Rotary District 1020 e magazine - October 2018

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ISSUE 3 OCTOBER 2018

$144,000 Rotary Project in Scotland approved

Increasing our humanitarian service is a part of RI’s strategic Special points
plan and possibly your own club’s. Thinking about bigger and of interest:
bolder projects is key to both enhancing our public image and
attracting new members to our organisation. Large, successful DG Agnes writes
projects make a huge impact beyond the community it seeks to
help. Scott Monument in
Purple
An Insulin pump therapy project for young people with type one
diabetes in Dumfries and Galloway has just been approved by Global Scholars
The Rotary Foundation. It is a Rotary/NHS Partnership disease
treatment project Update on Borders
Trees planting
Led by PDG Keith Best and the Newton Stewart Club and sup-
ported by clubs and districts in Ireland and Brazil but also by Club activities
the Kirkcudbright, Thornhill, Lockerbie and Dumfries clubs
in district 1020, this project will provide 26 insulin pumps.

Type 1 Diabetes cannot be cured but insulin pumps provides
much needed insulin via a small device inserted under the
skin.

The project will be based at the Dumfries and Galloway hospital
in Dumfries and, like all sustainable projects, there is a heavy
emphasis on staff training built into the project.

NEXT ISSUE—January
Deadline January 1st.

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Page 2

DG Agnes: Be The Inspiration

Since July 1st I have as you would expect I have been fairly
busy. I have attended with DGE Jo and Membership Chair
Alastair Mackintosh a Membership Seminar held in
Edinburgh for the three Scottish Districts and all of
Ireland, where issues around falling membership and
retention were discussed and ideas shared as to what Districts could do what to try
and improve the membership issue within Rotary. I have also visited the RYLA
Camps both the Boys and Girls and saw first hand what a great opportunity this
activity provides for young people, I watched a bunch of young people walk into a
room shy and some admitting not to wanting to be there to go back a week later and
find a room full of noise, enthusiasm and no one wanting to go home then when I
visited the Hawick Club I was delighted to be asked to present to their RYLA
candidate their well deserved certificate. A young girl who as her mum described
was quiet and would hardly leave the house, since RYLA she has now got confidence
and described her opportunity and experience of RYLA by speaking to her school
and the Rotary Club that supported her, she has made new friends but more
importantly now believes in herself. This is what Rotary does.

So far I have managed to visit 34 Rotary Clubs , still visit my own club Bathgate 4 times,
meet and welcome the Australian Friendship Exchange Rotarians, attend 3 club
functions and carry out a further 17 District Duties

I have chaired my first executive meeting and my first executive and chairs meeting my
first council meeting.

Took part in a 3 webinar sessions for General Council re RIBI business

Attended as your District Representative my first General Council Meeting at Alcester
and voted on legislation for Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland [RIBI].

One of the main topics at General Council was discussion around End Polio Now we
were reminded to remind all clubs that in the 1980’s we were challenged to help the
children of the future, it has been a huge challenge and a long road but we cannot
give up now because if we do the “World Health Organisation” states that 200,000
children could contract the poliovirus in the next ten years and we all know it is a
crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease which spreads from person to
person and can invade an infected person’s brain and spinal cord causing paralysis.
That is why we cannot stop. However another reason why we need to keep going is
that there was 1 new case in Afghanistan in July. Obviously membership was a
another major topic and how to “Grow the Family of Rotary” .Peace Hubs in Districts
were discussed and how we implement these in each of the Districts. I do hope to
have two peace workshops more information to follow.

I am looking forward to District Conference in Aberdeen 26-28th October the theme
“Disability is not a Barrier” there is a really good speaker programme for all to be
inspired and I look forward to those who are attending joining myself at Conference,
I am sure we will all be inspired but more importantly have FUN!

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Page 3

North Berwick—Annual Raft Race

On Saturday 25th August North
Berwick held its annual raft race
and the Rotary Club entered its
first ever vessel.

The raft was created by Rotarian
Des Bathgate and his brother
Charlie (former member of
Longniddry Rotary) and it was
decorated by Rotarians Elizabeth
Tomlinson and Richard Rogers
with his wife Alison.

The big question was would it
float?. And yes it did! Unfortunate-
ly the crew made up of Rotarians
Cammy Anderson, Robert Jones
and David Lancaster with Friend
of Rotary Artir never got further
than 15 feet from the shore, cap-
sizing twice!

In the end, the Rotary entry was
deemed, on reflection. to be a
first sea trial in that although we
found that the raft floated, it was
unevenly short on ballast. Any-
way, the Club and particularly our
crew are not downhearted, in-
stead all are determined to re-
build the vessel with a view to tak-
ing to the seas in 2019 and pad-
dling the course there and back!
Oh yes, some very good news in
that we have a potential new
member from the day as well!

