Today our speaker is Paddy Furey on Croquet (that ancient Irish game which he had hoped some
members would be able to try their hand at after lunch today, but that has had to be postponed until
another day.)

Forthcoming Speakers and Events
Sep 15th RCD Social on Zoom, 6pm – see below.
Sep 20th Brian Cooke, Director General , Society of Irish Motor Industry on Electric Vehicles
Sep 27th Alan Kirkpatrick, Men’s Sheds
Oct 11th Polio Plus, the need to continue
Oct 18th Katrina Buckley, Men’s Aid
Oct 25th Public holiday – no meeting
Nov 1st Business meeting
Nov 8th Shabnam Vasisht - Digging up the Raj in Deansgrange cemetery.
Nov 15th Dr Richard Conway – Disorders of the immune systems – a mystery.
Dec 6th Special General Meeting
Dec 15th Christmas lunch.

President Alexander was in the Chair last week.
Please note that the Rotary Club, Dublin has scheduled a Social Meeting on ZOOM for next Wednesday 15th September 2021 at 6 pm.
The LINK to join the meeting is as follows: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81834639517
Visitors and Apologies
Last week, our second meeting back in the Grand Canal Hotel again after being absent for about 18 months due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we again got a warm welcome from the hotel staff. There was a total of 23 people at the lunch made up of 22 members and one guest.
Our guest was introduced by PP Bernadette Mulvey. Our guest was Nicole Widmer, daughter of Willy Widmer, our senior member, who accompanied her Papa to the meeting. PP Ted Corcoran also welcomed Nicole as 'surely Willy's granddaughter', a compliment to Nicole.
Eleven apologies from members had been received by Hon Secretary Tony McCourt: PP Ethna Fitzgerald, Patrick White, Caroline Barnardo, PP Randal Gray, Derek Bell, Vasily Ogievsky, Hon Treas Dermot Knight, David Horkan, PP Paul Martin, Dorothy Hannon and PP Mariandy Lennon.

Hon Secretary Tony also advised that a note of thanks was received from one of our guests on 6th September: Rotarian Dennis Shannon, from Virginia, USA, who looks forward to revisiting us when he returns to Dublin.




Rotary Rangers’ Schedule

Sep 14th Hill of Howth
Sep 21st Kanturk and Scarr Mountains, Oldbridge, Lough Dan.
Sep 28th Deerpark, Powerscourt.


Thought for the day
The 'Thought for the Day' was delivered by David Booth who reflected on '9/11' and its consequences. David said that some weeks the world keeps ticking along, and some weeks something momentous happens that has an effect on history as we remember it. And this week 20 years ago as we all remember the worst attack on the US mainland was launched. David noted that Fintan O’Toole in the Irish Times newspaper had warned in the immediate aftermath of the disaster that, while there was an outpouring of sympathy for the US and for the many firefighters and first responders lost in the fall of the twin towers, Irish and others, there was also the likely backlash from the world’s mightiest military machine. David Booth reminded us that the desire for revenge is one of humanities greatest weaknesses. And the ability to forgive and reconcile are two of our greatest strengths.

President’s Announcements
• President Alexander asked members to let either him or Hon. Secretary Tony, by the prior Thursday, know if they would be coming to lunch each week as the hotel needs reasonably accurate numbers.

Other Announcements
• PP Bernadette said that she has a collection of sets of six books for sale at €25 each. The money raised will go to the Dolly Parton library in Tallaght. Each pack is a random mixture of books from those donated to her by members and others so you take pot luck ! The funds raised go to purchase books for children from 0 – 5 years who would likely not otherwise have access to suitable books for their age.
• Rotarian Gerry McLarnon advised that PP Ken Hunt is not well. Ken was 91 recently, but his health is declining. Gerry asked us to please remember Ken who would appreciate hearing from members. Somebody added that PP Victor Hamilton is not well either. No more details were available at the moment.
• Likewise our former Hon Secretary Brian Taylor, who lives near Slane, Co Meath, has had some health issues recently and cannot himself drive to Rotary meetings. However with the help of his wife Diana, he hopes to be back with us soon and in the meantime, Brian would also like to hear from members and to be advised as to what the club, of which he is one of our longest serving members, is doing.

Business Meeting
At the Business Meeting last Monday, brief presentations were delivered to the members by:

Past President Bernadette Mulvey on the Dolly Parton Library fundraising initiatives.

President Elect David Booth on Membership, three recently and one in the process.

Rotarian Roger Owens on the recent developments in Foundation.

Mary O'Rafferty on 'Peace Building' initiatives. Vice President Delma Sweeney and Mary will be doing a Restorative Practices course. This will assist with conflict resolution practice.

President Alexander urged all to complete 'The Dubliners' survey which has been circulated.
Rotarian Kenneth Carroll gave an update on Community Services, focusing on 'Ask Rotary', 'ASIO', and 'The Remembrance Tree'. A straw poll, requested by PP Tom O'Neill, indicated that 18 of the Members at the meeting would volunteer for a shift of duty at 'The Remembrance Tree' fundraiser at Dundrum Town Centre, if it proceeds in the week prior to Christmas. The ability to contribute by way of card payment should allow safe ‘collection’ from the public.

President Alexander, in the absence last week of Rotaran Rana Al Damin, noted that schools have just re-opened and that a summary of Youth Services projects has been circulated to all members electronically.

Immediate PP Alan Davidson as convenor of the International Committee focused on advances with Fingal and Dun Laoghaire Co Councils regarding the collection of 'Bikes for Africa' with District International Chair Jason Dempsey. He also mentioned the 'Lend with Care', the 'Linn Dara' and the Rohumba Water project in Kenya projects.

President Alexander, in the absence last week of our Hon Treasurer Dermot Knight, who lives and works in Co Down, advised that a majority of subscriptions have now been paid (41), and those outstanding should be paid now. District / RIBI payments have been made. And for any member wishing to contact Dermot, please use the email treasurer@rotarydublin.ie . This has been created to ensure there is a record of all financial issues which can be passed on. And Dermot thanked PP Randal, his predecessor, for his continued efforts to overcome bank bureaucracy to have the club signatories updated.

Duck Race
The annual Duck Race in support of our charity Foundation was held on the River Dodder, Milltown, Co Dublin yesterday (Sunday) in fine weather conditions. It was well supported by many members who had invested in the ‘yellow, pink and green plastic swimmers’ and were very anxious to see their duck provide a return.

There were four races and the judges had to huddle several times as there were many close finishes in front of the frightening rhino which occupies the river just after the finish line. Fortunately for the ducks and their ‘backers’ Adrian Booth (elder son of David) braved the cold waters to rescue the ducks from the rhino as they crossed the finishing line.

The fact that some ducks ‘hid’ among the rocks and undergrowth overhanging the river did not deter Rotarian Eamon Allen (who also took to the waters) from dislodging them and sending them on their merry way to the finishing line. Now whether this could be regarded as unfair advantage (at least three members of Eamon’s family won a prize of some sort) is still a matter that is being discussed by the judges (in the Dropping Well pub) at the time of going to press.

President Alexander, in presenting the valuable prizes at the end of the afternoon’s racing, thanked all those who had made the afternoon a memorable one, in particular Delma Sweeney and Eamon Allen and members of their family, David Booth and his son Adrian, and all the members and their families (maybe 50 in all) who had supported the venture. It raised €1610.00 for Foundation.