Business meeting

We were very pleased today to be able to welcome back our former Secretary Eddie Cassels, who has been seriously ill for some time.

We approved the minutes of the previous business meeting and unanimously agreed that we should propose our member AG Anne Moriaty PHF as District Governor Nominee Nominee.

President Peter presented the Treasurer’s report in his absence. The only significant movement on the Club Funds related to our weekly lunches. On the Trust Fund a significant donation towards the cost of the senior guests’ panto trip had resulted in a net increase in the money held for the Community & Vocational Committee. Another donation towards the costs of Young Musician meant that we had actually shown a small surplus on that for the year.

The Chair of the Membership Committee reported that one potential new member had applied for membership and she was hopeful that a former member would apply to rejoin. Another potential member will attend our meeting next week.

The Administration Committee reported that the attendance for February was 67.5%. Meetings have now been booked at the Ivy Hill Hotel for the rest of the Rotary year, including the evening meeting in April and the President’s Dinner at the end of June. The Attendance Officer told us that he had that morning agreed with the hotel that all lunchtime meetings will in future start at 12:45. The Bulletin Editor needs further material for publication.

Chuda Karki presented the Foundation & International Committee report, which was mainly concerned with his recent visit to projects in Nepal that the Club supports. He mentioned that, bearing in mind the theme for this Rotary year, he intends to title his talk at our International Evening in April “Serve to change lives - in action in Nepal”.

The Community & Vocational Committee reminded members that the jumble sale would take place on 23 April and reported that 25 tickets had already been booked for next year’s pantomime at the Civic Theatre.

Owing to the depleted membership of the Youth Service Committee, the only youth activity in which the Club was currently involved was Rotary Young Musician. The vocalist we had sponsored, Libby Simmons, won the District Final in that category and will now proceed to the Regional Final on 23 April. Our sponsored instrumentalist came second in her category. Our Club has been asked to provide stewards for the Regional Final. Two members had already volunteered and a further two volunteered at the meeting, giving us our full complement.

Indu Tiwari had circulated a link to a video about soil extinction to the members of the Environment Committee. He was to arrange for the link to be sent to all members. In the course of discussions at the meeting it was established that we probably could find an outlet to recycle blister packs and members were asked to collect them.