Rotary Year 2020/21

Frank Williamson reflects on serving as Club President during 2020/21

Supporting the Community


Having previously been president of the Thornhill Rotary Club, I was happy and relaxed to be invited as President of my new club in Dalbeattie. I understood the basic requirements of being President, and was looking forward to taking up the role. But then there were two things I had never heard of which were going to completely change my Rotary year.  
 
First was COVID 19 which meant that public meetings, at one point, were stopped altogether and , when allowed, could only take place within strict guidelines and social distancing rules. The net result being that I didn’t have any face to face, indoor meetings, in my entire year. 
 
Second was ZOOM. You could say that Zoom saved Rotary. I believe many clubs would have faded away (some did anyway) if Zoom had not given us an alternative and safe way of meeting each week. 
Zoom also brought an unexpected benefit in the form of very high attendance figures - sometimes at 100%! It also gave us the opportunity to invite speakers from outside our immediate location including as far away as Africa. I attended two Rotary meetings, via Zoom, on this continent. 
Much thanks to Ian Lumsden for, expertly, organising this new format. One final comment on Zoom - it created its very own catch phrase of “You need to unmute!” 
 
Despite the Pandemic, we were able to do a few outside presentations/photo opportunities which made for a pleasant change from looking at a computer screen. I particularly enjoyed presenting the Rotary COVID “Thank You” Certificates to the many volunteers who had gone above and beyond to help others during that difficult lock down period. Then the laying of the wreath (alone due to COVID) at the Dalbeattie War Memorial and the presentation of the cheque to Dalbeattie Playgroup to help with new premises. 
 
At the beginning of year I felt that holding the line would be the best we could do but by the end I was surprised to see how much the club had achieved despite the confines of COVID19 . I list below some that come to mind in no particular order: 
 
Additional member to the club (Margaret Boyd) 
Contribution to the Beirut Disaster Fund. 
Planting of 4,000 crocus bulbs. 
Trip to Arran to support Douglas Kerr’s 93 Islands Initiative. 
Excellent Christmas Party and Burns Supper on Zoom (much thanks to Douglas Irving) 
Funding to: 
   Palnackie Village Shop LTD for refurbishment and IT provision. 
   Dalbeattie Bowling Club for lawn mower. 
   Dalbeattie Play Group for new premises. 
   Hard Rock Challenge. 
   Dalbeattie Community Initiative Shop. 
   Palnackie Village Hall to improve access. 
   Baby Massage Training. 
   Support for Kupata Project. 
7 Amazon Fire Tablets supplied to local care homes for use with dementia sufferers. 
Solway Sportive which, unfortunately, had to be delayed into 2022. 
Peace Initiative. 
Dalbeattie Primary Schools Eco Green Flag and Easter competition. 
On-line Mock Interviews. 
Support for Castle Douglas’s Botswana Project. 
Young Writer Competition.(much thanks to Grace Kelly) 
Allotment. 
Pupil Support for those disadvantaged by lockdown restrictions. 
Refurbishment of Garden of Remembrance. 
28 Shoeboxes. 
Wreath Laying at War Memorial. 
Preparation of Wateraid walk. 
Joint meetings with Castle Douglas Rotary Club. 
Voucher for Kids In Auction. 
COVID 19 Certificates. 
Appointment of Press Officer (much thanks to Robert Kennedy) 
 
The above list of actions could only happen with the support of all club members and a truly talented and hardworking group of Council Members in the form of: 
Fraser Sanderson 
Hamish Biggar 
Ian Lumsden 
Gordon Cathro 
David Butler 
Jag Patel 
Douglas Irving 
John Rowland 
 
The baton is now handed to Douglas Irving who is doing an excellent job of steering our club back into real Face to Face meetings. 
 
It was my great pleasure to serve as President. 


'What We Do' Main Pages:

Douglas Irving & John Rowland

Douglas Irving passes the President’s Chain of Office to John Rowland.

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The bikers before the start!

Celebrations of 40 years of Dalbeattie Rotary Club

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For the entirety of our Rotary Year 2020 – 2021, our then President Frank Williamson ably presided at all our regular Thursday evening meetings on Zoom.  Another Past President, Ian Lumsden, acted as host throughout the year, and still does, and faci

For the entirety of our Rotary Year 2020 – 2021 our regular Thursday evening meetings have been online on Zoom.

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Kacie Baumler on screen during our meeting on Zoom

Kacie Baumler is studying for a post-graduate Masters Degree at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh supported through a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship.

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Norman Kennedy's Bench.

Placed in the Garden of Remembrance in memory of our former member, Norman Kennedy.

