Weekly Meeting 16 March 2015

There were a snug 20 members present at the weekly meeting in Dunkerley's Restaurant.

The secretary reminded those present that there will be a street collection outside M&S on Friday 20th March for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity. Shifts start at 8am and a rota has been emailed to all involved.

The secretary also reminded members of an email he sent about the Rotary Club of Gibraltar who has requested 200 visitors for a concert in St Michaels Cave on Thursday 14th May staying in the fabulous Rock Hotel. If anyone is interested in attending the concert, the secretary has all the details.

He mentioned a weekend away with the District Governor. Details have now been circulated for this event in London for Friday 29th to Sunday 31st of May. This is the same weekend as our clubs Triangulaire. He has full details including a coach pick up at Canterbury, the cost being 330 per person or 350 for single occupancy.

Lastly he reported upon an email sent to all reference a Parliament Written Declaration in support of Polio eradication. We are all asked to write to our MEP to encourage him/her to support a motion in the European Parliament. Further guidance will follow shortly from the Foundation committee and/or Secretary.

A reminder about the upcoming Railway Swing Band concert in St George's Church on 29th April when the help of all members will be required, mainly to publicise and assist in selling the tickets. Rtn Paul Robbins and his Community Committee are co-ordinating the organisation of the concert and a board is being circulated asking you for your requirement for tickets.
At this stage, with only six weeks to go, the most important aspect is the distribution of posters and leaflets so that the public will be aware of the concert. Publicity is key to a successful event. Read more about it here.

The District has appealed for donation for the crisis in Kenya where crops have had a 80% failure because of a shortage of rain. The International Committee has donated 500 to alleviate the effect on the population.

PP Howard Binsted gave an update on two events that he and his Youth committee are involved with.
Firstly the boccia tournament is proceeding well and some volunteers will be needed to help host the competition in Sandwich Technology School.

The second event is the annual cycle ride at Fowlmead which is also proceeding well where at least 13 volunteers will be needed for various tasks such as administration and marshalling the course. It has been decided that the beneficiary shall be the local Deal Foodbank.

The Walk of Life, a sponsored walk over the White Cliffs will take place on 7th June when we are hoping to attract ramblers, other Rotary clubs, local organisations, etc to undertake the walk. You are requested to click this link to download and read all the details that are already on the web site. Any help or comments would be welcome. Perhaps you would like to publicise the event by adding the poster to your Facebook page or emailing it to any groups you may think might like to join in.

PP John Utting reported that the Sandwich club has booked a coach to Dover Town Hall on St George's Day. The cost of this will be 6.00 person and anyone requiring this should contact John ASAP.

John also reported that there has been a bad response to his circulated email about the scatter week where groups of Deal members visit other local clubs. The week starts on 4th May, a week when we will not have a Monday meeting.

The birthday of Rtn Carol Kewley was acknowledged. The year of her birth is a closely guarded secret but she shares her date with country singer Charlie Pride.

There was one 200 Club draw which was an unallocated number. The wine draw was won by PP Peter Rothschild who donated it to the raffle to be held at the annual Deal Hospital Fete.

There will be a speaker present at next week's meeting, Jack McKenzie who came for lunch a few weeks will be talking about some of the things that he has been involved with.