General Meeting

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast meeting 8^th January 2020.

Welcomes:  Sue welcomed everyone to the meeting, and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

Guests & Visitors:  There were no guests or visitors this morning.

Birthdays:  None this week.

Apologies:  David K; Hilary; Iain T; Ian M; John G; Myfanwy; Pete T; Reggie.

Thought for the Week:  “A New Year resolution is something which goes in one year and out the other.”  Anonymous

Grace:  By Paul.  Short and sweet this week.

Breakfast

Recent Events: 

·         Sue mentioned an email from Red Zebra thanking us for our efforts re the Christmas collection.  The food donations we collected were enough to make up 30 boxes.  These were appreciated by the recipients.

·         The breakfast meeting last Thursday at the Farm & Harper in Whitstable was very successful.  Thanks to Godfrey who organised this.

·         Sue passed on thanks from the Whit & Tank hospital to those who helped put up the Christmas decorations, and take them down.  Visitors have said the tree looked lovely.  David M said this was because he had very nice baubles.

Future Events:

·         A number of members will be attending the upcoming evening meal at Godfrey’s house.

·         10 members have booked to attend the afternoon visit on 22^nd January to Rotary Radio on Sheppey.  This will include a Burns night-themed evening meal with Minster Rotary.  The cost of the event includes a £5 donation towards the Criterion Theatre on Sheppey.  There may be room for 1 or 2 people still to add their names if they do so promptly.

·         January 25^th will be our next car parking day.  Providing it’s not too cold, Janet will come along again with her hearing dog Bilbo.  This is, of course, Burns Night, but you don’t have to dress up!

·         All local Rotary clubs have been invited to join Whitstable Rotary Club at the Marine Hotel at 6.15 for 6.30 0n February 18^th.  The cost of the meal will be £18 per head.  The purpose of the invitation is to discuss the formation of a satellite group designed to attract membership from younger people who are still of working age (the point about a satellite club is that it can meet more flexibly to sit members’ availability).  The Umbrella Centre has been touted as a possible venue.  Several of our board have said they will attend.

·         Sue reminded members about an evening meeting on 12^th March at the Whitstable School to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research.  There will be a talk from a doctor, plus music from a Shanty Group and the Useless Pluckers ukulele band.

Any Other Business:

·         Sue asked if any members could take on the storage of some of the items which are currently filling all of Ron’s garage.  It was suggested that some of the latter might be surplus to requirements, and perhaps we could have a sort out and throw some stuff away?  There are several gazebos, for example, and after all, how many do we need?  Ron said he is not in a desperate hurry, so maybe we could leave this ‘til the better weather when we can get everything out and have a look at it.

·         Andrew said that on Christmas Day the Philippines were hit by a typhoon.  We haven’t donated to fund a Shelterbox lately so maybe this would be a good time to do another.  This will cost £590.  Paul proposed that we do this, it was voted on, and the meeting unanimously agreed.

·         Andrew reminded members to put the date of 20^th March in their diaries; this is the date for Walk4Water.

Visits & Greetings:  None this week.

Raffle:  Nick won a bottle of wine.     More raffle prizes are needed.

Master-at-Arms:  Nick did his thing.

Final Toast:  Ron gave the toast.