The Rotary Club of Westhill 25th Charter Dinner

(PDG Bill Leslie and Me)

( Me in full flow)

Saturday evening and we have once again arrived in Aberdeen, this time for the 25th Charter Celebrations of Westhill & District in the Holiday Inn Westhill. We were greeted at the door by the ever smiling PDG Bill Leslie and Mary along with President Alan Archibald and Moira. The room was magnificent with a wonderful atmosphere and ambiance which welcomed the 200 or so guests from many clubs throughout the Aberdeen area and further afield. The clubs twin club from Jutland in Denmark the Rotary Club of Ikast was well represented by a large contingent of Rotarian's and partners. Once again were subjected to the sheer torture!! of yet another magnificent meal with endless supply of good wine. With President Alan doing a great job in the chair for the evening, we were in for a memorable night. My role this time was the reply to Ikast President Karsten Rasmussen's toast to Rotary International. The keynote speaker was non other than Steve Robertson MBE who was part of the incomparable Scotland The What Team with Buff Hardy and George Donald. He entertained all with his wonderful stories and sketches from his long career in stage and television. To all of you in the Rotary Club of Westhill please accept a sincere thank you from Rita and myself for a very memorable evening.

The Rotary Club of Leven 70th Charter Dinner

Friday 17th April sees us in Lundin Links Old Manor Hotel to help Celebrate the 70th birthday of the Rotary Club of Leven. We were given our usual friendly welcome from the team as we arrived. President Al Fleming and Val welcomed us to the club for what was to be a superb evening. After another magnificent meal (I have managed to keep my weight under control much to the amazement of she that must be obeyed) the festivities began. Lord Lieutenant Margaret Dean proposed the Toast to Leven with the reply being given by PDG John Clark. My toast to Rotary International was followed by John Anderson's reply. The keynote speaker for the evening was non other than Jim McColl of Beechgrove Garden fame who entertained us as only he can do. I had the great privilege to present three Paul Harris Fellowships to three stunned gentlemen who have a total of over sixty years service to Rotary between them. My dear friend PP Rai Valente was the first recipient along with PP Rev Jaimie Templeton and IPP John Anderson. After all three had been given time to catch their breath the vote of thanks was given by PE Harry Keddie. A great evening, Rita and I thank all of you once again for having us there to help celebrate this milestone.

The Rotary Club of Stornoway 50th Charter Dinner

Saturday 11th of April and we are in the lovely Isle of Lewis for the 50th Charter Celebrations of The Rotary Club of Stornoway. After a nice short flight from Edinburgh we arrived on Lewis to be met at the airport by club secretary Kenneth, who took us to our hotel. As the rest of the day was ours Kenneth kindly gave us the use of his car, which allowed Rita and I to tour around part of the island. The evenings proceedings were superb with a drinks reception followed by a magnificent dinner. President Jane and Allan kept us well entertained for the whole of the evening. I was very privileged to present three worthy recipients with Paul Harris Fellowships, all three were non Rotarian's and were members of RNLI in Stornoway. They have played a very important part in making the seas around the Western Isles a safer place. Sunday saw us attend a very uplifting church service in St Columbus Church with Sunday lunch provided by Jane's mother and father at their home, a very pleasant afternoon. A further trip around another part of the island followed courtesy of Jane and Allan culminating with us arriving back at the airport for our return flight to Edinburgh. A huge thank you to all of the members and friends for making this weekend a very special one for Rita and me.

District 1100 Conference Hotel De France Jersey

(The picture shows Me, Anne Corrigan wife of PDG Ken, our host and Rita)

Another week in the hectic life of the DG, its a hard life especially when you have to travel to Jersey in the middle of spring!! Rita and I were delighted to have been invited as guests of District Governor David Fenwick and his wife Sheila from District 1100 down there in the South West corner of England. David being a fellow Scot invited all three of the Scottish District Governors and their partners, a Celtic take over. District 1100 have a few exiled Scots in their midst so needless to say a great weekend was had by all. The keynote speakers for the conference were none other than General Sir Mike Jackson and the noted corespondent and broadcaster Martin Bell who, I have to say are two of the most amazing speakers I have had the privilege to have listened to. A truly memorable weekend indeed with great fun and friendship that will be difficult to surpass.

Outgoing GSE Team Presentation

Today saw Rita and I travel north to Pitlochry to Fishers Hotel to meet our outgoing GSE Team lead by Rotarian Jim Slater from Dunfermline Carnegie Club. The many guests assembled were treated to a rather splendid presentation from the all male team of Chris Wiles, Roger Bond, Eric Davidson and Callum Ramsay. They gave a very good account of their planned trip and I am sure will be a team of which the District can be proud, they will indeed be worthy ambassadors. Rita and I wish them well and look forward to hearing the account of their very special time in Pennsylvania District 7280 USA.

