Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Presidency ends on a high for William
The outgoing president of Coatbridge, Airdrie & Monklands Rotary Club ended his time leading the organisation on a high by overseeing the donation of seven Amazon Fire tablets to aid three local facilities.
William Devoy’s “hugely successful” year in the important role also saw him and the group navigate through the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic.
As part of the club’s selfless work, the Amazon tablets were presented to Equals Advocacy, who “speak up for and represent the views and wishes of a wide range of people” in North Lanarkshire, and Coatbridge’s Millbrae Care Home and Rawyards House Care Home in Airdrie; five to Equals Advocacy and one each to the two care homes.
A spokeswoman for Millbrae Care Home said: “We would like to thank the Rotary club for their generous gift of a tablet as part of their stress and distress project.
“We have been able to use the apps and links provided in order to help our residents revisit their pasts and provoke and reconnect to old memories.
“The House of Memories and BBC Music Memories have been ideal for this aim. Some of the apps and links have also provided fun games and activities to help the residents better engage their minds and keep active.
“It has also had the added benefit of expanding the contact between residents and families and reducing their isolation in these trying times.”
A Rawyards House spokesman added: “So far residents have loved using the tablet a lot. We have downloaded the apps the club recommended as well as apps we have been using for residents who are having trouble with their memory.
“Residents have enjoyed looking at slides of old Airdrie, which triggers memories of days gone by. Photographs of their family members from the past which we have uploaded help us to give them stimulation and get them chatting of the old days.
“Our huge thanks go to the people at the Rotary who supplied the table and we have included the donation in our newsletter to let the residents’ families know of the Rotary’s support of our clients.”
Outgoing club president William will be replaced by his successor Martin Cairney, who is hoping to oversee “a more normal Rotary year ahead”.
A spokesman for the Rotary club told the Advertiser: “Despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic, William enjoyed a hugely successful year as president.
“The club continued to meet and work throughout the Covid period with the use of Zoom, and we managed to raise funds from members’ donations and even a Zoom Burns evening.
“We hope to get back to our person-toperson meetings at the Tudor Hotel in Airdrie in September, and also intend to resurrect the Monklands Talking Newspaper, which has been suspended for over a year, next month.
“Changes in the use of North Lanarkshire resource centres has forced us to find new premises for our [Talking Newspaper] recordings; they will now take place on Wednesday evenings at the Coatbridge indoor bowling centre, on Quarry Street.
“We wish to thank William for his wonderful service as president and wish Martin all the very best in taking over the role.”
Visit www.facebook.com/rotarycam/ to find out more about the Rotary club.