer camp -  Lucy Watt and Andy McDonald.  We look forward to them reporting back, in due time!  I nearly said when they have recovered because these week long camps are designed to challenge the young people  physically and mentally, which will take them to new levels of potential in their lives. 

Yet one more guest was introduced – Ken Mcclennan from the Forres Club representing our District, offering words of encouragement and support for the coming year. Key amongst President Iain's aims is to increase our membership, something that the whole club endorsed. Our individual committee leaders then presented their plans for the year to give members a chance to learn more, to criticise and endorse the various proposals.  

The meeting closed with a vote of thanks proposed by Past President JG Ross – still fechtin'! The Glee Club will be back next season, he says – that's nice to know!

Rotary Matters w.c.17 June (19)

The Great Inverurie Bike Ride was just one of the subjects discussed at Tuesday  night's meeting. The key points highlighted  by Joe McDowall in his report to the club were as follows:

 

"The Rotary Club of Inverurie was once again happy to support the Great Inverurie Bike Ride last Sunday. In changeable, blustery weather the club set up its tent at Kellands Park to raise awareness of Prostate Scotland by offering passers-by free literature on Prostate problems and diagnosis and where to go for help. A bottle stall was provided with all the money raised going to Prostate Scotland. The total raised on the stall together with a gratuity from the organisers will mean that £200 will go to the Prostate Scotland funds.

While one team of Rotarians manned the tent and bottle stall, a second group of diehards took up their stations around the extended bike ride (the Suie circuit) performing marshalling duties to ensure the safety of the riders. Like the cyclists the marshals had to endure sunny, hot, cold and at times wet conditions. At the feeding stations, water, biscuits, sweeties and bananas were available.

This very well organised event run by “Live Life Aberdeenshire” continues to offer a great day out for serious and fun loving cyclists from across the Region. We were happy to lend our support."  

A total of 11 club members were involved and that included one of our new associates”.

Continuing the charity theme President George Ross then handed over a cheque for £3000 (from our WAGS Dinner held in early May)  to Denise Cromar from Grampian Opportunities an organisation which helps people with a wide range of disabilities to live a fulfilling life to the best of their ability, just like any other individual in our society.  Speaking from her wheelchair, Denise gave a very forceful summary of the work done by the organisation which was very well received by the members.

You might think that would be enough for one night but you would be wrong because on to the podium stepped Cathy McIllwaine representing the British Heart Foundation to frighten the life out of (some) of us with  an impressive set of statistics on heart disease.   With a number of  BHF 'beneficiaries' in the audience, myself included, Cathy took us back to the days of the early sixties when the only medication offered to sufferers was aspirin, to the present day when research efforts alone  cost a total of £100million +, children in schools are being taught  CPR cardiac massage techniques and surgery is being performed on children as young as 5 year old!  

Needless to say, BHF depends to a large extent on charitable giving to be able to continue it's invaluable work and support, a message extremely well delivered and appreciated. The vote of thanks was proposed by Kay Diack.

Aye, it was quite a night in the KA with much food for thought !  The charitable work by Rotary and many others is never ending and it must continue!

Week commencing 10th June, 2019

Losh, how time flies, it was information night again, no guest speaker, so plenty time for a blether and a bit of discussion.  With in-coming President Iain Mathers in the Chair, we fairly rattled through the business which usually starts with a welcome to any guests followed by a report on colleagues who are not able to attend  meetings because  of illness, delivered each week by one of our stalwarts Mike Hay. As part of his duties he will also remind fellow Rotarians who is on duty the following week and who is responsible for providing the speaker, when appropriate.  This is followed by the question – has anyone been visiting other clubs in the course of their travels? Any correspondence?  On this occasion, it was a 'yes',  we had a letter from Past President and Treasurer Cath Nash, currently living in Englandshire!  It had come to our attention that Cath had been seriously ill so we sent her a bunch of flowers with a letter expressing our concern and subsequent delight that she was now recuperating at home. Why mention this little domestic gesture?

I'll tell you why!  It reinforces the 'family' element that pervades the Rotary movement. We check up on members who are ill, visiting where appropriate, sending the 'get well' messages as described. The frequent references to visitors very often applies to Rotarians visiting or working in our area away from their home and their own club.  It is this 'fraternity' feel that appeals to me and   fellow members. Wearing that little lapel badge can have surprising outcomes!  A couple of weeks ago I attended a ceremony at the Burns Monument and Museum in my home town of Kilmarnock and was approached by one of the local organisers who had spotted that wee symbol!  We had a fine blether about our respective clubs over a cup of coffee (yes it was coffee, we met in mid-morning, for goodness sake). That illustrates one of the benefits of being a member of Rotary – Fraternity.  

Coming up this weekend is the Big Inverurie Bike Ride with Rotary members heavily involved, manning The Tent at the the starting point and providing stewards at each of the checkpoints round the route.  Badgered, cajoled  and led by Joe MacDowall the team will also be running a 'Bottle Stall' specifically to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer and contribute to the charity's  Appeal Fund.  The duties will be shared with members of our newly formed 'Associates' group! 

