General Meeting - Live

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast / Business Meeting 07.45am Thursday 19^th May 2022 @ the Golf Club

Present:               Maureen, Elaine, Pippa, Spyros, Nick, Margaret, Robert, Dave C, Andrew M, Lesley, Godfrey, Reggie, Pat, Paul, Andrew B.

Zoom:                   Pete, Kathy, Marian, Jean M.

Apologies:           Myfanwy, Hilary, Iain, David K, David M, Chris

Grace:                   By Paul.

BREAKFAST

Business:             Lesley asked the Chairs of the various committees if they had anything to report.

                Robert:  Went through the attendance list for the evening meeting next week.

                Kathy:  Said she will have updates about the recent donations the club has made.

                Pete:  Has received an enquiry from a potential member who lives in Chestfield.  Will be invited along after the AGM.

                Paul:  Has spoken to the Golf Club about the emergency exits from our meeting room. 

                Andrew B:  Confirmed that the donation voted on at the last meeting has gone to the university in Odessa.  David K is said to be very keen to secure further assistance for them.  They now have another urgent problem caused by a leaking roof.  A District grant was mentioned – but this would take too long to come through.  However there is a mechanism whereby a Rotary district in an affected area can access emergency funds.  Do we know, or can we find out if there is a Rotary organisation still operating in Odessa?  Lesley will contact our ADG to see if he can advise.

Any Other Business:        Spyros said that there are only two confirmed names in the events folder for the race Night in August.

                                Lesley said that the ADG will be attending our Assembly / Handover meeting on 30^thJune.  Dave C will advise him of the details.  The meeting will be an evening here at the golf club (unless we are advised they can’t accommodate us).

                                Sue has been approached by the Whitstable Twinning Association.  They need more hosts for people visiting during the Platinum Jubilee week end.  If anyone can help, please contact Sue.

                                Nick & Pat have met to discuss which charity to support during their year as joint Presidents.  They are thinking of Crossroads and Red Zebra.  Pat may invite Sharon from Red Zebra to come and talk to us.  Pat and Nick have also heard about an initiative by the Cozy Cat cafe in Herne Bay.  The latter have Wednesday evening get-togethers over tea and cake for refugees from Ukraine.  Could we donate some money to help them with this?  Perhaps one of the refugees could come to talk to us?  Pat will try to find out more.

                                Back to Race Night (20^th August): Nick said that nearly all the races have been sold to sponsors, and about half the horses.  There are still 27 of them left to sell.  Andrew B proposed that all members should aim to bring 4 people along to the event.

                                Lesley wished a Happy Birthday to Andrew B.

                                In Ukraine people are painting flowers around bullet holes left by the Russians.

Raffle:                   Was won by Robert and Andrew M

Master-at-Arms:  Today is the anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s release from Reading Gaol.  It is also Rare Breeds day and World Bee Day (not World Bidet).

Final Toast:         Andrew M gave this.