President Phil George welcomed all to the May 5, 2022 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club www.brattlebororotaryclub.org held at the American Legion. <ED NOTE: 22 members + no guests + 8 Student Rotarians = 3027 attended.>.
The Rotary Thought for the day was provided by President Phil. President Phil gave an invocation recognizing Mexico’s victory this day in 1862, over a larger force of French military.
ED NOTE: Weekly assignments for the invocation or motivational thought can be found on the club website.>
Guests: none this week
TRIVIA QUESTION
Hg is the chemical symbol of which element?
(Answer below)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For our joke of the week: Bill McKim told of the police officer who pulled over a speeder after a long chase.The officer was ready to go home and told the speeder he had a chance to get off if he could come up with an excuse.The speeder said his wife had left him for a COP and that he was worried that the chasing officer was that COP trying to bring her back.
ED NOTE: 2021-22 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
ROTARY MINUTE
President Phil read Teddy Kramer’s comments regarding past Rotary projects he, his brother and father have participated in.The report got a big smile from Ted.
Anniversaries: Rotary anniversaries were recognized for Tami Purcell, Rhonda Calhoun, Dave Twombly Mara Williams and Chris Hart, who received her 10-year pin.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
5/12 – Youth Services – Cornhole for a Cause
5/26 Tristan Johnson
6/2 Tim Johnson
NOTE: 2021-22 weekly assignments, are posted on the club website.
Presentations were made from the following Student Rotarians: Student Rotarians: Podma Mendelson and Addison Devault of BUHS reported on happenings at the school including sports update, final exam preparation and winding up the year. Connor Sengaloun, Kailya Fleury and Peter Boussard reported and many activities at Leland & Gray including advancement placement and SAT exams, various sports, music performances, college applications, a trip to Grease, election of officers, and a scholarship fundraising raffle.
REMINDERS
Please bring your bottles and cans to the 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.
SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 17th – Brattleboro on Wheels
Thanks was given to those participating in last week’s bowling outing with the Sunrise club.
1 Refugees: George Anthes gave an update on Brattleboro’s refugees. The family is doing well, the father has a job, and a more permanent home has been identified. (Scribe note: The label of refugee will not last) Also (including a brag for Rob Szpila) he reported on Rob’s getting a refugee family now living in Georgia to and helping others as well.
2 Golf tournament: June 9. There is a signup sheet being maintained by Bill Vermouth. The club is looking for gift baskets, raffle and silent auction items.
3 Project: George Weir reported the Connecticut River Conservancy is looking for help on July 14 for a cleanup project between Walnut St and the river.
BRAGS / HAPPY DOLLARS / Fines
<ED NOTE: Yes, we are keeping track of these happy dollars and brags.
Unless noted, happy dollars and brags are $1>
Mara Williams for her wedding anniversary, for her 32 years in Rotary and for being in Brice and Zion.
George Anthes for Rob Szpila’s work welcoming and helping refugees, in particular, the one from Gerogia.
Cyndi Ferrrante for her birthday and trip to Virginia Beach
Regina Stefanelli for the “penny war” raising $1,100 for the Dummerston play ground, Rob Szpila for helping install disc golf baskets at the play ground and a brag for the May 14 workday at the Dummerston School.
PROGRAM
James Mayer was welcomed as our guest speaker. After watching a YouTube video James started Grateful Greens, an organic indoor farm in his closet growing sprouts under grow lights. He spoke to us about the trials and tribulations of growing a business from that closet to a 200 sq ft grow room producing 250 pounds per week to a planned expansion into space in the Cottonmill building and about successes in getting outside help.
