Ready to Help
ShelterBox are ready to help hurricane struck victims in Oklahoma after the tornado. Recently they have announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Alison Wallace. Originally from New Zealand, she has been working in the UK and international not-for-profit sectors for the past fifteen years and was drawn to ShelterBox she says because she truly believes that shelter, and the hope it brings in the hours and days after a disaster, is vital for families and communities to take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives.She thanks for the continued support to Shelterbox enabling them to have deployed 127,000 boxes since its inception in 2000 working on every continent, responding to earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, typhoons, hurricanes, volcanoes and conflicts.
Marathon Successes
Marathon successes have been notched up by Club members in the recent London and Belfast marathons.Hon Treasurer Ivan McMinn completed the London Marathon against all the odds having been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer November 2011. So far he has raised the staggering sum of over £63,600 for Cancer Focus NI anad SOSBus Belfast.
A team of Rotaractors, which included Club Vice President Elect Claire Savage (pictured in the centre), completed the Belfast Relay Marathon. They are raising funds in aid of a local, independent homeless shelter, Homeplus N.I which has in recent months seen a huge influx of residents due to the ill-effects of the economic recession.
A team of Rotaractors, which included Club Vice President Elect Claire Savage (pictured in the centre), completed the Belfast Relay Marathon. They are raising funds in aid of a local, independent homeless shelter, Homeplus N.I which has in recent months seen a huge influx of residents due to the ill-effects of the economic recession.
Club Member Carmel speaks to the Club
Club member Carmel Owens, Version 1 gave an extremely interesting 'My Job' talk to the Club Monday 13 May. She described the company history and highlighted the company's core values: personal commitment, go the extra mile and no ego! She combines all this with also being a mother.
Unique Economic Forum
A unique evening meeting featured 2 leading economists Alan Bridle, Chief Economist Bank of Ireland UK and Professor Mike Smyth holding an economic forum Thursday 9 May.Both gave excellent and interesting presentations - Alan Bridle examined the key themes, trends and myths of the current economic situation while PP Michael looked at the future policy choices for Northern Ireland.
Following the presentations there was a lively and at times controversial discussion covering many topics from the members and guests present. President Alan closed off the spirited discussion at 8.00pm thanking Alan Bridle for coming and PP Michael for organising such an excellent evening.
Congratulations to Club Honorary Member
The Rotary Club of Belfast is delighted to join in the congratulations to Honorary Member Dame Mary Peters on being conferred the Freedom of the City of Belfast at a ceremony at the City Hall Wednesday 8 May. Dame Mary is the first woman to receive the civic honour previous recipients of the honour include the poet John Hewitt, the merchant navy and Winston Churchill.
The Great White Gorilla
Orthopaedic surgeon Gavin McLean gave an excellent presentation Monday 29 April on his visit in January 2013 to Africa with the Kenya Orthopaedic Project where he lectured, taught and operated in the foothills of Mount Kenya on the equator.
He was known there as the Great White Gorilla and he pointed out that there was no health service and patients were delighted to see them. One man had waited for 3 weeks for their arrival with a broken arm.
He is PE Ronnie and Doreen McLean's son and is pictured left with them and President Alan.
Welcome East Grinstead Meridian Rotary Club
The Club were delighted to welcome to Belfast 9 members and partners from the Rotary Club of East Grinstead Meridian 21-24 April 2013. This fraternal visit was initiated by a wish from some of their members to visit the Titanic Centre following a speaker who had been in the submersible down to the Titanic wreck.Formally welcomed by President Alan, President Chris introduced their members and partners and gave an insight into their Club which comprises of 34 members and was formed 27 years ago (on St George's Day) as an evening meeting Club. He related several interesting details about East Grinstead including that their name derives from the fact that they are located on the Meridian Line. He presented President Alan with a banner and received a Club Centenary tie and history book. The full details of their visit and picture gallery can be seen here.
Nearly there 58 years on...
58 years ago on 12 April 1955, medical experts announced that the Salk polio vaccine was "safe, effective, and potent".Today, the world is on the verge of eradicating polio as yet another country becomes polio-free! The Democratic Republic of the Congo, having battled re-infection for seven years, has officially passed a year without a single case of wild poliovirus (WPV). Angola came off the 're-established transmission' list in July 2012, South Sudan in 2010 and now DR Congo; Chad remains the only country with re-established transmission. With no WPV recorded since June 2012, however, Chad is also on track to becoming polio-free once more.
It is now hoped that by 2018, with continued vaccination in affected countries, no child ever again will suffer this terrible disease.
US Consul General addresses the Club
President Alan was delighted to welcome to the Club, Monday 08 April, as guest speaker Honorary Member Gregory S. Burton, Consul General at the US Consulate in Belfast.Consul General Burton gave an outline of the Belfast Consul's history - it is the second oldest US Consulate having been established in 1796 and brought us right up to date with its role with the approx 3,000 US Citizens who are in Northern Ireland and the continuing work in progressing the peace efforts here.
TOGETHER A Better Understanding!
The 22nd annual TABU exchange with The Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood, near Chicago, Illinois has taken place with this year's group having left on 29 March 2013 after their 10 day visit. They participated in a very busy and varied schedule over the 10 days, action packed from beginning to end it and was quite an experience.A huge thank you is given to all who gave of their time to present to the students; to all Rotarians who organised the programme, acted as drivers, hosts and participated in events; the host parents and the 2012 students who were hosting and organised evening activities.
Thanks are also due to the travelling Highland Park/Highwood Rotarians- Paul Munk and Cheryl Levi and accompanying teacher Genevieve Misfeldt who mentored the group so well.
At the final event kindly hosted by President Alan and Fleur, presentations were made to each participant and they each spoke eloquently, albeit at times tearfully, in turn giving warm thanks and appreciation to their host families and the Club. The students, teacher and Rotarians all articulated about the wealth of experience, the hospitality received and their admiration for the programme.
At the final event kindly hosted by President Alan and Fleur, presentations were made to each participant and they each spoke eloquently, albeit at times tearfully, in turn giving warm thanks and appreciation to their host families and the Club. The students, teacher and Rotarians all articulated about the wealth of experience, the hospitality received and their admiration for the programme.