(The picture shows L-R Roger Bond, Jim Slater, yours truly, Callum Ramsay, Chris Wiles and Eric Davidson.)

Rotary Club of Dunfermline 87th Anniversary Dinner

Thursday 5th March saw me attending the 87th Charter Dinner of the Rotary Club of Dunfermline. With an attendance of over 50 Rotarians the evening was indeed a great celebration of achievement for the club. President Tom Arnott was our host for this rather auspicious night with three of the Presidents from the local surrounding clubs. The evening began with a very nice meal and some friendly chat before I was asked to propose a toast to the club. The main speaker of the evening was Sandy Morris a well know businessman in Dunfermline and a great friend of the club, Sandy was as usual extremely entertaining and very funny; an excellent night was had by all.

(The picture shows the top table guests L to R Secretary David Steel, President of West Fife Neil Spriddle, Sandy Morris, Lesley Botten, President of Dunfermline Tom Arnott, yours truly, AG Sandy Matthew, President of Dunfermline Carnegie Janet Lowe, President of Cowdenbeath Dennis Brooks and Dunfermline President Elect Noel McKenna

Rotary Club of Central Buchan

Wednesday evening the 4th March saw me travel up to the North East corner of the District to Central Buchan for the Inaugural Meeting of the first new Rotary Club of this year. It is every District Governors dream to get a new club up and running in his or her year in office. The hard work of Past District Governors Bill Leslie, Bill Wood and Ron McKail came to fruition when the club finally was brought into the family of Rotary. Twenty four members were presented with their membership packs led by their first president Donald Taylor. The night was attended by over ninety Rotarians from all over the District with RIBI New Club Formation Officer PDG Tony Cotton travelling all the way from Birkenhead in Merseyside to be with us. As we were celebrating our new achievements so too was my counterpart District Governor Alan Jones was doing the same with the formation of his first new club in Cornwall. After an exchange of phone calls of congratulations we both received a call from RI Director Gordon McInally bringing congratulations from RI President DK Lee and Rotary International. A superb night of fun and fellowship was had by all, a night to remember.

(The picture shows yours truly PDG Bill Leslie and the members of Centreal Buchan)

Rotary Young Chef Competition

On Sunday 1st of March Rita and I had the pleasure of attending the District Final of the Young Chef Competition which was held in Dundee College Kingsway Campus. The competition was split into two session a morning and afternoon session. The day began at 9:30 am with the arrival of the morning session competitors who would begin to prepare for the competition. They had two hours to prepare a table setting for two people, prepare their food which was a three course meal, cook and serve and all for the princely sum of no more than £14.00. The competition was extremely fierce with competitors coming from as far away as Ullapool in the North to Dunfermline in the South. Contestants as young as 13years of age took part. After a break for some well earned rest for the judges the second session began at 13:00 with the competition looking to be even fiercer. All in all 15 youngsters took part, they produced some mouth watering dishes and gave us t6he judges many hard decisions to make. By 15:30 all was complete and we had our winner who was Ian Robertson from Auchmuty High School Glenrothes, Ian will go on now next weekend to the RIBI regional final in Whitley Bay in the North of England.

(The picture shows Rotary Club of Glenrothes president Lars Christiansen, Ian Robertson, yours truly and Lee Wilkie Captain of Dundee United Football Club)

Rotary Club of Forfar International Night

I had the great pleasure of attending the Rotary Club of Forfar on Wednesday evening. The club have recently moved from being a lunch meeting to an evening meeting. They are still flourishing and do not seem to have had any adverse reaction to their move. After a superb few months of mega fundraising including their amazing donation to the Ninewells Cancer Project recently, tonight saw the club present me with a cheque for £5000 which is going to their chosen International Project which is Opportunity International. Opportunity International UK is a member of the global Opportunity International Network a pioneer and global leader in providing micro finance and training to the working poor. They are the largest charity in the UK specialising in micro finance in the developing world.

