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WELCOME

President George Weir welcomed all to the December 21st meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Frank Rucker 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 of a Polio free world,
We are thankful for our Rotary friends and the meal we are about to share.
 
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. 
 
As a luncheon of pork loin, ham, pasta with meat sauce, meatless pasta in tomato sauce, corn, rice, broccoli, salad, and decorated cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued. 

TRIVIA QUESTION

Who wrote the lyrics and music to Silent Night,
the most recorded Christmas song in the modern era?

(answer below)

JOKE OF THE WEEK

 
For our Rotary joke, Sandy Rouse told a version of the following joke:
 
In a small Southern town near Clemson University, there was a Nativity Scene that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered me. The three wise men were wearing firemen’s helmets.
 
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left. At a Quik Stop on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, You darn Yankees never do read the Bible!
 
I assured her that I did, but simply couldn’t recall anything about firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said
 
"See, it says right here", "The three wise men came from afar".
 

ROTARY MINUTE

 
For our Rotary minute, George Weir reminded us about Rotary’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative.  Rotary has donated over $1.7 billion toward the effort to eradicate polio. Today there are 3 endemic countries, 2 outbreak countries and 17 key at-risk countries. We are very close to eradicating this disease.  To learn more, click here.
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At our December 28th meeting, Frank Rucker will tell a joke or lead us in song, while Ron Stahley delivers a Rotary Minute.
 
NOTE: Weekly assignments are posted on club website.

 

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

 

·       12/28 – Milt Eaton presents: New England Youth Theater
·       01/04/18 – Dart Everett presents: Dollars for Duds
·       01/11– Marty Cohn presents: Chloe Learey “Early Childhood Educations Means Economic Development”
·       01/18– Club Assembly
 
 
NOTE: 2017-18 Weekly assignments (program, joke, and Rotary minute) are posted on club’s website.
 
FINES
 
 
There were no fines this week ;-(
 
 
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
  • To date, 385 out of 400 Christmas Trees have been sold.
  • The following members were recognized for their years of service: Bill Daley (10) and Mike Mandracchia (20).
  • A vote for the following slate of officers for 2018-19 was passed unanimously: President Bill Vermouth, President-elect Bill Daley, Vice President Marty Cohn, Secretary Ana Saavedra, Treasurer Rhonda Calhoun, and Immediate Past President George Weir. 
  • Please consider a donation to our Gateway Foundation for your end-of-year philanthropy.
  • Maureen and Jeanne were thanked for their excellent provision of service during our meals and were presented with Christmas gifts.
  • We're planning a fun fundraiser for our January 4th meeting.  Bring your unwanted presents and your checkbook and we'll auction them off!  Wait - we won't auction your checkbook, unless you're feeling super generous! The idea is, one Rotarian's "dud" is another Rotarian's treasure.  Don't stop with those gifts you don't like.  Look around  the house for other things in good condition that you just don't need anymore. And, bring cash or your checkbook.  You'll be buying treasures! All money raised in this crazy endeavor will go to “Feed the Thousands.”
  • The second annual “Ugly Christmas Attire” contest was conducted.  The 2017 winner by affirmation was the 2016 winner, Cheri Ann Brodhurst. Thanks to all participants!
  
BRAGS   
 
    
Marty Cohn– for Jenifer Ambler participation in ep. 3 of Rotary Cares.
                         
Marty Cohn – for Joe Little spearheading the building of six “Little Free Libraries” which will be turned over to Brooks Memorial Library after local artists have painted them.
                           
Joe Little – for his “Little Free Libraries” committee – Andy Rome, Gary Goodemote and Ted Kramer.
Cyndi Ferrante – for her son Gabe achieving a 3.8 GPA.
Cyndi Ferrante – for her son Gabe achieving being named to the dean’s list for his straight A’s.
Cyndi Ferrante – for her son Gabe being selected to be a resident assistant.
Rhonda Calhoun– for the birth of her first granddaughter.
Sandy Rouse– for the work of the Senior Gifts Committee being completed.
Sandy Rouse – for the success of our Seasonal Overflow Shelter meal.
Sandy Rouse – for Gina Pattison who worked on Senior Gifts and then helped serve the meal at SOS.
Ron Stahley– for Stan Nowakowski’s leadership with the SOS project.
Ron Stahley– for Gina Pattison bringing her kids to help serve the meal at SOS.
Bill McKim– for the successful promotion of his wife, Cheryl Wilfong’s new book “The Meditative Gardener."
Ana Saavedra – for the birth of her grand niece.
Jerry Theberge – for Mike Mandracchia not ratting him out for forgetting his badge.
Bill Daley– for all members who wore their ugly Christmas attire.
Chris Wocell – for the return of the Jr. Ski Jumping Program.
Cindy Jerome – for Bill Vermouth’s  excellent IT service to Holton Home and Bradley House.
Phil Steckler – for Chris Wocell’s leadership at the Outing Club.
George Weir – for John Mabie’s help on his Xmas tree shift.
John Mabie – for George Weir’s knowledge of Christmas trees.
Al Jerard – for the return of the Jr. Ski Jumping Program in which he participated as a youth with Fred Harris.
 

PROGRAM:

ED NOTE: Since no one sang a song for Chanukkah, the following is offered:
The Dreidel Song by Julie Silver 
 
REMINDERS
 
Bottles and cans can be brought to Putney Road redemption center to benefit Pure Water for the World.
 
Please see Mara Williams.
 
“Like” the club’s Facebook page.
 
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting. So far only FIVE members have acknowledged this rag. 
 
To view the episode 3 of Rotary Cares, click here.
To listen to episode 3 of Rotary Cares podcast, click here.
 
 

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....

 

    

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION

 

The names Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber have largely vanished into the annals of Christmas tormentors, but their greatest triumph lives on. “Silent Night,” which Mohr wrote the lyrics for (in German) in 1816 and Gruber put to music two years later, is the most recorded Christmas song in the modern era of the holiday’s substantial oeuvre.
 
For more info, click here.
 
 
 
 

 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner