General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 12th September 2024 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew M, Chris, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Fiona, Godfrey, Jean, Kathryn, Maureen, Margaret, Marian, Nick, Pat, Paul, Pippa, Robert, Spyros.

Apologies:           Andrew B, David K, Gerry, Hilary, Ian, Lesley, Pete, Reggie, Sue, Trevor, David B.

Welcomes:         Kathryn was in the chair today.  It is Robert's birthday today, and David B's on Monday.

Grace:                   Given by Paul.

Business:

Comm / Voc:  Maureen reported with satisfaction on how much work was accomplished by the gardeners at the Whit & Tank last Saturday.  Fiona said she had to stop David M from falling out of a tree.  Apparently Ron Benning was there as well; he told Dave C at the week end that we really shouldn't let David M near a chain saw!

Fund Raising:  Pat confirmed that the Craft Fair is all booked.  It is a larger venue so there will be up to 10x instructors on the day.  It will be a Christmas theme, with mince pies among the refreshments.  The event will be from 1.00pm until 4.00pm on Saturday 23rd November.  The venue is The Swalecliff Free Church, near the Wheatsheaf pub restaurant.  There will be items for sale.

                Godfrey reported back on the Golf Day last Friday.  There was a good turnout with 10x teams competing, and a good attendance at the evening meal.  We made £2600.  Next year's event will be on Friday 12th September 2025.

                A propos past raffles, Nick said that has used the Red Letter Day he won, and had a good time in Cromer.

                The Autumn Quiz Night will be on Saturday 9th November.  We don't have any scorers in Andrew B's absence, so volunteers will be needed.  David M said he would be one.  David said he now has tickets for sale.

                Walk4Water next year will be on Friday 21st March 2025.

Social:  Pat said that our practice evening for Bat & Trap is planned for Tuesday 8th October.  Pat will check with Mel if the rink is still available.  We then ought to immediately book another evening, this times as a competition, against a fellow Rotary club.  Nick said this would be better for us than playing with ourselves.

International:    Spyros (standing in for the absent Andrew B) said there has been an email circulated from Orpington Rotary about their USA counterparts from Virginia wanting to visit the UK in 2025.  Orpington are asking if anyone would be willing to act as hosts?  Volunteers would then be eligible to go to USA in 2026.  Some members thought they might not want to go if Trump is elected!

Comm / Voc:      Kathryn confirmed that the district grant application for computers for Kent Carers has been submitted.  We will make 2x more applications in due course for Red Zebra etc.

Any Other Business:        Kathryn said that the Board has suggested that there will be a donations box available at Ian's garden party on Tuesday for anyone wishing to make a contribution.  £5 was the suggested amount.  Attendees can use David M's horseshoe drive to park, but please move as far round as possible.  There will be feather flags on Ian and David's lawn for those who aren't familiar with the area.

                Robert asked for a show of hands about the evening meal next week.  How may members are happy with Fish & Chips?  Most of us apparently.

                Kathryn said that in addition to our usual Christmas collection this year we will be doing a bucket collection at Tesco on Monday 9th December.  There will be a sheet in the events folder later.  Spyros said that Red Zebra were at Tesco at the week end.  They need to recruit more volunteer drivers.  He said it is a very rewarding thing to do.  Pippa added that Blood Runner are still looking for volunteer telephone co-ordinators.  Godfrey said that the Voluntary Drivers Bureau (popularly known as the VD bureau - Godfrey's words) are also looking for drivers. 

                Paul said we could do with more people coming forward for our Car Parking days.

Greetings from Other Clubs:        Dave C bumped into a Rotarian from Folkestone at an NCI event yesterday.

Raffle:                   Won by David M.  Margaret appealed for more prizes.

Master-at-Arms:              According to Nick today is World Dolphin Day.  Dolphins are present once more in the English Channel (or are they porpoises)?  Tomorrow is World Chocolate Day.  On this day in 1959 the TV programme Bonanza first aired.

Final Toast:         Proposed by Chris.

Date of Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 19th September 2024 @ The Plough