General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting Thursday 6^th May 2021

Present:                               Pat; Lesley; Margaret; Kathryn; Godfrey; Andrew & Jean M; Paul; Andrew B; Dave C; Nick; Pete; David K; Hilary

Apologies:                           Robert

Covid Emergency in India:  There has been a proposal that we should send a donation of £300 immediately to help with the crisis in medical care of Covid patients in India.  This provoked a lot of discussion.  The question from some members was, how do we ensure this money will get to the right place and not be diverted elsewhere?  Dave mentioned the temple in Gravesend which featured in South East news; they are sending money to a recognised (by them at least) charity in India.  If we sent the money to them ie the temple, it would also have the happy result of creating a relationship with them – they might invite us to visit.  Andrew B said that our treasurer would not approve any donation unless it is to a UK registered charity with a charity number.  He suggested we follow the advice from District and send a donation to the Global Disaster Emergency Committee.  Others were not keen on sending money to large bureaucratic charities, eg GDEC, Oxfam etc citing the large salaries paid to chief executives.  Jean M said she has a relative in Mumbai; we could send the money to Mumbai.  Andrew repeated his point about registered charities. 

                                                                Decision to delay sending a donation until the AGM.  Meanwhile, those with a suggestion could research it more more details.

Chestfield Notice Board:  David M has asked that the club agree to spend £40 to renew the notice board.  The old one is now letting in water.  This was voted on and agreed by members present.

Round Up:

·         Paul wished Andrew M a happy birthday on behalf of the club.

·         Lesley confirmed that the golf Club has been booked for the evening handover meeting on 24^th June.  She collected the post from the golf club; this included a thank you from Alzheimers re our donation of £2132.  Lesley confirmed that she will shortly pass on her Plan for 2021/22 to Dave C for circulation.

·         Andrew M said that he is still awaiting confirmation of a date for when we can have the van for the TWAM collection.  (Since Thursday Andrew M has confirmed that we can have the van for the collection on 29^th May.  David M has been asked to refresh the posters advertising the event.  NB: we need volunteers to staff the playground on Chestfield Road for 1-hour shifts from 09.00am until 13.00pm.)

·         Several members went to the District meeting last Saturday, including Sue and Lesley, who found it well-organised and useful.  Sue collected some information about Youth Opportunities which she will pass on to Margaret.  Kathryn said she hosted two of the break out sessions about information sharing.

·         There has been an email from District about a visit to the UK by a senior member of Rotary International – Lauren Schmidt from USA.  They we asking for hosts for the visitors.  In fact by the time the information was circulated the hosts had already been designated.

·         Andrew B said that he has now hosted the last of the Walk4Water online school presentations.  David M is in touch with Blean school to try to keep them involved.

·         Godfrey confirmed that the next car parking will be on 22^nd May.  Last time he was on he was approached by the school head asking if we would support them with financial assistance for a number of school projects eg sports equipment, playing surfaces etc.  He told he that any request would have to be approved by our board.  The meeting was inclined to remember that we already give them £20 plus half the takings from each car parking session.  Pass any request to Sue as head of the relevant committee for discussion at Board.

·         Nick said that David M has emailed a number of documents to him about the golf day.  Do these need approving by club members?  He will circulate them.

·         Pete said that he was also at the District meeting.  A number of people were praising zoom as a way of clubs being accessible during lockdown, but also after it ends.  We are being recommended to hold ‘blended’ meetings for some time to help members who may be reluctant for good reasons to attend face-to-face just yet.  Pat said she could bring her lap top to meetings.  Dave C asked if we could obtain a separate camera which could link to zoom, so ensuring that online participants see more of the Meeting?  There is a dilemma, which is that those who don’t want to attend face-to-face, don’t appear to want to use zoom either.

·         Hilary said that a former member Peter Norfolk might re-join.  David Ka said a neighbour of his might want to join, but won’t do zoom.  Suggestion that he could come as a guest to the meeting in Nick’s garden on 10^th June, or the breakfast meeting on 2^nd July.

Date of Next meeting:

AGM online at 7.30pm 27^th May