General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 21st December 2023 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Chris, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Gerry, Godfrey, Ian, Jean, Maureen, Margaret, Marian, Nick, Pat, Paul, Robert.

Apologies:           David K, Hilary, Kathryn, Lesley, Myfanwy, Pete, Pippa, Reggie, Spyros, Sue, Trevor, David B.

Guest:                  Ronan Lennon

Welcomes & Birthdays:                 Pat welcomed everybody to the last meeting of the year, and wished everyone a happy Christmas.  There were no birthdays to announce (apart from the obvious one).

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:

Social:  Last Thursday evening was the Christmas dinner at the Whitstable & Seasalter golf club.  The general opinion is that the event went brilliantly and was well accomplished by the staff at the club.  So, we will plan to have next year's meal there as well.  The Xmas table quiz was as success.  No-one got all of the answers correct. 

Fundraising:  As indicated last week, the final car parking day of 2023 will be on Saturday 30th December.  Paul said that there are enough volunteers.  The first ones of 2024 will be:

                Sunday 21st January

                Saturday 17th February.

Everyone, please make a note in your (new) diaries.

International:  Pat gave more details about the ambulance which will be driven to Ukraine.  The plan is to fill it with medical supplies.  Kevin and the others volunteers will pay for their own return transport costs.  Pat proposed this club makes a donation of £200.  This was voted on and agreed unanimously.

Membership:  Pat said that although she can't be here today, last week's guest Fiona will join this club in the New Year.

Future Meetings:  Pat reiterated from last week the dates of upcoming meetings for the end of December and the beginning of January, ie: there will be no meeting on Thursday 28th December or Thursday 4th January.  The latter will be a free day for committee chairs to meet with or communicate with their respective committees about plans for early 2024.  The committee chairs can then report back at the board Meeting on Tuesday 9th January 2024.  The first breakfast meeting of 2024 will be on Thursday 11th January.

                On behalf of the club pat thanked Mel and her staff for looking after us all this year.  They have never let us down for a single breakfast meeting.

Any Other Business:

                Dave C apologised for not having circulated the notes of last week's meeting.  Although he sent the draft successfully to Pat for approval, when he tried to circulate the final version it bounced back with an error message that the content contravened Microsoft's communication rules.  He will check to see if Pat has inserted the odd profanity in the draft and then try again.

                David M and David K attended the Chestfield carol service on the green yesterday.  A number of people there mentioned our Xmas collection last week end.  Godfrey said the float has been round Herne Bay since - but without any music to announce its passage.  He suggested we should say thank you to Graham who drove the tow truck for us by inviting him to breakfast.

                There was a further discussion about the club's Xmas banners.  Does anyone know where they are?

                Jean passed on Best Wishes from David B.  Pat gave an update about Jean S and her progress.

Greetings from Other Clubs:

                Maureen and Elaine attended Whitstable club's Christmas dinner at the Crescent Turner.  It was Ok but the promised canapés never materialised.

                Jean met members from Faversham who were doing a Christmas collection.

Raffle:                   This was won by Godfrey.

Master-at-Arms:              Nick announced he will be away in January, so Godfrey will be in the chair.  Today is International Dalek Remembrance Day (their first appearance on UK TV was this day in 1963).  It is also International Crossword Day (1913), and Jane Fonda's 86th birthday.  Today is the shortest day of the year.

Final Toast:         Given by Andrew B

Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 11th January 2024 @ The Plough