It all starts from Kellands Park , the main race ( 'The Suie Classic') competitors setting off at 10.30am . Lots of things going on in the park including events for children.  Lets hope they get a good day for it.

Planning ahead is an integral part of the successful management of any business and that includes organisations like the Rotary Club of Inverurie.  At this time of year when new officers are being elected, our various committees are also being renewed.  Every Rotarian in the club has to serve on one of the committees – how much they participate is a matter for the individual! As 'Press Officer' it is appropriate for me to be a member of the Administration (Admin) Committee which basically attends to the day to day running of the club.  So what does that infer?  Here is an example from a recent meeting:

1. Make arrangements to ensure that the new sound system is in place ready for each club meeting. It is suggested that we set up a rota for this task.

2. We seek the club’s agreement for more informality at our business meeting, held  monthly, starting in September. Yet another attempt to modernise our meetings by making them less formal, some would say less stuffy!

3) We propose  to have an open evening with light refreshments inviting members of the business community, schools, churches etc to give them a taste of the activities we get involved in past and present.  This will entail the compilation of a list of people in our community who might be interested. A sort of genteel recruitment campaign!  Reminds me of a poster I saw outside a kirk years back which said 'Carpenter from Nazareth needs Joiners'!

4) It would be useful in our forward planning to have a list of forthcoming events in and around Inverurie where we might have an opportunity to take part.. We propose that a list of these events be drawn up.

5) Further work needs to be done to ensure better coverage on our web site.

Just one committee's agenda for the coming weeks, progress to be reviewed in a months time. We have five committees in total -Admin, Community Service, Youth Activities, Foundation(Rotary's own charity)/International, and Events/Fundraising.

All aimed at making this world a better place.

Week commencing 27th May, 2019

We had a good turnout for an excellent meeting on Tuesday night with just one guest, our speaker, more of which later.

It was rather a sombre start to the evening as past president Stuart Watson offered a short eulogy marking the sad death of Rotarian and Past President Pat Walker after which the members observed a minute' s silence.  We were invited by Stuart to reflect on Pat 's contribution to our club and indeed to the wider society of Inverurie and Kintore, his dedication to Kellands School and his passion for the game of cricket. Our thoughts are with Phyllis and the family. The funeral service will be in St Andrews Church on Monday next at 1pm.

With President Elect Iain Mathers in the Chair, after the meal, there was a short business session before Rotarian Robert Maitland introduced our speaker for the evening, Suzanne Mackie, a member of the Sir Ian Wood Charitable Trust Team. 

 You must know by now that one of my favourite sayings is ' Every Day is a School Day'! Here's another example.  I had never heard of  'Company, Conversation and a Cuppa', an initiative set up by the charity Contact the Elderly – Suzanne explained what it is all about!  Contact elderly people (generally over 75) who live alone, bring them together in small groups monthly, on a Sunday afternoon for a blether, a cup of tea, a sandwich and a bit of cake!  Groups may vary in size up to 10 and the timescale would be 2 hours or thereby. What a fine idea, proving once again that we still are a caring society.

Needless to say, this requires volunteer drivers to collect the clients and volunteers to provide the location and the goodies!  The get-together might be in a private house or in a community facility. Suzanne has several groups in our area but there is plenty room for more.  The biggest problem is to identify the old folks who might benefit from such a facility!

If you are engaged by this story and perhaps wish to become involved, Suzanne can be contacted on 077438 58948.

Week commencing 20th May, 2019

It was the turn of Ellon Rotary Club to have a “scatter week” so we were delighted to welcome three well known faces to our meeting - Fred Watson, Charlie Burgess and Derek Ritchie. As you can imagine, when old friends meet, the patter during mealtime was brisk! Vice-President Iain Mathers was 'in the chair' as President George Ross takes a well-earned holiday.

Murray Matthew reported on the Primary Schools quiz District final which was held in the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen, last Saturday, with 'our' team from Strathburn, one of seventeen schools taking part. We didn't feature in the prize list, the winners coming from Newport, Strathdevon and Portessie. Nonetheless it must be a great experience for all these youngsters. We look forward to the 2019 competition.

Joe McDowall reported on the Homestart quiz which raised £900 for the charity. Our contribution being as bar staff!

Our speaker, guest of Eric Massie, was Alan Rae who gave us an account of yet another charitable effort and by jings it was an effort!  To climb the three highest peaks in the UK, in other words, Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales) within a 24 hour period, as it happened, the last one in pitch darkness! The charity to benefit from that mammoth effort was Clic Sargent – Young Lives v Cancer.  The charity benefited to the tune of more than £6000.

