Cumnock & District Rotary Club

APRIL 2024

Tuesday 2
Only 8 in attendance tonight with no speaker.   Attention was focussed on recent and  future events.
It was reported that the Ladies Day had made a profit of over £1000, and that Troon Rotary had raised over £4000 from their Fiddler’s Rally, which was attended by some of our office-bearers.   Profits are being donated to the Honeypot Respite Centre through the Kilt Walk arrangements.   It is expected that 3 or 4 of our members will participate in the Kilt Walk.
Arrangements for the Quiz Night are still to be made.  

Jim Wilson, our Sports Organiser, asked members if a revival of an Indoor Bowling event would be supported.   Some interest was shown but getting sufficient participants could be a problem.
Our club raffle was won by Dave Perriman.

Tuesday 16
We had an attendance of 11 to hear our invited speaker, the District Governor, Narek Bido.   In a wide ranging talk, he spoke of the challenges facing Rotary in the UK, but also of the opportunities.
He congratulated the club for having developed one of the best websites in the District.  

The quality of Rotary’s communication with members and the public is crucial to its development and expansion.   He also praised the idea of partnership between clubs, and pointed to the links with Alloway and others in our Honeypot Respite Centre fundraising campaign.
With regard to a question about ways to increase membership, he suggested that instead of just inviting prospective members to meetings, we should give them the chance to be involved in the delivery of some practical service to the community.   This could be taking part in a local clean-up campaign, helping to run a charity function, or serving in a food bank or clothes shop, as well as taking part in fund raising activities.
Encouraging the young was important for the future, and the Interact scheme was discussed.   He suggested that getting the cooperation of school authorities could best be achieved by enlisting some young people currently or previously involved to speak to the school’s management.
The club’s raffle was won by Iain Christie.

Tuesday 30
Reports were given by those who attended the annual Scottish Kilt Walk at the weekend in and around Glasgow.   Jim Kyle, Gerald Alexander and Dave Perriman were the Rotarians who participated accompanied by 3 family members.   Figures are still to be finalised, but sponsorship monies raised together with donations and top-ups means that the Honeypot Respite Centre will benefit to the extent of well over a £1000.   
Our scheduled Quiz Night has so far had 6 teams wishing to take part, more are expected.

Members were reminded about our scheme to save up and donate loose coins on a regular basis to the club’s fundraising efforts.

Congratulations to Secretary Dave who was awarded the Cumnock Citizen of the Year at a ceremony in Dumfries House.

Monday Rambles
April 1 – Boswell House.   From the car park, down through the wooded area , and exploring the less accessible spots, including the disused bridge and the ruins of a former Boswell House, and back to the cafe.

April 8 – Netherthird.   From the Centre down to Caponacre and around the outskirts of the industrial scheme and back to the cafe.

April 15 _ Rained off.

April 22 -  Ayr.   Parking at the sea front, a small group of 4 headed along the promenade to the Ayr Harbour, at times battling against the prevailing wind, return to the car park and the cafe to warm up.

April 29 -  Dumfries House.   An even smaller group of 3 returned to Dumfries House estate for a short visit, and were rewarded with gifts of seed potatoes from the gardens.

March 2024

5 March

Our first meeting of the month had an attendance of 11, including a guest who is a potential new member (Martin Pond).

The accounts for the financial year to 30 June 2023 had been circulated to members by Secretary Dave, and explanations and clarifications were given by auditor, John Swanson. Treasurer Agnes gave an up to date account of the club's finances and was thanked for her thoroughness. After a few questions and comments by members, acceptance was proposed by Barbara Goudie-Bradford and seconded by Jim Liddell.

There were some comments and discussion on our recent outings to the Loudoun Burns Night and the "Sound of Music" at the Gaiety, Ayr. It will be our turn next year to host the joint Burns Night.

The club raffle was won by our guest, Martin!

19 March

There was a good turnout of members for our speaker tonight, Wendy Pring, a former member of our club and still a supporter of Rotary. We had 12 members of our club, together with guest Martin Pond and a Rotarian from Prestwick Rotary. It was especially good to see member Jim Wilson after an extended period of absence.

Wendy has a special interest and enthusiasm in the idea of the Circular Economy, and has recently participated in a trip to Antartica, organised by the Strathclyde Business Centre. She was one of a group of 100 like-minded women from all walks of life but sharing an interest in climate change and leadership, sustainability, town centre regeneration, and the people and processes needed to make it happen.

With the help of a screen presentation, she described the effects of global warming in the sub Arctic region. She told us of the experiences of the sea journey and a period of 3-4 weeks of landings, lectures and discussions among the giant icebergs and choppy seas of the area. Sea sickness was a problem in the first few days, but thereafter she got used to it.

