General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 1st August 2024 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew B, Chris, Dave C, Fiona, Gerry Godfrey, Ian, Lesley, Maureen, Margaret, Marian, Nick, Pat, Paul, Pete, Pippa, Reggie, Robert, Spyros and Sue

Guests:                Louisa Constantin (East Kent Carers), Brian Dunne DG, Stewart Neame Herne Bay Rotary.

Apologies:           Andrew M, David K, David M, Elaine, Jean, Kathryn, Trevor, David B.

Welcomes:         Sue welcomed everyone to the meeting, and especially our three guests this morning.  There are no forthcoming birthdays this week.

Grace:                   Paul

BREAKFAST

Business:            

                Fund Raising.  Pat spoke about he Craft Fair this coming Saturday.  There will be seven different crafts represented.  There will be tea, coffee and cakes.  Pat thanked those members who have volunteered to bring cakes.  Costs will include a £5 entry fee, and £2.50 for tea/coffee and cake.  There will be an additional table with small items for sale.  Pilgrims Hospice will have a table, plus banner and collecting tins.  There are some leaflets from Red Zebra and East Kent Carers for us to display.  Pat asked members who are bringing cakes to arrive early; she will be there at The Plough from about 11.30am onwards, to set up ready for a 1.00pm start.  If this weekend is a success, Pat may consider having another one nearer Christmas.

                The next car parking is on Sunday week 11^th Aug.  Paul said we must have four people on duty for the two busiest shifts in the middle of the day.  We can confirm arrangements at breakfast next Thursday morning.

                Social.  The next event will be the Bat and Trap evening on Tuesday 20th August here at The Plough.  Arrive by 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start.  Buy drinks at the bar, and Mel will provide refreshments for us here in the back.  There will be a nominal charge per head amount; to be confirmed.

                Comm / Voc.  Stewart Neame is asking for additional volunteers from among our members to help marshal the route for the Herne Bay carnival on Saturday 10th August.  He has copies of the time table.  If you can help, please let me know on 07944 151 864.

                Reggie handed out entry sheets for a sponsored walk he is going to do round Whitstable on Tuesday 17th August.  This is to raise money for an Emergency Bleed Cabinet at the Waterloo Road Community Centre in Whitstable.  Check time for walkers is at 12.00 noon.  There is a cream tea afterwards from 4.00pm at the Centre from 4.00pm (cost £4).  There is a problem unfortunately - this event clashes withVP Ian's garden party for members which is 1pm 'til 5pm.  Presumably, if Reggie is doing the walk, members can sponsor him, even if they aren't doing the walk themselves?

                Almoner:  Pippa said that David B is very ill.  He is in a nursing home in Herne Bay (Haydon Mayer Home, 54 Albany Drive, CT6 8PX).  The home has open visiting hours.  David likes to have visitors, but he loses the thread very quickly, so short visits are best.  Pippa is asking if the club could help Anne by members giving her a lift to the home?  Alternatively  we could pay her Charity taxi costs for, say, two visits per week?  Stewart said that Herne Bay will also contribute; he and Pippa will liaise with David Mann.  The request for costs was voted on by club members and unanimously agreed.

Any Other Business:

                While we had him here, Sue asked Brian if he would say a few words.  Brian said he enjoys his visits to Chestfield; it is nice to come to a club with a relaxed atmosphere and good banter between members.  He does have links with the club; he went to India with Hilary just before Covid.

                Regarding membership, Brian suggested clubs might safely ignore North Star.  The two corporate memberships, Enterprise and Corporate are best dealt with higher up the chain.  He would rather see clubs concentrating on reversing the trend of declining numbers at club level.  One idea is to encourage new and existing members to visit more than one club.  All clubs are different and rather than leave Rotary, a member might find another which is a better fit.

                Brian wonder about Hubs.  What do people who join a Hub get out of it?  Are they able to join local events?  If not, do they get a sense of fellowship from being members?  Associate membership on the other hand can be a useful step towards becoming a full member.

Raffle:                   Won by Nick

Greetings from Other Clubs:        Brian and Stewart brought greetings from Herne Bay, Broadstairs, Dover and Deal.  Dave C encountered members from Thanet and Thanet Sunrise last week end at the Viking Ship Festival.

Master-at-Arms:              According to Nick, today is India Pale Ale day, also World Wide Web day.

Final Toast:         Given by Fiona

Date of Next Meeting:

07.30am for 08.00am Thursday 8th August 2024 @ The Plough