Business Meeting Minutes – March 2024

Apologies :    Barbara Boyle , Karen Douglas, Bill Aiken, Jack Watson, Paul Hatty.  Bill Keery,   Morrell Murphy.

Approval of Minutes of  7th February 2024

  • Proposed by : P.P. Stanley Smith    Seconded by :  P. Denis Neill

Matters Arising  :  Nothing raised.

Correspondence : ( Hon. Secretary Howard Davidson)

  1. Letter from Liz Fitzgerald ( District Secretary ) + Voting Paper for election of District Governor for 2026-2027. It was agreed by Members  that George Roche, Rotary Club of Cork Bishopstown would be Bangor Rotary Club’s No 1 choice for this position.
  2. Email from P.P. John Birch seeking consideration to be given towards a small donation for an international  project involving Rotary Club of Sudbury ( where John’s brother Michael is a member) and the provision of water supplies and washrooms for 6 schools in coastal area of Kenya.  (Noted that RC Sudbury is twined with RC Donaghadee).   Briefly discussed and fully agreed to provide £ 50.

Treasurer’s Report ( P.P. Paul Hatty) :

  • While Hon. Treasurer Paul was not in attendance Hon. Secretary Howard provided brief information received from Paul ,
    • No 1 A/c : £5,694.75 cr
    • No 2 A/c : £3,626.30 cr

Invoice for £1,000 received from Bangor Golf Club  ( for use of Bangor Golf Club’s premises ) —  It was agreed that this payment should be paid to Bangor Golf Club – Payment proposed by P.P. Paul Megarity and seconded by P.P. Ian Wilson, full consent of Club Members present was noted.

Outstanding Members’ fees :  Alan McCracken has paid his fee (£200) to Hon. Sec. Howard. John Bell’s fee of £200 is still outstanding and is to be followed up by Hon. Treasurer Paul.

President’s Report :  President Patrick had nothing additional to report .

President Elect’s Report :    No report as P.E. Bill was not present at this meeting.

 Administration : ( Hon. Secretary Howard Davidson ) )

  • Jack Watson’s emailed report provided by Hon. Sec. Howard  — Jack has advised that he has almost completed the refiling ( into 2 boxes)  of paperwork/ documents received from P.P. Stanley and P.P. Denis.  P. Richard has advised that the documents which had been held in Ulster Bank Safe Keeping were  withdrawn from the Bank by our Club, however he is unaware of where they were then placed.  David Sloan has advised that he has two golf trophies in his possession.

Fundraising  ( P.P. Howard Davidson)

  1. Smarties Tube Lenten collection – Past Pres. Robin  has now  distributed  the Smarties tubes to  Club members .  All funds raised in this project will be donated to Bangor Store House.  Robin plans to collect these funds from Members commencing 27th March 2024.
  2. A Shelter Box Charity collection will be undertaken jointly with Donaghadee and Belfast Rotary Clubs over the weekend of the 5th April to 7th April in Bloomfields Shopping Centre. Bangor Rotary Club will participate in this event on Saturday 6th     Hon.Sec. Howard is currently circulating a “Club Sign up“  sheet among Members with a further Timetable for this project to be circulated among Members  within the next 1 / 2 weeks.   Hon. Sec Howard has invited Kerr Fulton Peebles ( Shelterbox Rotary District Coordinator for Ireland ) along to our Club on 27th March 2024 to talk about the Shelterbox Gaza Appeal.
  3. A charity quiz is planned to be held in Bangor Golf Club on Friday 26th April 2024.   Seamus Bowler has agreed to act as Quiz Master . Hopefully a prize draw and small auction can be undertaken on the night . It has already been agreed that the  funds raised from this event will  be donated to NI Childrens Hospice.

Membership ( P.P. James O’Fee ) :

  • Tessa Barrett is continuing to act as the Co Ordinator of the Club’s Speakers’ programme.

Lend With Care (P.P. Margaret Francey) :

  • Past Pres. Margaret advised that the A/c Balance is currently £8.18 cr. With a trickle of monthly repayments occurring. A new loan for £45 has been provided to assist a Philippines project involving a snack vending business ( i.e. barbecued bananas).   .P. Margaret advised that , to date, Bangor Rotary Club has provided loans totalling £4,295.88. It was agreed that a further £100 should be invested in the Lend with Care scheme – proposed by P.P. Paul Megarity, Seconded by Jane Morrice and agreed fully by the Club Members present.

Service Projects ( P.P. James O’Fee) :

  • Warm Welcome Space  – P.P. James is still hoping to invite Rev. Marisine Stanfield along before end June 2024 to talk about “Warm Welcome Space “
  • Croft Bowling — Bill Keery has undertaken to manage the Croft Bowling project scheduled to be held  in Dundonald Ice Bowl on Thursday 2nd May 2024.

Fun & Fellowship ( Rtn. Barbara Boyle )

  • St Patrick’s Day Themed  5 course Dinner in S.E.R.C. on 19th March 2024     —Past President Raymond is liaising  with S.E.R.C. on the menu etc.   Barbara is dealing with the entertainment ( Raving Micks )  for this event. Cost £25 per head with a  gratuity for the caterers to be collected from the diners on the night.  It was  agreed that two meals ( £50) for Marie Dunwoody (harpist) and Mark Docherty (speaker) would be paid for  ( from Club’s No. 1 a/c ) by the Club.  As  the music group ( Raving Micks ) is currently acting as a charity fund raiser for RNLI it was agreed by full consent  that £100 should be donated by Bangor Rotary Club to these musicians on the night for RNLI ( to be paid from Club’

Any Other Business :

  • President Patrick advised that Bangor Rotary Club will not have a Meeting on Wednesday 20th March ( due to the St Patrick’s Day function being held on Tuesday 19th March 2024).

Submitted by Hon. Secretary Howard Davidson following approval at the   Business  Meeting  held on 3rd April  2024.