The Club held its 100th AGM Monday 14 May 2012.

The 100th Annual Report can be read here.

Ambassadorial Scholar Woody Hanson bade farewell on his last visit to the Club before returning to the USA. He thanked the Club and the members for their assistance and encouragement and expressed how much he had enjoyed (if not the grey skies!) his great time here studying for an MSc in Urban and Rural Design at Queens. He noted that he had had the opportunity recently to join with the TABU Programme for the day in Chicago when they met the Lord Mayor and had been greatly impressed with the Programme and the energetic young people. He hoped to keep in touch with TABU in future years and would be speaking at the Highland Park/Highwood Club in July.

He particularly thanked PP Bryan Johnston for his support (and forbearance in having to listen to the same speech 11 times!) reflecting that he ws a most wonderful young person's mentor.

President Adrian complemented Woody on his exceptional year and his active involvement with the Club and wished him every success in the future.

More information on Ambassadorial Scholars can be seen here. 

Bob Baird, Enniskillen Rotary Club's World Community Chair and District Officer for Child Protection and Health and Safety for Rotary in Ireland, gave an inspiring talk of how a small, but very committed, club can achieve so much. Bob had become more and more disillusioned helping terminally ill children on their way to the Children's Hospice in Belfast. He persuaded his Rotary Club to adopt a project to raise enough funds to build a hospice just outside Enniskillen. They initiated the Ladies Midnight Walk through Enniskillen to raise awareness and funds.

6 intrepid Rotarians ventured deep into the Salt Mines in Carrickfergus Tuesday 17 April. John McCleery, VP Ken Morrison, PP Gordon Millington, PP Brian Clements, PP Albert Baird and Billy McCoubrey (shown from left) sporting very fetching supplied overalls, helmets and miners lamps had a facinating visit. In fact it was expected that their tour would last about two hours but they found it so interesting it lasted for over three! 

Report 

The 2012 TABU exchange has concluded and the students and Rotarians have returned with keys to city of Highland Park, presented by HP Mayor Nancy Rotering at the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood Club meeting Monday 9 April when she proclaimed it to be 'TABU Week' in Highland Park (read proclamation here). 

This exchange project with the Rotary Club of Highland Park/ Highwood in Chicago is in its 21st year and aims to create a better mutual understanding between different communities by studying Conflict Resolution. This includes finding ways to break down barriers among people, particularly young people, and learning how to reconcile differences.

Pictured when they met the Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel (4th from left) the six sixth form students (shown from left) Orlaith Bradley (St Dominic's Grammar School), Cameron Chambers (RBAI), Niall Fitzpatrick (Our Lady & St Patrick's College), Erin McIlhatton (Victoria College), Aisling Toner (St Roses Dominican College) and Kendal Hinds (Regent House) spent 10 days on a programme arranged by the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood. They were hosted in family houses and the extensive programme included visits to schools, Courts, Police Departments, a naval centre, a hospital together with a social programme. 

The visit has had a profound effect and not only not only on the students.

Michael Ridley, Principal Royal Belfast Academical Institution (1990-2006) speaking to the Club Monday 16 April in his 'My Job' speech. He gave an interesting and humorous review of his time in Education.
 
He extolled the virtue of the current Education system, both secondary and grammar and its achievements when compared to other areas held up as models and urged support of the present structure.

The Club has launched a jole rider bike project and is urgently asking for second-hand bikes.

Almost everyone has one or more unused bikes in their garage or shed. These can, if shipped to Africa, change a child’s life permanently! Every bike delivered not only gets a child to school, but affects the lives of as many as 9 others, including school peers and family members. Many African children live in remote communities, a long way from their nearest school and without reliable, affordable, motorised transport getting to school for them means walking in searing heat for hours over rough terrain and arriving late and exhausted; a huge barrier to their education. With African governments not having money to build more schools, or provide fleets of school buses, bikes are a simple, low-cost, low-tech solution to the problem.

bikes4Africa is the flagship programme of the the charity Joel Rider and aims to refurbish and deliver to Africa second-hand bikes for children and young people enabling them to reach their potential.

The Club are now collecting bikes together with £10.00 per bike to cover transportation. Bikes can be deposited from 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday at WR Simpson and Sons, Unit 9 Loughside Industrial Estate, Dargan Crescent, Belfast BT13 9JA.

Bikes must meet the bike specification (click here) and be accompanied with a minimum £10 donation to cover transport and refurbishment. Contributions above £10.00 will help pay for new tyres and spares. 

More information on jole rider and bikes4Afrca can be seen here. 

The 2112 TABU exchange visit to Highland Park Chicago has begun with the group leaving for Chicago Tuesday 3 April.

Six sixth form students and two members (shown from left) Aisling Toner (St Roses Dominican College), Niall Fitzpatrick (St Patrick's College), Orlaith Bradley (St Dominic's Grammar School), Erin McIlhatton (Victoria College), Cameron Chambers (RBAI), Rtns Claire Savage and Ronnie Porter and Kendal Hinds (Regent House) will spend the next 10 days on a programme arranged by the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood. Click on images to enlarge

The students will be hosted in family houses and the extensive programme includes visits to schools, Courts, Police Departments, a naval centre, a hospital together with a social programme.

This exchange exchange project with the Rotary Club of Highland Park/ Highwood in Chicago aims to create a better mutual understanding between different communities by studying Conflict Resolution. This includes finding ways to break down barriers among people, particularly young people, and learning how to reconcile differences.  

For further information on the TABU programme see here.

PE Alan Rundle has recently been part of a team on a Vision Aid Overseas service project.

The team (shown below) consisted of 6 optometrists and a VAO trustee and, based on the university campus in Ghana’s second city of Kumasi, they offered training to local optometry students, who then joined them on outreach trips within the “Kuapacoco Fair Trade Communities”.

Click on images to enlarge.