Immediate Past President Bill Vermouth welcomed all to the February 27th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion. George Weir offered the following meaningful invocation that he wrote himself:
May we always be mindful of and thankful for opportunities to serve those in need here in our community and in communities throughout the world. We derive strength from the core values we share. We should reflect on, take pride in, and satisfaction from what we have accomplished. But we should always look forward to new challenges and opportunities. Rotary has made and will continue to make the world a better place. Amen
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Mara Williams.
GUESTS: Margaret Atkinson and Dora Levinson (speakers)
As a luncheon of red wine glazed chicken, meatloaf, mac & cheese, rice, broccoli with carrots, salad, rolls and red wine chocolate cake for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
TRIVIA QUESTION
Paul Harris was the first president of Rotary International. Who was the first president of the Rotary Club of Brattleboro?
(Answer below.)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For the joke of the week, Joe Little told the following:
A Jewish man was leaving a convenience store with his espresso when he noticed a most unusual Italian funeral procession approaching the nearby cemetery. A black hearse was followed by a second black hearse about 50 feet behind the first one. Behind the second hearse was a solitary Italian man walking a dog on a leash. Behind him, a short distance back, were about 200 men walking in single file.
The Jewish man couldn't stand the curiosity. He respectfully approached the Italian man walking the dog and said: "I am so sorry for your loss, and this may be a bad time to disturb you, but I've never seen an Italian funeral like this. Whose funeral, is it?"
"My wife's."
''What happened to her?"
"She yelled at me and my dog attacked and killed her."
He inquired further, "But who is in the second hearse?"
“My mother-in-law. She came to help my wife and the dog turned on her and killed her also."
It was a very poignant and touching moment of Jewish and Italian brotherhood. Silence passed between the two men.
The Jewish man then asked, "Can I borrow the dog?"
The Italian man replied, "Get in line."
At our March 5th meeting, Carl Lynde will tell a joke or lead us in song and Rick Manson will offer a Rotary Minute. 2019-20 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
ROTARY MINUTE
For today’s Rotary Minute, Mike Mandracchia reminded us that at the 1950 Rotary International Convention in Detroit, Michigan, USA, two slogans were formally approved as the official mottoes of Rotary: He Profits Most Who Serves Best and Service Above Self. For more info on Rotary mottoes, click here.
At our March 5th meeting, Carl Lynde will tell a joke or lead us in song and Rick Manson will offer a Rotary Minute. 2019-20 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
03/05 – Jerry & Nicholas Theberge, “Dental Implants”
03/12 - Club Assembly
NOTE: 2019-20 weekly assignments are posted on the 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.
This is the 33rdnewsletter of the new club year.
If you like this newsletter, please brag at next Club meeting.
So far, there has been only 6 brags!
Does this mean you are not reading this newsletter????
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The 7870 Rotary District Conference will take place May1-3 in Portland, ME. To register, click here.
The Gateway Foundation board will meet on 3/5/20 following the regular club meeting.
132 people were served Sugar on Snow. To learn more, click here.
The next Foodbank Sort-A-Thon is March 14. Volunteers are needed. For more info, contact Stan Nowakowski.
BRAGS / Happy dollars
Stan Nowakowski– for Gina Pattison and Steve Gordon volunteering to provide a meal and staff at our next Groundwork Seasonal Overflow Shelter on March 11.
George Weir – for Marty Cohn not only doing a great job on the club’s newsletter but also for the district newsletter.
Ron Stahley – for today’s speakers, Margaret Atkinson and Dora Levinson, who are doing so much to benefit youth in our community.
<ED NOTE: Time ran out before Marty Cohn could brag for his granddaughter, Talia, getting her first two teeth.
PROGRAM
Marty Cohn presented Margaret Atkinson and Dora Levinson, who told us about a new initiative, The Basics, that are five fun, simple, and powerful ways to help all our children aged 0-3 grow to be happy and smart. For more info, click here.
Rotary Cares - TV Show
Rotary Cares, Episode 25 – Rotary Takes a Bite Out of Hunger
In episode 25 of the award-winning, monthly show, Rotary Cares, Brattleboro Rotary Club past president Marty Cohn discusses two Rotary community nutrition projects with Gayle Ottmann, Community Service Chair of the Rotary Club of White River and Lorelei Morrissette, Resident Wellness & Services Manager for the Brattleboro Housing Partnership. Directed by Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club past president Kevin Yager 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
1950-1951 - Dick Sherwin. For a list of past club presidents, click here.
