General Meeting - Live

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 22nd June 2023 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Gerry, Godfrey, Ian S, Jean M, Nick, Pat, Paul, Pete, Pippa, Robert, Spyros.

Apologies:           Chris, David K, Hilary, Iain M, Kathryn, Myfanwy, Margaret, Marian, Sue, Reggie, David B, Trevor.

Guest:                  Hanna Robertson (Lesley's daughter-in-law).

Welcomes:         Pat welcomed everybody, including our guest this morning, Hanna.  There are several birthdays this week; Sue, Marian, and Chris from The Plough.  Best wishes to all of them.

Grace:                   by Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:            

Fund Raising:     Car parking at the week end did well despite the weather.  We took £517 in all.  David M said that just for once, there were no foreign coins in the bucket, but he would appreciate if volunteers would not tip water into the counting bin along with the coins!  The next event will be Saturday 22nd July.  After that, we haven't got any listed, the schedule not having been released.

                                Tickets for Race Night are selling, but still slowly.  We could do with more being sold.  Stuart the organiser has already ordered the kit so we are committed to going ahead.

Upcoming Events:           Pat reminded everybody that next week is the Handover evening meeting, here at the Plough.  Pat is due to handover the reins to - herself!

Community:       Andrew B spoke about the Fun Day at Herne, which we usually help out with car parking.  This is a quid pro quo for borrowing their float for our Christmas run.  We would need two teams of four volunteers from 11.00 start until 3.00pm finish.  The date is Sunday 16th July.  There is a sheet in the events folder.

Almoner:             Pippa went to see Marian at home.  Jean M has also been to see her.  Marian is able to move around at home, but only with a frame.  Members commented how much they missed her flapjacks on Sunday at the car parking!  Pete kindly volunteered Wendy to make some in Marian's absence.

                                Pat said that jean S is doing well at present.  She is able to walk around the ward, and was able to go outside for the first time in several weeks.

Any Other Business:        David M said that Hilary has agreed with the Crescent Turner that the total cost for the anniversary meal next year will be £50 a head.  David and Hilary have agreed a poster which will be circulated next week.  Hilary is still keen to contact former club members so they can attend; anyone with contact details of former members, please tell Hilary.

                                Ian S said we need more prizes for Thursday raffles.

Speaker:              Gerry gave us her life story.  She was one of five children in a family with its roots in Ireland.  Her childhood was somewhat traumatic.  Her father was an alcoholic; there was a lot of shouting at home but not much money.  Gerry had to become responsible for younger siblings at an early age, and she blames this for developing diabetes at the age of 14 years. 

                                Gerry's 'Great Escape' came at the age of 15 years when she went into an office of the Citizens Advice Bureau.  The volunteer put her in touch with a social worker who in turn arranged for her to live with a catholic foster family.  This was Steve Coogan's family.  It was lovely, no shouting.  Steve's father Tony was inspirational and encouraged her to go on to university.  She went to Birmingham and studied bio-sciences for six years. 

                                Gerry met her future partner Ronan when she was 21 years, and they married when she was 24 years.  They have three children.  Gerry reported that they have moved around quite a lot with Ronan's job, so she is not a great collector of stuff.  They spent three years in South Africa for Ronan's job, and even after they came back to the UK Ronan still goes back there as a consultant.  They still have a house there.

                                Final word:  Gerry is a believer that the people you meet help shape your values.

Raffle:                   Won by David M.

Master-at-Arms:              According to Nick, today is World Rainforest Day (it feels like I'm typing this in a rainforest! Dave C).  Yesterday was World Giraffe Day.

Final Toast:         Given by Nick.

Next meeting:

Handover Meeting 7.00pm for 7.30pm Thursday 29th June 2023 @ The Plough