Alan's presentation was accompanied by a series of photographs to illustrate his tale. You don't just suddenly decide to phone a few chums with the idea of a weekend in the hills!  A significant amount of pre-planning and training has to be undertaken which included recruiting 7 chums to do the climbing bit and 3 more to do the driving! They hired a minibus and to abide by the rules of the challenge, it must not exceed 60mph during the journey! Another rule meant that the whole team had to be photographed on each peak – together!  

The Ben Nevis climb started at 6.30am and was completed in 4.20hrs. Then a drive south through traffic and hold-ups like a bad accident on Loch Lomondside!  Scafell Pike was a 4 hour job and then on to Snowdon, starting at 2 o'clock in the morning and back on the flat in 4hrs 10min!

Total time 23hrs and 40mins. A wonderfully successful challenge!   

We in Rotary are constantly involved in raising funds for charity but we are not the only ones! Alan's tale was a fine example of how in our society, much is achieved, by a whole range of our citizens, to help people who are worse off than ourselves.  Long may that continue.

Week commencing 13th May, 2019

Last week, I itemised the work done by just one of our committees in the Rotary year  coming to an end, that was the Community Services team, this week I would like to highlight the work of the Youth Committee.  These guys are responsible for the Rotary Shoebox scheme. These boxes are distributed to primary schools (and to club members as well) The only relationship to shoes is the size of the box! It is filled with a range of gifts suitable for young people, concentrating on items which may not be available in their society or which they can not afford!  This year 338 boxes were distributed, collected when filled and despatched to the Ukraine where many families live in poverty and as well as to children's homes and orphanages. As a little PS, it is customary to sellotape a couple £1 coins to the box to help cover transport costs!

This simple little exercise has a double benefit for the people involved – the 'givers' get to hear of people their age who don't have such a comfortable existence as we do and perhaps realise that life here in the UK is not so bad after all! The 'receivers' benefit from our generosity, even if it is   simply to put a smile and a look of delight on their faces!

Another element of this committee's responsibility is the Primary School Quiz and as reported our winners from Strathburn won their way through to the big District final which takes place this Saturday 18th May in the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen – we wish them all the best.

Coming up in July are the RYLA Camps at Nethybridge.  We have sponsored two students, one for the Boys Camp and the other for the Girls Camp.  Not a cheap exercise, we have had to raise over £1000 to cover the costs. These camps are designed to bring out the best in young people who have already shown an aptitude for leadership by putting them in to testing situations. I hasten to add that these are physical challenges as well as mental exercises. In the process, many will benefit not just from the challenges and decision-making exercises but in making new discoveries about themselves and making new friendships.   Rotary sees RYLA as a way to benefit society as a whole.

Finally, this busy committee also organised the annual Young Musician competition. This year we heard nine candidates give of their best and apart from the competition element, they gave us a super evening of good music.

Plans are already being discussed for the 19/20 season.

Week commencing 29th April, 2019

Our numbers were enhanced on Tuesday night by the attendance of four members from the Oldmeldrum Club this being their Scatter Week. In replying to our President's welcome, Andrew McCartney was able to tell us that the Meldrum club will celebrate it's 20th anniversary in September with a dinner at Haddo.  I guess that there could be a few representatives from Inverurie keen to be part of that celebration.

Rotarian Jim Hatter who serves on our District  committee  was able to bring us up to date on new clubs being formed in the area, a subject I touched on last week.  One of them will be rather different from the norm in that it will be a 'family club'!  There was news of further changes in the way Rotary is to be governed in future, time alone will tell how that will affect the functioning of our club – I will keep you posted.

Recently I mentioned how Strathburn School who won our School Quiz competition back in February were to compete in the area final at Blackburn – they won that too and now go forward to the District final!  Well done Strathburn.

Coincidentally our evening ended with a Quiz!  It was designed by David Taylor and as ever he produced a cracker. Each table was given a list in three parts as follows

1 Listed were all the Bond films to date! Question – what was the name of the song associated with each film and who sang it, each correct answer receiving 2 points

2 Name the Harry Potter books – each correct answer  winning 3 points

3 The Fellowship of the Ring (9  of them )– Name a given character!

It got a bit shambolic at times  - at one point, the question master was told that his answers were inaccurate!.

It was a terrific idea and what a hoot! There ended another fine evening of Rotary.

PS – the new sound system was in use for the first time!  Whoopee!

Week commencing 15th April, 2019

From the highs of last week, we were back to normal this week, well not quite!  Our so-called Information Night when members get to question the Board members on their monthly deliberations, was enhanced by the presence of three guests – special guests in fact, members of our newly formed 'Associates Group'.  As you may remember from my previous ramblings, Rotary is trying to change its image from a rather staid, business men's club, meeting weekly for a lunch with attendant ceremonies. During that lunchtime they would plan to help worthy causes in the community and beyond before returning to their place of business. That is no longer the case, far from it – no more of the 'now you may remove your jackets' stuff as recalled in conversation by our treasurer Charlie Taylor PHF (one of our new Paul Harris Fellows)! More to the point and perhaps the biggest change was to invite ladies to become members. Yes, progress is slow but it is being made – evolution is not a speedy process!

