General Meeting - Live

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.45am for 08.00am Thursday 15th June 2023 @ The Plough

Present:               Andrew M, Dave C, David M, Elaine, Gerry, Godfrey, Hilary, Ian S, Nick, Pat, Pippa, Reggie, Robert, Spyros.

Apologies:           Andrew B, Chris, David K, Iain M, Jean M, Kathryn, Lesley, Maureen, Myfanwy, Margaret, Marian, Paul, Pete, Sue, David B, Trevor.

Guests / Visitors:              This was the presentation morning for Walk4Water, so we had a total of seven adults and five students representing four of the schools who took part, plus representatives from the three sponsors: Kent University, McDonalds, and Canterbury Business Equipment.

Welcomes & Birthdays:                 Pat welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Today is Godfrey's birthday (we sang Happy Birthday later).

Grace:                   Nick pronounced an Irish blessing on the meeting.

BREAKFAST

Business:

Presentations:  Nick did the presentations to our guests.  First of all, he announced that W4W raised £6200 this year.  Each of the students received a certificate and books for their school library, with a personal copy to the student who had raised the highest amount of sponsorship from each school.  Nick also presented certificate to each of the sponsors, and additionally, some books for the McDonalds children's home.

Fund Raising:  Pat once again reminded members of the need to sell more tickets for Race Night on Saturday 8th July.  Car Parking this coming Sunday is covered.  Nick is still working on a sponsor for the Charity Golf Day.

Almoner:  Pippa reported that Marian came out of hospital last Tuesday.  Ted Rooney however is in QEQM because of knee problems; Andrew M gave Ted and Maureen a lift to the hospital.  David B has been in hospital, and Jean M has been to see him. 

                                Pat gave an update about Jean S.  She is improved and is able to walk about the ward.  If she can manage with portable oxygen, she can come home soon.

Upcoming Events:           Pat said that next week Gerry will be doing her life story.  Hilary reported that she has secured a small reduction in the cost of the Anniversary Dinner next May so it is no longer over the £50 per head threshold.

                                Not announced at the meeting, but can members please remember that the evening Handover Meeting will be on Thursday 29th June at The Plough.  The menu for the meal will be a homemade steak and ale pie with new potatoes and vegetables.  Dessert will be rhubarb crumble. (Yay!)  Can members please confirm their attendance / apologies to Robert asap.  An agenda for the meeting will follow shortly.

Any Other Business:        Not announced at the meeting, but members ought to note that Andrew & Pat B, Kathy and Hilary completed a Rotary-organised nine mile walk along the North Downs Way last week end, helping to raise a final total of £21 for Cancer Research UK and other Rotary Charities.  This included greetings from President Duncan of Weald of Kent Rotary.

Greetings from Other Clubs:        Godfrey and Ian S met a member from Canterbury Rotary.

Raffle:                   Won (appropriately) by Godfrey.

Master-at-Arms:              Nick told us that this month is Care for Your Grandparents month.  Today is British Beer Day.  On this day in 1215 King John signed the Magna Carta.  (Note: just remembered, it was the comedian Tony Hancock who once declaimed "Did Magna Carta die in vain?"  DC)

Final Toast:         Given by David M

Next Meetings:

Breakfast Meeting: 07.45am for 08.00am Thursday 22nd June 2023 @ The Plough

Handover Meeting: 18.30pm for 19.00pm Thursday 29th June 2023 @ The Plough