OUR REGULAR MEETING - 20th February 2008

This week we had 38 of our own members present, but surprising for the first in a long time we had no visitors.

Our own Club Member, Mike Halley presented information on the Filtastraw. This amazing device removes all sorts of germs and impurities from water by using a series of filters.

The straw is used just like any straw, although it is bigger. By sucking water through it clean drinking water can be obtained from any puddle, pond or river.

The capacity for cleaning is sufficient for one year’s supply for one person. The straws cost £5.00 each. The Filtastraw initiative is run by the Rotary Club of Brynmawr. More details can be found at http://www.filtastraw.co.uk/.

Members were reminded that we will not hold our own regular meeting next week, as the Inverness Clubs Joint Fellowship meeting will be taking place on 27th February at Lochardil Hotel.

Our next regular meeting at the Waterside Hotel will be on 5th March 2008

WE LAUNCH OUR NEW LOOK WEBSITE

Following a bit of redevelopment, we are proud to launch our new look website which can be found at http://www.lochnessrotary.org/.

The new site has been pulled together by our Club Webmaster, Richard Cliff who has worked at making the new site much more user-friendly and with better navigation.

Commenting on the changes he said, "As the Loch Ness club, we were looking to maximise the number of international rotarian hits we received on the website.

"We are hopeful that the new look site, which offers information on our club; what we are trying to achieve and our news blog will give visitors to the site a clearer understanding of what the members at Loch Ness are doing. In addition, it may also give anyone that surfs in the opportunity to see what Rotary is actually about.

CLUB BRING DEMO SHELTERBOX TO TOWN

Over the last number of years, members and friends of Loch Ness Rotary Club have donated money to purchase Rotary survival boxes that can be used as emergency aid in areas hit by disaster.

The Loch Ness club has managed to get a demonstration box on loan from Rotary International to let people see exactly what they have contributed to. They are delighted to work in partnership with Blythswood Care who have agreed to allow the club to place the display in their shop window in the City Centre.

George McRae, club President said, “We have contributed to many of these boxes over the years. We had seen DVD’s of the units in use and had even heard about how the boxes helped the needy in the disaster areas. The only problem was we had never actually seen a box or its contents.

“The box is perfectly packed and includes items that include a tent, thermal blankets, insulated ground sheets, stoves, cooking and eating utensils and tools. It even contains a kiddies activity pack. Each box contains enough equipment for 10 people, which when you consider the size of the box is pretty amazing.

The President concluded, “Once the box is emptied, it can them used in conjunction with the water purification kit supplied in order to give a decent supply to the people using it for many months.

Anyone wanting to have a look at what a ‘Shelterbox’ actually looks like can take a look by going along to the Blythswood Care shop in Academy Street.

ROY & HENRY HEAD FOR INDIAN MARATHON...!

Two members of the Loch Ness Rotary club have already started a gruelling training regime in preparation for their hike across Ladakh in India to raise funds for Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre.

Local Businessmen Roy McLennan and Henry Dow are setting themselves up for an 11 day marathon that will take them take them to the highest inhabited region in the world.

The two Rotarian set themselves six months to get “match fit” for the hike that will take them away from even the very basics of home comforts during the time they are away.

Roy McLennan, Past President of the Loch Ness club said, “Henry and I had been looking for a challenge that we could take part in on behalf of the club and to raise funds for a local charity at the same time.

“Out trip to India is going to be the biggest fitness challenge that either of us is ever likely to do. But we are getting fitter ever week and looking forward to getting over there to get started. The only thing we can’t train for is getting acclimatised to the high altitudes; but we get a day at the start of the trip to prepare ourselves at 3,500 metres.

He continued, “We have targeted a figure of £10,000 pound for the Charity. We are lucky that we have already received sponsorship from a couple of Rotary Clubs along with some corporate sponsorship. However, we are hoping that other local businesses will support will recognise what we are doing and assist us further with the fundraising.

Fiona McRae, Fundraising Co-ordinator of Maggie’s Highlands in Inverness said, “We are absolutely delighted that Henry and Roy have signed up for the India trek in aid of our charity. Maggie's relies entirely on fundraising and the money they raise will go towards the programme of support we offer for people affected by cancer in the Highlands. This includes support groups for people with cancer as well as family and friends, information leaflets and library books, relaxation classes, nutrition workshops and stress management courses.

OUR REGULAR MEETING - 13th February 2008

This week's meeting was a speaker meeting, and the 43 club members and 2 visitors were treated to an interesting presentation by Mike Grantham, guest of Sandy Renfrew who spoke on the Karma Enduro charity challenge in which he and his wife, Jackie will be participating in October.

The challenge is to drive an Indian Ambassador car from Goa to Kerala, 2000 kilometers on difficult roads in a vehicle which is described as handling like a “drunken badger”.

Mike and Jackie will undertake this adventure to raise funds for the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity and Adventure Ashram. The Rainbow Trust offers non-medical, practical and emotional support to families of children with life threatening or terminal illness; with the Adventure Ashram Project providing medical and educational care to remove villages in Southern India.

The couple are contributing £4,000 of the minimum £8,500 sponsorship themselves, with a view to raising the remainder by selling advertising on their car along with a number of other sponsorships events.

For more information, you can have a look at exactly what Mike and Jacqui will be enduring by visiting www.karmaenduro.com or emailing jacquieg77@yahoo.co.uk

There was a reminder for the Joint Fellowship meeting at the Lochardil Hotel on 27th February 2008 (note there will be no regular meeting for our own club that day).

OUR REGULAR MEETING - 6th February 2008

The 35 club members and the two visiting Rotarians were given a very interesting talk from Monica Lee Macpherson from the Scottish Highlands & Islands and Moray Chinese Association (SHIMCA) who was invited by International Chairman Gerry Grant to inform the club of the work currently being undertaken by SHIMCA.

The group is a recognised Charity in Scotland and its aims are to advance the education, promote the health and welfare and relieve poverty of chinese people in this area of Scotland.

The group, which was founded in 2004 is the only one North of Perth and continues to grow. They have recently received Lottery funding which will be used to finance a worker who will coordinate the groups efforts and are looking to expand its activities.

In closing, Monica spoke of the forthcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, as they moved into the Year of the Rat and outlined her pride in the new official Chinese Tartan (which she stressed was a product of Scotland and not China).

The members were reminded that there would be a 4-Club Joint Fellowship meeting at the Culloden club on Wednesday 27th February 2008 at the Lochardil Hotel.

THIS WEEK'S MEETING 30/01/08

This week's meeting was a business meeting and we had 40 of our own members who were joined by Lynne Corinder our only guest this week.

The members were reminded that the Rotary District of 1010 were to run a Roadshow in Inverness on 10th March in the Spectrum Centre in Inverness. The Roadshows would cover the key topics of Rotary Foundation; Communication throughout the District; Membership of Rotary and issues protecting rotary.

The members were reminded that the Club's annual Quiz Night will take place in the Lochardil Hotel on the 11th March. Any one interested in attending the course with a team of 4 people can leave a message attached to this Blog entry.

Gerry Grant informed the members that the Aquabox will be on display over the month of February in the window of the Blythswood Shop in Inverness. It is hoped that this will generate some further interest in the cause.

Our next meeting will be a speaker meeting (06/08), where we will have a presentation from Monica Lee from the Highland Chinese Community.