Rotary - Opportunities for Young Reminder that our Poem for Harry and Meghan competition closes on 20th March. For more information and how to enter please visit our website below, Good Luck! www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=683811&ClubID=28

Today’s speaker was our own Rotarian, Jim Young, who gave an excellent presentation entitled…..What if!!!! His father was a banker before him and the family moved roughly every 5 years : Jim was schooled in Fife – left education in 1963, started work in banking, worked in branches in Fife, Edinburgh, Stranraer, Borders, Aberdeen and finally Elgin: Jim joined Elgin Rotary in August 94 and started travelling which saw him visit many Rotary clubs within our District: attend Conferences in venues within the UK and Ireland: and visit many countries: If not for Rotary, none of this would have happened. Jim then went on to advise us of his father’s war years, which were very much a closed book. His father had joined the Territorial Army March 1939: In November 1939, his Dad was posted to the 51st Highland Division, RASC The period up to May 1940, the Phoney War, saw service along the Maginot line, the defensive line on the east and north east France: action was coming from Germany but when. On 10 May 1940 Germany invaded through the neutral Belgium and then Holland. This was unheard of warfare – Blitzkrieg – squadrons of fast moving tanks, supported by artillery, ground troops and aircraft. And fire power the likes of which had not been experienced. Over 338,000 soldiers, mostly British and French, were rescued by boats of various sizes and ferried to Britain. A further 160,000 escaped from other French ports. Remarkable! The best estimates I have seen offers over 41,000 British were missing or became POWs: In mid-January 1945, the allied POWs were marched out the various camps to start ‘The Long March’/’Death March’ through the snow westwards, However, 10 weeks passed on the long march in horrendous conditions which many of the weakened POWs could not physically manage : Best estimates suggest over 166,000 allied POWs were actually repatriated back to Britain. Far too many did survive their time as POWs in Poland. Jim summarised by thanking everyone for listening to my family story which you may have worked out by now finishes with another huge ‘What if ? ‘What if my father had not survived his war?’

A group of 11 Rotarians and partners left for Nepal on 24th February to visit 2 water, health and sanitation projects co-ordinated by Elgin Rotary Club. As part of a party of 24 representing 7 Rotary Clubs in the North East of Scotland the Elgin Rotarians will visit a new project in the Nuwakot District north-west of Kathmandu and revisit Nepane where they supported a project in 2010. Some 574 villagers in 98 households in the village of Majhitar-Thulotar, some 4 hours from Kathmandu have benefitted from the provision of 25 tap stands, 50 latrines and innovative health and hygiene programmes. Co-ordinated by Elgin Rotary, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Tripreshwor, the project is being implemented by NEWAH, the Nepal Water for Health Group and is the seventh water project in Nepal led by Elgin Rotary, with the support of over 40 clubs in Rotary District1010 and strengthened by Rotary International grants. Nepane, in the Gorkha District, suffered greatly in the 2015 earthquakes with its water infrastructure being significantly damaged by landslides, the school latrines being destroyed and many of the tap stands in the village becoming useless. Through the support of Elgin Rotarians and Rotary District Grants rebuilding and restoration have ensured that the villagers, once more, can have a ready supply to safe water and appropriate sanitation. For Rotarians Graeme Archibald, Alistair Campbell and George Duthie, returning to Nepane will have a special significance. “We will never forget our first visit to Nepane, or indeed or journey across rivers and on muddy tracks to get there”, recalls George Duthie, President Elect of the Elgin Club. “The welcome from the villagers was deeply moving, their gratitude heartfelt and what they had achieved under challenging circumstances deeply impressive. From what we can gather their recent work has been as deeply impressive and we look forward to seeing what they have achieved since the earthquakes and celebrating these achievements with them. Equally, we look forward to visiting the new project and seeing the difference that the support of the people of Scotland can make to the people of Nepal. For those returning to Nepal it will be a clear reminder of why our support is so essential, for those visiting Nepal for the first time it will be an unforgettable experience as we visit these villages and take in the breathtaking scenery and fascinating culture of that compelling country”

Interested in becoming a Rotarian with Elgin Rotary Club? Contact an Existing Rotarian or pop along to our next informal evening meeting held in the foyer at Eight Acres Hotel, Elgin on Friday 2nd March between 5.30 and 7 p.m. "Being part of Rotary is more than just giving back to the community by volunteering. It is also about you bringing your skills, experience and enthusiasm to help it thrive, whilst making some great friends along the way."

Organised by Elgin Rotary Club and taking place in Elgin, Lossiemouth and Gordonstoun, swimarathon is part of the worlds biggest one-day sponsored swim with rotary clubs all over the world raising money for The End Polio Now campaign and other charities. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have pledged £2 for every £1Raised. Every £1000 raised will buy approximately 10,000 vaccinations. 39 swimmers (24 adults and 15 school students) had a great time swimming laps in Elgin and Lossiemouth pools on Saturday, between them they swam 1189 lengths of Elgin pool and 900 lengths of Lossiemouth pool-52.23 Km in total. Special mentions must be made of Elgin Rotarian Michelle Anderson who swam over a mile for the Elgin Rotary team in Elgin and the same in the Lossiemouth pool for the Royal bank of Scotland team; our youngest swimmer 5 year old Abigail Grant who swam 20 lengths in Lossiemouth Pool and 11 year old James McRitchie who swam 84 of the Smith Drivers team total of 276. Teams including, The Cantare Choir, Elgin Youth Café and Elgin Rotary as well as many individuals have raised at least £3500 for the End Polio Now Campaign (final total not yet available)

Lap counters poised for Swimarathon

President leading the way for Elgin Rotary Swimarathon

Almost time for the great Elgin Rotary club Swimarathon - raising funds for End Polio Now

This week’s guest speaker was Dave Allen, Wing Commander from RAF Lossiemouth. Dave gave the club a very informative presentation on the upcoming changes at RAF Lossiemouth and what lies ahead for the local area. At present the base have 1721 personnel and then when you take into account to the whole force, including various other roles, it increases to 2400, and with families and parenting its 4000+ and to this day remains the only flying station still in Scotland. Whilst it awaits the arrival of the new squadrons it will continue to operate in UK, International and European works along with Mountain Rescue Lossiemouth Development Programme (LDP) is being communicated to clubs, businesses and communities like us to spread the word as to what will happen when the new squadrons arrive in Lossie. So what will it bring……………..500+ new personnel will arrive, bringing with their families. 9 P-8A Maritime aircraft and 10 typhoons will arrive. But with that means is greater facilities and enhanced infrastructure, so the base will have 2 runways and a new Air Traffic Control Base. But with the increased personnel to the base brings good news for the economy: more skilled labour to work in Lossie, temporary accommodation requirement’s, more spending in Moray, increase in allied nation visitors, permanent residents, and skilled / qualified partners as well as a mass of opportunities for school leavers. To make all the new personnel welcome to the area, LDP will also be creating a welcome booklet to the area, which will give local businesses the chance to advertise in this and promote their business to those who will hopefully become the new “Locals”