President Bill Vermouth welcomed all to the March 7th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Members who participating in painting the new BMH Dental Clinic welcomed members and guests. <ED NOTE: This was done in perfect unison>. Jenifer Ambler offered a meaningful invocation and reminded us that this is the start of Lent.
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Student Rotarian Trevor.
As a luncheon of chicken, pork loin, tofu, rice, peas, salad, bread and blonde brownies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
GUESTS: Visiting Rotarian Ali Barry (Sunrise), Rev. Lise Sparrow, and 7/22 of the youth traveling to South Dakota Indian Reservations this summer.
TRIVIA QUESTION
When and where did indoor bowling lanes make their debut?
(Answer below.)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For the joke of the week, Gina Pattison told the following:
A drunk Man sits down on a subway train next to a catholic priest. The man wreaked of a stale beer and cigarette smoke, his tie was stained with and his shirt filthy, his face plastered with red lipstick, and a half empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket.
The man opened his newspaper and began reading. After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, “Say Father, what causes arthritis?”
The priest, obviously bothered by man's foul stench and abhorrent behavior, sternly replies, “My Son, it is caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of a bath.”
The drunk man looked up for a second, muttered in response, “Hmm...well, I’ll be damned,” the returned to his paper.
The priest, beginning to think he may have been a bit harsh, nudged the man and apologized. “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?”
The drunk man answered, “Oh I don’t have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does.”
There is no meeting on March 14th. Members are encouraged to attend the Rotary Bowling Event on March 15th. At our March 21st meeting, Dane Rank will tell a joke or lead us in song and Frank Rucker will offer a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
ROTARY MINUTE
For the Rotary Minute: Gina Pattison read us an email from Sandy Sherman, this year’s Jesse Corum Scholarship winner, about what the award meant to her:
While growing up my grandmother lived with us, I loved spending time with her and she became a huge positive influence in my life. The one thing she instilled in me was to work hard, stay focused and have a goal/dream. She also told me that it was all the small steps along the way that would help me reach those goals or dreams.
The medical field has always been an interest and something I have wanted to pursue, because of life situations it has taken longer than expected. My grandmothers voice has been with me, encouraging me through all the small steps, and because of hard work and dedication I have finally made it to where I am happy with where I am in the medical field.
The biggest thing for me is to be an example to my children, teach them to push forward, work hard, take the good days with the bad and to never give up on goals or dreams. When I received this scholarship, the first thing both of my children said to me was "congratulations mom, we are so proud of you and love you so much".
I can't thank the Rotary enough for this scholarship and truly appreciate all the help it will provide for me.
Sandy Sherman, Medical Assistant
There is no meeting on March 14th. Members are encouraged to attend the Rotary Bowling Event on March 15th. At our March 21st meeting, Dane Rank will tell a joke or lead us in song and Frank Rucker will offer a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
03/14 – No Club Meeting – plan to attend Bowling Night on 3/15
03/21 – Jess and Mike Kull, Vermont Gelato
03/28 – Kevin Quigley, Marlboro College
04/04 – Vermont Attorney General Thomas J. Donovan
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, TEN.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Lise Sparrow drew the name of the winner of the Lakota Sundance Festival quilt. The winner is Tristam Johnson of the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club. $500 was raised for the Pine Ridge Food Delivery Project.
We are all set for the March 9th Foodbank Project with Sunrise Rotarians Mona Williams and Sandy Shriver and Brattleboro Rotarian Jim Haine and his wife. Next date for this project is April 13.
The next SOS meal is Monday, March 18th with an Irish theme. Contact Stan Nowakowski if you can help out.
Rotary Bowling Night on Friday, March 15 has 47 folks signed up. For more info, please contact Dave Twombly
Student Rotarians from WRCC, BUHS, Boys & Girls Club, and Leland & Gray gave their monthly reports.
Sunrise Rotary News:
‘Kawfee’ for sale ($12/delicious whole bean or ground bag). Funds international scholarship in Honduras. Always available at Sunrise Rotary Club meetings, events and fundraisers.
Sunrise is looking forward to participating in the 3/15 Rotary Club bowling event and is offering a sock challenge.
Sunrise’s 23rd Annual 3-on3 Nothing But Net Tournament is on March 26th. All proceeds benefit scholarship fund.
On March 20th from 6-8 pm at Whetstone Station – Pints for Polio. For a minimum donation of $25 you get a commemorative glass with every $1 of proceeds matched by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with another 2.
Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development is holding its 5th Annual Par for the Course mini golf event on March 9. The next day, the mini golf course will be open for children. For more info, click here.
FINES
NONE ;-(
BRAGS
Bill Vermouth – for Joe Little and Andy Rome’s leadership with the BMH Dental Clinic painting project.
Joe Little– for the nine folks who participated in the BMH Dental Clinic painting project
Dave Twombly– for Joe Little’s leadership with the BMH Dental Clinic painting project.
Steve Gordon– for the entire painting crew at the BMH Dental Clinic painting project
Lisa Mendelsund - for Joe Little’s leadership with the BMH Dental Clinic painting project.
Andy Rome - for Joe Little and the entire crew at the BMH Dental Clinic painting project.
Gina Pattison - for Joe Little’s leadership with the BMH Dental Clinic painting project.
Gina Pattison – for her son making it into the Varsity Hockey division II quarterfinals.
Andy Rome – for Gina Pattison stepping in to tell a joke in his place today.
Fred Moriarty – for the BUHS Nordic Ski team taking silver.
Stan Nowakowski – for everyone who participated in the Seasonal Overflow Shelter this year.
Regina Stefanelli – for Carla Lineback taking off to this year’s PETS training.
Lisa Mendelsund – for Stan Nowakowski’s leadership in the club’s food program.
Betsy Gentile – for this year’s Student Rotarians.
PROGRAM
Rob Szpila presented several students who are traveling to South Dakota to visit Native American reservations.
<ED NOTE: In the February 28th club bulletin, Stephanie Bonin’s organization was misidentified. She is the executive director of DBA: Downtown Brattleboro Alliance.>
Rotary Cares - TV Show
Rotary Cares, Episode 15 – Membership
Brattleboro Rotary Club past president Marty Cohn talks about Rotary membership with guests Brattleboro Rotary Club member Regina Stefanelli and Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary member Tom Franks. 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
Indoor bowling lanes made their debut in 1840 in New York City. For more info, click here.