So the associate members – Linda McMaster, Judy Whyte and Alan Diack were warmly welcomed into the fold by President George Ross.  Together with one or two others unable to be present, our new branch will run their own affairs, meet when it suits them, work to help local initiatives like food banks and the like, in the name of Rotary but without the trappings of weekly meetings, formal meals, committees and the like.  Needless to say our club members, in endorsing this development will be there to help when needed/asked and who knows, in time – we might even recruit a new member or two!  Now that would be a bonus.  Our Associates were subsequently given a warm welcome by the members.  As a PS to that story, it was reported that seven clubs in our District have initiated Associate groups 

Bizarrely, Rotarian Jim Hatter, with news from our District organisation, was able to report that THREE new Rotary Clubs are being formed in our area!  Quite astonishing in some respects when many of our existing clubs are fighting to reverse the trend of diminishing membership or is that giving us another not-too-subtle hint that we need to change our ways – pronto!

But the work of the day must go on.  President  George reported that our target amount to be gained from the WAGS Dinner will be lower than predicted, largely due to there being late call-offs and some elements proveing to be a little more expensive than predicted. No matter, it was a grand night, well done to all concerned.

To end on a really happy note, this week Rotarians Jim Somerville, Murray Matthew and Sandy Lamb handed out over 80 Easter Eggs to pupils at St Andrews School and reports would indicate that they had a ball! 

Week commencing 1st April, 2019

It was a busy night in the KA on Tuesday for two very specific reasons.  Firstly, we welcomed a new member into the club – John Brownie was introduced by Vice-President Ian Mathers.  

The process of 'induction' is brief, to the point and without undue ceremony. Included is a reminder to all of us of the so-called Four Way Test of things we think, say or do by which our actions should be judged – 1 Is it the truth?- 2 Is it fair to all concerned? -  3 Will it build goodwill and better friendship? -  4 Will it be beneficial to all concerned?  In other words, before you voice an opinion on behalf of Rotary, can you answer all four questions in the affirmative?  Not a bad ethos to live by!

To sum up, the object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a worthy enterprise.   Our motto, of course is 'Service above Self'. Suffice to say, John was given a warm welcome by all the Rotarians present.

Before the meeting started, we had an opportunity to view the work of young photographers from local schools who were winners in the annual competition run by Rotary Clubs all over the country. Organised locally by Rotarian and professional photographer Jim Hatter, the work on display on the theme 'The Beauty of Nature' was quite outstanding, a view shared by all of us 'snappers'. A prize were awarded in each competing school and then overall winners. In all 57 children took part.  Parents and siblings were invited to attend the viewing and presentation of local awards by President George Ross. The principal winners will go on to further competition in due course. In his remarks Jim praised the terrific efforts of all the competitors, and thanked Rae Osborne from the Gordon Arts committee for her assistance and to parents and teachers for their support.

As the doors closed on a special night, there was still a huddle of members sitting round a table putting the final touches to the arrangements for our big fund-raising WAGS dinner to be held on Saturday night!

Week commencing 25th March, 2019

As I mentioned last week – our so-called Scatter Week, members reported on various venues visited in the area. Most notable was the trip made by a car load into Buchan which ended up by visiting the Peterhead Prison, an interesting experience which we will no doubt hear more about in due time. It was reported that they all got out safely! 

In his remarks, President George announced that next week we would be welcoming a new member to the club, a really good news story. Sandy Lamb had been to visit the Strathburn School to deliver the newly inscribed Shield to the winners of the School Quiz competition. He was delighted to be hosted right royally by the youngsters!

Our speaker, introduced by Don Gordon, was Liz Chrystal a director of Fly Cup since 2015.  Most residents in the area will be familiar with the initiative which trains young adults with learning disabilities to enable them to take up employment in the catering industry. It is a Scottish Charity based at Unit 2 Advertising House Burghmuir Circle Inverurie. Times have changed from the days when such young people were protected, kept apart almost from the outside world. Society has moved them on and thankfully, organisations like Fly Cup can prepare their young clients to play a useful role in society. Described officially as a Social Enterprise Co.  enabling trainees to access training and employment in catering, achieve formal qualifications, develop lifelong independent living skills, reduce social isolation, increase confidence and self-esteem and gain employment opportunities,(that bit direct from their leaflet!)

Each trainee has a personalised training strategy delivered in a secure and supported environment, and much of the teaching/learning is on a one to one basis. Every member of staff is a trainer as are the numerous volunteers who support this wonderful initiative. The range of catering services offered is awesome – events, business lunches, celebration cakes, children's parties – you name it,  Fly Cup can do it.  They provided something like 1000 meals last weekend at the Garioch Run event.   Plans are afoot to obtain their very own premises, and in that regard, there is a variety of ways in which you can support the Fly Cup – start off by visiting for your own fly cup, open Monday till Saturday 9am till 4pm!

