The Club President’s Night was held last Friday night in the Green Rooms at
Mansfield Park when 66 Rotarians and friends were present. President Scott
Elliot was delighted to welcome representative from 9 out of the other 10 Clubs
in the Borders, including 8 current Club Presidents. Also in attendance from our
District 1020 were District Governor elect Agnes Ritchie from Bathgate, who
brought greetings from our current DG Lindsay Craig, Currie Balerno; and
Assistant Governor, Borders area, Calum Thomson from the Tranent Club. Anna
Casalme, Rotary’s Global Scholar from America, being hosted by Ron and Pat
Sutherland from our Club, was there with her friend, also from America, Lex
Calaguas.
After a delightful and enjoyable meal served by Deborah Brown and staff,
the company listened to some brief, but interesting speeches from Anna,
presently studying at Edinburgh University; Club President Scott on the theme
“Each member of a Rotary Club can make a difference, Together Rotarians make
change” when he mentioned joint workings amongst Border Clubs in a project for
the Phillipines, led by the Selkirk Club, and the various activities of our own
Club; DGN Agnes, formerly Chief Nurse for NHS Lothians Head and Neck
Directorate at St John’s Hospital, Livingston, brought greetings from the
District and her own Club, and congratulated our Club on the various activities
and projects in which we are, and have been involved; and lastly Calum explained
his role as supporting Border Clubs.
The main beneficiary of the raffle is the McMillan Centre Extension at BGH,
with the public appeal only having been launched earlier this month. A donation
from the £428 raised is also being made to the recently opened Hawick Dementia
Cafe.
The musical entertainment provided by Ronnie Templeman and Kevin Wilson –
Humble Scribes – was enjoyed by all, with the evening brought to a close with
the votes of thanks by Vice-President Mairhi Trickett, thanking amongst other
Iain and Nancy Smith for their organisation of the night, Humble Scribes, and
all catering and bar staff. This was followed by the company joining in “Auld
Lang Syne” to end an enjoyable evening.