President Bill Vermouth welcomed all to the January 14rd meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the Brattleboro Retreat in Brattleboro. Members who participated at the last Seasonal Overflow Shelter project welcomed members and guests to the meeting <ED NOTE: Folks should look up the definition of unison>. Mara Williams offered the following invocation
As we come together at this special time, let us pause a moment to appreciate the opportunity for good company and to thank all those past and present whose efforts have made this event possible. We reap the fruits of our society, our country, and our civilization, and take joy in the bounties of nature on this happy occasion. Let us also wish that, some day, all people on Earth may enjoy the same good fortune that we share.
<ED NOTE: Thank you to Jeremy Coleman for not only reading last week’s bulletin but also correcting the attribution of the invocation offered by Sophia Howlett. Sophia read the end of Little Gidding, the last of T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets.>
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Fred Moriarty.
As a delicious luncheon of roasted chicken, vegetable lasagna, shrimp scampi, broccoli, salad, rolls and cheese cake for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
TRIVIA QUESTION
When was the first newspaper published in Brattleboro?
(Answer below.)
JOKE
For the joke of the week, Lisa Mendelsund told the following:
A Polish handyman canvassed a wealthy neighborhood looking for odd jobs. He went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had anything for her to do. "Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?" He replied, "How about $50?" The man agreed and told him the paint was in the garage. A short time later, the Polish handyman came to the door to collect her money. "You're finished already?" he asked. "Yes," the Polish handyman answered, "and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats." Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50. "And by the way," the Polish handyman added, "that's not a Porsche; it's a Ferrari."
<ED NOTE: Chuck Cummings first told this joke years ago but instead of a Polish handyman it was a blonde. May his memory continue to be a blessing.>
ROTARY MINUTE
For the Rotary Minute, Fred Moriarty talked about the story behind the Rotary wheel. To learn more, click here.
At our January 17th meeting, Lisa Mendelsund will tell a joke or lead us in song and Fred Moriarty will offer a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
01/24 – Zach Stephens, Insight Photography
01/31 – Roger Allbee, “The history of agriculture in Brattleboro”
02/07 – Bob Stevens, “Exciting Downtown Brattleboro projects”
02/14 – Cara Meinke, Cara Wolff Jewelry
02/21 – Club Assembly
02/28 – TBD
03/07 – Rob Szpila, Students traveling to South Dakota
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 remember to inform the staff that the bottles and cans should be credited to the club.
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting.
So far, NINE.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The club received thank you notes from Maureen Ringer and Ruth Tripp for their Christmas gifts.
First posting for new member Virginia Vogel who was not present.
The Martin Luther King celebration at Centre Congregational Church will include a fundraiser for Students traveling to South Dakota
FINES
President Bill was fined for not calling on Roger Miller last week to give the Rotary minute
Two tables were fined for being only one gender.
President Bill was fined for not recognizing the aye votes for fines.
BRAGS
Ron Stahley – for Fred Moriarty’s Rotary Minute lasting over three minutes.
Cindy Jerome – for Chris Clarke, the Holton Home handyman who built the Rotary lectern.
Phil Steckler – for sitting at the table with the best looking Rotarians.
<ED NOTE: President Bill bragged $11 for the 11 members who hugged a child legally this past week. >
PROGRAM
At the club assembly, President Bill reviewed upcoming community service projects, the procedure for new members, and this year’s Sugar on Snow (Feb. 13). He also requested new club fundraising ideas.
<ED NOTE: As a result of last week's program with Cor Trowbridge discussing the jeopardy to funding of public access television, the Brattleboro Reformer published a supportive editorial. You can read the editorial by clicking here.
Rotary Cares - TV Show or Podcast
Rotary Cares, Episode 13 – International Service
In episode 13 of Rotary Cares, Brattleboro Rotary Club past president Marty Cohn talks about Rotary Peace Fellowship with Brattleboro Rotary Club president-elect Carla Lineback and The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers with Tristam Johnson, International Committee Chair for the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club. 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
Since 1797 there has been a weekly or daily newspaper in Brattleboro for all but four years. It started with Benjamin Smead's paper the "Federal Galaxy" in 1797 and goes on to include William Fessenden's "Reporter" in the early 1800s, the "Vermont Phoenix" for over 80 years, and the "Brattleboro Reformer" under the banner of Windham County and Brattleboro for over 140 years.
<ED NOTE: The bulletin editor will be missing the next two club meetings. This begs the question, if there is no bulletin, was there really a meeting?>