Secretary Sandra Turnbull delivered our Vote of Thanks, thus ended another very interesting evening in the KA.  Yesterday, the Glee Club were 'singin their wee hearts out' in Dyce!

Week commencing 18th March, 2019

This being our so-called Scatter Week, there was no  formal Tuesday meeting of the Rotary Club of Inverurie  but the members were out and about in different ways.  Some will have planned to visit other clubs, we'll hear all about their exploits next week. I attended the meeting of the Oldmeldrum club on Monday night and  apart from meeting up with some old chums, a pleasure in itself, the evening's focus proved to be extremely interesting.  Four senior school students gave an excellent presentation on Dementia and  Alzheimer's.  Having taken part in a fund-raising walk to raise funds for research into these conditions 18 months previously, these four lassies had chosen to research the conditions – quite surprising in itself perhaps but finishing with a much clearer idea of the seriousness of the conditions which they proceeded to pass on rather cleverly. What exactly is Dementia and Alzheimer's? Is it hereditary? Is there a cure?  Do they only affect  'old' people?     It was an excellent presentation.

Then, on Tuesday afternoon, with a few friends and relatives, a goodly number of Inverurie club members went back to school! Actually, we visited the burgeoning Inverurie Community Campus, due to open in February 2020.  We were met by Norman Smith, Robertson's Project Director and Ashley McDonald the Community Development Advisor – Major Projects.  Suitably kitted up as required by Health & Safety regulations for visits to a building site, the group then toured the new building!  Firstly, however, we were divided into two groups and whilst half went off for the tour with Ashley, the other half were fully briefed by Norman on the whole project, then swapping over.

What a project! What a  facility for the people of Inverurie!  This is a Community facility, not just  a replacement for Inverurie Academy. There is accommodation for 1600 students but a great deal more for by!  Swimming pools , indoor sports facilities,  performance spaces, cafe etc etc. Two particular aspects appealed straight away. The site includes accommodation for St Andrew's School located quite separately but with potential for integration too. That has to be good news for all concerned. The other good news story to emerge goes as follows: Roberston's invite present day academy pupils to take a closer look at the new project. Ten pupils took up the opportunity to work on the site in different areas for a few hours a week.  Three have signed up for apprenticeships!

Our warmest thanks go to Robertson's for their hospitality and  to Norman and Ashley for their presentations. It was a first class PR exercise

If you are offered an opportunity to take the tour, don't let it pass you by!  

Week commencing 11th March, 2019

Dark trousers, white shirt and bow-tie is the order of the day!  Must be a Glee Club outing. Of course it was, yesterday to Portsoy to provide an afternoon's entertainment for an audience of Pensioners, in the Town Hall. A long way to go for a singsong but we enjoy it. We have two more gigs before the end of our season during which we have had nearing 20 engagements! This is just one way in which our Rotary Club serves the communities in this corner of Scotland. Rest assured, other clubs are equally as targeted in a wide variety of ways, because it is an integral part of the Rotary ethos.

Our club meeting this week was an Information Night, when the club members are able to quiz the various committee convenors on their reports to the Council of the club which met last week.  That's how it is folks – transparency is vital, there can be nae secrets if we are to work together as an effective team.

We had two guests on Tuesday night one of whom, James Kerr is a member of the Rotary Club of  Belper & Duffield in Derbyshire but more to the point he was born and brought up in these parts. He sat next to Jack Henry and Mike Hay and did we have a history lesson?!  We were entertained to a string of stories and memories of the characters and happenings in Inverurie 50-60 -70 years ago. It was magic!   In reply to the welcome from Chairman, Mr Kerr told us a little about the Derbyshire club and not surprisingly much of their present efforts, like our own, are in finding ways to engage with and recruit younger people. 

Next week is called Scatter Week! It happens just once a year when there is no Rotary meeting in Inverurie, instead members are encouraged to visit other clubs in the district.  Frequently, several members (a car load) will agree to visit one of our sister clubs in the area. As a courtesy, they are duty bound to let the host club know!   Some people have been known to take this idea to the extreme!  You may recall a year or two ago one car load arrived in Ullapool – I reckon there must be a good fish and chip shop there!

Week commencing 4th March, 2019

My report of last week's meeting centred on the work Rotary is involved overseas . This week could be headed 'Home Affairs' but first, the order of the day. President George welcomed back his Deputy Ian Mathers, recovering from a serious illness. He reported that our share of the Christmas Car Raffle amounted to about £400, to be added to our own Charity Fund. Murray Matthew had attended the District  Final of the  Young Musician's competition held in Leven, unfortunately our young trumpeter missed out despite a fine performance. Peter Donaldson brought greetings from Rotary clubs he had visited in far away places, like Singapore and Australia while visiting family!

