General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00amThursday 8th February 2024 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Chris, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Godfrey, Ian, Jean, Lesley, Maureen, Margaret, Nick, Pat, Paul, Pippa, Robert, Spyros

Apologies:           David K, Gerry, Hilary, Kathryn, Myfanwy, Marian, Pete, Reggie, Sue, Trevor, David B

Guests:                Fiona Stephens

                                Gill Sissons

                                Alex Brealy

                                Amanda Brealy

                                Sue Ward, speaker, from Open your Heats to Bhutan

Welcomes:         Pat welcomed everyone, and especially our guests, to the meeting.  Emma Slade was to have been with us but she is unwell.  There were no birthdays this week.  The flowers on the tables were from Jean S's wake.

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:

Fund Raising:  The arrangements for Walk4Water include agreeing which book to award participants as prizes.  David M said that 'Secrets of the Shallows' has been agreed upon.

Social:  Those of us attending the meal at The Royal after bowling need to email Robert with their menu choices.  Please consult the online menu.  David M will pay for all the meals on the night and then deduct the appropriate amount from members' meals accounts.

Membership:  Pat said we will need to set a date for Fiona's induction.  It's difficult for Pat at the moment as she is without email (or TV).  She is, in effect 'The Lady in the Van.'

Youth Opportunities:  Margaret reported that she has finally had a response for David W, albeit only a one word message.  Canterbury rotary are happy to help with the arrangements for the competition.

Greetings from Other Clubs:        Gill brought greetings for Canterbury Sunrise.  She also mentioned an evening meeting on 14th February at the Abbotts Barton hotel about applying for a global grant in conjunction with the High Five club.  This is aimed at benefitting a charity in Zambia.

Raffle:                   Won by Alex.

Any Other Business:        Elaine asked about the menu for the evening meeting next week.  Pat said the speaker will be Claire Boggia who will talk about Crufts.

Master-at-Arms:              Nick began by telling us that today is National Opera Day, and also the anniversary of Jules Verne's birth in 1828.  It is also Tube Fed Awareness Week.  Tomorrow is World Chocolate Day.

Speaker:  Sue gave us an update on Open your Hearts to Bhutan.  There were slides showing Emma at an audience with the king of Bhutan.  Another showed a group of students at a school for blind musicians.  Sue informed us that Emma is the first fully-ordained female Buddhist priest in Bhutan.  Recently she spoke to an audience of 3,000 female Buddhist in Seoul.  The charity Open your Hearts to Bhutan has so far raised £593,000 in donations.

                Andrew B asked about the waters filters this club made a donation towards.  Sue confirmed that they have been installed.  There is still an ongoing costs for maintenance.

Final Toast:         Given by Pat

Next Meeting:

18.30pm for 19.00pm Thursday 15th February 2024 @ The Plough