General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 25th April 2024 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Chris, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Fiona, Godfrey, Jean, Kathryn, Lesley, Maureen, Margaret, Pat, Paul, Pete, Robert, Sue.

Apologies:           David K, Gerry, Hilary, Ian, Myfanwy, Marian, Nick, Pippa, Reggie, Spyros, Trevor, David B.

Welcomes:         Pat welcomed everyone to the meeting, and wished Margaret a happy birthday this week.

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:            

International:  Pat noted that we had TWAM this past week end.  Andrew M thanked everyone who helped.  He thanked David M especially for publicising the event.  The collection filled 4x vans this year, which makes it our best year ever.  Andrew reminded everyone that TWAM is ongoing throughout the year, if you come across tools which can be donated.  Pat thanked Andrew and Jean for their hard work.

Comm / Voc:  This coming Saturday 27th April is gardening at the Whit & Tank.  Start at 09.00am.  Showers are expected.  Bring a trowel for planting.

Fund Raising:  Car Parking will be this Sunday 28th April.  We are OK for volunteers.  Paul wondered how other car parking groups are getting on; last time we were on, the traffic was very heavy.  There are a lot of road works in Whitstable at present which hinders people getting in and out of town.

Social:  Pat said that everything is now sorted with Crescent Turner of the 20th anniversary celebration.  Sue said that at the PET meeting last week end all the clubs represented were given a bottle of English bubbly to mark the 100th year of the district.  We can do with this as we please.  It was agreed this will be auctioned off at our anniversary do.

Any Other Business:

                Paul mentioned the planning meeting yesterday about the future of Manston air port.  Haven't heard yet if the proposals to re-open it went through.

                Kathryn advised the meeting about the 'race for Life' on Sunday 30th June to raise funds for cancer charities.  Participants can do a walk / run of 3, 5, or 10 km.  Groups can do this as a relay.  It begins at the sea front playground in Hampton.  If we wanted to do this as a group, she would offer to host a lunch afterwards.  There will be a sheet in the Events folder, but let Kathryn know if you want to take part.

                Chris has been asked for help by Carers' Support East Kent (we had a speaker from them a few weeks ago).  On Friday 14th June they will have a fund raising stand at Tesco Whitstable from 11.00am until 15.00pm.  Could any of our members help by manning the stand?  Let Chris know.

                David mentioned that he has sent an email to board members about Rotary procedures.  This will be discussed at board before being circulated to all members.

                Urgent, Please Note.  Pat reminded everyone that there will be no breakfast meeting on Thursday 9th May.  Instead, committees can meet or email each other so that the committee chair can present a report at the Board meeting the week after.

                Sue, Pete and Dave C gave feedback about new developments reported to them at the PAT meeting recently.  Pete summarised a new initiative aimed at recruitment called North Star.  At the membership breakout meeting after lunch, membership secretaries were urged to co-operate more on inter-club shared initiatives.  Dave said that at his breakout meeting, the convener described the new Rotary IT initiative to replace DMS and other databases with a single system called Rotary View.  It will cut out duplication across different data bases.  Parts of it are already up and running.  There are articles about North Star and Rotary View in the latest magazine.  Dave C mentioned a district initiative, from Minster, to jointly buy an emergency vehicle foe the Air Ambulance.  This will cost c. £55K.  A figure of £750 per club was mentions as a target.

                Andrew B gave his last talk about Walk4Water yesterday to Whitstable junior school.

                Sue reported that she attended at the Horsebridge Centre yesterday to support Red Zebra's workshops for children.  There will be an exhibition of their work at the centre on Saturday 23rd May.

                Robert now has a figure for the amount he raised by his virtual cycle ride - £321.  Thanks to all those who donated, and congratulations to Robert.

                Dave C said he had been sent details of a night at the opera being run this week end by the Margate club.  He will send round the details for anyone interested.

                Dave C has a date for our diaries: 20th & 21st July.  This are the dates of the Canterbury Show, and there is a proposal for all six local clubs to co-operate to man a stand there.  There will be more details later.

                David M advised members that the dates of the next quiz nights, for which the hall is already booked:

·         Autumn Quiz Night Saturday 9th November 2024.

·         Spring Quiz Night Saturday 12th April 2025.

Greetings from Other Clubs:        Kathryn went to a Rotary ball at Walderslade.  They also went to a St Georges Day celebration at the Forest of Blean club.  Members expressed disappointment that this event wasn't circulated to other clubs.

Raffle:                   Won by Paul.

Master-at-Arms:              Godfrey was in the chair, accompanied by Bertie Bassett.

Final Toast:         Given by Kathryn.

Date of Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 2nd May 2024 @ The Plough