General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 14th September 2023 @ The Plough

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

Apologies:           Gerry, Lesley, Myfanwy, Marian, Pete, Reggie, Robert, Trevor, David B

Welcomes & Birthdays:                 Pat welcomed everyone.  There were two birthdays this week: Robert and David B.  Pat congratulated Kathryn and Kevin who were married last Saturday.  Kathryn said one notable part of the day was when the grandchildren, from the youngest to the oldest,  got together to recite 'The Owl & the Pussycat.'

Grace:                   Paul.

BREAKFAST

Business:             Pat said she was pleased that the various committees used the break last week to have a meeting, either face-to-face or over the 'phone.  In view of this positive result, there will be a similar event later in the year.

Fund Raising:  The Golf Day went well, 'though it was quite hot and tiring for the players.  So far, the receipts show we raised £1760.  Nick thanked everyone who contributed raffle prizes.  We did well this year both in terms of quality and quantity of prizes.  Next year's Golf Day will be on Friday 6th September 2024.

                Paul reported that the car parking this coming Saturday is all sorted.

                The Quiz Night will be upon us soon, Saturday 18th November.  David M said he will have tickets for sale from next week.  We know that a number of groups from last time will want tables, including Red Zebra, so get your tickets soon.

Social:  Last night a group of our members visited Wildwood for the evening again.  The group were able to see a number of animals: arctic foxes, bison, storks.  The wolves were heard howling.  Hilary has done the walk round the bison enclosure which is not too long.  Worth a day tip sometime?

                The next event will be Table Tennis on Friday 22nd September.  (Sue can't attend because she is finally moving home that day.) 

International:  Andrew's committee met last Wednesday week.  Andrew said he typed the minutes ready for circulation by Monday, but new world disasters were already overtaking them - the earthquake in Morocco and the storms and flooding in Libya.  The Board meeting on Tuesday approved a recommendation to donate £450 to Shelter Box.  Andrew now proposed this to the meeting.  Sue seconded the proposal, and the meeting voted in favour.  Both of the above countries present difficulties.  Morocco will not allow aid from France or Germany because of colonial history.  Libya is controlled by two rival governments.  Leave it to Shelter Box to deal with these problems.  (Subsequently to the vote, private donations from members made up the agreed donation to £650 ie the cost of a Shelter Box.)

                Pippa spoke about a charity working in the Gambia, the African Oyster Trust.  They support health clinics offering basic maternity and health care, and also a programme of school building.  Pippa said that if you visit their web site, there is a Q & A from the UK organiser.  The board meeting on Tuesday recommended a donation of £250.  Andrew proposed this and David M seconded; this was voted on by the meeting, who agreed unanimously.  Pippa and Spyros will make this up to £500.

                Andrew said he would present the latest news from Ukraine next week.

Comm / Voc:  Kathy shared leaflets for this year's Shoe Box Appeal.  She needs the filled boxes to be handed in by the end of October.

Almoner:  Pippa reported that Marian is slowly improving having had her medication changed.  David B is said to be very chipper at present.  He is getting round the house using a walking frame.  He is due to go into respite care soon, which will give Anne a much-needed break.  Anne is worried about who will look after her cats.

Youth Opps:  Margaret said that she has 3x applicants for the Young Chef competition which will be on either 18th or 25th November.  Also 1x applicant so far for the Young Photographer.  District are still not terribly well organised in respect of these competitions.

Treasurer:  David M reported we have £1760 in the charity account.  We have three outstanding grant applications with District:

·         To help create a new signposting service for Food Bank

·         A project by Red Zebra jointly with the Horsebridge Centre 'Artfully Yours' which is about older people coming together through the medium of art.

·         Coats for Kids, a national charity originally started by Rotary in the midlands which provides warm coats for children.  £500 will buy 20x coats.

                David adds that if a further tranche of district grants becomes available, then we will try to get a further £500 towards the African Oyster Trust.

Any Other Business:        Pat asked if anyone knew where the spare wreath for Remembrance Day might be?  No one present knew.  Dave C was asked to contact David B to say yes, we do want one from him.

                The 20th Anniversary Dinner next May.  Hilary said that 25x people have booked to attend so far.  Can Robert put a sheet for this in the events folder, please, so that we can keep an eye on how close we are to the minimum target of 50x tickets sold?

                Hilary again.  She has a potential speaker for an evening meeting, but wanted to run it past the membership in case members thought the subject too controversial.  The speaker in question will talk about Israel and Judaism.  He has apparently authored a book jointly with an Arab about the complex history of Israel and Palestine.  His aim is to enlighten the complexities of the subject, not to be overtly religious or political.  Chris has read the book*.  Dave C will circulate details for anyone else who wants to read it.  The meeting approved Hilary arranging the speaker for our evening meeting on Thursday 23rd November 2023.

                Discussion about the value of members wearing rotary marked clothing when representing rotary at fund raising events.  The gold / yellow polo shirts are quite eye-catching in this regard.  Godfrey commented that his daughter commented that Team A at the recent Fun Day looked very smart in identical shirts.  David M will circulate a copy of the catalogue.

Raffle:                   Won by Pat and David M.

Master-at-Arms:              According to Nick, we are in Happy Cat Month; it is also International Gobstopper Day.  On this day in 1969 Monty Python was first aired.  Cue several renditions of The Lumberjack Song.

Final Toast:         Dave C.

Date of Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 21st September 2023 @ The Plough

* The Palestine-Israel Conflict:  Dan Cohn-Sherbok & Dawoud El-Alami