General Meeting - Live

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30 for 08.00am Thursday 16th February 2023 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Chris, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Godfrey, Jean M, Kathryn, Maureen, Margaret, Nick, Paul, Pete, Pippa, Reggie, Spyros, Sue.

Apologies:           David K, Hilary, Iain, Lesley, Myfannwy, Marian, Pat, Robert, Trevor, David B.

Guest:                  Ian Small

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:             Nick was in the chair today.  He welcomed our returning guest, Ian.

International:    Everyone should have had the email from David M confirming that he has sent a donation of £2025 to Shelterbox on behalf of the club.  Since then, and extra £200 has been added by a club member.

Fund Raising:     David M has also sent an email to board members about a further round of District grants.  We have already set aside money for Crossroads and Red Zebra, so if we use this as match funding for a District Grant, we can obtain an extra £750 with no effort on our part (apart from David M's time filling out the applications).  Red Zebra have already come back to us with a suggested project for the donation.  David M asked if any members have other ideas for further applications for District grants.

                                Dave C wondered why District have got spare money for these extra rounds of grants; are not other clubs grabbing the opportunities, like we are?  It may be that we are able to take advantage of the grants thanks to car parking - which gives us a regular income stream.  A propos car parking, David M confirmed that we now have an A3 poster about the Food Bank, for our next car parking  (4th March).  We will have a separate bin for Food Bank donations.  NB: the card machine can't differentiate between donations for parking and donations for the Food Bank, so if you use the card machine for a Food Bank donation, take the equivalent in cash from the car parking bin and put it in the Food Bank bin. 

Social:                   Nick reminded about upcoming social and other events:

·         23rd February, Chris' life story at breakfast.  Book early to avoid disappointment.

·         3rd March  Ten-pin bowling from 18.30pm with a meal afterwards at the Royal. 

·         24th March, Walk4Water.  We could do with one more volunteer for a checkpoint.  14 people have put their names down for the meal afterwards, at the Royal Oak from 12.00 noon.

·         Saturday 1st April from 19.30 at the All Saints church hall, Quiz Night.  Tickets now available from David M.

·         Saturday 22nd April, TWAM. 

·         Saturday 29th April from 09.00am until 11.00am, gardening at the Whit & Tank hospital.

Youth:                  Margaret said that she and Dave C have had a flurry of phone calls and emails from the District organiser about the Cooking Competition.  Members will remember that our first round winner has dropped out.  David Watson was anxious for us to find a last minute replacement.

Any Other Business:

                                Kathy thanked members on behalf of Kevin for their best wishes.  Kevin is having a difficult time with chemotherapy.

                                Dave C said that his iPad email address has been blocked.  Can anyone wishing to email him please use his lap top address:  dicoupland31@btinternet.com. 

                                Sue said that her house sale has fallen through.  She will put her house back on the market later in the year.

                                Spyros & Pippa are going away for a while until 10th March.  Lesley will be acting as Almoner.  David M said he has spoken to David B who is very frustrated by not being able to get out - and attend our meetings.  He thanked our members, including Pippa and Jean M for their phone calls keeping him abreast of things.

                                Margaret said more raffle prizes are needed.

                                Ian S's membership application details have been circulated to board members with a favourable response; these will now go out to the club members.

                                Paul related the story of buying a bottle of wine in a Canterbury supermarket and being asked to produce ID to confirm he was over 18 years. 

Raffle:                   Won by David M

Master-at-Arms:  According to Nick, this is International Flirting Week* and also Second-hand Wardrobe Week.  On this day in 1923, Howard Carter opened the tomb of Tutankhamen.  It's also John McInroe's birthday.

Final Toast:         By Godfrey.

Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 23rd February at The Plough

* No doubt goes down a storm in Iran, Afghanistan etc.  DCo