Our speaker for the evening was introduced by Jim Sommerville. On the staff of Inverurie Academy, Shona Lees is responsible for a new project being developed within our secondary schools to assist young people who have difficulty in re-adjusting as they move up from  Primary to a very different environment in Secondary school.  For a variety of reasons some young people might find it difficult to cope. I was switched on by this topic right from the start because it brought back memories!  At Primary School I can reveal that I was always in the top 5 in my class – honestly! When I moved to the Secondary school, to use modern parlance, I was rubbish, (except at sport)!  Oh how I might have made a better job of it with a bit of mentoring!    Typically, as Shona explained, modern  research has highlighted the fact that some of these young people may have a difficult time outwith school – some could be young carers for example. The programme, developed in Glasgow Schools, is all about helping these youngsters overcome their difficulties by pairing them up with an adult to chat informally about their misgivings and their feelings of inadequacy. In other words how to cope with the vagaries of modern life. They meet once a week, for up to an hour in the library, within school hours – there is no agenda, it is simply a blether discussing matters of the day, essentially to build an informal trusting relationship such that  the young person's confidence in themselves is built up. The mentoring person  simply becomes a trusted pal.  The results show that it builds up confidence, self-esteem and aspirations to move on.

The impact on attainment, achievement and post school destinations has been transformational! The national figure for the number of young people who go on to further and higher education  after school is 57%. The number who have come through the mentoring process is 81% !                                                                   

To quote one young responder  Before mentoring “ Things were awful homewise and at school. I was completely disillusioned so I just sat back and let it all pass by, I had no idea what my future  would hold “  After mentoring, he has now moved on to a graduate job and is himself a mentor! A young person who is now defined by his talents NOT by his background.

Inverurie Academy is one of 5 schools elected to test this project  and from members' reaction to  Shona's splendid presentation, I wouldn't be surprised  if she has one or two potential mentors knocking at her door! Jim Sommerville having already joined up

Bill Duncan expressed our thanks to Shona and wished her every success in this imaginative and very promising development.

Week commencing 25th February, 2019

We had a partners evening this week which included guests from the Rotary Clubs of Aberdeen St Fittick and Aberdeen St Machar and a couple of our associate members. In all we had near 40 folk in the room and I'm willing to bet everybody went home talking about it.  Why?

After the essential business of the evening which included a thanks to all who helped with the Primary School Quiz, information on the Children's Photographic competition and our WAGS dinner coming up in early April, we got to the main business of the evening – a report by John Nicol, ably assisted by his wife Catherine, on their trip last autumn to Uganda to see the work done with Rotary help to build a new school at the village of Monde about 75 miles from Kampala. The talk was backed up with very demonstrative pictures of the area, the living conditions, the primitive agriculture and the people who live there.

It was a long story, at times rather emotional but it shows what good will and determination can do for people who are disadvantaged.  By our standards you could say that they are severely disadvantaged but they can still smile as they express their pleasure at meeting and gratitude for the help being given, something that obviously affected both John and Catherine.

The present story began in 2016 when we learned that the St Kizito School Project for Monde was launched, costings were produced by Rachel Rennie from the Charity, a grant from our Rotary District Funds was agreed. The Inverurie Club took a leading role chipping in £4,700 to build a three-classroom school with facilities to teach, accommodate teachers and including a school kitchen.

Some of the statistics were mind-boggling, situated on the equator land-locked Uganda has a population over 30 million and a new baby is born every 22 SECONDS! It means that  over 70% of the population is under 25 years old.  About 80% of the able bodied are employed in agriculture with no machinery like tractors etc! Everything is done by hand. The main export is coffee.  Most of the population in the country areas live in mud huts, clean water is from boreholes, the diet is basic so not surprisingly they respond readily to any help offered. In other words, they are repressed by circumstances but given half a chance to better themselves they have the ability to move forward.

One of the key figures helping to organise these communities is Rev. Father Gerald Wamala – quite a character apparently, John was voluble in his praise of the priest.

During the festivities at the end of the trip, as you already know, John received a goat which has subsequently produced two kids. I did threaten to show the picture of Mr Nicol being fitted for a grass skirt for the festivities but have chosen rather to show that it was not a one-way process. The picture this week shows the local Monde team in sports tops gifted by Inverurie Academy.

A very worthy and happy story – that is what sent the folk home still talking!

Week commencing 18th February, 2019

The dominating event of this Rotary week has been the Primary School Quiz held in the Hopeville Club.  In a sense it was the cause of a rather mediocre attendance at our weekly meeting because, as it is proved constantly, you can't be in two places at the same time.  In other words, Sandy Lamb and his team were busy setting up the stage for the Quiz!

President George made short work of the business which included the weekly report on our sick and wounded, a reminder of our fund-raising WAGS dinner coming up in April and reference to an exciting visit to the new school being planned for March.  That was it, for a number of us it meant heading for the Hopeville!

