General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am f0r 08.00am Thursday 21st March 2024 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew M, Chris, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Fiona, Jean, Lesley, Maureen, Margaret, Nick, Pat, Paul, Pete, Pippa, Robert, Spyros, Sue.

Apologies:           Andrew B, Gerry, Godfrey, Hilary, Ian, Kathryn, Myfanwy, Marian, Trevor, David B.

Welcomes:         Pat welcomed everyone to the meeting.  No guests today and no birthdays this week.

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:

Social:  Eight of us went to the Tudor Feast given by Herne Bay rotary at The Heron.  The speaker tuned up in full Henry VIII costume.  Pat said that the talk filled in some gaps that we didn't know about.  This might be something for us to do for an evening meeting sometime later.

                The rules and information about a possible Beetle Drive have been circulated.  However, we have a few things already in the immediate social calendar, so maybe we think of a date in Sue's presidential year.  Nick added we should check any agreed date to ensure Mel doesn't have a karaoke night in the main bar.

                Pat talked about the Arts & Crafts Day here at the Plough.  She has confirmed with Mel that we can provide tea, coffee and cakes, just not alcoholic drinks - those you must buy from the bar.  The Arts & Crafts event will be on Saturday 3rd August from 2.00pm until 5.00pm.  There will be a box / bucket for donations near the door.  Margaret said a good place to put a poster is on the door of the Ladies. 

                The evening at The Little Green Book Shop is the week after next ie Wednesday 3rd April from 7.00pm.  Not many names in the events sheet so far.  Please put your names down by next week's breakfast meeting.

                Pat asked for ideas for a guided walk in the Summer?  Eileen suggested there s a walk round Stodmarsh which would be suitable.  It's flat, it's boarded for wheelchairs, and there is a choice between two nearby pubs for lunch after.  Lesley said she would look into parking, menus, and whether we need to pre-book meals if we go to The Grove Ferry pub. A possible date was pencilled in the diary - Wednesday 12th June.

                Pat said we may have to consider changing the venue for the 20th Anniversary Dinner, which will probably mean changing the date also.  The high cost at The Crescent Turner appears to be putting people off.  It is suggested we look at booking the Whitstable Golf Club.

International:  Walk4Water is tomorrow.  The forecast is for a dry day.  Robert has visited the course and it's OK so far, but we do have an alternative if the ground becomes too wet between now and tomorrow.  Lesley confirmed that (for the meal afterwards) The Royal Oak is offering a two-for-one meal deal on fish dishes, and there is no need to pre-order.

                Andrew M thanked the 4x volunteers who came last Monday to empty the shed and load up the van.  The TWAM organiser was very appreciative, especially as they nearly filled the van.  The next TWAM is on Saturday 20th April.  Andrew reminded members of the power of advertising - please download a copy of the poster and put it up somewhere.  (David M, could you re-circulate the poster?)

Fund Raising:  David M confirmed that Saturday 13th April there are 71 people booked for the Spring Quiz Night.  We still need raffle prizes.

                David M said he knows of an office locally who have a metal container full of surplus office bits and bobs.  They were prepared to pay a clearance company £600 to empty it.  If we offered to do it, we could boost our charity pot by that much.  It would take 5-6 of us to clear it.  Anything we want, we can keep.  Can we think of a date for this?

Almoner:  Pippa said she has contacted Marian.  Marian can walk but only short distances and with difficulty.  She may have to have her other knee replaced.

Greetings from Other Clubs:        Paul said that when he was at a restaurant in Swanage on holiday a man kept waving at him.  Thinking his luck had changed, he waved back.  It turned out, his admirer was a local rotary man, David Johnson.  They have 40 members.

                Robert brought greeting from a visit to Apeldoorn.

                Sue brought greetings for Sara in Cornwall.  Sue also spoke about a recent cluster meeting for presidents-elect.  Club representatives present were interested in the idea of an inter-club Bat & Trap competition.  Canterbury Sunrise were asking about other clubs linking with them to do something jointly the Fun Day in the Westgate Gardens, Canterbury on 20th & 21st July.  Finally, Sue mentioned the PET meeting on Saturday 13th July in Aylesham; She, Pete, Margaret and Dave C are going.

Any Other Business:        Chris has spoken to Lisa Constantin about re-booking her as a speaker, after she was unable to attend a few weeks ago due to a car accident. 

                Chris also mentioned the speaker about bee keeping, Roger Simpson (of the Whitstable Bee Keepers Association) is very keen to visit other social clubs to ask members to keep an eye out for the invasive Asian hornet.  So is any members attend other groups they might like to pass this on.

                Paul said we are very short of names for the Car Parking on Saturday 30th March.  The date after that is Sunday 28th April.

Raffle:                   Won by Jean.  Margaret again reminded members we need more prizes.

Master-at-Arms:              According to Nick, today is International Colour Day.  Also, World puppetry day, World Vermouth Day & World Poetry Day.

Final Toast:         Proposed by Sue

Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 28th March @The Plough