President Bill Vermouth welcomed all to the September 13th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. He introduced the Rotarians who participated in the Retreat Farm Pole Barn Painting project to welcome members and guests to the meeting. (ED NOTE: Perhaps President Bill should consider getting cue cards.) Regina Stefanelli offered a meaningful invocation:
As a luncheon of roast beef, pork loin, chicken with peppers, rice, cauliflower, black bean/chickpea medley, salad, bread, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
GUESTS: Julianne Eagan and Meg Donahue (second posting)
TRIVIA QUESTION
When was the last Category 5 hurricane to hit the United States?
(Answer below.)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For our Rotary joke, Jeff Hagstrom told the following:
A weathered, old cowboy walked into a barbershop one day. He told the barber, “I can’t get all these whiskers off anymore. My face is too wrinkled from years out in the sun.” The barber reached over and picked up a little wooden ball from a cup on the shelf. The barber told the old cowboy, “put this in your mouth and press it up against your cheek with your tongue to spread out the skin.” After the barber had finished his shave, the old cowboy he felt of his now whisker free cheek, and smiled. He told the barber, “That was the cleanest shave I’ve had in years.” He paused for a moment and then said, “I do have one question though. What would have happened if I had accidentally swallowed that little ball?” The barber replied, “Everything comes out in the end. You would have just brought it back in a few days like everyone else has.”
ROTARY MINUTE
For our Rotary minute, Roger Allbee reminded us about the history of Rotary and its relationship with Shelterbox USA.
At our August 20th meeting, Jim Haine will tell a joke or lead us in song and Chris Hart will offer a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
09/20 – Donna Hawes, River Gallery School
09/27 – Roadshow to 118 Elliot Street
10/04 – TBD, Vermont Food Bank
10/11 – TBD, Brattleboro Museum and Art Center
10/18 – No regular club meeting. Mixer at location TBD.
10/25 – Jeff Morse, TBA
11/01 – John Meyer, TBA
110/8 – Tom Green, Edible Brattleboro
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Second posting for Meg Donahue.
A hard copy of the club’s photo membership directory is being passed around to ensure the information is correct. If you need a photo, please contact Greg Worden. If you don’t know how to access the club’s website, kindly contact Marty Cohn.
If you are interested in helping with the Retreat Farm painting project on September 16, please contact Joe Little.
The next community service project at the Vermont Food Bank is 10/6. If you are interested in participating in future dates (the second Saturday of each month from 9-noon), please contact Stan Nowakowski.
If you can help with this year’s Groundworks Collaborative Empty Bowls on October 5 and 6, please contact Stan Nowakowski. https://groundworks.rallybound.org/empty-bowls-2018/Donate/Tickets
If you want to participate in Connecticut River Conservancy’s Source to Sea Cleanup on September 29, please contact George Weir.
A meeting of Student Rotarian Committee will take place after club meeting.
Sept 22—Brattleboro Sunrise CLUB'S PROJECT!!!--Build the Turning Point Pergola and BBQ. You can participate that day and/or beforehand if you can't be there. Sign up here and get times/info here.
If you can help with Pie It Forward, contact Roger Allbee. Pie It Forward will be baking 100 pumpkin pies for sale at Thanksgiving.
FINES
Cindy Jerome fined for not adequately explaining why there has been a decrease in fines.
Cindy Jerome for forgetting that Bill Vermouth, not George Weir is the club president.
Bill Vermouth for referring to Cindy as Sandy.
BRAGS
Rob Szpila – for Marty Cohn’s ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
Stan Nowakowski – for Justin and Entera Catering donating leftover luncheon meals to Groundworks.
Joe Little – for the stellar painting crew at Retreat Farm.
Joe Little – for Meg Donahue’s painting abilities.
Bill Vermouth – for Rob Szpila getting a grant to improve Disc Golf course.
George Weir – for Joe Little organizing painting project at Retreat Farm.
George Weir – for his wife watching the Red Sox game instead of Rachel Maddox.
Fred Moriarty – for his wife’s continued good health.
Fred Moriarty – for his 57th wedding anniversary (and 60th anniversary of their first date).
Jeremy Coleman – for Marty Cohn continuing to put out the club’s weekly bulletin.
Roger Allbee – for John Kohler, Rob Szpila, Tami Purcell and Anne Allbee packing ability at Vermont Food Bank.
Greg Worden – for Fred Moriarty’s softball team ringers.
John Meyer – for Jim Haine coordinating club programs.
Cindy Jerome – for Ricky Davidson’s tee shirt message.
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PROGRAM
The Gateway Foundation Annual Meeting was conducted. Reports by the secretary and treasurer will be posted on the club website.
President’s Report:
The Brattleboro Gateway Foundation was founded by our club in 1986 to create a local fund to award scholarships to deserving, area students pursuing higher education. Historically, the Gateway Foundation has been supported through club fundraisers, such as Christmas Tree Sales, as well as individual donations from dedicated Rotary members. This year, we received a donation from the Golf Committee.
Gateway gave the Scholarship Committee $16,500 this year. In addition to six students from area high schools, we presented the fourth recipient of a $2500 scholarship to a Community College of Vermont student pursuing a career in medical assisting. This award was created to honor Jesse Corum, a dear Rotarian who recognized the need for education.
This year we are asking our Student Rotarians to develop a fundraiser for Gateway.
Since the Gateway Foundation’s formation in 1986, the cost of a college education has more than doubled. According to Forbes, the average student loan debt of graduating college seniors is over $26,000, with 1 in 10 students owing over $40,000.
Scholarships such as Gateway Foundation are important for students as they embark upon their college education. However, our current award amount of $16,000 is not enough to fund even one year of college for one student.
We know that we can do better. Our goal is to raise $10,000 from our club membership before December 31, 2018. This money will allow us to sustain our endowment and award more scholarships to more deserving students. Please help us reach this goal!
Please bring your check to the next club meeting or send it to:
Gateway Foundation
PO Box 6433
Brattleboro, VT 05302-6433
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours in Rotary,
Marty Cohn
President, Gateway Foundation
Board members were acknowledged for their 2017-18 service:
Marty Cohn, President
John Meyer, Vice President
George Anthes, Secretary
Bill Vermouth, Treasurer
Robin Sweetapple
Gina Pattison
John Mabie, Scholarship Chair
George Weir, BRC Pres
Jeff Hagstrom, BRC Im. Past Pres
The following board members were elected:
George Anthes
Marty Cohn
John Meyer
Gina Pattison
Robin Sweetapple
Chris Wocell
John Mabie, Scholarship Chair
Bill Vermouth, Club President
George Weir, Club Immediate Past President
<ED NOTE: Subsequent to the general meeting, the board voted for the following 2018-2019 officers: Marty Cohn, President; Robin Sweetapple, Vice President; George Anthes, Secretary; Chris Wocell, Treasurer>
Rotary Cares - TV Show or Podcast
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DISCLAIMER
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...
