General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

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

Present:               Chris, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Gerry, Ian, Maureen, Margaret, Marian, Nick, Pat, Paul, Pete, Reggie, Robert

Apologies:           Andrew B, Andrew M, David K, Fiona, Godfrey, Hilary, Jean, Kathryn, Lesley, Pippa, Spyros, Sue, Trevor, David B.

Welcomes:         Ian was in the chair; he welcomed everyone to the meeting.  There were two birthdays this week - Trevor and Pete.

Grace:                   Said by Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:

Membership:  Pete reported that David B is not well.  Anne has asked him to say thank you for those members who have given her lifts to visit David.  He is asleep a lot of the time and not eating.

                Nothing further about membership.  Pete hasn't heard back from the lady from Canterbury.

Fundraising:  David M reminded members about the Autumn Quiz Night on Saturday 9th November.  Tickets are selling well.  Prizes are needed for the raffle.

                It is car parking this Sunday 22nd September.  Paul said we have a skeleton crew only for cover.  Paul expressed surprise that more members don't take part in car parking; it is the biggest money spinner we have, and is really money for old rope.

                David M confirmed that we will have the use of a float from Canterbury Sunrise for the Christmas run on Sunday 8th December, and the extra collection at Tesco on Monday 9th December.  We also have an amp we can use for both dates.

                Invitations to schools have gone out for Walk4Water 2025, and three schools have responded positively so far.

Social:  Nick confirmed that Bat & Trap will go ahead on Tuesday 8th October from 6.30pm.  There will be a sheet in the events folder from next week.

Youth Opportunities:  Maggie and Gerry will attend a forthcoming cluster group meeting to be organised by Kevin.  Maggie will liaise with Canterbury regarding entrants for the youth competitions.  There is no point in going it alone; last year they poached our entrants anyway.

International:  No one for International present!  Andrew B sends his regards from the antipodes.

Comm / Voc:  David M said that three more applications for district grants have been submitted, making five in all.

Speakers:  Chris said that on 31st October, the speaker will be Vanessa who will tell us about the new resources for youth football locally. 

                Chris also mentioned that he has a quantity of brushes and paints for water colours in his loft, which he doesn't want to take with him when he moves.  Can anyone make use of them?  Pat said she would take them for her workshops.

Raffle:                   Won by Pete.  Margaret appealed for more prizes.

Any Other Business:  Reggie completed his sponsored walk on behalf of the Waterloo Road Community Centre.  He thanked members who have sponsored him.

                Also about Waterloo Road, Reggie, David M and Dave C have all been copied into an email stream form Waterloo Road about a request for donations to help with two projects.  These appear to be: replastering and painting a ceiling in one of the back rooms, and replacing the comfy chairs in the Centre.  David M wondered about the latter; there are a lot of chairs and to replace all of them would be costly.  Dave C and Reggie who use the Centre regularly didn't think there was much wrong with the existing chairs.  It may be that over time some of them have legs which are loose and wobbly (don't we all), in which case all they may need is a handyman who can reglue them.  Dave C will speak to the organiser Sue, and find out exactly what is need and ask her to write to him pp the club.

                Pat proposed a vote of thanks to Ian for arranging the garden party earlier this week, which was very successful and enjoyable.

                Elaine asked members to note that the next gardening morning at the Whit & Tank will be Saturday 5th October.

Master-at-Arms:  Nick informed us that today is Talk Like a Pirate day; cue some pirate-related puns.  It is also Jeremy Irons birthday.

Final Toast:         Was proposed simultaneously and in tandem by Chris and Reggie.

Date of Next Meeting:

6.30pm for 7.00pm Thursday 26th September 2024 @ The Plough