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Lord Lieutenant

Lord Lieutenant plants copper beeches at Dalbeattie Learning Campus to mark Queen's Platinum Jubilee

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Beth and Georgia raise the Peace flag outside Dalbeattie Learning Campus

Dalbeattie High School has become only the second school in Scotland to be awarded the Rotary Blue Flag of Peace

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Supporting the Community

Frank Williamson reflects on serving as Club President during 2020/21

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Haugh of Urr, Dumfries and Galloway

Rotarians made a visit to the Biogas Plant at Crofthead Farm, Haugh of Urr

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Dalbeattie War Memorial, erected in 1921

Dalbeattie Rotary Club donated £1,000 towards the £5,000 renovation costs of the Dalbeattie War Memorial

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Group Photo courtesy of the Galloway News

Dalbeattie Rotary Club donated £500 towards the production costs of six “Anti-Litter Campaign” signs

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Chain Handover

Dalbeattie Club Presidential Chain Handover on 24 June 2021. Frank Williamson, Club President 2020/2021, hands over to Douglas Irving, new Club President 2021/2022.

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Dumfries Rotary Club President introduces  
Keynote Lunch Speaker Dame Barbara Kelly

Dalbeattie Rotary Club at the Centenary Lunch hosted by Dumfries Rotary Club on Friday 5 November 2021

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Club President Douglas Irving and Margaret Copp

Dalbeattie Rotary Club has planted a tree in the town’s Colliston Park to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

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Dalbeattie Rotary Club Christmas Dinner

Held in the Kings Arms, Dalbeattie

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Skeoch Car, manufactured in Dalbeattie in the 1920’s

Dalbeattie Rotary Club donated £5,000 towards the construction costs of a re-make of the Skeoch Car

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Dalbeattie Rotaty Burns Night

On 27 January 2022 this year’s Club Burns Evening was held on Zoom.

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A visit to Bainloch Deerpark on 25th August.

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Dalbeattie Club Presidential Chain Handover on 24 June 2021. Frank Williamson, Club President 2020/2021, hands over to Douglas Irving, new Club President 2021/2022.

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Conference Hall

Report from Rotary President Douglas Irving from the Rotary District 1020 District Conference 23/24 October 2021

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Ken Robertson

Dalbeattie Rotarians were privileged to have Rotary District 1020 Governor Ken Robertson (Cumbernauld) visit our Club at our meeting on Zoom on Thursday 3 February 2022.

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Rotary Tree in Colliston Park

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Curling Championship

Three of our members are taking part this week (8-15 April 2022) in the 26th Rotary World Curling Championships being held at the Dumfries Ice Globe.

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Dalbeattie Allotments

President Douglas visits the impressive and sizeable Dalbeattie Allotments during their Open Day

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Douglas and Fraser joined the online Zoom meeting.

Report on Rotary District 1020 Hybrid Annual General Meeting Held at Mercure Hotel, Livingston, 27 November 2021 and online.

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Colin Vooght, Assistant District Governor,. joined us for our Annual Assembly. He congratulated us on our achievements over the last year and discussed plans for the new merged district.

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Some more happy customers visiting the Rotary Santa at Glaisters farm, Kirkgunzeon. Santa's shed donated by Glaisters and funds go to the Dalbeattie Food Pantry

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Kupata Project in Uganda

Dalbeattie Rotary Club has been providing modest financial support for the Kupata Project in Uganda whereby sanitary products are made available to girls at school

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Douglas Kerr

Dalbeattie Rotary Club has its third Paul Harris Fellow, an honour awarded to those who demonstrate a shared purpose with the humanitarian and educational objectives of Rotary International and its motto of “Service above Self.”

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EC on climbing wall.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts. Dalbeattie sponsored two candidates.

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One of the many activities.  The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts, where youngsters can develop their leadership skills whilst having fun and making connections.

Dalbeattie sponsored two candidates to this year’s RYLA programme, which took place at Abernethy Barcaple Outdoor Centre near Castle Douglas.

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Handover 2023 -24

On 29 June 2023, outgoing president John Rowland passed on the chain of office to our first Lady President, Kate Kerr

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Assistant District Governor Colin Vooght joined the club for its annual assembly and shared his views.

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Making Squirrel Boxes

Gordon led Rotakids to work with Geoff of The Men's Shed and Steve the Red Squirrel Ranger to build squirrel boxes

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Grace Kelly and President Douglas Irving with the four prize winners

Dalbeattie Rotary Club’s sponsored Young Writers Competition this year

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Dalbeattie Learning Centre Campus

Ten of our members, assisted by three friends of the Club, wielded spades at Dalbeattie Learning Centre Campus, to plant 100 young trees to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

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A company of over 120 in attendance

Dalbeattie Club were present on the evening of Friday 11 March 2022 on the occasion of the Centenary Celebration Dinner of the Rotary Club of Dumfries.

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This is the Dalbeattie & District Rotary Club CHARITREE which has been decorated by Kate and Isla Kerr in Rotary colours and which was on display along with many others in a spectacular display in St. John’s Church, Dumfries

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