General Meeting

Thursday, 10 July 2025 Breakfast meeting Apologies- Lesley, Elaine, Paul, Sue. Birthdays- Spyros celebrates this week and Kathy next week. Many happy returns President’s report - Lesley has volunteered to be the chair of the Humanitarian Services committee, formerly Community and Vocational.- Ron will be completing his series on talks on the Dresden bombing, including a Q&A session. So come along with your queries on 31/8.- September evening meeting on 25/9 Kevin Fielding will talk about his Ukraine missions. It will also be an opportunity to see how appropriate the Monument is for an evening presentation and meal.- Kathy is deciding on her charities for this year. Suggestions welcome. - The monument support a local fund called Alfie’s Army Fund. Set up in support of Alfie Bills to raise funds for Young Lives Vs Cancer who provided huge support for the Bills family during Alfie’s treatment. At 3 years old Alfie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and underwent a high intensity regime of chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden. Despite a period of remission Alfie has continued to need treatment and the charity’s support for family at these times is invaluable.- Revival (revivalkent.co.uk) Food and Mood is a social enterprise cafe and wellness hub set in the heart of Whitstable. It is a dynamic model championing mental health and wellness (not the spa type!). The website provides a lot of information on their objectives, service and impact.- Hope for tomorrow (hopefortomorrow.org.uk) a national charity that has provided a fully equipped mobile unit to enable EKHUFT to deliver chemotherapy to people nearer home without the need for long and frequent trips to hospital. Staff, drugs and consumables are provided by the NHS however the vehicle and maintenance of it requires fundraising. 1 - Spyros spoke with Sharon from Red Zebra who again thanked the club for 3 years of support.- The Global Sight Solutions email circulated to members will be discussed at Board. Cluster meeting feedback- Maya, a charity in Herne Bay was highlighted.- Mario Dasan from Canterbury Rotary club is collecting glasses ( ) for a project in Sri Lanka over the next few months. It was noted Spyros also collects glasses on behalf of the Lions for use overseas.- David Monteith from Canterbury Cathedral is giving a talk on Richard III exhumation from a car park in Leicester on 29/9. More details from Kathy.- Strode Park will celebrate 80 years next year, Maxine Blades ADG would like local Rotary Clubs to support it with an event. Easter time 2026.- Bat and Trap competition at the Olde Beverlie on 9/8. Social- The president’s lunch is on Monday, Kathy discussed parking opportunities in her close. Treasurers report- Members to pay their subs or part hereof by the end of next week please. International- A district grant application has been submitted and received for Open your Hearts to Bhutan.- Dave’s Rave is happening on the 22/7 to raise funds for Shelterbox. Proposed £10 pp and a contribution of finger food. Youth- Maggie has the paperwork for the chef competition but as yet no dates. Humanitarian Services- Gardening at the WTH on Saturday 19/7. Fundraising- Car parking dates up to 31 January are in the events folder. 2 - Golf day in September- raffle prizes are required and charities urgently need to be identified for the advertising. Raffle- Won again by David M, so he refused, subsequently the wine was won graciously by Pippa. Master at Arms Dave fined us for various misdemeanours, real and imagined! These included: spelling, parking, undue honesty, plotless, lack of Pilates, and drummers. Lizzie Borden (born July 19 1860 died June 1 1927, Fall River) was suspected of murdering her stepmother and father in 1892; her trial became a national sensation in the United States. Lizzie was arrested and tried for both murders in June 1893 but was acquitted, given the circumstantial evidence. She was nonetheless ostracised thereafter by the people of her native Fall River, Massachusetts, where she continued to live until her death. The grisly murders inspired schoolchildren to chant outside her home: Lizzie Borden took an axe And gave her mother forty whacks; And when she saw what she had done She gave her father forty-one. Congratulations were given to Andrew and Jean who are celebrating the birth of heir f irst great grandchild and to Spyros and Pippa on the birth of their granddaughter. Final Toast Given by David M. Next meeting Board meeting on Tuesday 15/7 6.30pm at the Monument. Breakfast meeting on Thursday 17/7 7.30am for 8am at the Monument