General Meeting - Live

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 23rd March 2023 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Godfrey, Lesley, Maureen, Marian, Pat, Paul, Pippa, Robert, Spyros, Sue.

Apologies:           Andrew M, David K, Gerri, Hilary, Iain, Jean M, Kathryn, Myfanwy, Nick, Reggie, Trevor, David B, Chris, Margaret.

Zoom:                   Pete

Guests:                Ian Small, Gillian Fox (Crossroads)

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:             Pat welcomed our visitors this morning, including Ian for the last time as a guest.

Fund Raising:     Pat and David reported on the progress  of our applications for District Grants; we made three applications.  Two of them have been approved: for The Plough / Red Zebra and Crossroads.  The third was not approved.  Still, two out of three is a good result.

                                Walk4Water is tomorrow.  Roberts has visited part of the walk and reports that it is very muddy, so bring wellies or boots.  David M described the parking arrangements, including how to get a permit so as to avoid a parking violation.

                                The next Car Parking will be on Easter Sunday 9th April.  Things are looking a bit desperate volunteer-wise, especially the busiest part of the day.  Pat reiterated that we will need four volunteers for the 12.00 noon to 14.00 pm slot.  Volunteers please.

Fund Raising / Social:  Saturday week will be the Quiz Night at All Saints, 1st April.  Be there 19.00 pm for a 19.30 pm start.  Bring your own refreshments.  Pat said that the raffle prizes are starting to come in but we could do with one or two more.

Comm / Voc:      TWAM (Saturday 22nd April)  still needs a volunteer for 10.00 am until 12.00 noon shift @ Chestfield to accept donations.  Preferably someone with a big enough car to hold a lot of stuff.  Robert and Andrew B said they would sort this between them.

                                Pat is still knitting woolly baby hats for premature babies in Ukraine, and will continue to do so.

Guest Speaker:  Gillian from Crossroads brought up to date with what their activities and developments.  They are about to begin workshops for women with cancer, aimed at improving the women's  quality of life.  The groups supporting Young Carers are going OK and continue to be well-attended.  The Crisis Service continues to be well-used.  One problem is that donations are down with support from local companies diminishing.  Cost-of-living charities are attracting more donations right now.  Gillian said we would be welcome to attend Crossroad coffee mornings.

Any Other Business:  Sue said that she attended a CT5 Forum meeting.  This is a useful way of finding out what is going on in the Whitstable area.  The cafe at the Umbrella Centre is about to close.  The Umbrella Centre's food pantry and other services will remain open.

                                Pat said that her acrobatic flight didn't happen because of poor visibility.  She will re-schedule this for later.

                                Dave C said his retirement group had lunch here at The Plough yesterday; he recommends the macaroni cheese!

Ian's Induction:  David M proposed Ian as a member.  Lesley read the Objects of Rotary.  Pat then inducted Ian and presented him with his Rotary pin.  The members present then toasted Ian.

Master-at-Arms:  None this week in Nick's absence, but Pat fined as all anyway, for the hell of it!

Final Toast:         Given by Godfrey.

Next Meeting:

07.30 am for 08.00 am Thursday 30th March 2023 @ The Plough