Meeting notes from 23rd August 2022
NOTE OF READING ROTARY CLUB MEETING 23rd AUGUST 2022
Eydis welcomed:
1. Colin Maclean, Chair Foundation Team of the Reading Abbey Rotary Club and Fred McCrindle – the two guest speakers,
2. Karan Bhadiara, software consultant new to Caversham and interested in today’s topic,
3. Diogo Barros from Portugal (District 1970) who is also interested in the topic, and
4. Margaret Rice-Jones of the Binfield/Winnersh Rotary Club, which took over the Bracknell charter last year. The club meets in the Binfield community hall Sunday at 17:00hrs. Margaret has an international business career and wants to help mentoring local young people.
1. PRESIDENT’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. 28 August Reading Abbey Club needs volunteer marshals, for 10k Run @ Englefield
2. 30 August Mapledurham meeting – 36 will now attend
3. Claudio Steuer & Anna Steuer of Rio de Janiero will attend 6th September meeting
4. Henry Rugamba Immediate Past Uganda Rotary Club President will attend 20 September.
2. MEMBERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Eydis: Santa Run update – confirmed to take place on 11 December at Reading University.
3. SECRETARY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Next Face to Face Meeting: Tuesday 30th August at the Mapledurham Golf Club at 19:30 for 20:00 hours; SPEAKER: Simon Jones; Subject: Art Auctioneers and Valuers
Welcome to Guests and Vote of Thanks: TBA
2. Following Face to Face Meeting: Tuesday 6th September at Pepe Sale 12.30 for 13.00; SPEAKER: Reading Youth Leadership Awards; Welcome to Guests: Jack Holt; Vote of Thanks: Amir Kharkowa
3. 12th September is Golf Day so no meeting on 13th September 2022
4. TODAY’S SPEAKER: Colin Maclean, Chair Foundation Team, & Fred McCrindle of Reading Abbey Rotary Club
Subject: 'Launch Reading' - A Rotary initiative to support entrepreneurs in the Green area.
Today’s presentation is to solicit engagement, as Launch Reading needs more clubs to be involved in the pilot. Current difficulty is to access new entrepreneurs – numbers doubled during the Covid period. This increase can principally be broken down into 1) youth not willing to (continue) study at university, 2) 75+ers in need of more money. USA initiatives provide a great enterprise example.
Networking with experienced business people is the key to support the initiative. Applicants are being sought through posters in shopping & community centres and via. www.launchreading.org . A 10-week course set to start 22 October 2022 is being organized. RVA provides meeting space whilst Hamerson offers a classroom at the Oracle. Rotary assistance is needed to fund learning software licenses. Reading UK, RBH and RVA are already supporters.
During question time it was stated that templates showing processes or sample business plans are not yet available. It was suggested that Launch Reading approach - U3A, 1st graduates, YMCA, Theale Green and other Schools for possible applicants.
They were encouraged to submit an application for assistance through the RRCP process and Leslie mentioned during his vote of thanks that we will look for candidates and mentors.