General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 4th April 2024 @ The Plough

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

Guest:                  Ronan

Apologies:           Marian, Hilary, Margaret, Chris, David K, Myfanwy, Ian, Fiona, Pete, Kathryn, Reggie, David B, Trevor.

Welcomes:         Pat welcomed everyone to the meeting, including Ronan as guest this morning.  There were no birthdays this week. 

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:            

Social:  Pat asked how yesterday evening's social visit to The Little Green Bookshop and gone?  Very well was the general agreement.  Our host Jacqui enjoyed talking to us, and has promised to come to breakfast sometime as Dave C's guest.  She will come to the Quiz night as well, if she is free.  (There is a possibility she may become a member).

                Regarding the 20th Anniversary celebration, Pat confirmed that it will be at The crescent Turner hotel.  We haven't had a menu for the buffet yet.  Dress code will be smart casual for the men and dresses for the ladies.  So, not dinner jackets, but not jeans and a pullover either.

Fund Raising:  David M said the exercise in clearing a storage unit is tomorrow.  There are enough volunteers.  Everyone is to meet between 08.30 and 09.00am.  This will earn the club £775 towards our charity account.

                Car parking last Saturday was very busy with only one or two spaces empty at a time until well past 3.30pm.  A numbers of the punters remarked how organised we were.  Pat said a thank you to non-members Diane C and Robert Mc without whose assistance we might have struggled.  One customer left it until 6.30pm before returning to collect his car, with occasioned some grumbling from the school janitor.  David M reported that we made £852 on the parking and £45 on the stall, a good day's haul.

                David M reported that we have a main sponsor for the Golf Day in September, namely Hollanby Estates.  We still need some sponsors for holes.

International:  District have accepted our application on behalf of the school renovation in South Africa.  Andrew B thanked David for getting in this late application.

                Andrew B and David still have one school each to visit on behalf of Walk4Water.

Youth Opportunities:  Margaret isn't hear today.  So far as Pat is aware, there are no more developments regarding the Young Chef competition.

Comm / Voc:  Robert spoke about a sponsored static bike ride being run by Forest of Blean club in aid of Strode park on 13th April.  This is a 24-hour bike-athon.  Robert has agree to do a 20 mile ride.  Robert is asking for club members to sponsor him.  There is a sheet in the events folder; pay the money to David M.

                Pat asked for volunteers on behalf of Red Zebra.  They will be running craft sessions for children at The Horsebridge Centre.  Our volunteers would provide an additional adult presence; no knowledge of crafting is required.  Sessions are 10.00am until 13.00pm.  Dates are:

·         17th & 24th April

·         1st, 8th & 15th May.

Upcoming Events:  Our next evening meeting will be Thursday 18th April.  After a discussion, Pat agreed to ask Mel to provide shepherd's pie for the meal.  The speaker will be Cecilia Chatterjee who was the first qualified female lawyer in India.  Pat will let other local clubs know about this, in case some of their members want to attend.

Any Other Business:        Andrew M reminded members about the TWAM collection on Saturday 20th April at Stocks (full address: 114-118 Cromwell Road, Whitstable, CT5 1NH.  What 3 Words: twilight. postcard. weeps).  Andrew described being asked to collect a load of tools from someone's man-shed in Birchington.

Greetings from Other Clubs:        Ronan brought greetings from Hildeburg Sunrise club in South Africa.  They apparently have a lot of involvement with education in the townships.  There was discussion about asking them to join us via Zoom, but the time difference might make this difficult.

Raffle:                   Won by Jean

Master-at-Arms:              Before fleecing us as usual, Nick informed the club that today is World Drummers Day, also International Carrot Day, and International Rat Day.

Final Toast:         Given by Andrew B

Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 11th April 2024 @ The Plough