Blyth

On the day that is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day in the US, my wife and I made a presentation to the Blyth Rotary Club. It was a wonderful way to spend our Thanksgiving. This is one of two banner boards, which were displayed in the meeting room.
The Blyth Club holds a traditional lunch meeting each week on Thursdays. They were a welcoming and entertaining group. After the presentation they ask many questions about the differences we see in the educational systems and law of the U.S. and the U.K.

Monkseaton Centenary

We made a presentation to the Monkseaton Centenary Rotary Club on Novemeber 22. This club meets each week on Wednesday evenings.

the dining room

The building where meetings are held is beautifully decorated and situated close to a golf course.

As the meeting began we all listened to announcements from the president.

Following a lovely dinner, the presentations of the banners began. President Celia graciously accepted the Brentwood Morning Club's banner.

We now have one more banner to bring back to our host club.

At the beginning of the presentation

Chinese Banquet

The Newcastle upon Tyne Rotary club hosted a fundraiser this past week. They served an elegant seven course meal. Many guests and Rotarians attended to raise money to purchase SHELTER BOXES. The club was able to raise over 700 GBP in this one evening. What a wonderful way to serve people around the world!

A little bit about shelter boxes:
Each box contains- a tent large enough for 10 people
10 sleeping bags
and supplies to aid in food preparation, clean water, lighting, and heat

Clubs raise 490 GBP (about $900) to be able to purchase one box. These boxes can be shipped anywhere in the world. They will aid in providing immediate care for those in need.
Here is a list of just a few of the places that these ShelterBoxes have been sent:
southern Sudan & Somalia- May ‘06
Muzzafarabad- Feb ‘06
Kashmir- Jan ‘06
Islamabad- Oct ‘05
New Orleans- Sep ‘05
Rumania- July ‘05
Sinalue & Serbia- May ‘05
northern Uganda & Medan in northern Sumatra- June ‘05
Meulaboh- Feb ‘05
Sri Lanka- Jan ‘05

An incredibly well constructed web-site, which insightfully describes Rotary ShelterBoxes is as follows: http://www.shelterbox.org/

The eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month

Why wear an artificial red poppy?

On November 11th, 1918 the Armistice was signed, which signaled the end of the four years of fighting in the First World War. Armistice Day became a day to remember all those who sacrificed their lives during the First World War.

Following the Second World War, Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day to honor all the men and women who were killed in both World Wars and other conflicts.

Remembrance Day

The fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon’s “For the Fallen” is often read aloud:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

One can wear an artificial poppy, which are sold by the Royal British Legion. The Royal British Legion is a charity which provides support to men and women who have served in the Armed Forces and their families.

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

Tennessee Tourism

Before we left the states, Lindsay and I visited the Tennessee tourism office. They gave us brochures and several maps to give away in England.


Here are two websites with more information on Tennessee:
http://www.tourism.state.tn.us/

http://www.tnvacation.com/

Many of the Rotarians and members of the UK community who were at our speaking engagements took Tennessee maps, TN postcards, and brochures including:

The official TN vacation guide, Pigeon Forge, Graceland & Heartbreak Hotel, the Grand Ole Opry, Dollywood festival of nations, East TN guide to the Smokey Mountain Region, and the Country Music Hall of Fame

In case you know of anyone who has never visited TN, here is a site with photos of TN attractions and scenery:
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Provinces/Tennessee/Photos

If you've gotta have a goo goo

Just in case you wanted to know more about the Goo Goo clusters here is where to go: http://www.googoo.com/

Tennessee Presentation and Questions

Presenting the Newcastle Rotary club with the Brentwood Morning Rotary club's banner was an honor.

President Sid of the Newcastle club was also given Goo Goo Clusters.
For those who don't know "Goo Goo Clusters" are delicious candies- containing milk chocolate, peanuts, caramel, and marshmallow- which have been made in Tennessee since 1912.

Following the lunch meal of minced meat pie and chips (french fries) and the presentation of the banner and candy, I spoke to the Newcastle Rotarians about my family, the state of Tennessee, and my law studies.

At the end of the speech I opened the presentation to questions from the club members. They wanted to know my thoughts on the following topics:
1.) the most surprising thing about the UK 2.) the differences in university classes in the UK compared to those in the US 3.) do US citizens have a more introverted view of the world (only caring about themselves) compared to UK citizens

Back in Newcastle

Sorry to our readers for the delay in posts. We went to Ireland right after our last post in October and upon our return were informed of Lindsay's grandfather passing away in his sleep. We flew to Nashville (Middle Tennessee) for the memorial service and to spend time with family. I returned to Newcastle this weekend and have been feverishly catching up on my school studies. Lindsay will arrive tomorrow.

Before we left in October, we had our first presentation to a non-Rotary group. It went very well. This Friday, we will visit our host club in Newcastle once again and give our presentation, as well as present to them the Brentwood Club's banner.

More updates after this weekend. We'll be gone Friday-Sunday with our church group traveling to a retreat. Until then.