Mini Olympics for Perth 800

Perth's twin towns of Aschaffenburg and Bydgoszcz are preparing for a mini-Olympics next month as part of the ongoing 800th anniversary celebrations. From August 1-5, sports being contested in the Fair City will feature badminton, football, golf, gymnastics, swimming and table tennis, with a mini Highland Games including the caber toss and a haggis hurl.scheduled for the George Duncan Athletics Track.

There will also be a full programme of entertainment in the evenings, including a Highland night, fun sports, ‘BBQ’ and visit to Scone Palace, finishing with a ceilidh and awards ceremony at the Dewars Centre. The sporting and cultural event can trace its roots back to 2004 when Perth and Kinross Sports Council, under the chairmanship of Ian Brown, hosted an event featuring Perth, Aschaffenburg and Cognac.

Provost John Hulbert will host a civic reception for all the participants and their coaches. Gratitude goes to the Perth Common Good Fund anf the Perth Rotary Clubs.

Councillor Ellis said: “We really would like to make this an event to remember and while, of course, we would like to hold on to the trophy, it is the taking part that counts.”

Perth 800 Race Day - 21st August 2010

The first Saturday fixture in 7 years!! This will be a fantastic Opportunity for Scotland to celebrate the granting of the Royal Charter to Perth in 2010. The Afternoon's addittional entertainment will centre around life in Perthshire in 1210, with some of the highlights to include two jousting tournaments and a re-enactment of the presentation of the Royal Charter to Perth by King William the lion.

Other entertainment will be available for families and children with visitors encouraged to come in dress suitable for the 13th century if they wish! Once the main celebrations are over six exciting horse races will take place with bookmakers and tote betting facilities available to all over the age of eighteen. Following the races there will be live music entertainment for all to enjoy into the summer's evening with partying held outside the Nelson Stand.

With it being a Saturday fixture our facilities are expected to be at Gold Cup Capacity! With the Galileo Restuarant sold out with 200 guests. Packages are available for Private boxes from £95 ex vat per person or for an informal family gathering our Club Restaurant may suit better at £42 inc vat whch also provides you with an entrance ticket and a three course meal. Booking in advance is advisable through the office on 01738 551 597

Admission as always, is free to children under the age of 16, and Adult tickets for Granstand will be £20. The centre course will be open as well with bouncy castles and a creche facility available throughout the afternoon.

Gates Open      First Race         No of Races

   12:00am          3:00pm                   6/7

The World Health Organization and UNICEF cohosted a meeting with Rotary International and other stakeholders in Geneva on 18 June to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategic Plan 2010-12.

The new plan comes at a critical time for the GPEI. Key endemic countries are witnessing historic gains against the disease. Nowhere is progress more evident than in Nigeria, which has reported just three cases in 2010 as of 6 July compared with 333 cases for the same period in 2009. India has reported 22 cases compared with 107 cases.

Across Africa, 10 of the 15 previously polio-free countries reinfected in 2009 have stopped their outbreaks.

In May, the World Health Assembly welcomed the new plan while expressing deep concern about the substantial funding gap over the next three years. The shortfall is a serious risk to ending polio and highlights the need for Rotary to reach its goal of raising US$200 million.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called on the international funding community to stand tall for polio eradication. “The next three years, and especially the next 12 months, are critical to the polio eradication initiative and, by extension, the entire international public health agenda.”

An essential element of the plan is the bivalent oral polio vaccine, which is being used effectively against wild poliovirus types 1 and 3 in all four endemic countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. (Type 2 poliovirus has been eradicated.)

The plan also focuses on known polio migration routes, which have made outbreaks of the disease largely predictable. Aggressive synchronized immunization campaigns are now being used to help prevent and stop outbreaks.

The partners of the GPEI are exploring every option to secure fresh funding and are managing existing cash flow to limit any threat to the eradication effort. The risk of not stopping polio in endemic countries was made clear when a large outbreak occurred in Tajikistan, caused by poliovirus that had spread from India in early 2010. The outbreak has paralyzed 334 children as of 29 June. Tajikistan had been polio-free since 1997.

“The complete eradication of polio is an absolute goal, and it requires absolute commitment from us all,” says UNICEF Executive Director Tony Lake.

“Rotary believes the new strategic plan provides the blueprint to achieving the goal of polio eradication,” says Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar.

For more information:

• Learn more about the GPEI strategic plan
• Learn more about Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge

30th July to 8th August

1. The Godfather of funk - James Brown's musical director delivers "100% funky stuff for party people" - Fred Wesley and the new JB's
2. Martin Taylor and Fapy Lafertin celebrate Django Reinhardt's centenary with fiery guitar tributes
3. Chris Barber's only UK all-star 80th birthday concert. Features Pat Halcox, Ian Wheeler and other special guests
4. Todd Gordon Sings the classic Sinatra songbook with favourite tunes like "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Come Fly With Me", and "My Kind Of Town"
5. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble update the brass band to 21st century Chicago street party sounds s heard at Glastonbury and on Jools Holland's Later
6. Curtis Stigers - "a lean, pop-jazz hipster whose buzz saw voice - much like that of Tom Waits - coolly interprets the Great American songbook" (The New York Times)
7. Lizzard Lounge - the classic 90s club reforms for one night only - clubbing for grown-ups with Ty, Rumba Caliente Afro Latin Soul Orchestra, Joe Malik and the legendary Mr Fred Wesley and the New JBs
8. Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band play the Assembly Tent in Princes Street and they'll feature "Stranger On the Shore"
9. The Canned Heat Woodstock Reunited Band play their first Scottish date in over 15 years and headline an outstanding blues programme also featuring Eric Burdon, Peter Green, Charlie Musselwhite, Blues N Trouble

edinburghjazzfestival.com

I am honoured to have received the chain of office, marking the start of my Presidency of the Rotary Club of Perth Kinnoull. Hopefully it is the start of a busy, successful and enjoyable year for the club

Our first venture of course is the Golf Day at Dunkeld on 1 September and a number of entries have already been received and paid for, but a lot of work has still to be done.

On the fellowship side we have our “Night at the Races” on Tuesday 27 July at Scone, complete with picnics and refreshments; it should be another enjoyable night. We’re hoping for better weather this year, as last years outing had to be abandoned

Mike Massey has volunteered to do an abseil from the Forth Railway Bridge on the 1 August, courtesy of Queensferry Rotary Club –( there’s no fool like an old fool ).Good luck Mike – we’re all coming to watch

Colin

Helen happy to have feeling return to her feet 

Eva thanks the Club for their generosity.

The annual comptition was held on Tuesday 1st Juneat the George Hotel. We were very fortunate to have Mike Ellacott to accompany the singers and Heather Boyd, Pete Caban and Ian Grieve as our judges. 

See Past Events for more pictures.

Mike Ellacott's unbelievably enthusiastic entertainment literally rocked the George

The Club Golf Ladder will be ready by the beginning of April with the usual rules. The names will be as last year so get in touch with Ian if you are a new player as there is plenty of room. Good Luck. 

This is the beginning of the golf season which culminates for us on Wednesday 1st September with the Club charity event.  

Crieff Rotary have invited us to enter a team in their golf event on 5th August.

The Black Dyke Band made their appearance at the Perth Concert Hall

Saturday 27^th March 2010.

Iain receives his trophy from President Janet, having knocked out Bill Smith in the semis
and Mike Massey in the final.