Des and Charlie Bathgate with President Liz

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Page 4

Jedburgh welcomes new member Irene

We have received positive feedback from the senior citizen’s trip to
Eyemouth, in which 43 Jedburgh residents took part and which was
much enjoyed by all.

Planning for the Birl n’ Beer and Winter Festivals is well under way -
the club being a major partner in these events. We also plan to hold
a Community Quiz in the Carter’s Rest on 19 s is usually a popular
evening and is open to everyone who wishes to enter a team. More
details will be available nearer the time.

The club is also planning
two further initiatives. After
a tree had to be felled in
Allerley Park, the club
decided to replace it with a
new tree chosen from a
local supplier. When a
suitable tree is acquired, it
will be planted at an
appropriate season of the
year and will add to the
environment of the park as
a benefit to the community.

We are also co-operating
with Jedburgh Grammar
School to support the Rotary
‘Young Chef’ competition which will give an opportunity for
students at the school to aim for recognition at Rotary District level
and beyond. This follows our successful ‘Young Writer’ competition
which saw young folk from the town achieving success and two
going on to District level where they received awards from a well-
known Scottish writer. We hope the ‘Young Chef’ competition will
similarly successful.

The club welcomed new member, Irene Sayer on 2 August. Irene
was presented with her membership card and badge as well as a
Rotary pin, showing she has joined a worldwide service
organisation.

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Page 5

Whitburn:
35,000 spectacles collected

In the summer of 2006 we had a talk from
a Ophthalmologist who worked at the lo-
cal branch of Boots the Chemist and had
twice been to Uganda on a Vision Aid
Project to examine and supply spectacles
to people in the area. She came a couple
of times after to keep us up to date, dur-
ing which time she had led the Project.
We saw the collection of used spectacles
as a way of supporting her and benefit-
ting people in the third world. Boots had,
and still have, an arrangement whereby
we box the spectacles, take them to their
local branch, and they deliver them to Vision Aid in Crawley.

We started collecting around September 2006 and have collection boxes in
local Opticians, Doctors’ Surgeries, Charity Shops, Hospitals and Police Lost
Property.

In addition to helping people in the Third World there is also an environmen-
tal benefit. Instead of people discarding their old spectacles into their week-
ly rubbish which would go to landfill we make use of them. How long does it
take for a pair of spectacles to disintegrate in landfill ?. Also we check the
spectacle cases and those in good condition, particularly designer ones, such
as Givenchy, Dior, Laura Ashley, Versace, and Gucci etc are passed to the
Charity Shops that collect for us and they sell them for at least £1.00 each.

Members recently celebrated the parcelling of the 35,000th pair of spectacles
and were delighted that Past RI President and Honorary Member of the Club,
John Kenny, was on hand to help pack the last few in the box to hit this won-
derful milestone.

In conclusion the Project benefits people in the Third World, the global envi-
ronment and local charities.

President John Strang noted "Vision Aid Overseas is an international NGO
(non-government organisation) based in the UK and working in six countries
in Africa. They fight poverty by transforming access to eye care in develop-
ing countries. We are delighted to support their very important work"

Pictured putting the glasses in the box are: John Tait, Roger Harper, Past RI
President John Kenny, Iain Scott and Club President John Strang.

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Page 6

John Wilson, District 1020 Environmental
Officer writes...

How are our trees do- The selection of na- Site visit on 6th Sep-
ing after their first tive species in the tember 2018: spot
Summer in the Bor- form of small whips the trees below!
ders? seemed almost too
small to survive the
One Saturday last dry summer in this
April, a small group stark environment,
of Rotarians from but as seen on a re-
some of the two dozen cent visit, they have
Clubs that funded flourished amid the
trees for the Borders long grasses and wild
Forest Trust scheme, flowers, both on the
planted over 600 hillside and along the
trees at the entrance burn. In a couple of
to the BFT site at years they should
Gameshope in the make a more obvious
Borders. show and will present
a much enhanced en-
Planting day, 21st try to this former up-
April 2018: (photos land sheep run,
below) thanks to all who con-
tributed.

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Page 7 Thank You Residents of
North Berwick and Sur-
North Berwick: Charity Golf rounding Area
Success
"I should like to thank North
Rotary Club of North Berwick’s Annual Charity Berwick Tesco for their su-
Golf Day Raises Just Over £4000 perb support in allowing
the Club to collect dona-
The Rotary Club of North Berwick’s Annual Charity tions from the public last
Golf Day was held at the Glen Golf Club on the 9th Saturday (29th September).
September. This was in response to the
devastation caused to peo-
20 teams of 4 players participated on a day when alt- ple in Indonesia as a result
hough it was a bit blowy the sun did shine! of the recent earthquake
followed by the terrible tsu-
Rotary Club President, Liz Martin, thanked the Glen nami. Many thanks to all
Golf Club and its staff for a well presented course those people who contrib-
and an excellent carvery meal enjoyed by all the uted allowing us to raise
players at the end of their rounds. She also thanked £933.23. The Club had al-
the 20 teams for entering and their generosity which ready donated 2 Shelter
helped raise just over £4000 of which half is being Boxes (each box provides
donated to the Children’s Hospices Across Scotland temporary shelter and life
charity with the balance being used to support the saving supplies to dis-
Club’s work in our local community. This also could placed families) and these
not have been achieved without the generosity of monies will allow us to do
local people and businesses in providing gifts for the more."
raffle, the many local businesses who sponsored
holes in addition to the main sponsors of the day
builders Dandara and Walker Group as well as North
Berwick Gin.

