BRECHIN ROTARY CLUB WIN INTER CLUB QUIZ

Brechin Rotary Club have triumphed at the annual Ray Warnes inter club trophy at Montrose. Competing in the annual quiz competition for the Angus and Mearns Rotary Clubs, they finished just ahead of the pack with Laurencekirk coming a close second.
Pictured are the winning team members, left to right, Dave Howson, John Glaister, David Robinson and Charlie Allison with Montrose club President Robert Ritchie (centre) presenting the trophy.

CHRISTMAS NIBBLES AND WINE FOR MACMILLAN AND MALAWI

Brechin Rotary Club are started off the 2007 Christmas season last week with a Nibbles and Wine evening in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and the Kalmuzu Central Hospital in Malawi.

Over £500 was raised for the two charities and the Club was delighted that Rotary District Governor Clive Bartram and Santa were able to join them in their festivities.

During the evening, Dr George Howson (son of club President Liz Howson) who had worked at Kalmazu, gave a short presentation outlining the conditions and the needs of the hospital.

Pictured are (left to right), Santa, Brechin Club President Liz Howson, organiser Irene Callaghan and Club Vice President Stanley Callaghan

After the recent Thrums Charity Dinner held in Kirriemuir Town Hall, the Rotary Club of Kirriemuir has donated £10,000 from the proceeds to Cancer Research UK. After some very generous bidding in the auction, successful raffles and tremendous support from the local community, James Arnott, last year's President, was able to give a cheque for £10,000 to Marion Taylor, Area Volunteer Manager at the recent lunchtime meeting. She gave her grateful thanks on behalf of the charity to the Rotarians and their supporters.

President James Arnott said, "We are extremely grateful to the local community and all those who took part on the evening at what was a very successful Dinner at which Craig Brown, ex-Scotland Football Manager, was the main speaker. The evening was a great success and perhaps we will repeat it in a couple of year's time. We would like to try and put the Thrums Charity Dinner on the social events calendar."

The Rotary Club of Kirriemuir has also been the catalyst to start and support "Relay for Life" which takes place in Martin Park, Kirriemuir, on Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 August. Keith Hopkins, chairman of the organising committee said, "This is a 24-hour party - starting at 12 noon on the Saturday and finishing at 12 noon on the Sunday. Teams of between 8 and 15 people can enter and they have to have someone on the circuit at all times during the 24 hours. This is not a race. Young and old alike can participate. Most people will just walk or stroll around the park whilst others may want the competitive edge of perhaps running or even walking backwards for a few laps. There will be fun and games on the day and many of the local organisations will be providing entertainment and information. Cancer Research UK will also be present as this is their event and various people from the health professions will be promoting healthy eating, healthy living and the benefit of exercise."

A separate committee has been set up to organise this event and anyone wishing to enter a team, either from their work, friends, from the pub or even their family, should contact either Keith Hopkins on 0771 505 2718 or Hazel Melrose on 01575 575958 or e-mail Hazel on hazel.melrose@tesco.net.

The cost for a team is £100 to register and we are also looking for people to take part in the survivor's lap for those people who have either been affected by cancer in their family or who have survived the disease themselves. "Candle bags" are out in the town and can be bought for a minimum donation of £5 and these will be lit up at the event, on the evening, when it is dark to spell out words of hope. These bags can be decorated with words and personal messages.

Keith went on to say that, "We are also looking for volunteers to help organise on the day including stewards, car park attendants and people to organise events. We have a great deal of support from the local community and we are looking for a large turn out. No doubt other press articles in relation to the event will give you further information." New members pictured below right are Roland Proctor and Ted Williams

Support for Primary tennis players

Montrose Rotary have shown their support for budding Andy Murrays by helping to finance the coaching of all primary 3 pupils in all the local schools during the school day.
David May president of the local rotary handed over a cheque for £200 to Jean Stevenson of Montrose Tennis Club, who have organised the coaching and the after school club which is open to all primary pupils.
Uploaded 3.06.07

Montrose Rotary Club presented a cheque to Milltown Day Workshop at Arbuthnot near Stonehaven for their FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR a NEW GREENHOUSE and retail outlet.
The workshop started growing plants to sell in the Day Workshop in 1998 and have seen how much it benefits its special needs workers. Some of them have learning disabilities, some received brain injuries and some are recovering from strokes. The various tasks involved teach a range of new skills, and the experience that others value their work increases their confidence and self respect. As a charity they have a contract with Aberdeenshire Council who provide revenue funding, but this specifically excludes any element for capital development.
The group currently grow a range of bedding plants and perennials in a greenhouse, a polytunnel and an area of garden. They also make a range of wooden planters, bird houses, garden furniture etc. They are sold at Plant Sales at various local venues like the Plainstones in Stonehaven and Catterline Gala.
The new greenhouse will more than double the covered work area. There will be new cold frames and more open ground for growing plants on. The retail outlet will allow special needs workers to be fully involved in the selling in a relaxed setting that is close to the Day Workshop. Thus they will be able to meet the ongoing approaches from Care Managers to take on new special needs workers, and at the same time encourage positive interaction with the local community.

Peter Johnson, Secretary of Montrose Rotary Club presents the cheque during a visit to the Workshop.

After a lapse of several years Montrose Rotary Club have re-established a Young Musicmaker of the Year competition to be held annually. The town's top young musical talent was on show in the final held in Montrose Academy (on March 21st). The youth talent struck the right chord with the judges, "They all impressed with their very high standard", said Ion Grove-White, convenor of the Community & Vocational Services committee who organised the event. Qualifying heats narrowed the entries to 16 for the final which took the form of a concert before family, friends and the general public.
Shannon McGlynn sang her way to the top award in the Primary 6/7 category. In the secondary school section Ruaraidh McFarlane on piano won the intermediate section for first to third years and Rachel Baird who sang and accompanied herself on guitar, won the senior category for fourth to sixth years. GlaxoSmithKline was the main sponsor for the event and the trophies were presented by Gary Conway from GSK.

Photographs:
Top. Shannon McGlynn recieves her trophy from Gary Conway representing GSK.
Bottom. Rachel Baird and Ruaraidh McFarlane with Montrose Rotary president David May.