General Meeting - Live

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.45am for 8.00am Thursday 7^th July 2022 @ the Golf Club

Present:               Andrew B, Andrew M, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Jean, Pat, Paul, Robert.

Apologies:           Chris, Godfrey, Iain, Jackie, Kathryn, Lesley, Myfannwy, Margaret, Marian, Nick, Pippa, Spyros, Sue, Trevor, David B, David K, Maureen, Reggie,

Zoom:                   Hilary.

Grace:                   by Paul

Welcomes:         Pat welcomed everyone to the meeting.  She added that Jackie has decided to resign from the club, after 7 years as Almoner.  She will be much missed.

BREAKFAST

Fund Raising:      We are struggling to sell sufficient numbers of tickets for Race Night (20^th August) only 40 so far.  Really we need to double that number.

                                The first date for Car Parking is nearly on us (23^rd July).  There is a sheet in the events folder; please can we have names.

                                Golf Day (9^th September) is going OK, but we could do with more teams, and in particular, more sponsors for holes.  Robert will put a sheet in the events folder.

                                Board has decided that we will attend only the first day of Harbour Day (Saturday 13^th August).  Volunteers will be need to cover the stall and Splat the Rat.  Robert will put a sheet in the events folder.

                                Polio Day is in October.  David M suggested we use up the crocus badges we have in stock; we can soon get more if we need them.

International:    Andrew B said that our Global Scholar Loren will come to breakfast on Thursday 21^stJuly.  He and Pat will accommodate her on Wednesday night, but he would like someone to volunteer to entertain her for the rest of Thursday.

                                Andrew informed the members that we have received a request from Emma Slade in Bhutan regarding a young woman from a poor family who wishes to train as a nurse but needs our financial backing.  It will cost approximately £1800 pa.  We can apply for a district grant, but we would have to match fund any district money.  David M explained that, while district won’t normally fund repeated grants to the same beneficiaries from one year to the next, this can be done for educational purposes.  It is by no means guaranteed that District will approve the grant but if they do, we will be committed to find approximately £900 pa for the next 4 years.  The Board has discussed this and would like to recommend we begin the process of bidding with District.  Hilary voiced some concerns, particularly what happens if the young woman drops out of the course half way – we would have wasted our money.  Is there some way we can interview her, perhaps via zoom?  Emma is due back in the UK soon, we can talk to her then.

                                Andrew B spoke about resuming the formal twinning arrangement with Apeldoorn.  Eric is coming over to play in the Golf Day and Andrew will sound him out then.  If we don’t have Apeldoorn then we will have to search for a new partner, and members would have to commit to hosting new visitors.

                                David M reminded members present that we need to vote on the proposal that Walk4Water next year supports the school project in Kenya.

Zoom:                   Pat will be busy with chairing breakfast meetings in future, so Robert will take over organising the lap top and weekly link.  Hilary will send Dave C an explanation for members how to use the same link from week to week.

Crossroads:        A speaker is due to visit our breakfast meeting next Thursday.

Rose Garden:     Members will remember how the site has been vandalised.  It’s not a secure site, so there is no guarantee that it won’t be vandalised again.  Therefore the Board has decided to notify the PCC that we are withdrawing from the project.  There was also a discussion about the future of the Whit & Tank hospital and our role in clearing the overgrown areas.  Are there still patients / staff who will benefit from our efforts?  Kathy is due to talk to Marian and Maureen about this.

AoB:                      Elaine gave Maureen’s apologies of this morning.  Ted’s knee has flared up and he is in QEQM.  Andrew M will ensure Whitstable club know about this.

                                Concert for Ukraine last Tuesday:  Andrew M said that this was very good.  The singer was wonderful.

                                Jean M mentioned the Rotary Youth Exchange programme.  Her daughter benefitted from this.  It was a life changing experience, and she si still in touch with her counterpart from the US after 30 years.

Final Toast:         Given by Pat.

Next Meeting:

07.45am for 08.00am Thursday 14^th July 2022 @ the Golf Club