Stirling Rotary meeting 27.1.12Club 

President Frank Kelly welcomed members, as well as visitor David Herd.  The president had recently attended Bridge of Allan and Dunblane club’s Burns Supper and will be going to Carse of Stirling’s similarly-themed event this week.    

     Robin Sutton, Stewart Wilson, President Frank Kelly Stirling Rotary meeting 27.1.12Stirling Rotary meeting 27.1.12t Frank Kelly welcomed members, as well as visitor David Herd.  The president had recently attended Bridge of Allan and Dunblane club’s Burns Supper and will be going to Carse of Stirling’s similarly-themed event this week.

Speaker for today was our own Stewart Wilson, who, in the tradition of recently joined members, delivered his My Job talk.  Not surprisingly, it was on the subject of cycling and its influence on Stewart’s life and career. His interest began at age 13 and he acquired his first second-hand bike in 1967, shortly thereafter joining the Albert Cycling Club, based in Larkhall, Lanarkshire. By the mid ‘70s, he had developed an ambition to open a bike shop but, of course, it had to be located somewhere that offered real sales potential and Stirling seemed to fit the bill.  The Thistle Centre was drawing shoppers from a wide area and large employers like Scottish Amicable provided a huge potential customer base. The result was that, in 1978, he opened a bike shop in Baker St., with most of the initial business being in spares, equipment and repairs.  In 1996, he moved across the road to much larger, 3000 sq. ft. premises, permitting much more satisfactory display of machines and accessories.Stewart explained how the market for new bikes was largely driven by fashion, from Raleigh Choppers to small-wheel Moulton fold-up machines, to BMXs to mountain bikes. At one point, Stewart’s company was a 5-star Raleigh dealer, meaning that, in return for certain benefits, it could sell only Raleigh.  In 1996, the company had to opt out of this arrangement ,as the Nottingham company’s UK market share progressively decreased from 60% to 20% and later only 10%.  This was due to the relentless advance of cheaper products from the Far East, as well as those of the Indian sub-continent. More recently, the bike has been “reborn” in the guise of a green alternative to the car, as well as a fitness aid.  As a result, sales are picking up again. Greater affluence has also meant that there is even a significant number of people willing to spend £3K-£4K on a machine constructed of carbon fibre, which offers a unique combination of strength and low weight.  Although Stewart recently sold his shop he still takes a keen interest in cycling and feels strongly that the future for the activity looks good. The Vote of Thanks was given by Robin Sutton and well supported.  This week’s Speakers Host is Gordon Murphy, with Visitors Hosts Don MacLeod and Peter Mehta.