To the Quiz – seven local Primary School teams took part in this annual competition, facing 10 rounds of 6 questions posed by MC Joe McDowall whilst being shown on a big screen. Completed papers collected at the end of each round Sandy Lamb and Kay Diack, delivered to Stuart Watson and myself to add the points for correct answers then passed to the heid bummer Jim Sommerville who cross-checked our decisions and entered the results into the computer. Answers read out to the competitors and then on to the next round. It went like clockwork....... but we have done this before! Done and dusted in about 45 minutes.  The competing teams were then 'fed and watered' before the results were announced!

The stars of the evening were the competitors, the young teams themselves.  The standard of ALL the results was extremely high – none were less than 70%!  In the meantime, the supporting parents and friends became as excited as the youngsters, there was a great atmosphere permeating the hall.

I have to say that great credit is due to the people who make up the questions, here are the categories to show the scope -Alphabet, Natural World, History, Human Body, Geography, Mathematics, Literature, Technology, Sport and Media.  I would have to say that I was not the only adult in the room to be bamboozled by some of the questions – how about 'What is the name of a 5- line poem? Or, which came first, the radio or the telephone? Or which internet site was funded by Jimmy Wales in 2001?   

President George Ross presented the winners with the Shield, each member of the team receiving a miniature shield...........and the winners were Strathburn School. Congratulations! This winning team will now compete in a District Final, date to be confirmed later. We wish them well.

PS Saw the Uryside School uniform colours for the first time – very smart!

Week commencing 4th February, 2019

When is a Rotarian not a Rotarian?  When he/she is an Associate! Readers of this column will know that one of the present Rotary priorities is to recruit new members.  Changes in society and the way people choose to lead their lives make that a difficult task but as the old saying goes 'never venture, never win'. The fact is, there are people out there who have the same human values as Rotarians with respect to helping others. Bingo! Why not encourage them to get together, mentored by a Rotarian, to achieve some of these objectives without going through the whole rigmarole of formally joining a club, with all its rules and expectations! We have an Associate Group – bravo!

Our Associate Group has just submitted a short report, listing their objectives and projects to be tackled in the coming months.  We wish them every success and I am sure that Club members will make themselves available to help in any way they can, if required.  I hope to report further in due course.

That was just one of list of reports from our various sub-committees to be discussed by our Council after Tuesday's meeting.  Importantly, mention was made of the Primary School Quiz to be held in the Hopeville Club on 19 Feb. members were asked to help with stewarding etc. 

Our speaker for the evening was fellow member David Taylor.  The troops were quite up-lifted by that news based on previous performances. In other words you don't know what to expect and dare I say it, we were not disappointed.

David started by listing a whole series of authors of children's books that 'one was expected to read'  when he were a lad! Lewis Carol, A A Milne, Beatrice Potter, J M Barrie et al  and declared , well I didn't read any of  'em! Then he held up front pages of a range of adventure comics of the the day such as The Hotspur and The Rover, referencing heroes like Alf Tupper and Wilson! That brought back happy memories to quite a number of members, myself included.

Where was he going from there? The subject was gambling on horse racing, and in particular The Derby and how to predict winners, or not! We were treated to a couple of video clips of The Derby  in the course of David's dissertation as people like Champion Jockey Lester Piggott were quoted as knowing the secret but obviously David didn't find out what it was! He did however continue to test the odds! It would be safe to say that members were suitably entertained.

The vote of thanks was offered by Bill Duncan, who might not have heard DLT before – I'm happy to report that he was suitably impressed!

Week commencing 28th January, 2019

Much of the pre-meal chat this week centred on the very successful Burns Supper held in honour of our National Bard, inter-laced with comments from Glee Club members on our involvement in the Age Concern Concert also in the KA last Thursday night.  We had over 100 people at our Burns Night but there was almost double that two nights later! On that occasion we received a very generous donation to our Rotary Charity Funds. Thank you Age Concern Inverurie. 

This week there was much less formality as we returned to a few items of club business before our guest speaker Mr Ralph Green OBE was introduced by Rotarian Jim Sommerville. Ralph, a well known businessman in our area, proceeded to give us a fascinating account of his career starting from being called to the Heidie's office at Inverurie Academy, back in 1962, not for a telling off or anything so negative but to be informed by Dr Dixon that there was an office job for him at the local slaughterhouse if he chose to take it. Ralph accepted the offer.

Two years later, having taken a liking to the whole business young Ralph entered into a 4 year apprenticeship to become a slaughterman. On qualifying, he moved to Forres to work and during his 2-3 year spell there was involved in a very remarkable incident when one of the beasts he dealt with was shown to be suffering from Anthrax creating a considerable how-de-do! It was quite an experience. In 1970 he returned to Inverurie to become an Assistant Manager.

Ralph progressed up the ladder to senior management spending time in Inverurie, Turriff and Portlethen before retiring in 2006. During that time, there were many highs and lows. Overseeing 3 containers of NE Beef per week going in to the London Market, but in March 1996 there was an outbreak of BSE to be contended with! Becoming sole supplier to TESCO for a time, overseeing £30 million facilities being built at Portlethen must have been quite a highlight. I should add , perhaps that the changes in ownership of the meat processing industry in the NE  over this period is mesmerising -there was Buchan Meat, FMC, John Rhind, McIntosh, Mathers!

