Lunch time meeting - Speaker Liddy Laird from the Uphill Trust

On Thursday 1^st September 2022 President Brian Johnson, welcomed 20 people which included 19 club Rotarians, and guest speaker Liddy Laird to this our lunch time meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

Will Wishart confirmed the Kids out day was going ahead on Wednesday 14^th September at the Deer Park at Cupar with 3 buses taking the 120 children and carers.

Anne Sampson advised that having spoken with the ASDA Community Champion, Debbie Wilson the Glenrothes Rotary awareness day/collection will go ahead on Saturday 24^th September, this will give those in the community the opportunity of speaking with Rotary representatives to find out more about Rotary. Anne also mentioned the proposed Afternoon Tea planned for Sunday 23^rd October 2022 at the Studio8 where she is awaiting feedback from the local Rock choir as to their availability.

Wilna Roger spoke about the Rectors meeting and the plans which will be taking place during the school year. She spoke about the Big Hoose project meeting also the Rotary in Fife meeting and the proposed plans for next year’s Burns supper.

Lindsay Roy spoke about the communication he had received from former President of our club Krishna swamy now in St Andrews about us being offered up to 40 places for Glenrothes students on a Life Sciences induction day at the University of St Andrews. This is a new initiative, targeted at S4/5 students who are already following at least one science subject.

Our speaker today was newly retired dentist Liddy Laird speaking about the Uphill trust which supports grassroots education in rural western Uganda. Access to education is not a given in Uganda. There are schools, but if you can’t pay you can’t go; and often education is not seen as a priority for girls. They are helping the people in one community address this problem by supporting them as they build a primary school with kindergarten for their children. Their work empowers children through education – an important first step in breaking the cycle of poverty. The Uphill Trust is a small Scottish charity founded in January 2015 to support the development of Uphill Junior School. Trust Chairman Niall ‘Max’ Macdonald got to know the founders of the school whilst rediscovering his roots in western Uganda. Max visited the fledgling school in October 2013 and was inspired by the children he met there. He was also impressed by the vision of the School Director Elius and his struggle to develop an educational facility on a small plot of rented land with very little funding. He resolved to do ‘something’, thinking that he might be able to find enough money to provide corrugated iron sheets for the roofless classrooms… Uganda went into pandemic lockdown at the same time as the UK and all schools were closed for 7 months. Food poverty – always a problem – escalated. The Uphill Trust ran a successful fundraising campaign to support the Iruhuura community food aid initiative.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by Wilna Roger,

Last Thursday evening 8 club members travelled to Memorial Hall in Methil, to participate in the first round of this year’s Gavel competition, despite having a great night of fun and fellowship with Buckhaven and Methil being the perfect hosts providing a wonderful buffet supper Doreen Gray’s team were well beaten. The next Gavel night will be Wednesday 28^th September against Leven away from home.

The Big Hoose project organised for Wednesday last week was cancelled but President Brian and Jim Boyd attended on the Friday 2nd of September, President Brian commented that It was a fascinating and informative trip and that he was Looking forward to the in depth update meeting with Gordon Brown on 6^th September.

Next week 8th September will be a lunch time meeting at Gilvenbank Hotel meeting at 12.45pm and commencing at 1.00pm with a speaker Kevin O’Kane from the Lomond Heritage Trail with the vote of thanks being given by Chantal Mrimi.

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.