The Rotary Tree of Remembrance
See also: The Oakleaf - Jan 2010
Photos: John McClean, JohnMacCrossan and Werner Scheel © 2009
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The Rotary Club of Londonderry
RIBI Club No 76
Chartered 17 July 1922
RI District 1160 - Ireland
President :
Jim Foster
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Public Relations:
Heather Fielding
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Club Editor:
Jeremy Arthur
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Webmaster:
John MacCrossan
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The Rotary Club of Londonderry © 2009
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NO MEETINGS ON:
Mon 21st December 2009: Christmas Holiday -
Mon 28th December 2009: Christmas Holiday -.
Monday 5th April 2010: Bank Holiday - Easter Monday
Monday 3rd May 2010: Bank Holiday
Monday 24th May 2010: Bank Holiday
Ribbons and Lights
| The Rotary Club of Londonderry Meets Monday in the City Hotel, Queen's Quay at 1.00pm (except Second Mondays in Month - 6pm) |
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| The Rotary Tree of Remembrance outside Foyleside Shopping Centre - 11th December to 24th December 2009 Following the example of other Rotary Clubs such as Waterford, Cork, Cork Bishopstown, Tullamore, Galway and Sligo, our Club has embarked on one of its most challenging community projects - The Rotary Tree of Remembrance. Under the guidance of Rotarians John McMonagle and Werner Scheel, the club erected a tall Christmas Tree at the Orchard Street entrance to Foyleside. The Tree of Remembrance was launched by The Mayor and Church Leaders or their representatives at 11.30 on Friday 11th December. See a video of the launch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cm8B9MfEpw a Passers-by were invited to stop amid the Christmas bustle and write messages on yellow ribbons which were folded into bows and affixed, in pairs, to yellow tapes hanging from the top of the tree. The content of these messages, which were treated with confidence and respect, were entirely at the discretion of the writer. Members of the Rotary Club, the Inner Wheel Club and the Probus Club attended the Tree during shopping hours from Friday 11th December until Christmas Eve, 24th December. This was a major commitment for the members of these clubs which are all part of the "Family of Rotary". Those leaving messages were asked to place a donation in a collection box. The funds, so generously donated, will be divided between a number of charities including The Foyle Haven, The Alzheimer's Society, The NSPCC (Foyle) and Polio Plus (Rotary's Own Polio Eradication Fund). On Christmas Eve, the thousands of Ribbons wwere removed and kept safely over Christmas and New Year, These ribbons were later displayed and dedicated in our two Cathedrals. On Thursday 21 January, prior to evening Mass in St Eugene's Cathedral, Fr Rafferty paid tribute to the Tree of Remembrance and to the efforts of Rotarians locally and worldwide. He read out several of the messages, remembering all those who placed the messages and for whom the messages were placed. He also recalled everyone involved, including the four sponsored charities, during the bidding prayers. On Sunday 24th January, at Matins in St Columb's Cathedral, Dean Morton recalled the Tree of Remembrance and expressed pleasure in being able to dedicate the message ribbons now laid out in the Cathedral. In the course of his sermon, he referred to those who had written the messages, to their generosity to the four charities, to those living and dead remembered on the ribbons and to the Rotary ideal of "Service above Self" which led to so much good work locally, nationally and internationally. After the sermon Dean Morton led a prayer of dedication. Our thanks to Fr Rafferty and to Dean Morton for bringing our Rotray Tree of Remembrance 2009 to a fitting close. Our thanks also to Des Farrell and his colleagues in Foyleside for making their space and power available for the tree. ................................................ Footnote: The Rotary Clubs of Cork and Cork Bishopstown have published an excellent information video on The Rotary Remembrance Tree at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG5NB9_XrP4 ......................................................................................................... Photographs Below - Please Scroll Down
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