(The picture shows yours truly, Katherine Begg International Chair and President Jim Nichol)

District 1230 End Polio Now Exhibition

(The picture shows Jim Stewart, Rita, DG Catherine Stewart, RI Director Gordon McInally, yours truly and Heather McInally)

On Tuesday 24th February Rita and I attended District 1230 End Polio Now Photographic Exhibition in the Mitchell Library Glasgow. The event was well attended by Rotarian's and representatives of all of the Asian communities in Glasgow. Past District Governor Drew Hughes welcomed everyone and introduced District Governor Catherine Stewart who gave an address on our challenge of ridding the world of polio. The amazing donations from the Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation of $350,000000 is indeed helping to achieve our goal of a polio free world by 2012. The exhibition portrayed many harrowing images and stories coupled with an equal amount of success stories and images from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

(The picture shows Jim Stewart, Rita, DG Catherine Stewart and yours truly)

Rotary Club of Anstruther Annual Dinner Dance

On Friday 20th of February Rita and I attended the annual dinner dance of the Rotary Club of Anstuther in the Craws Nest Hotel. The evening was once again a great success enjoyed by all concerned with great music to trip the light fantastic along with a spot of Music from the Shows provided for us by Anstruther Operatic Group. It was especially enjoyable for Rita and I seeing many old friends. President William Duncan and Margaret were our hosts for the evening, when we were able to reminisce about our time together as wild Round Tablers. A superb evening, with good food, good wine and great hospitality, thank you William and Margaret and all of the members and guests for a very memorable night.

(The picture shows President William, Rita yours truly and Margaret)

Woodmill Interact Club Charter

Thursday the 5th February was a very special evening for me as Rita and I had the pleasure of attending the second Interact Charter of this Rotary year. The Interact Club of Woodmill are based in Woodmill High School Dunfermline, the club were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dunfermline Carnegie. Since formation they have set about doing many activities, the largest and most ambitious being the manufacture of Eco Friendly cotton bags. The club members manufactured enough bags to raise £1000 for our School4All project. The members presented Jo Pike of Leonard Cheshire International with a cheque on this auspicious evening. The members have also been asked by RIBI President Ian Thomson to address our forthcoming RIBI National Conference in Edinburgh in April. Rector Mike Gilmour is justly proud of the youngsters who are a credit to all concerned with the club.

(The picture shows yours truly with Carnegie President Dr Janet Lowe and the Interact members)

School 4 All

It's me once more, as well as being busy with our Polio Campaign the other project close to my heart is our School 4 All project in Uganda. I have informed you all that we have a unique opportunity to really put our mark as a District on something immensely worth while and life changing for many. We have the opportunity to make that difference to over 2000 children who desperately need our help. As recently as Saturday I received pictures and information from our grants officer Cath Chorley detailing the requirements of our school Budaka FHP in the Pallisa District of Uganda. The current status is as follows Budaka FHP has 2,252 pupils and 26 teachers, like all of the schools Budaka FHP has poor and inadequate classroom blocks and is in a very poor state of repair. Classrooms are overcrowded having around 100-120 pupils per class with children seated on the floor. This has been one of the barriers witnessed to teaching inclusion of disabled children. Some children trek as long as five kilometres to school as a result of lack of transport facilities. Existing ramps are dangerously erected so much so that injury could be caused by them. Teachers have a lack of understanding about disability issues and inclusive education. Excluded children do not receive any support and therefore do not have access to education at all. Shortly our District International Chairman Ken Paterson will be updating you all as to the requirements. My thanks to all of the clubs that have already sent funds to District Treasurer. I would be grateful for all others committed to this project to send monies to Jim.

Polio Eradication

Just to refute any allegations of me having flown the country, no such luck I am still here and still busy. One area that requires my devoted attention is the coordination of this Districts commitment to the Gates Foundation $100,000000 Polio Challenge. I along with Stephen Chorley your Foundation Chairman are committed to ensuring that the clubs in this District play their part in ridding the world of this terrible disease. Those of you who attended our District Conference will know how I feel about this scourge that still exists. In any case the bottom line is we are committed to doing our level best to finish the job we began in 1983 and is now almost completed. Fellow Rotarian's I have given RI our commitment to provide $10,000 per year over the next three years to finish the job. Shortly you will see a Polio Goal chart appear on our website which will show where we are and where we need to be by the end of June. I am counting on you all to help me, these little children in India. Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan are counting on you, please don't let them down get your pledges and donations in to District Treasurer Jim as soon as you can. Lets MAKE DREAMS REAL and allow the children of the world to have a life.

Rotary Club of Dundee Camperdown (Visit No 86)

Tuesday the 6th January saw me perform my final club visit to Rotary Club of Dundee Camperdown in the Invercarse Hotel Dundee. I was once again made very welcome by President Ron MacWalter and the members. Having recently had the pleasure of opening the clubs International Day it was indeed nice to be back with them. The Rotary Club of Dundee Discovery had a good turn out of members on a club visitation, they were my first club visit and here they were at my last one, gluttons for punishment possibly. After a very nice meal my address was well received and prompted a few questions. The club are certainly very busy at present doing many worthwhile projects within their local community and further afield. Shelter Box is a project that the club support enormously well with most of the funds raised at their International Day going to them.

(The picture shows yours truly and President Ron MacWalter)