Scottish Community 2011 Roundup

Report of activities in Scotland during 2011 (given by Hamish Robertson at the AGM on 23rd January, 2012)

The motto for 2011 mentioned the parents of heavenly heart and the children of earthly harmony uniting and establishing themselves throughout heaven and earth.

The highlight of the year was True Parents’ visit to Europe in April and May. Members from Scotland attended several of the venues including Oslo, London, Geneva and Berlin. Some of us took trains and planes. Paul Currie drove a 17-seater bus with members to London. True Mother spoke in the Westminster parliament and True Father spoke in the United Nations in Geneva. The combined European effort to welcome True Parents made the tour a great success.

European Leadership Conferences (ELCs) were held almost every month throughout the year, and ambassadors for peace from Scotland attended many of them. Guests from Scotland also attended 7-Day workshops in Greece and in Holland, and had deep experiences.

Character Education workshops were held on four weekends in Glen Prosen in Angus, funded partly by the Community Interfaith Society. These were attended mainly by students, including young Muslims. The location was wonderful, but the weather was dreary, though not enough to dampen spirits in any way.

The Universal Peace Federation held a peace event combined with a book-launch of True Father’s Autobiography in Queens Hotel, Perth, on 20th September, which was welcomed by the provost of Perth & Kinross. Two ambassadors for peace were appointed. A similar event in the Radisson Hotel, Edinburgh, on 20th November, dedicated to Marriage and Family and combined with the Autobiography, was welcomed by the Lord and Lady Provost of Edinburgh. Three ambassadors for peace were created.

Over a hundred leading people in Scotland have received copies of the Autobiography, including Scottish and UK parliamentarians, as well as leaders in the fields of business and sports.

The Women’s Federation (WFWP) in the Edinburgh area and the Glasgow Peace Federation have been active with regular monthly meetings throughout the year..

Services have been held every Sunday at South Queensferry, representing Scotland. Services have also started in Glasgow on a monthly basis.

An office in a splendid location in central Edinburgh was found just before Christmas and opened on 4th January this year. This office, or Peace Embassy, will be used for lectures, discussions, coffee mornings, and we hope it will serve as a focus for the Family Federation, Universal Peace Federation, Women’s Federation and Youth Federation to welcome ambassadors for peace and educate many guests during this important year.

Special mention is due to Elizabeth Marshall who has brought many guests to events, including the Lord and Lady Provost of Edinburgh, and has had ambassadors for peace appointed. She has also held DP evenings regularly.

Special mention is also due to Ann Breslin, who has brought many guests to events and had ambassadors for peace appointed. She also invited two guests to the 7-Day workshops in Europe.

Special mention is also due to Iffy Ahmed, ambassador for peace, who attended True Parents’ events at three venues in Europe, as well as several ELCs, and supported the Character Education workshops morally and financially.

Thanks are due to everyone who has helped to further the providence this last year, by attending and assisting services and events, and bringing others with them, tithing and donating, and in any way promoting True Parents and the heavenly kingdom. Thank you to the second generation also, who have supported their parents and are taking more and more responsibility within and beyond their own families.