General Meeting

Thursday 6 February 2025 Breakfast meeting Present • Sue, David M, Andrew B, Robert, Fiona, Andrew M, Maggie, Nick, Dave, Elaine, Reggie, Paul, Kathy, Pippa, Spyros Guests • Ronan Lennon, Diana Coupland. Apologies • David K, Gerry, Godfrey, Hilary, Ian, Jean, Lesley, Maureen, Marian, Trevor, Pat, Pete. No birthdays this week Grace given by Paul. Fundraising • Car parking all good to go on Saturday. Social • Kathy hopes to organise a table for the Whitstable Healthcare Quiz, on 22/02, will contact Pat and Lesley to see if they are interested. • There are a couple of pages in the events folder seeking interest in an Escape room event or an in-house quiz and meal. Please identify whether you are likely to attend or not. International • Andrew B has contacted the district international lead who will be joining us for Walk for Water. Comm Voc • Sue received a thank you email from Canterbury Foodbank for our Christmas collection food donation. Youth • Sue and Kathy are attending the local Rotary musician of the year event. AOB • Richard Rooney’s funeral details have been circulated, our thoughts will be with Maureen and Ted. • Ian is in our thoughts - he is spending time with his daughter and her family. • David K hopes to join us next week, he is back from his travels. • Andrew B will seek interest in a meal after walk for water. South Africa, past, present and the work of the Rotary Club of Helderberg Sunrise - Ronan Lennon Ronan gave us a very interesting overview of South Africa, he has spent time living and working there at various times in the last 40 years. SA is a beautiful place, a cultural melting pot influenced by the spice trade, Dutch and British occupation, mineral wealth the Boer wars, British atrocities, apartheid and democracy. Now sadly due to embezzlement and corruption the country has many problems, high unemployment, inequalities, extreme poverty, here is no social safety net. There is a low tax base, 1 million people pay 80% taxes. The Rotary club is a breakfast club meeting at 6.30. It has 53 members, dual gender and mainly white. Lots of work to support the youth: computers in schools, libraries in townships, sponsorship in education and apprenticeships. Empowerment is a key word, the club is currently working with some German clubs to purchase a safe house for women seeking safety from people traffickers and abuse Maggie thanked Ronan on behalf of the club. Raf • Dave won the raffle again this week, a tub of chocolate • Maggie needs raffle prizes PLEA Greeting from other clubs • David Kingham sent greetings from Chris Boughton at Nailsea and Blackwell rotary club. • Pippa and Spiros brought greetings from Edward Netsel at Saffron Waldron rotary clu Master at Arms • Pins, lateness, earliness, phones, spelling and wine all generated cash. • In 1971 today was the day the UK went decimal, also further back in history Darwin arrived in Tasmania. Final toast was given by Kathy. Next meeting 13/02/25 6.30 for 7PM EVENING meeting with Chris Brealy talking about the Plough and Swalecliff A chicken casserole with new potatoes and greens will be served, if you wish a vegetarian option please let Robert know