Lunch time meeting - Rebekah Haldane -The Sailors Society

On Thursday 21^st March 2019 President Anne Sampson, welcomed 15 Cub Rotarians and Guest speaker Rebekah Haldane to this this lunch time meeting held in the Gilvenbank Hotel, Glenrothes. 

On reception were Geoff Sampson and Brian Johnson who said grace.

President Anne Sampson mentioned about the journey we were on with regards to us getting charitable status and she advised that she still needed to consult further on this.

Geoff Sampson on behalf of Fundraiser Iain Haywood once again mentioned the Sportsman’s dinner to advise that numbers were progressing well.

Our guest speaker this week was Rebekah Haldane recently appointed public engagement officer from the Sailors’ Society which is growing its presence in Scotland they also appointed a new chaplain to seafarers at the same time. Becky is an ordained Elim minister with experience as a pastor, disaster relief worker and associate director of the charity Compassion First. Becky shares the vision of Sailors’ Society with churches and community groups and recruit volunteers to support the Society or visit ships.

She said: “It’s an honour to be working for such a fantastic and far reaching society. I’m excited for the opportunity to travel around Scotland’s ports, towns and villages sharing our passion for seafarers and their families. Her hope is to see groups fully connecting with the vision of Sailors’ Society.” Sailors’ Society is an international Christian charity working in ports across the world. Their chaplains help seafarers and their families, from all faiths and none, with welfare and practical support. They visit ships in ports and talk with seafarers away from home for up to a year at a time; they help them get in touch with much missed loved ones and access medical treatment; they liaise with frightened families when seafarers are kidnapped by terrorists or imprisoned, mostly through no fault of their own; and they build homes and schools and provide grants to bring hope and security to seafaring communities. They cannot do this without the public’s help. Why should we care? Almost everything we own, or use comes by sea – our cars, our computers, our phones. We all rely on seafarers. Seafarers rely on us.

The job of the chaplain is to support seafarers who come to the ports – from providing them with a listening ear or Wi-Fi access, to giving them a lift into town or helping them find medical or other help if needed. To give the seafarers a warm welcome and a friendly face could seem insignificant to many, but it can have a great impact on a seafarer who has spent months at sea.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by Ewen Macdonald.

This coming week Thursday 28^th March 2019 will be an evening meeting to be held at the Gilvenbank Hotel, meeting at 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start. The evening will hear our speaker Stuart Donaldson talk about Guide dogs for the blind and he will have a couple of dog handlers with their dogs.

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.