Ranald Ross-Watt
Communications ConvenerPresident Frank Kelly welcomed members, as well as visitor David Herd.  The president had recently attended Bridge of Allan and Dunblane club’s Burns Supper and will be going to Carse of Stirling’s similarly-themed event this week.Speaker for today was our own Stewart Wilson, who, in the tradition of recently joined members, delivered his My Job talk.  Not surprisingly, it was on the subject of cycling and its influence on Stewart’s life and career. His interest began at age 13 and he acquired his first second-hand bike in 1967, shortly thereafter joining the Albert Cycling Club, based in Larkhall, Lanarkshire. By the mid ‘70s, he had developed an ambition to open a bike shop but, of course, it had to be located somewhere that offered real sales potential and Stirling seemed to fit the bill.  The Thistle Centre was drawing shoppers from a wide area and large employers like Scottish Amicable provided a huge potential customer base. The result was that, in 1978, he opened a bike shop in Baker St., with most of the initial business being in spares, equipment and repairs.  In 1996, he moved across the road to much larger, 3000 sq. ft. premises, permitting much more satisfactory display of machines and accessories.Stewart explained how the market for new bikes was largely driven by fashion, from Raleigh Choppers to small-wheel Moulton fold-up machines, to BMXs to mountain bikes. At one point, Stewart’s company was a 5-star Raleigh dealer, meaning that, in return for certain benefits, it could sell only Raleigh.  In 1996, the company had to opt out of this arrangement ,as the Nottingham company’s UK market share progressively decreased from 60% to 20% and later only 10%.  This was due to the relentless advance of cheaper products from the Far East, as well as those of the Indian sub-continent. More recently, the bike has been “reborn” in the guise of a green alternative to the car, as well as a fitness aid.  As a result, sales are picking up again. Greater affluence has also meant that there is even a significant number of people willing to spend £3K-£4K on a machine constructed of carbon fibre, which offers a unique combination of strength and low weight.  Although Stewart recently sold his shop he still takes a keen interest in cycling and feels strongly that the future for the activity looks good. The Vote of Thanks was given by Robin Sutton and well supported.  This week’s Speakers Host is Gordon Murphy, with Visitors Hosts Don MacLeod and Peter Mehta.Ranald Ross-Watt
Communications ConvenerSpeaker for today was our own Stewart Wilson, who, in the tradition of recently joined members, delivered his My Job talk.  Not surprisingly, it was on the subject of cycling and its influence on Stewart’s life and career. His interest began at age 13 and he acquired his first second-hand bike in 1967, shortly thereafter joining the Albert Cycling Club, based in Larkhall, Lanarkshire. By the mid ‘70s, he had developed an ambition to open a bike shop but, of course, it had to be located somewhere that offered real sales potential and Stirling seemed to fit the bill.  The Thistle Centre was drawing shoppers from a wide area and large employers like Scottish Amicable provided a huge potential customer base. The result was that, in 1978, he opened a bike shop in Baker St., with most of the initial business being in spares, equipment and repairs.  In 1996, he moved across the road to much larger, 3000 sq. ft. premises, permitting much more satisfactory display of machines and accessories.

Stewart explained how the market for new bikes was largely driven by fashion, from Raleigh Choppers to small-wheel Moulton fold-up machines, to BMXs to mountain bikes. At one point, Stewart’s company was a 5-star Raleigh dealer, meaning that, in return for certain benefits, it could sell only Raleigh.  In 1996, the company had to opt out of this arrangement ,as the Nottingham company’s UK market share progressively decreased from 60% to 20% and later only 10%.  This was due to the relentless advance of cheaper products from the Far East, as well as those of the Indian sub-continent. More recently, the bike has been “reborn” in the guise of a green alternative to the car, as well as a fitness aid.  As a result, sales are picking up again. Greater affluence has also meant that there is even a significant number of people willing to spend £3K-£4K on a machine constructed of carbon fibre, which offers a unique combination of strength and low weight.  Although Stewart recently sold his shop he still takes a keen interest in cycling and feels strongly that the future for the activity looks good. 

The Vote of Thanks was given by Robin Sutton and well supported.  This week’s Speakers Host is Gordon Murphy, with Visitors Hosts Don MacLeod and Peter Mehta.

Ranald Ross-Watt
Communications Convener

V.P. Crawford Gordon, Brian Murphy, J.V.P. Martin Ross

Rotary Club of Stirling meeting 20.1.12

Senior Vice President Crawford Gordon welcomed members to the Friday meeting.  Speaker for the day was our own Brian Murphy, who reported on a recent family visit to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida.  Magic Kingdom, the first park on the site, opened in 1971 and 10,000 visitors turned up on day 1 alone. Nowadays, an average of 46 million guests comes to Disneyworld each year and the whole complex extends to 40 square miles, the same size as the city of San Francisco.

Finding your way there by car or bus is simple, aided by excellent signage, whilst parking arrangements are superbly conceived and organised.   The main theme parks are Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom; total staff numbers employed are 62,000, with politeness and friendliness being the order of the day.  Within the parks, travel is by tram, monorail, boat, steam train or foot.

The Vote of Thanks was given by Junior Vice President Martin Ross and well supported.  This week’s Speakers Host is Stewart Wilson, with Visitors Hosts Alastair McNeill and Gordon McCulloch.

