Reflections on the District Conference.

I can think of no better way to begin a weekend than driving up Donside, crossing the Lecht to Tomintoul, then carrying on over Broon's Brig; then via Grantown to Aviemore. With the early autumn colours beginning to appear there is, in my opinion, no better way to ease oneself gently into the Highlands. Once there we had a similarly gentle easing into what I call 'Conference Mode'; despite the fact that we had to negotiate the problem of registering in one building, then finding our accommodation in another. However it gave us the opportunity to meet some old friends from the rest of the District, while finding our room and later exploring what was available at this highly publicised venue.

The first event was the Civic Reception given by Councillor Angus Gordon, Chairman of Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, in the Peregrine Suite, immediately followed by the Fellowship Dinner, where getting to know Rotarians from all over the District was the main aim. Our pleasure was to meet people from Dundee and Monifieth. The fact that conversation never flagged was evidence of the success of such an evening.

After Dinner entertainment was provided by the Group "New Day", a close harmony singing group who performed a varied selection of songs ranging from folk songs to 'pop' and songs from shows.

The Conference proper began at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning in the Osprey Centre; a morning made all the brighter by our host Club Westhill, in their lemon coloured T-shirts, who were on hand to keep us right and help us find our way around the centre. Their doughty President Mike Tolstyko, the Lemon Drop Kid himself, led the Lemon Drops with Peter Tong as his Deputy Sheriff. They did an excellent job throughout the weekend, and were a great support to District Governor Bill Leslie.

As if their shirts weren't enough we were then confronted on stage by the brown jacket with lemon stripes of Sergeant-at-Arms, John Fraser; another Rotarian who helped the Conference go with a swing.

At last the real business started, and after being welcomed by conference Chairman Stewart Wilson and The District Governor, the latter introduced our official Rotary visitors from Districts 1020, 1100 and 1230, with the customary exchange of greetings; and Mary Morgan, chairman of Inner Wheel District 1. Dr. Bob Scott from Coburg, Ontario, the RI President's Representative addressed us next. He is a Rotary Foundation Trustee, and he explained how such Trustees are selected. He then went on to discuss the difficult problem of Stewardship, and explained why, due to one occasion when monies were not accounted for, a more rigorous system of reporting and checking had been introduced, particularly with regard to Matching Grants. He stressed that Rotary Foundation Administration was paid for by the interest gained from "cash in the bank", and that for every pound given a pound was spent. Finally he spoke of the Polio Plus campaign, and the fact that we had made the world Polio free, but for re-infection occurring to the extent of some 1300 cases. He rightly expressed pride in this achievement, because, "We made a promise to the children of the world!"

Next was the RIBI President's Representative, Alan Jagger, from Elland RC, Leeds. He pronounced himself a lover of languages, and gave us some examples of his own Yorkshire dialect, particularly those he claimed were on Yorkshiremen's Computers, like, "Ey up; dust tha wanna sev changes?" As an old friend of our Immediate Past DG, who had been cheeky in his introduction of Allan, he replied in kind by saying that Erik was like a lighthouse in the middle of the Cairngorms: very bright, but utterly useless! He then went on to talk about the "serious business" of Membership and Foundation; and offered thanks to the same Erik Simpson and District 1010 for its success in raising membership.

Kate Mavor, the Chief Executive of "Project Scotland" was the next speaker , and she told us how her organisation, launched in 2005, had a similar aim as Rotary, i.e. Service. She showed a short film of young people in full-time voluntary service; and explained that they now had over 800 young volunteers putting service before self. All of the reports from the youngsters were that they were enjoying good confidence- boosting experiences. As an example she introduced Paula Lowther, a girl of about 18 years, who told us of her personal experience; of being a carer for her mother, dropping out of secondary school very early, but now in full time employment, a development of her voluntary work. She spoke with such unforced natural confidence that she got the longest and loudest applause of the morning session, and as a fellow Rotarian said to me afterwards, "She brought a tear to my eye, and I'm sure to that of everyone in the hall."

The session ended with Alison Stedman of Montrose RC repeating what some of us had heard at the District Council in Inverness about her work in Nyumbani, among people with HIV and AIDS.

After coffee it was the turn of our District Governor, Bill Leslie, introduced in Doric verse by Crosbie Chisholm and Sandy Weir. Bill pointed out that doing, and being followed could do "Lead the Way". He stressed that involvement in local charities might be the Way, and that "Events help to bind the members together." He reminded us that doing did not always mean raising money, and gave the example of how his own club, Westhill, had been able to acquire the beds from the old Sick Kids' Hospital, and put them to use in the "Africa Hope" Mercy Ship.

Bill had laced his speech with his own natural Doric asides, but made his final point by adapting John F. Kennedy: "It's not what Rotary can do for you, but what you can do for Rotary."

There followed an address by Professor Kevin Harrington, of the Institute of Cancer Research, who in twenty minutes provided an excellent review of current developments in Cancer therapy, particularly Radio and Gene Therapy. It was encouraging to hear him end by saying, "We are winning the battle; and together we can make a difference."

Alasdair McCallum, of Barnardo's, whose vision was the delivery of a happy and fulfilling childhood for all children, followed him.

We next met the 1010 Group Study Exchange Team who had been in District 3120, Uttar Pradesh, and who reported briefly on their visit. They had been received with excellent hospitality, and treated like family, even being included as guests at a traditional wedding. It was noted that they were a very tolerant society: "Religions all have the same aim, but we choose different paths to get there."

Saturday afternoon was given over to the Spey Valley Railway, golf, and in our case a visit to long time friends who now live in Aviemore. Saturday evening was time for the Gala Dinner and Dancing to the music of "Makfolk". As on the previous evening both the cuisine and the army of servers were excellent. When it came to the dancing, was it sheer enthusiasm that had people dancing all round the tables, or was it just that the dance floor was too small?

"Songs of Praise" on Sunday morning was led by Rev. Tom Findlay of Perth RC, who gave an inspiring sermon in keeping with the themes of the Conference. Perhaps because of that inspiration the Offering amounted to £975.

The next part of the proceedings was the presentation of the District Awards for the year 2005-6, and it was gratifying to hear that £400,000 had been raised for Hearing Dogs for the Blind; and £645,00 for an Ophthalmic theatre for "Africa Mercy". The list of awards is published elsewhere, but mention must be made of DG Erik Simpson's Citation to Ian Macdonald for his work as District Foundation Officer; and Erik himself was awarded the RIBI Membership Development Trophy.

We were next introduced to the incoming GSE Team from District 7150, New York State; who each in turn gave us a short autobiography. Then it was the turn of Peter Coulson of District 7040 Ontario & Quebec RC of Napanee, who told us of the GSE Group of 1986, twenty years on. In each case they had learned from the experience of coming to District 1010 - broadening their horizons, helping them to grow and mature, learning open-mindedness and self discipline, and of course, learning to drink whisky.

And so to the last speaker, Robbie Glen, recently retired Prison Governor, with a great fund of hilarious stories - more "Porridge" than "Bad Girls". Suffice it to say that he left the delegates laughing and smiling as they left the Osprey Arena and went out into the rain.

Well that's not strictly correct because, we still had the summing up by Dr. Bob Scott, and the Votes of Thanks by Clive Bartram, our DG Elect for next year; and I can only agree with them that we had had an excellent Conference; and, just perhaps, Aviemore did enough to make us want to go there again next year.

Jim Couper