As if that wasn't enough for the man, he also became involved in the politics of the industry through the Meat & Livestock Commission and Quality Meat Scotland to name but two. Unsurprisingly, Ralph was awarded an OBE for services to the industry in 1994.

There is a key political message in this tale and maybe I will be sacked for saying so! It is for young people with a determination to succeed - going to university is NOT essential. This success story started off with an apprenticeship! It is alright to earn while you learn.

After Ralph had dealt with several testing questions, Bill Murdoch expressed our appreciation in proposing a hearty vote of thanks

Week commencing 21st January, 2019

What a family gathering we had on Tuesday night in the Kintore Arms. Firstly there was the Rotary family with 'cousins' from neighbouring clubs Blackburn, Kintore, Oldmeldrum and St Fittick's and together with friends, over 100 in total gathered to celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns whose family of devotees, like Rotary, stretches world-wide!  It was a cracker of a party I can tell you and  I am fairly well qualified to judge, as a native born Ayrshireman with a cousin called Robert Burns (that's a story for another day), I have been celebrating 25th January since I was knee-high to that daisy which Robert described so eloquently in his tribute to that wee crimson-tippit flo'er 'To a Daisy'!

Rotarian David Fraser from Kintore piped in the Haggis after a brief welcome to all from President George Ross which included an acknowledgment that our Rotary District Governor was with us, known to many locally – Ian Dow from Kemnay!. The beast was duly lauded by Rotarian Howard Hughes and 'cut up wi ready slicht'! By the applause, you could tell, he made a grand job of it!  The staff of the hotel then served the traditional meal - remarkably quickly which was acknowledged later by President George.

After a brief comfort break, the evening's programme of sangs and clatter started with a wee  burst on the accordion by Stuart Anderson to the words being whispered round the tables – I remember him as that wee boy on the tele! Aye, we remember him well and didn't he do well. Then followed the address with the title 'The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns' which was delivered skilfully, with humour and vision by Ron Williamson. That was followed by the Toast to the Lassies delivered by well-known musician and raconteur from Fife – Tich Frier. He didn't disappoint either! The right of reply for the second year running (by popular request) was beautifully and skilfully delivered in song by Moira Docherty & Gill Smith, accompanied by Graham Davidson on keyboard.  After another superb blast from Stuart Anderson, the company were invited to sing 'The Star o' Rabbie Burns' which was followed by a very well deserved vote of thanks to all from Bill Duncan and then we all sang Auld Lang Syne.

These events don't just happen and whilst a number of rotarians were involved like Bill Murdoch for example, who designs and creates the programmes and the guys who sort out the sound system, the organisers deserve a big round of applause – President George is key to that  but a huge 'thank you'  is due to Howard Hughes for delivering one of the best nights we have enjoyed under the Rotary banner since I joined in the early eighties! It was a truly memorable night.

Week commencing 7th January, 2019

A belated Happy New Year to Advertiser readers from the members of the Rotary Club of Inverurie. We had our first meeting in 2019 on Tuesday night but five of us 'plunked' it.  Do you know that expression? It comes from my boyhood – when someone decided that he or she would take a day off school, without telling parents or teacher they were said to have 'plunked it'!  Maybe that is an Ayrshire expression from my school days and by the way with hand on heart I can say that I never 'plunked it'!

Well the five of us who missed the first meeting in 2019 were, in fact, members of the Glee Club who were entertaining a group in Bucksburn BUT, we do expect to get a tick in the attendance register because we were on a Rotary Mission!  This is just one example of the ancient rules and regulations demanded of our members. At one time a minimum 60% attendance was deemed to be necessary as a sign of 'commitment' to the movement. Gladly, whilst that may still be in the book of rules, nowadays, commitment is more likely to be measured by members' involvement in the efforts made by the club to improve the lot of fellow citizens. For the record, when the Glee Club is invited to perform, nine times out of ten we will not take a booking for a club night. Every now and again, though....... there’s an exception.

On the good news front, we have just learned that we are to receive an award from the 'Awards for All' organisation – funding for a new public address system, thank goodness! The Glee Club will certainly benefit as will the club itself.  So often, in recent times, we have had guest speakers at the club night with great stories to tell BUT, because they could not use a microphone properly, the audience didn’t  get the message. On this particular subject, I can speak with a little bit of experience!  Whoopee, the problem has been solved, the new system avoids the need to hold a microphone or to stand in front of a static mike when every time you turn your head slightly, your voice disappears! People will just have to stand up and speak normally. Thank goodness.

The other good news story this week is that John Nicol's goat has had two babies!  That Ugandan community is quite obviously thriving!  More to the point, a further improvement to their situation is being planned by the Rotarian team, relating to the delivery of clean running water to a community of 25,000! yet another worthwhile Rotary project