Whilst she was there she encountered and photographed large numbers of penguins, seals and whales. An unforgettable experience - she would love to go back for an extended period.

24 March

This was the revival of a Ladies Day event which had lapsed during the COVID years. This time it was held in Cumnock Juniors clubhouse, and was hosted by a well known local “Elvis” tribute act. Although it was not a full house, those who attended thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment, and participated in the musical activities and money raising efforts. They were also well catered for in food and drink, and the takings for the day amounted to about £1000. The organisers headed by treasurer Agnes were well satisfied with the days outcome, and are to be congratulated and thanked for their efforts.

Rambles

4 March – New Cumnock, from car park at Swimming Pool, walk past the old church and graveyard, and round the perimeter of the Knockshinnock Pools to the Leggate and back through New Cumnock to the car park

11 March – Mauchline, from Loudoun Street car park, up Kilmarnock Road past the Burns Memorial, and around the Hillhead Farms road and back past the school and the Cross to the car park

18 March – Dumfries House, from car park the long way round up past the farm buildings to the Barony Road entrance, and then down the Avenue to see the daddodil display, and back to the car park

25 March – Wet conditions so back to Dumfries House and settled for a walk up to the Wellbeing Centre, and then retraced our steps to the car park and cafe.

6 February

This was the only regular meeting of the month held in the Dumfries Arms Hotel. We had an attendance of 11, including our Assistant District Governor, Hazel McCully, who kept us up to date on local developments. We were reminded that we should plan some fund raising activity during the “End Polio Now” week in October.

Agnes Cowan, our treasurer announced to the club that she had just learned that Dave Perriman, our secretary, has been selected as  Cumnock’s  citizen of the year 2023 and will be honoured by a presentation at Dumfries House at the end of April.

The main part of the meeting was a visual presentation by Secretary Dave of the benefits and potential of internet access to the Rotary websites. In a mixture of demonstration and explanation, he covered access to the websites, how to manoeuvre around options, and making contributions to the websites. He said that there had been some hitches in the early stages and covered the aspects of online security. As in any group, some members are enthusiastic users of the sites, which include social media platforms – others are less so. The frequency and sophistication of hacking attempts should be kept in mind. Dave was thanked for his efforts.

The club raffle was won by Jim Liddell.

20 February

Our normal meeting in the Dumfries Arms was replaced by a joint meeting with Loudoun Rotary to celebrate the anniversary of Robert Burns. This was held in the Newmilns Bowling Club pavilion, and was joined by a group of 12 (members and others) from our club. The programme was a mixture of formality and informality, starting with Piping in the Haggis, the Selkirk Grace and Address to the Haggis.

The meal was then served, followed by music from a young accordionist, and the Immortal Memory by a guest speaker, Stuart Lyon. It was an enjoyable evening and a chance to meet up again with fellow Rotarians from our daughter club.

28 February

This was the club’s annual visit to the Ayr Amateur Opera musical production in the Gaiety Theatre. This year the production was the “Sound of Music”, and those who attended (22 in all) thoroughly enjoyed the music and singing, particularly by the younger members of the cast. Members were also impressed by the novelty and efficiency of the scene changing procedures.

Members were less impressed with a ticket mix-up by the management, which was only resolved by being moved to different areas of the theatre, including the Royal Box! The lucky few were not required to give a “Royal Wave” – or sign autographs!

Rambling Group

The weekly rambles have continued into the New Year. Choices of routes have been determined by weather conditions and more accessible locations. There is a steady core of 7 or 8, plus 2 or 3 others from time to time. Monday is the usual day for the rambles.

January 15

Muirkirk Park at former Kaimes Institute, walk along part of the dismantled railway line to Eastern end of Muirkirk, up Crossflat Road and back along Main Street and then up Furnace Road to the car park.

January 22

Boswell Estate Park in Coach house car park, walk down paths at edge of fields, walk along (above) side of river, and past the Auchinleck House, and back to car park and drop into cafe.

February 5

Sorn From New Bridge walk up rough hilly path to top of hill and join road leading to Peel Craig waterfalls, walk along part of the road to get an idea of the landscape,

turn round and retrace steps, and then return to New Bridge down the Old Avenue (formerly part of Gilminscroft Estate.

February 12

Catrine From car park next to former bank, walk up hill to road leading to War Memorial, continue past it and down Chapel Brae, and then along Mill Street to car park.

February 19

Kilmarnock Dean Park car park, walk around grounds past ponds and Rural Life Centre, back to Castle and visit inside to see refurbished display, then to Cafe.

February 26

Lugar From Pollock’s car park, walk up Peasweep Brae, and then up track to the “swan” loch, along a rough muddy and wet path (dismantled railway) towards Cronberry, and then retrace steps (carefully) to car park.