General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 19th October 2023 @ The Plough

Present:               Dave C, Pat, David M, Sue, Nick, Marian, Jean, Andrew M, Spyros, Pippa, Kathryn, Robert, Paul.

Apologies:           Andrew B, Chris, Margaret, Maureen, Reggie, David K, Godfrey, Elaine, Hilary, Gerry, Ian, Lesley, Pete, Myfanwy, Trevor, David B.

Welcomes:         Pat was in the chair.  No birthdays this week, and no raffle - Margaret is poorly.

Grace:                   Paul.

BREAKFAST

Business:

International:    David M has circulated an email from a school in Africa showing the well and clean water they now have thanks to Walk4Water.  This email has also gone to the schools who supported W4W.  Andrew B has circulated information about Bangladesh.  This will be discussed at the next Board Meeting.

Treasurer:           David M confirmed that all three of our grant applications to district have been approved: Food Bank, Coats for Kids, and Red Zebra.  There were only 12 applications to district, so David reckons there is a good chance that we will be able to submit a further application to a second round of grants.

Gardening:         Pat confirmed that our next date at the Whit & Tank will be Saturday 28th October.

Meetings:           Our next evening meeting will be on Thursday 23rd November.  We were to have a speaker talking to us about the Middle East.  However the speaker has indicated that it would probably be unwise to go ahead given the current situation in Israel and Gaza.  Sue will attempt to secure an ex-miner from Bettshanger as a speaker.

Fund Raising:     Next Thursday 26th October will be a busy day for some members, with breakfast in the morning, car parking during the day, and Ales & Antiques (see below) in the evening.  Paul went through the list of volunteers; another volunteer to open up at 09.00am would be helpful.

Social:                   David M said that we have now sold 88x tickets for Quiz Night on 18th November.  We could go up to 96 tickets, which means one more table full.  Sue reminded members about the Ales & Antiques evening.  She needs to send confirmation of numbers.  In response to Nick, Sue confirmed that it's 18.30 start for 19.00.

Comm / Voc:      Kathy asked for shoe boxes to be handed in next Thursday, please.

Any Other Business:        Sue reminded members that there is a sheet in the events folder for menu choices for the Xmas meal.  Could she have responses to this as soon as possible, please?  Only a handful of names are in the folder so far.  Sue is also suggesting we do a Secret Santa - maximum cost £5.00.  She will organise a list of names.

Greetings for Other Clubs:            Pat said that Robert is still away trolling about the North with a cargo of Australian civil engineers.  Robert has said that all the hotels he has stayed in are hosts to a local Rotary club.

Master-at-Arms:              Nick said that today is Gin & Tonic day.  In 1977 the first commercial flight of Concord took place.  In 1985 the first branch of Blockbusters opened.

Final Toast:         Given by Sue.

Date of Next Meeting:                   07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 26th October @ The Plough