Speaker Meeting at SCCC

47 attended the meeting: 41 Club Members, two other Rotarians – Chris Cutting from Mother Club and Allan Smith from Medway Sunlight Club – plus four guests from the Halcon Project – Rev David Fayle, Rtn David Welch, Paul Johnson and Denise Chidgey.

The Halcon Project: After an ‘interesting summer meal’ – well below The Boathouse standard! – John Binns introduced the speakers from the Halcon Project (Taunton East Development Trust). A small number of Club Members have been giving some support to this project over the past few months that aims to help the residents of the 1000 homes on the Estate that has a history of deprivation going back for many years. This Halcon project has the objective of breaking the mould of unemployment, child poverty, and a wide range of social problems, and to give the residents hope for the future ideally with increased employment opportunities and reduced reliance on long term benefits. The three speakers from the Project gave insight into different aspects of results to date. There is real evidence of improvements on the Estate with a greater sense of community much of which has been achieved by self help. John Binns continues to lead the Club’s contribution to this initiative and any members wishing to get involved should contact him.

Club Business: President Colin advised the meeting of the possibility of greater co-operation between the five local Rotary Clubs – ourselves, Mother Club, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, and Minehead. He will report back later in the year on progress. He also advised that all Club members will be invited to give their views on the current two-weekly meeting trial by e-mail in September.

Richard Austin gave an update on the forthcoming visit of Indian Rotarians, and he is still hoping for one more offer of accommodation and hosting of surprise dining.

Future Programme: There is not another club meeting in August as the 28th is a Bank Holiday. So, the next meeting is in the second week of September – but not on Monday 11th as the plan is to hold the meeting on TUESDAY 12th at Oake, when our Indian Visitors to the District will join us for Dinner. Wives and partners are invited to this meeting on Tuesday 12th – apologies to Richard Austin if Club Members are not attending or not bringing Wives/partners - [otherwise charged for 2].

Later that week on Friday Sept 15th there will be a farewell dinner for our Indian Visitors, and Richard Austin needs to know who plans to attend.

Stuart Berry reminded the meeting that Moonraker is on October 14th with our Club Members Test Walk on September 25th. Now is the time to start recruiting teams of walkers and there is plenty of publicity material now available.

Ball Draw: Won by Mike Cooper who was not present – so it’s £190 on September 12th.