General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Minutes of the Meeting

Held on Thursday, February 7th 2019

                                             At The Golf Club, Chestfield                     

Apologies for Absence:

   Hilary              Jean S              Maureen         Myfanwy        Owain

   Paul H.O          Pete                 Reggie             Robert Mc.

Visitors and Guests:

Leila, Speaker from Pilgrims Hospice

Di Coupland guest of Dave C.

Grace:

Dave C.

David Bowley:

Everyone was delighted to see David back looking well.    He is progressing under the watchful eye of Jean M. who has been visiting him regularly to help with his recovery.      David expressed his gratitude to Jean and as a token of his appreciation made a donation to the Club of £590.00 for the purchase of a Shelterbox.

Ian Thomas:

Some time ago the Club contributed to the cost of a special bed for Teegan, a nine-year-old from Whitstable, who suffers from continual seizures.      Teegan weighs only 20 kg. and has been completely unable to walk.         She is one of the first children in the country to be prescribed cannabis for her condition and Ian was happy to report to the Club that she is much improved and can now walk a little with assistance.

Thursday, February 7^th – Speaker Leila from Pilgrims’ Hospice:

Leila gave a fascinating talk on the work of Pilgrims’ Hospice and the range of help that it provides to the terminally ill and their families to make them as comfortable in mind and body as possible with a wide ranging focus not just on symptom control and pain management. The services it provides the local communities are far more than just on the wards and the Hospice works closely with GP practices to enable patients to stay independent as long as possible.   It also works with other local charities, such as Porchlight, to provide palliative care for the homeless.     Patients are referred by the NHS, GP’s or by the patients or their families.   The hospice develops a care plan tailored to the patient to make their end of life as comfortable as possible both for them and for their families. The hospice movement was started in 1967 in south-west London by Dame Cecily Saunders who was concerned at the lack of provision for the terminally ill.    Pilgrims’ Hospice is the largest in the UK with three hospices in Margate, Ashford and Canterbury with twelve beds at each working with an average of 2,400 patients a year.    It costs £14 million a year to run and, apart from £3 million from the NHS, the hospice is entirely dependent on voluntary donations, support from local organisations and businesses, revenue from its 31 shops in east Kent and sales of special donated items on E-Bay.

Cost of Breakfast:

The new charges for breakfast of £10.00 for a cooked breakfast and £7.00 for a light breakfast took effect today.  

Thursday, February, 14^th – Guest Breakfast:

Please bring a guest along if you can but don’t forget to let Godfrey know numbers and names.

Thursday, February, 14^th – Board Meeting:

The next Board Meeting will be on Thursday, February 14^th at 7.30 pm at Sue’s house.

Friday, February 15^th – Ten-pin Bowling and Dinner:

Sue has still not heard from everyone who will be going to the Alimo Restaurant after the bowling with their menu selections and she would be glad to hear as soon as possible.

Sunday, February 24^th – Car Parking at Whitstable:

The next car parking will be on Sunday, February 24^th.    The number of helpers should be okay but Godfrey would always welcome help if anyone can spare the time.

Friday, March 22^nd – Walk4Water:

Pat reminded the meeting of Walk4Water on March 22^nd.     David M., who will circulate a list of those who have signed up, would always be glad of more help.

Visitors and Greetings:

Ron has been exploring the possibility of a trip on an ex-US navy gunboat from Sandwich and brought greetings from Paul Graham of RC Sandwich who is on the committee which runs the gunboat.    RC Sandwich meets in the Bell Hotel and Paul has invited the Club to a raid at some time.

Raffle:

Jenny won a bottle of wine and Ian something smelly.

Master of Alms:

Nick was at it again.