Annual General Meeting - Live

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Annual General Meeting 18.30 for 19.00 Thursday 26^th May 2022 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Godfrey, Iain, Jackie, Jean M, Kathryn, Lesley, Margaret, Nick, Pat, Paul, Pete, Robert, David B, Sue.

Apologies:           Marian, Hilary, David K, Maureen, Myfanwy, Pippa, Reggie, Spyros, Chris, Trevor.

Guests:                Pat Brearly

                                Gill Sissons

                                Sharon Brown

                                Mary Robinson

                                Robert McFarlane

                                Kevin Fielding

Grace:                   Said by Paul

DINNER

Lesley:                  Before starting the AGM, Lesley said she had a couple of presentations to make.  Firstly, owing to lock down, Sue missed out on a proper celebration of the end of her year as President.  Lesley therefore presented Sue now with her Past President regalia.

                                Secondly, Lesley said that the club membership as a whole have agreed that there is one member among us who has demonstrated exceptional service, including being a past meals steward, organising the car parking, and baking and distributing cakes to NHS staff during lockdown.  Lesley said that this exemplified the Rotary ideal if service above self.  Therefore she was proud to present Godfrey with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.

Annual General Meeting:

                                Agreed that Items 1) and 2) could be taken as read, the reports having been circulated in advance of the meeting.

                                RegardingItems 3) and 4), the accounts and proposed budget for next year have previously been circulated.  David M said that this year the club has made donations to overseas charities of c. £1100, and c. £11500 to UK based charities.  David mentioned the Sainsbury card scheme used by some of our members, which has raised £500 this year.  In summary, David felt that the club had achieved an excellent level of donations despite the effects of the lock down.  David asked for the club to formally accept the budget proposals: Paul proposed, and Andrew B seconded the proposal.  The members voted to accept by a show of hands.

                                Item  5)  was the proposal for an Independent Examiner for the club accounts.  Sue proposed and Andrew B seconded.  The club voted to accept.

                                Item 6) – the date of the Assembly Meeting has already been circulated: 1830 for 1900 Thursday 30^th June at the Golf Club.

                                Items 7) through 12):  Lesley asked the club to accept these en bloc, having read through the list of officers and board members.  Proposed by Margaret, seconded by Andrew M.  The club voted to accept.

                                Item 13):  Adoption of Procedures and Policies.  This was proposed by Margaret and seconded by Andrew M.  Members voted to accept.  Dave C said that he has had reminders from District about the Compliance Statement (equal opportunities, safeguarding, data protection) requested by District by 1^st July (but they are asking for it asap).  Agreed that this will be sent round to members after this meeting and returned to District after the Handover / Assembly meeting.

                                Item 14)  the date of the Special General Meeting was confirmed for 24^th November 2022.

                                Item 15)  Any Other Business:  Godfrey spoke about the car parking.  Since he took over, there have been 59 shifts with an average taking of £400. 

Lesley thanked Spyros and Robert who did some weeding at the rose garden at the week end.

                                Nick repeated his challenge from last week for each club member to sell 4 tickets for the Race Night.

                                Pat has been to the Cat Cafe in Herne Bay to meet the organiser of the social evenings for refugees from Ukraine.  The organiser would like to visit the club, and may become a member.  Could we provide a small cash donation towards the cost of refreshments at the social evenings?  Pat suggested a donation of £200.  This was voted on and accepted by club members.

                                Lesley has sent birthday congratulations to Paul and Maureen.

                                Margaret and Lesley visited SNAAP at Windchimes to give them her final donation of the year.

                                Regarding the request for funds to support repairs at Odessa University.  Lesley wrote to our ADG for advice.  District are considering paying for the repairs.  Kevin said he is on the task force to consider Rotary’s UK support for Ukraine.  He is aware that there is also support from Rotary clubs in neighbouring countries.

                                Godfrey mentioned a youth production of the musical Guys and Dolls at the Kings Hall in July.  Suggestion that the club book a block of tickets and make an event of it.  Godfrey will put something in the events folder.  Anyone wanting tickets should ask Godfrey.

                                Note:  there will be no meeting next Thursday 2^nd June because of the Spring Bank Holiday & Jubilee.

Raffle:                   Was won by Robert.

Greetings from Other Clubs:  Kevin Fielding brought greetings from Whitstable.  Kevin invited Chestfield members to come along to hear a speaker next Tuesday – Jonathan Watts talking about education.  There will also be music evening on 5^th July at the Crescent Turner hotel, with an opportunity to meet some of the refugees who are being supported by Whitstable.  Finally, on 11^thJuly there will be a Classic Car show at Canterbury.

                                Gill brought greetings from Canterbury Sunrise.

Master-at-Arms:              According to Nick, today is the anniversary of the publication of Dracula in 1897, and also the anniversary of the release of Sgt Pepper by the Beatles in 1967.  It’s also St Augustine’s Day.

Final Toast:         Was given by Iain.  Lesley thanked club members for the support they have given her during her year as President.

Date of Next Meeting:                  

07.30am Thursday 9^th June @ the Golf Club