“Missing Guest at Forfar Rotary”

This week Forfar Rotary Club had over 30 guests attend their meeting but one guest was missing. The occasion was to reward the Clubs and Organisations who assisted with the Santa Sleigh on the run up to Christmas. However one guest who missed the meeting was ??? yes it was Santa himself. He said he was too busy after his holiday month of January and was now back in the workshop preparing lots of toys and gifts ready for Christmas 2020.

President Doug McFarlane on welcoming the guests said that for the past nine years Forfar Rotary has run the Santa Sleigh through the many miles of Forfar’s Streets collecting donations which are passed on by us, to local good causes and organisations. This was only made possible due to the kindness and generosity of the good people of Forfar. He also stressed that the Rotary Club would not be able to run the Santa Sleigh without the support as Rotarians themselves are getting older and like many other voluntary organisations need new blood to be able to continue with all their community work. The representatives from each of the groups all received a generous cheque ( remember them) for £300 for each of their evenings work.

Representatives were there on behalf of :

Whitehills Fund Raising Group. Jill Brown.
Strathmore Rugby Club Women. Alana Findlay.
Forfar Boys Football Club. Arlene Tait.
Strathmore Primary School Parent Council. Fiona Smith.
Langlands Primary School Parent Council. Leanne Urquhart.
Inverarity Parent Council. Joanna Anderson.
Stepping Stones Playgroup. Gail Longmuir.
Forfar Sailing Club. Helen Brown.
Forfar Musical Society. Wendy Woolsley.
Forfar Albion Junior Football Club. Audrey Forbes.
Forfar Out of School Club. Rachel Roger.
Mothergoose Playgroup. Lizzy Baxter.
Delma Wilson School of Dancing. Delma Wilson.
Glens View Community Group. Lorraine O’Brian.
Forfar and District Pipe Band. Donna Myles.

Also there on the night were Tom O’Brian and Stuart Pirie from the hard working Forfar Action Network ( FAN ) who after the Council Funding ceased, stepped forward to raise money for the towns Christmas Lights. Without the hard work of FAN in organising the Forfar Gala and other fundraising we would not have Christmas lights in the town. Forfar Rotary hopes it can continue to work closely with FAN in the future.

In the words of an old comedian “there’s more” as President Doug also welcomed Jennifer Garnes Head Teacher at Strathmore Primary School. Last October, to mark World Polio Day Rotary Club Members planted over 2000 Purple crocuses in the grounds of the school. The staff and pupils supported this by holding a “Wear something Purple Day” and holding a collection. This resulted in Mrs Garnes handing over a cheque for £240 for the Eradicate Polio Campaign. The money raised will be trebled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation resulting in a £720 contribution. Mrs Garnes is keen to expand on the link between Forfar Rotary and the School in the future. Well done Strathmore Primary.

There after the Rotary Club then ran the Rotary School Quiz which will be reported on separately but suffice to say it was the end of a busy night. Could you be a Rotarian ??