- Bad Adders - John Dowds, Billy Macmillan, Steve
MacMillan and Kenny Godfrey who are regular com-
petitors at the evet and winners of the 2018 event.

Some of the children at Law Primary
School in North Berwick learned about the
Indonesian Earthquake and Tsunami on
BBC Newsround and helped the Rotary
Club to rasie funds for Shelter Boxes.

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Page 8

Falkirk Charities Day

Saturday 18th August We all had a whale of ed by significant
saw us all at the annu- a time in spite of the sponsorship
al Charities’ Day in weather which turned raised before the
the High Street. There out not to be as bad event. Well done
was the usual crowd as was forecast. everyone.
of us swelled by the
41 Club who had vol-
unteered to cycle the
first part of the trip
from Falkirk to Arde-
onaig and back on a
static cycle that to say
the least had gearing

problems.. In addition to the fun
and fellowship en-
We had four stalls, the joyed by all the event
bottle stall organised proved to be a finan-
by Stewart, the Shel- cial success as well
terbox complete with £1,210 was raised on
face painting organ- the day and that fig-
ised by June, the Stat- ure will be augment-
ic Cycle organised by
George and an infor-
mation stall organised
by June and manned
by Bill Laurie most of
the time.

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Page 9

Micro-finance changing lives—Falkirk Rotary

Shorouq Shwahneh is 29 years old. She lives
in a village called “Kofor Tholth” located
near Qaleqlia in the Palestinian Territories.

She needed £4,135.34 for her business.

Shorouq is married and has six children. She Membership Figures
owns a nursery, which she has been running Membership within Rotary In-
for three years. It has three classrooms for ternational stood at
the children and a small room for Shorouq 1,218,134 as of
and the other four teachers. Her monthly rev- 30 September 2018.
enue is approximately $700.
She has requested a loan to move her nurse- This represents growth of
ry to a bigger place that fits the children and 23,027 worldwide since July
has a big yard for the children to play in. She 1st start figure.
plans to increase the number of children who
can attend because she is experiencing high End Polio Now
demand from parents who live in the local
area. As of 10th October, there have
She will use the loan to do all the mainte- been 19 cases of the Wild Po-
lio Virus so far this year. Four
nance and to decorate the nursery. She will (4) cases in Pakistan and Fif-
also use part of the loan to buy tables and teen (15) cases in Afghanistan.
chairs for the children and to pay the annual
rent for the premises. 2017 figures— 22 cases (8 in
Shorouq works hard to make sure the chil- Pakistan and 14 in Afghani-
dren have a positive experience and a great stan).
learning environment and she hopes with the
new nursery she will be able to accept all the
new children and will not feel like she is let-
ting down local parents.
Because of the relatively high cost of living in
the Palestinian territories, goods and ser-
vices are more expensive than in other coun-
tries where Lendwithcare works. Loans are
also repaid over a longer period of time,

usually 2-3 years.
The Club's microloan made a year ago was
£45 and repayments are on schedule.

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Page 9

Rotary District 1020 The Scott Monument in Purple
serving Southern Scotland and the
Thanks to District PolioPlus Chair Ken Logan, we
world will see a purple sea at the foot of the iconic Scott
Monument just in time for World Polio Day—24th
Editorial Team October
Calum Thomson, PDG Olive

Geddes, Peter Croan

WEB ADDRESS
WWW . RO TARY 1 0 2 0 . O RG

Meet the Global Scholars for 2018/19

District 1020 welcomes our two new Global
Scholars who arrived in September.
Nicole Robertson is sponsored by District
6710, Kentucky, USA. She is being hosted by
District Secretary Thom Riddell of the Linlith-
gow Grange Club.
Ambele Mwamelo is from Tanzania but spon-
sored by District 5960, which covers parts of
Minnesota and western Wisconsin, USA. Am-
bele’s host is PDG and TRF Chairman Kate Ket-
er also of the Linlithgow Grange Club.
Nicole and Ambele are both studying Public
Health at the University of Edinburgh.

To get in touch with our global scholars, or,
perhaps invite them to your club, Contact Dis-
trict 1020 Scholars Officer PDG Olive Geddes
(pictured with Nicole and Ambele) by clicking
below:
[email protected].