General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Minutes of the Meeting

Held on Thursday, December 14th, 2017

                                             At The Golf Club, Chestfield                     

Apologies for Absence:

            John B.                        John G.                        Maureen                     Paul

            Pete                 Robert M.       Sarah                          Myfanwy

            Reggie             Wendy

Visitors and Guests:

            Georgie Delaney guest of Ian

Birthday Greetings:

            Wendy

Grace:

            Ian

Robert S:

            Robert was unwell and Pat took the meeting.      Best wishes were sent to      Robert and to Nick, who is also unwell, for a swift recovery.

Eric Van Engelen:

Eric from Apeldoorn has been very unwell with a severe pulmonary embolism in both lungs.      He is now well on the way to recovery.

Hilary’s Visit to India in January:

Hilary is off to India in January with a party from Rotary to give children polio vaccinations.      She thanked everyone who had donated small gifts that she can take to encourage the children to take the vaccination.   The Club agreed to donate £100.00 to Hilary as a contribution to her expenses and Spryros and Pippa very kindly matched this.

Opening Your Hearts to Bhutan:

The Foundation Grant of $1,000 for the purchase of educational materials by Opening Your Hearts to Bhutan has been received.   This will be match funded by the Club.    David M. proposed to pay the charity half the total sum now and the rest to be paid when the materials are purchased and this was agreed.       The money has to be spent by May 2018.

Dictionaries for Swalecliffe Primary School:

Due to a breakdown in communication with the school, there has been some uncertainty as to whether to continue to donate dictionaries to the children of Swalecliffe Primary.   However, following a discussion between Robert S. and Andrew B. and the Headmaster it is clear that the school wants to continue the relationship with the Club and the Club agreed to continue to donate dictionaries to Swalecliffe Primary.     An order for 120 copies of the dictionaries for 2018 needs to be placed by Christmas at a cost of £420.00.    

Lego Building Club

The Lego Building Club runs free morning sessions for children with a variety of problems using Lego as a therapy meeting at St. Peter’s in Herne Bay; it is hoped to open sessions in Whitstable.     The Club is in process of registering as a charity and is seekeing funding.    David M. proposed a donation of £150.00 and this was agreed by the Club.

Board Meeting, Thursday, December 14^th;

The Board Meeting on December 14^th is cancelled as Robert S. is unwell. The  next meeting will be on January 11^th at Robert’s house at 7.30 pm.

Christmas Dinner, Whitstable Castle, Friday, December 8th:

The Christmas Dinner was a great success and enjoyed by all.

Christmas Food Collection, Sunday, December 10^th:

Thanks to Santa and his elves the Christmas Food Collection went very well and an amazing amount was collected which was made up into nine hampers for deserving families nominated by Jenny.   The balance of the food was taken by the Food Bank  while David M. took a load of clothes and bedding to Catching Lives.     £137.00 was collected in donations and Ron very kindly made it up to £150.00 which David spent on food for Catching Lives.      A letter thanking the residents of Chestfield has been sent to the Parish Council for inclusion in their next newsletter.

There is a family, or group of families, with several children thought to be in need in Whitstable and Jean S. has their address.     Jean M. and Ian will check with the family to see what help they might need.     If Jean is happy she will organise a hamper for them while Ian might be able to offer additional help through the charity of which he is a trustee.

Christmas Decorations, Whit and Tank Hospital, December 13th:

The patients and staff were very grateful to the team that put up the decorations at the Whit and Tank.     

Car Parking, December 16^th:

Godfrey has had two cancellations and is in need of help especially between 9.00 and 11.00 am.

Breakfast at the Bubble, December 28^th:

Twenty-seven have signed up and David M. asked that all those going for breakfast at the Bubble on December 28^th and who have yet to pay to let him have £10.00 per person as soon as possible.    If anyone who has not signed up would like to go they should contact David as soon possible.

Christmas Decorations at the Whit and Tank, January 4^th:

The decorations will be taken down on Thursday, January 4^th meeting in the foyer of the hospital at 6.00 pm.

Car Parking, January 13^th.

Just a reminder the next car parking in the New Year is on Saturday, January 13^th.     There is a form in the folder.

Hendricks of Hythe, January 17^th:

There are still spaces for the visit to Hendricks of Hythe, 117 High Street, Hythe meeting at the Kings Head next door at 12.30 pm.    Robert M. has to confirm the booking very soon and needs a deposit of £5.00 from those who have signed up or would like to join the group by next week, Thursday, December 21^st.

Table Tennis Evening, January 26^th:

Dave C. has organised an evening of table tennis at the Chestfield Warrior Table Tennis Club, Unit 33A, Joseph Wilson Industrial Park, CT5 3PS (behind Tesco) on Friday, January 26th starting at 7.00 for 7.30 pm.     There is a small bar for light refreshments.   Please sign up, there is a form in the folder.

Young Chef Competition, January 27^th:

The next round of the Young Chef Competition will take place at the New Line Academy, Maidstone on January 27^th.    

Raffle:

Andrew M. won a box of chocolates and David K. snaffled some lovely jam made by Kathy.