Ranald Ross-watt
Communications Convener

23.1.12

Stirling Rotary Meeting Friday, January 13th. 2012

President Frank Kelly welcomed members, together with visiting Rotarians Paul Prescott from Callander and West Perthshire, as well as Alastair Morrison from Cardiff St Davids.  Also present were Debra O’Donnell and Isla Shaw MBE.  The president extended the club’s best wishes for a speedy recovery  to both Stewart Anderson and Stuart Badenoch.

Robin Sutton asked members to provide additional information and reports for the club website.  Jacquetta Megarry canvassed opinion on the best day for the Aberfoyle to St Andrews walk, along a section of the Mary Queen of Scots Way; in the event, Monday May 7th. emerged as favourite.  Paul Prescott, who had been instrumental in creating the Mary Queen of Scots Way, talked about the route, the whole of which extends from Arrochar on Loch Long to St Andrews, on the East Coast.  It consists, in its entirety, of existing paths and Rights of Way and is designed to be negotiated on foot, rather than by bike.

P.P. Alan Skilling, Isla Shaw MBE, President Frank Kelly, P.P. Derek Anderson

The President then presented a cheque for £250 to Isla Shaw of Stirling Guides, in aid of renovations to the Guide Hut.  This week’s Speakers Host is Gordon Murphy; Visitors Hosts are Elspeth King and Sandy Leven.

Stirling Rotary Meeting Friday 16th. December 2011

President Frank Kelly welcomed members and visitor Envoy William McMurry MBE from the Salvation Army, of which the club is a supporter.  Frank invited those present to visit the Rotary 1010 District website, where they could find an interesting 12 minute video on the re-organisation of RIBI (Rotary International British Isles).
A raffle, held at the recent President’s Evening, had netted £310 for good causes, which was gratifying.  Members were reminded of the collection taking place in the Thistle Centre on the 27th. and 28th. Thanks were expressed to the Centre management for, once again, allowing this important activity to take place. 

Mr. McMurry offered an inspiring Grace and, later, told members about special arrangements being made over the Christmas period for persons who, unfortunately, find themselves homeless. A Night Shelter is being set up, to run from December 15th. to January 15th., providing a hot meal, bed and breakfast each night.  An interesting point which also emerged during discussions between Mr. Macmurray and members was that, in contrast to most other charitable organisations, the Salvation Army is able to accept donations of working electrical equipment.  This is because they have an engineer who can check out the kit, make sure it is safe and operable and ensure it complies with Health and Safety requirements.  The contact details, in relation to donations of those items, as well as large articles such as furniture is:

Unit 8
Imex Business Centre
Craigleith Rd
Stirling 
Tel. 479262     

The next meeting will be on January 6th. 2012, at which Speakers Host will be Sandy Morrison; Visitors Hosts will be Malcolm Cordwell-Smith and Sandy Farquharson.
 

Stirling Rotary President’s Night, Thursday December 8th. 2011

Thursday, December 8th. was the occasion of Stirling Rotary Club’s annual President’s Night, held, once again, at Stirling Golf Club.  Coinciding as it did with the strongest winds in living memory, there was considerable doubt up to the last minute whether or not the event would go ahead.  Numerous members found their home electricity supplies cut off by falling trees, etc., but the Golf Club was, mercifully, unaffected and practically everyone put in an appearance.

The gathering included members and partners, representatives of nearby clubs and friends of Stirling Rotary.  President Frank Kelly addressed those present and principal entertainment was provided by musical trio Sons of the Rock.  Past President Dr. John Rankin recited two of his inimitable poems, the highlight being a witty description, in the Scots vernacular, of the surgical procedure involved in removing a big toenail.  Wisely, this tour de3 force was delivered after everyone had eaten their meal.

President Frank and his wife Madalaine then presented a number of trophies for golf and fishing competitions, which had been held throughout the past year and the event finished with a raffle, featuring excellent prizes.  In view of the occurrence of President’s Night, there was no meeting, the next day.  This week’s Friday meeting will include our annual Christmas Lunch, with Visitors Hosts Bill Bryce and Willie Chrystal.

Ranald Ross-Watt
Communications Convener