Lunch time ZOOM meeting - Alistair Robb, Governor District 1010

On Thursday 18^thMarch 2021 President Geoff Sampson welcomed 24 guests including 21 club Rotarians, soon to be Rotarian Chantal Mrimi guest of President Geoff Sampson, District 1010 Governor Alistair Robb, and Rotarian Doreen Gray from the Rotary Club of Cupar to this lunch time meeting held by ZOOM.

No apologies for non-attendance were received.

The induction of Chantal Mrimi took place prior to the talk. President Geoff first met Chantal at one of our Rotary lunch time meetings about 4 years ago when she gave us a talk about herself and being a genocide survivor from Rwanda who had made the town her home. He had bumped into her a few times over the years and had sat with her in Feb 2018 at the Rothes Halls when we were discussing with Dan Brown, Fife Cultural Trust’s Digital Storyteller in Residence, who said he had been inspired by the stories of people as he gathered their tales to celebrate seven decades of life in the New Town, Each of these times they had met Geoff suggested her joining Rotary and here we are today, which was all the more significant in front of the District Governor and soon to be District Membership Chair. Welcome to Rotary Chantal, she will certainly be a welcome addition to the club.

Our speaker this week was our friend and District Governor Alistair Robb soon to be membership chair effective from end of June. This has come about from a task force which has been looking at a 3-year plan. Although over the past year Rotary has lost many members, we have gained several new Rotarians who have been looking to support their communities during these difficult times. Meetings are to be arranged with Assistant Governors to see what the ambitions of the clubs are and how District and Rotary can support them. The loss of many of the members have come about from those who have been in Rotary for less than 2 years possibly because Rotary has not met their expectations. This past year has brought about so many changes and as such this is an opportunity to make changes in the structure and the way clubs have been run. Looking at existing membership and retention was so important. Public image was also discussed and to create a better image through social media. Creation of new and different clubs and different formats of meetings were being looked at for example E clubs and meetings with a blended system of meeting in a lunch venue with others ZOOMING in. A lot to be investigated going forward.

The Rotary vote of thanks was given by Brian Johnson.

The ongoing Old Tools and Sewing machines project lead by Rotarian Iain Oates (phone 07423 195333) in conjunction with The Ecology Centre at Kinghorn’s Tool Shed who are refurbishing old tools donated by the public and, with the help of the charities Tools for Self-Reliance and the Global Concerns Trust, are shipped out to people with physical disabilities in Malawi. We have to date received 12 sewing machines, many lawn mowers which have been received from members of the public and we are profoundly grateful as these will be refurbished if needs be and used abroad to establish businesses in deprived townships. Anybody who have Old Tools or Sewing machines would you please be good enough to let us know and we will gladly collect. Contact can be made through our Facebook page or if you know a Rotarian please do not hesitate to contact them. Five trailer loads have been given to the Ecology centre already and the project is ongoing. Many thanks to all who have been involved.

Iain Haywood advised that we run an Auction for a week during the last week of March with Golf associated prizes including 4 balls and clothing.

This coming week Thursday 25^thMarch 2021 our meeting will be held on ZOOM at 1pm when we will be given a talk by new member David Cooper reminiscing about Caribbean holidays with the membership dressing appropriate for the occasion.

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.