President George Weir welcomed all to the May 3rd meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Jeremy Coleman offered the following meaningful invocation:
Help us, as Rotarians and humans, to be compassionate, and to go our best for others. Help us, as Rotarians and humans, to be honest, ethical, and concerned with the welfare of others. Help us, as Rotarians and humans, to serve other human beings, and to realize, in two senses, our obligations as neighbors to our community, and the world. Amen.
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to John Mabie, Rick Manson, Cyndi Ferrante, and Jeff Morse.
As a luncheon of baked chicken, meatloaf, carrot/green bean bean medley, mac&cheese, salad, bread, and sugar cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
GUEST: Sophie Howlett, Prudence MacKinney and Shyla Foss (speakers)
TRIVIA QUESTION
How many Rotary clubs can be found in Vietnam?
(answer below)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For our Rotary joke, Cheri Ann Brodhurst told versions of the following:
A girl goes off and joins the Peace Corps and goes to Africa. She comes back with a husband who is a Watusi, seven feet tall, and he’s got a bone in the nose. At the airport, she’s greeted by her mother who says, “I said rich doctor.”
A motor mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a BMW M3 when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his car when the mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?" The cardiologist, a bit surprised walked over to where the mechanic was working on the BMW. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired or replaced anything damaged, and then put everything back in, and when I finished, it worked just like new. So how is that I make $40,000 a year and you make $1.7M when you and I are doing basically the same work?" The cardiologist paused, leaned over, and then whispered to the mechanic..... "Try doing it with the engine running."
ROTARY MINUTE
For our Rotary minute, Marty Cohn answered the question as to what happened to Rotary during World War II:
In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s Rotary International was finding its very existence threatened in Europe and on the other side of the world in Asia. As the war officially erupted, entire countries fell to German and Japanese forces. It was recorded in the book “Century of Service-The Story of Rotary International” that 484 clubs and more than 16,000 Rotarians were wiped off the rolls of Rotary during this time. In Europe, Rotary records were seized by the Gestapo, Rotarians were imprisoned, and in Warsaw 12 members of the local Rotary clubs were taken from a meeting and summarily executed. Some Rotary clubs burned every record of membership. After Germany invaded France, French Rotarians continued to meet secretly. From that book, “A Century of Service,” this story was told by the French Rotarians. “One day we were having our club lunch when a German officer, a General Shippert, came into the private dining room where we were sitting. The last mouthful of food stuck in our mouths as we thought he was coming to arrest us. But he was a Rotarian and a past Governor from Germany and said he has come to pay his respects to International President Maurice Duperrey. We were so relieved!” As was the case in Europe, after the Japanese invaded China and other Pacific Rim countries, Rotary members in the Far East were imprisoned. In areas of the world controlled by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, it was difficult to be a member of Rotary; however, Rotarians, where and when they could, stood up to the challenge and Rotary membership made a robust recovery after the end of the war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At our May 10th meeting, Rhonda Calhoun will tell a joke or sing a song while Jeremy Coleman will offer a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: Weekly assignments are posted on club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
05/10 – Bob Tortoloni: Recounting His Vietnam Experience
05/17 – Club Assembly
05/24 – Cindy Jerome: Celebrating 125 years at Holton Home (the video)
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting.
So far only NINE members have acknowledged this rag.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Liz Harrison was recognized for 15 years of service.
Thank you note received from Turning Point for the exterior painting project.
If you can help with the Welcome Center club fundraiser on June 8 from 8-5, contact Greg Worden. <ED NOTE: This is an important fundraiser to help the club with its expenses.>
If you can help with the Island Cleanup project on May 12th, contact George Weir.
If you can help identify sponsors and/or players for Rotary Golf Tournament, contact Gina Pattison <rpattison@bmhvt.org>
Dues notices have been distributed. Please pay by June 1.
There will be a meeting of Student Rotarians following today’s club meeting.
There will be a club mixer on 5/24 at the Kiwanis Shelter from 5:30 – 7:30PM. Details to follow.
Student Rotarians (Leland & Gray, Boys & Girls Club, Career Services, and BUHS) shared their lessons learned from the year. Confidence in public speaking was a consistent lesson.
Starting next week, we will be selling raffle tickets for the Rotary Golf Tournament. Last year set a record for raffle sales. Let's beat the record this year!
Only one Little Free Library is left to benefit Brooks Memorial Library.
FINES
President George Weir was fined for asking about upcoming mixer after it was reported. <ED NOTE: To his credit, President George finally figured out how to use the microphone!>
BRAGS
Bill McKim – for the upcoming wedding of his niece.
Dave Twombly – for his photo appearing in Reformer during Governor’s chamber breakfast.
Dave Twombly – for Gov. Scott’s support of gun control.
Dave Twombly – for Rob Szpila helping to organizer upcoming mixer.
Mara Williams – for her trip to Spain.
John Kohler – for Marty Cohn producing the club’s informative newsletter each week. <ED NOTE: He actually admitted to laughing out loud reading the joke.>
John Kohler – for Dave Twombly’s recent workshop on Social Security.
Cindy Jerome – for the past 26 years of service by Rep. David Deen. <ED NOTE: Cindy is going to throw her hat in the ring for the seat.>
George Anthes– for Gina Pattison’s event at BMH.
George Anthes– for his wife being honored at the BMH event.
Al Jerard – for his sister’s humanitarian medical work in Sudan.
George Weir – for two family members getting a job on the same day.
Carl Lynde – for the upcoming Boys & Girls Bike Ride.
Carla Lineback – for her mother’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars (Youth Services version)
George Weir – for his recent trip to Nashville to see his granddaughter.
Chris Hart – for Brattleboro Housing becoming smoke-free.
Dave Twombly – for all the good work of the Vermont Department of Health.
PROGRAM
Chris Hart presented Prudence MacKinney and Shyla Foss from the Vermont Department of Health who told us about “3-4-50: PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASE”. To learn more, click here.
Rotary Cares, Episode 7 – Local Scholarships
Brattleboro Rotary Club past president Marty Cohn hosts this episode discussing local scholarships, featuring guests Brattleboro Rotary Scholarship Chair John Mabie and Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club Scholarship Chair Toni Ciampaglione. Produced in the studio of Brattleboro Community Television.
Past President Martin Cohn who attempts to give a gist of the meeting respectfully submitted this bulletin. However, it is always better to attend. If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin...
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION
There have been no Rotary Clubs in Vietnam since 1975, when the seven Clubs then operating in the country were shut down and Rotary International canceled their charters.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
