Minutes of the Rotary Club of Gloucester’s Council meeting on Monday, March 11th 2019
Club number 19313 | Charity number 274097
1. PRESENT
President Chris Soane, John Smith, Jeremy Keck, Matt Cass, Peter Nesbitt, Colin Rogers, David Seed and John Lovell.
2. APOLOGIES
Sue Smith, Jan Layton-Smith, Jason Smith, Amanda Chamberlayne and Richard Wright.
3. MINUTES
The minutes of the February meeting were signed without amendment.
4. MATTERS ARISING
President Chris said he would like to revisit a decision made at the February meeting when it had been decided that ‘milestone’ birthday cakes for members should be entirely funded by the members concerned. Chris said he would like further discussions with both Jan L-S and Amanda C to ascertain the costs concerned. There was already a flower fund in existence and perhaps this might be extended to include cakes for significant birthdays as well.
5. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
- Gloucester Day:- The President reported receiving a letter from Gloucester Day’s organiser Alan Myatt regarding the event on September 7th. Chris said he had sent details of the event to the other city Rotary clubs in the hope there would be a greater Rotary presence than in past years when it was largely only own club involved. He also suggested using the Rotary gazebo on the day.
- Evening dinner :- President Chris said he had sent invitations to all ‘Friends’ of the club to the dinner meeting at the Wall’s Club on March 28th when Mark Cummings of Radio Gloucestershire will be the speaker.
- Centenary plaque:- Chris said a blue plaque commemorating the inaugural meeting of the club had now been delivered and that Robin Morris and Martyn White were checking its accuracy. There was no date yet as to when it would be erected
- Wishing well:- Chris said there had been no progress on getting agreement from Peel, the developers at Gloucester Quays, over plans for a Rotary centenary wishing well in Pillar Square.
6. IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
No report
7. PRESIDENT ELECT
- District Assembly. It was agreed that President Chris and Matt C would represent the club at the District Assembly on Saturday May 4th. Attendance was vital in order to get a foundation grant
- Senior Citizens Party. Matt C said that as he was stepping up to become President in July he would need someone to shadow him in organising this year’s party. Volunteers with Microsoft/spread sheet/computer experience would be useful. He was also hoping to find someone to help with the club’s PA system when he becomes President.
8. JUNIOR PRESIDENT’S REPORT
No report
9. SECRETARY’S REPORT
No report
10. TREASURER’S REPORT
- Jeremy K reported that the General and lunch accounts were ‘fine’. He also reported a large surplus in the club’s charity account but said that several payments had not yet been made. It was agreed that the Mayor be invited to the club to accept a cheque on behalf of the James Hopkins Trust and that a representative from Charlie’s (the President’s chosen charity) be invited to do likewise. It was also agreed that the club donate £6,000 towards the Rotary in Gloucester Community Awards
11. COMMITTEE REPORTS
MEMBERSHIP
Peter N reported that committee work was on going.
It was also agreed to invite Richard Wright to the Former President’s Dinner although his presidency was in relation to another Rotary club not ours.
COMMUNITY AND YOUTH
In Richard’s absence David highlighted the following
- Carers – David said that day trips already agreed with Carers Gloucestershire would be honoured but investigations were still continuing over possible Rotary links with PeoplePlus who had taken over their duties
- RYLA – It was agreed to try to extend the range of this award to include schools other than the Crypt although Crypt nominees would still be considered.
- Kids Out – Winter Event:- This was taking place on April 4th
- Young Voices:- David said that this initiative which had proved popular and successful with Coney Hill, Finlay Road and Calton Road might be extended to other disadvantaged schools although this would mean participating schools might get less than the £400 offered to each of the three schools this year.
- National Award:- David said that one of the recipients of a Rotary Community Award, Play Gloucestershire had won the National Playwork Award for Frontline Playwork. The award is given to the organisation delivering ‘brilliant playwork for children’. Its organiser Pip Levitt had written to thank him for the support given through the Rotary Community Awards.
FUNDRAISING
There was no report in Amanda’s absence.
SPORTS AND SOCIAL
Colin R said there had been lots on interest in proposed visits to Laithwaites, Llanthony Priory and to the Chepstow Race meeting on May 23rd but generally he was still struggling to create interest in club events from some of the newer members.
INTERNATIONAL
- John said he would like to record the club’s thanks to Colin Rogers for the tremendous work and success he had had in promoting water filter pumps at his clinic in consequence of which a total of 100 families now had access to safe clean drinking water.
- John reported that his committee had agreed to make a donation of £750 to Mary’s Meals. This sum will be doubled by the UK Government which meant that 100 children in Zambia would be provided with a meal at school for a whole year.
- Council agreed a suggestion that a £2,000 bequest left to the club by former Rotarian Leo Soble be donated to CBM to prevent avoidable blindness in Rwanda. This too would be doubled by the UK Government and would be a suitable use of the money in view of Leo’s interest in international projects. John reported that CBM spends 83p in every £ on treatment, 16p in fundraising (each 1p spent raises almost £8) and only 1p on administration, Details of the scheme was being passed on to our friends in Rodez by John Sargent.
FELLOWSHIP AND HOUSE
Nothing further to report in Jan’s absence
WEBSITE
Nothing further to report.
CENTENARY
David S outlined ideas he had had in respect of the visit by the World President to Gloucester’s centenary celebration on Sunday, May 3rd 2020. David’s thoughts included coffee at the North Warehouse with the Mayor, a visit to some of the city’s heritage and cultural sights, a buffet lunch at Kingsholm Rugby HQ followed by evensong at the Cathedral. There would still be an opportunity to hold another event on the Sunday evening since the RI President and his entourage would not be leaving Gloucester until the following morning. One other suggestion from Martin Henshaw was that representatives of countries which had benefitted from the club’s international projects over the past 20 years be also invited to the service. David’s concern was that to organise such an exciting programme could take a lot of time and dedicated work and he was seeking a suitably experienced Rotarian who might like to take this on.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was nothing raised under this heading
The date of next meeting is Monday, April 8th – same time same venue.