Lunch time Hybrid meeting - 1pm - Gordon McInally – President Elect Rotary International 2023 - 24

On Thursday 19th May President Brian Johnson welcomed 9 club Rotarians, Rotary International President for 2023/24, Gordon McInally, Rotarians from neighbouring clubs John Ferris, a former member of our club, now at Burntisland, Tony Payne and Derek Stahly from Kirkcaldy, David Walker and Ralph McCran from Dunfermline and Linda Ballingall a former member of our club now at Leven to our lunchtime meeting at Gilvenbank hotel.

We had 15 apologies for nonattendance due to holidays.

Before lunch President Brian asked Wilna Roger, School coordinator, to outline the programme for the forthcoming Awards Evening for the benefit of our visitors.

Tony Payne, Secretary of the Kirkcaldy club, then spoke of the Centenary event taking place in the Dean Park Hotel on Sunday 12th June from 2 -5.30 pm.

We were delighted to welcome as our speaker, Gordon McInally. Gordon is a member of the Queensferry club and, has served as both Vice President and President of Rotary International in Britain and Ireland and is currently nominated to become President of Rotary International for 2023/24.

In his opening remarks Gordon said how much he appreciated being in the company of people as this was his first face to face meeting since before lockdown. He believes that the pandemic offers Rotary very exciting prospects building on the excellent work done by Rotarians worldwide, offering support during the crisis and now again sadly in Ukraine. The world needs Rotary.  In Ukraine Rotarians are still there offering relief on the ground and in fact Rotary membership has increased as people realise what Rotarians in action can achieve.   Gordon hopes to visit Ukraine in June. Gordon’s vision for the future is to see Rotary grow, to change where necessary and to be innovative. There is a need for a diversity of clubs in all shapes and form, meeting and operating in any way they choose. Rotarians need to be people of action not words. Rotary exists to improve people’s lives, to make the world a better place, to promote peace. Gordon finished by speaking with great passion about the atrocities in Ukraine which are parallel to the genocide in Rwanda. He was very interested to hear that our member Chantal Mrimi is currently visiting her family in Rwanda and hopes to meet her on another occasion.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by Jim Boyd.

Our incoming Senior Vice President Scott Galloway had the official opening of his business premises Home Sweet Home estate Agents in Markinch High Street last Friday 20th May 2022, we wish him and his wife Shona well.

This coming week Thursday 26th May 2022 is our annual awards evening meeting commencing at 6.30pm prompt in the Gilvenbank Hotel with our school’s prize winners along with parents / relatives, school representatives and competition judges attending. The prize winners will be presented with their awards by our local SNP representative Jenny Gilruth. A great night is expected with about 100 attending the evening.

The afternoon Comedy brunch will take place 3 days later Sunday 29th May 2022 from 1-5pm Cost £30. For tickets, please contact Iain Haywood ph 07969 619152, or through our Facebook page. Funds raised will go to support Ukraine appeal and other local groups.

We are organising an event in Walter Fletchers Garden to mark the Queens Jubilee on 5th June 2022.

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.