Evening General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Evening Meeting 18.30 for 19.00 Thursday 15th February 2024 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Chris, Dave C, David M, Godfrey, Ian, Jean, Nick, Pat, Robert, Sue.

Apologies:           David K, Elaine, Gerry, Hilary, Kathryn, Lesley, Maureen, Myfanwy, Margaret, Marian, Paul, Pete, Pippa, Reggie, Spyros, Trevor David B.

Guests:                Gill Sissons, Canterbury Sunrise Rotary

                                Stewart Neame, Herne Bay Rotary

                                Robert McFarlane

                                Mary Robinson

                                Claire Boggia (tonight's speaker)

Welcomes:         Pat welcomed everyone to the meeting.  No birthdays this week - except Galileo Galilei, b. 1564.

Grace:                   Andrew M

DINNER

Business:             Pat congratulated the team of Chestfield members who went to the Dover Rotary Quiz Night on Saturday; they won by a clear six points!

Fund Raising:  It's car parking again this Saturday.  Pat checked with members present; it seems we are covered for all of the shifts.

Social:  Robert needs the menu choices back asap for those who are going to The Royal for a meal after the Ten Pin Bowling.

International:  A notice has gone round that District have opened up a further round of district grants.  Andrew B proposed that we make a donation of £276 to Open your Hearts to Bhutan towards two school outfits.  If we do this as part of a district grant application then district will match fund with a further £276.  This proposal was seconded by Sue and agreed by a show of hands.

                Andrew also suggested we apply for another district grant for the African Oyster Trust to match the £500 we donated to the latter a few months ago.  This will support a local clinic which has recently lost another major funder.  Our donation together with district's will tide them over and help them avoid closure.

                Andrew mentioned the fact that Shelter Box has teamed up with another charity to provide relief for Gaza - which may cause some disquiet in some quarters.  However, we decided a few meetings ago to defer donations to Shelter Box, merely so we could concentrate resources on other needs.

Any Other Business:        Stewart brought to our attention a social event being organised by Herne Bay, namely a Tudor Night and supper at The Heron on Monday 18th March.  Henry VIII is due to attend.  Please see Stewart for tickets.  Stewart asked if we can send him an invitation to our Spring Quiz Night on Saturday 13th April?

Master-at-Arms:              According to Nick, today is World Hippo Day.  Did someone say that hippos can't actually swim?*

Speaker: The History of Crufts

                                Claire began by telling us the history of dog shows in the UK began with a show in Newcastle in 1859.  Entries were restricted to the wealthy and aristocratic, and only sporting breeds were allowed to enter.  The prizes were sporting guns.  All breeds were represented at a similar event in Birmingham a year later.

                                The Kennel Club was founded in 1873 as a way of imposing rules and breeding standards.  At this point there were 218 recognised breeds.  The first show organised by the Kennel Club was held in the Crystal Palace.

                                From the start, the Kennel Club has enjoyed royal patronage.  The current patron is still the late Queen Elizabeth II.  Its long-standing president is Prince Michael of Kent.

                                Crufts dog show was named after Charles Cruft a businessman who worked with James Spratt, the inventor of Spratt's dog biscuits.

                                The title of 'Best in Show' was first awarded in 1928 - to a greyhound.  The Kennel Club acquired the name 'Crufts' for what was then a very large sum of money in 1948, and have run the annual show ever since.

Final Toast:         Given by Sue

Date of Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 22nd February 2024 @ The Plough

* Perhaps because they don't have any trunks?