President George Weir welcomed all to the November 16th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Steve Gordon offered the following meaningful invocation:
With our friends beside us,
And no person beneath us,
With the bonds of Rotary Between us,
And our worries behind us,
With our goals before us,
And no task beyond us,
With a thirst for knowledge,
And a dream to make the world a better place,
We are thankful for our Rotary friends and the meal we are about to share.
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Jody Haley, Liz Harrison, Tom French, and Cathy Coonan.
As a luncheon of gluten free pasta with olives, spinach, and tomato sauce, beef stew, mac & cheese, steamed broccoli, green salad, bread, and cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
Guests: Visiting Rotarians Regina Stephanelli (Farmington, ME) and Valerie Stuart (Brattleboro Sunrise)
TRIVIA QUESTION
Which President moved Thanksgiving up one week to help stimulate the Christmas shopping economy?
(answer below)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For our Rotary joke, Dane Rank told a version of the following joke:
A rich old man goes for his regular round of golf with his friends but this time he brings along a gorgeous young lady.
"Guys, meet my new fiancée" he says, full of pride as he introduces her to his pals.For the rest of the afternoon his friends can't take their eyes off the stunning beauty.
After the round of golf the rich man goes up to the bar to buy drinks for the group.
One of his friends goes with him and when at the bar asks him, "How on earth did you manage to hook up with such a beautiful young lady? You're seventy. She must be at least forty years younger than you!"
The old rich guy says, "I lied about my age."
His friend says, "And she believed you? How old did you say you were?"
"I told her I was ninety."
ROTARY MINUTE
For our Rotary minute, Gina Pattison and Dart Everett revealed why they joined Rotary.
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There is no meeting on November 23 since it’s Thanksgiving. At our November 30th meeting, Aaron Rich will tell a joke or lead us in song, while Sandy Rouse delivers a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: Weekly assignments are posted on club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
· 11/23 – NO MEETING – HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
· 11/30 – Dave Twombly presents: Rob Szpila, Pine Ridge project update
· 12/07 – Bill Daley presents: Bill McKellar, “Hang Gliding”
· 12/14 – Ricky Davidson presents: Keystone: Teen leadership program at Boys & Girls Club
· 12/21 – Club Assembly
· 12/28 – Milt Eaton presents: TBA
· 01/04/18 – Dart Everett presents: TBA
· 01/11– Cyndi Ferrante presents: TBA
· 01/18– Club Assembly
· 01/25 – Marty Cohn presents: Alan English, Brattleboro Reformer
NOTE: 2017-18 Weekly assignments (program, joke, and Rotary minute) are posted on club’s website.
FINES
NONE ;-(
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sign ups for Christmas Tree shifts have begun. See Jeff Hagstrom for more details.
Volunteers are needed to set up the Christmas Tree stands on 11/18 and to unload the Christmas Trees on 11/24. See Jeff Hagstrom for more details.
Christmas birdseed wreaths are available for $15. See Jeff Hagstrom for more details.
Nominations are being sought for Norm Keubler’s 4-Way Test Award. See Cindy Jerome for more info.
The club is sponsoring the meal at the Seasonal Overflow Shelter on 11/27. In addition we are serving the meal donated by McDonald’s on 11/17.
The Putney Road Bottle/Can Redemption is holding a contest for most deposits by a non profits in November. Winner get $0.065 per bottle / can. Remember, all monies for Brattleboro Rotary Club go to Pure Water for the World.
If you would like to help with this year’s Senior Gifts Committee, see Sandy Rouse. Monetary donations will be collected at 11/30 meeting.
Disc Golf course cleanup at Living Memorial Park will be done on 11/18 (rain date 11/19). See Rob Szpila for more info.
BRAGS
Cindy Jerome– for her photo being used to promote the Brattleboro Women’s Chorus concert despite the fact that she is not singing in this year’s concerts on 11/18 and 11/19.
George Weir– for McDonald’s donating the lunch at NECCA and the dinner for Overflow Shelter.
Stephen Stearns– for Cindy Jerome and Holton Home.
Val Stuart– for the Vermont Attorney General’s Office updates on Equifax breach, consumer.vermont.gov
Val Stuart– for her upcoming trip to Germany to visit her 1st Lt. daughter
Ted Kramer– for his son, Jack, being named to Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2018.
Steve Gordon– for John Meyer and Rhonda Calhoun being named to BMH board.
PROGRAM:
We had a club assembly.
Bill Vermouth is working on his new officers and directors. If you are interested in serving on the club’s board, contact Bill.
President George facilitated a discussion about membership. We all need to help identify prospective members who are enthusiastic, interested in service and have the time to be an engaged member. Also, we need to do a better job about mentoring our newer members and making sure we do an exit interview for those members resigning their membership. Also, we might to do a better increasing our visibility for completed community projects. Possibly, we can all buy tee shirts to wear during community projects. Finally, if you think someone would make a good member, “make the ask.”
REMINDERS
Bottles and cans can be brought to Putney Road redemption center to benefit Pure Water for the World.Please see Mara Williams.
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting. So far only three members have acknowledged this rag.
This bulletin was respectfully submitted by Past President Martin Cohn who attempts to give a gist of the meeting. However, it is always better to attend. If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin....
