Evening Hybrid ZOOM meeting - 6.45pm - speaker David Corstorphine from RNLI

On Thursday the 31st March 2022 President Brian Johnson. welcomed 12 Club Rotarians with 2 on ZOOM, Zone governor Libby Seath from Carnegie Rotary, speaker David Corstorphine and Wilma Page and Lesley Macdonald guests of Rotarians Ron and Ewen to this our Hybrid evening meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

Nine apologies for nonattendance were received.

President Brian spoke about us supporting the District conference in May and also mentioned that due to holidays IPP Geoff Sampson would take the next meeting and Scott Galloway would take the two meetings after that.

Scott Galloway spoke about his mentoring programme with the 6th week concluding last week with 35 attending, including government ministers, Scott said it was an absolute privilege to be part of the programme as an ex-pupil & employer. Since the turn of the year Hand Picked from CR Smith has recruited, trained and deployed local employers into three high schools to deliver an employability programme to senior phase pupils. Each employer has played a monumental role in inspiring the decisions pupils will make about their futures, and more importantly they have given the pupils the much-needed skills to get into and keep a job. Together they have delivered these much-needed skills to pupils across the three High Schools.

Scott also mentioned Easter eggs for Fife Gingerbread.

Geoff Sampson mentioned that our club had participated and won in the Gavel competition hosted by the Kirkcaldy Club also involving Leven and the Buckhaven and Methil club. Another fun night and enjoyed by all. The Easter collection of shoeboxes for Eastern Europe due for delivery to Perth next Wednesday 6^th April was going well with Coaltown and Star Primary returning 52 boxes taking the overall amount to 165 now. An update was also given about our Ukraine appeal with a further 200 plus boxes loaded into the Denside removal and transport van on Tuesday for taking over to Edinburgh and to Ukraine this weekend (2^nd April 2022). All clear yes and then no, a further donation of over 20 carrier bags came in from South Parks Primary for which we continue to be grateful for. The appeal is ongoing. Thank you to you all for supporting Ukraine.

Wilna roger spoke about the Awards evening in May.

Chantal Mrimi our Foundation Chair spoke about landscape architecture and the possibility of funding and creating a walk/trail akin to the Fife coastal path and the Pilgrims Walks with this one leading from Glenrothes to the Lomond Hills / Falkland.

Our speaker this week was David Corstorphine, Principal Teacher Pupil Support and community safety officer of the RNLI. David was a former pupil of Ron Pages and then a teacher when Ron was rector at Madras High school. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. It is one of several lifeboat services operating in the same area. Founded in 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, soon afterwards becoming the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, under the patronage of King George IV. On 5 October 1854, the Institution’s name was changed to its current name (RNLI), and in 1860 was granted a Royal Charter. The RNLI is a charity in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland of which Queen Elizabeth II is Patron. The RNLI is principally funded by legacies (65%) and donations (28%), with the remainder from merchandising and investment. Most of the members of its lifeboat crews are unpaid volunteers.

The RNLI is based in Poole, Dorset. It has 238 lifeboat stations and operates 444 lifeboats. RNLI lifeguards operate on more than 200 beaches: the lifeguards are paid by local authorities, but the RNLI provides equipment and training. The Institution also operates flood rescue teams nationally and internationally, the latter prepared to travel to emergencies overseas at short notice. Considerable effort is put into training and education by the Institution, particularly for young people; in 2013, more than 6,000 children a week were spoken to by education volunteers about sea and beach safety, and over 800 children a week received training. Crews rescued on average 22 people a day in 2015. The Institution has saved some 140,000 lives since its foundation, at a cost of more than 600 lives lost in service. The government have no say in how the organisation is run. David spoke about survival in water and the need not to panic in cold water.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by President Brian Johnson

This coming week Thursday 7^th April 2022 is a lunch time is a business and fellowship meeting commencing at 1.00pm prompt.

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.