Business meeting and Special AGM

As we gathered for today’s meeting we had to absorb the sad news that John Scammell, our 2nd Vice President, had died suddenly during the night with a suspected heart attack. We began with a minute’s silence in his memory.

During the Special General Meeting we appointed our officers for the next Rotary year. In view of John’s death Indu Tiwari agreed to become next year’s 1st Vice President.

Those appointed for 2022-23 were:

• President: Mo Sadiq
• 1st Vice President: Indu Tiwari
• Immediate Past President: Peter Kemp
• Secretary: Jenny Black
• Treasurer: Bob Booker
• Assistant Secretary: Keith Dabbs
• Independent Examiner: Francis Whitbread

Indu was going to be our 2nd Vice President, so we will have to find another candidate.

During our Business Meeting we received the Treasurer’s report and reports from our various committees, which now include an Environment Committee. Both our Club funds and our Trust Fund remain healthy. We have received a District Grant of £2,500, which has already been disbursed, towards our Nepal School Project. Money is coming in for this year’s Donate-a-Dinner appeal.

The Administration Committee reported that the Ivy Hill Hotel will increase its prices in the New Year, so the cost of Club lunches there will rise to £22. The Business Meeting on 3 February 2022 will be held at the Chelmsford Rugby Club.

Chuda Karki, the Chair of our Foundation & International Committee, sent his report all the way from Kathmandu in Nepal, where we have very successful links with the local Rotary Clubs. The local projects we support are proceeding well. He was recently able to attend the 13th Chartered Day Programme of the Rotary Club of Chandragiri on our behalf.

The Membership Committee hopes to hold an Information Day at the Chelmsford Rugby Club during 2022.

The Community & Vocational Committee has organised a Santa’s Grotto at the Chelmsford Cathedral Christmas Market on Saturday, 4 December 2021. The late John Scammell was to act as Santa; John Knott has kindly stepped into his place at very short notice.

Christmas Collections will be held at the Co-op in Danbury and at Morrisons. Our annual Senior Guests’ Panto Trip will take place on 2 January 2022 although, possibly because of Covid, bookings are slow.

The Chelmsford heat of Rotary Young Musician will be held on Friday, 7 January 2022. Unfortunately the continued effects of lockdown mean that the Youth Service Committee has so far been unable to organise any other events this year or restart our Rotakids and Interact Clubs.

The Environment Committee will be preparing a list of suggested simple steps members could take to help protect the environment. The Chelmsford Rotary Clubs are exploring the feasibility of planting a Rotary Wood in the Chelmsford area.

Unfortunately our Bulletin Editor, Philip Smith, has had to step down after twenty years for personal reasons, although he remains a member. Keith Otter will act as Bulletin Editor in his place.