Member profile - Isabel Kane

In brief:

• Member of Leith Rotary since: July 2001
• Rotary Hall of Fame: one of the most well-travelled Leith Rotarians, including visits to India, Australia, and the highlight of a Canada Rotary Friendship Exchange: “320 miles in a funeral home’s stretch limo. It was the only means of local transport in this rural area of Canada, but it came complete with a free mini-bar!”  
• Special interest / skill: commitment to the spirit of fellowship.

“Back in 2001 I was so flattered to be asked to join, in particular because its LEITH Rotary – I’m all about giving something back to my community.”

Isabel Kane was born in Glasgow but from the age of about fourteen months old, grew up in the Fort area of Leith, and saw Leith Rotary as an important opportunity to contribute to her community, whilst meeting different people. Its fair to say Isabel has an adventurous side, which she has brought to her membership of the Leith Rotary Club, making the most of its international connections. “The opportunities far outweigh what you put in, in the end, but it is essential you do put effort in.”

Isabel’s commitment to her community extends to supporting the Scouts, as chair of their Edinburgh & North East Executive Committee, the Leith Benevolent Society, the Civic Trust, and the Acorn Centre, all roles that benefit from her professional experience as former Director of Finance with an Edinburgh company, as well as her energy and focus.

On retiring, Isabel set out to realise a long-cherished dream of travelling, which she is still pursuing. On one tour she visited Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong King, Vietnam and Singapore; on other trips she experienced Russia, America and Peru. She recalls visiting a Rotary Club in Sydney, Australia, which regularly chartered a plane for a few hundred local children to go on a day trip: “It opened my eyes to the scale what Rotary achieves in local areas.”

Isabel has also engaged directly with what Rotary International achieves. Along with Rotarian and friend Eileen Brownlie (now passed away), Isabel took a trip to the End Polio Now programme in India. Aside from seeing the stunning sites of Amritsar and Agra – the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple – Isabel worked alongside Patiala Rotarians where the Purple Pinkie lodged in her memory. “The Purple Pinkie was a totally pragmatic solution they found to ensure they didn’t double-dose anyone, and to make sure the biscuits they gave to the children after their dose didn’t run out too soon. They put gentian violet on their pinkies after their dose. Simple!”

However, Isabel, who has now been made President for the third time during her 24 years with Rotary, wants to maintain the achievements of local Rotary fellowship and action.

She is delighted to be able to use her presidency to nominate a local charity of the year, the Citadel Youth Centre, and to ensure Leith Rotary maintains an active programme of fundraising and community events.

She is passionate about ensuring members’ weekly experience of the club is interesting, with its programme of Speakers and encouraging social visits to other clubs. She is urging Leith Rotarians to plan ahead for a Scatter Month (visiting local clubs during a designated month, to learn from them), and wants to build Leith Rotary’s social calendar of inter-club and member socials. “Members can also get involved with Friendship Exchanges, where we host visiting clubs and in turn, they host us,” One of the most memorable of these for Isabel has been the Friendship Tour of Canada. “It was an amazing experience, I would highly recommend it. The Canadian members were so welcoming and we really got to know what life in Canada is like from their perspective, which we wouldn’t have done if we were just tourists.”

Isabel wants to ensure the Leith club continues to develop and welcome new members. “Rotary is a fantastic opportunity to meet different people and to do something different. What we achieve in fellowship and through fellowship is special.”