President George Weir welcomed all to the October 12th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Al Jerard
offered the following meaningful Manitoba Buddhist invocation:
We gently caress you, the Earth, our planet and our home.
Our vision has brought us closer to you, making us aware of the harm we have done
to the life network upon which we ourselves depend.
We are reminded that we have poisoned your waters, your lands, your air,
We have filled you with the bones of our dead from war and greed.
Your pain is our pain.
Touching you gently, we pray that we may become peace-bringers and life-bringers so that
our home in its journey around the Sun not become a sterile and lonely place.
May this prayer and its power last forever.
This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Bill Daley (again), and Frank Rucker.
As a luncheon of kosher pork ribs, baked chicken, steamed broccoli, rice, roasted vegetable casserole with cheese, green salad, bread, and cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
Guests: Michael Hertz (speaker)
TRIVIA QUESTION
What is the official state fruit of Vermont?
(answer below)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For our Rotary joke, Marty Cohn told a version of the following joke:
A little guy is sitting at the bar just staring at his drink for half an hour when this big trouble-making biker steps next to him, grabs his drink, gulps it down in one swig and then turns to the guy with a menacing stare as if to say, 'What'cha gonna do about it?' The poor little guy starts crying. 'Come on man I was just giving you a hard time,' the biker says. 'I didn't think you'd CRY.' 'I can't stand to see a man crying. “This is the worst day of my life,” says the little guy between sobs. “I can't do anything right.” “I overslept and was late to an important meeting, so my boss fired me.”When I went to the parking lot, I found my car was stolen and I don't have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife in bed with the gardener and my dog bit me. So I came to this bar trying to work up the courage to put an end to my life, and then you show up and drink the damn poison.
ROTARY MINUTE
For our Rotary minute, Gina Pattison provided some Rotary trivia:
The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships is the world’s largest, privately funded scholarship program.
The first service project of the first Rotary club of Chicago was installation of public toilets in the city.
Rotarians in the United States make up 28% of all Rotarians worldwide
In June 1921, it was formally determined that racial restrictions would not be permitted.
The first Rotary club banner (from the Houston Space Center) to orbit the moon was carried by astronaut Frank Borman, a member of the club.
The Rotary emblem was printed on a commemorative stamp for the first time in 1931.
The first head of state of address a Rotary convention was US President Warren G. Harding in 1923 at St. Louis.
The first regular luncheon meetings were in Oakland, California, chartered in 1909.
The first Rotary convention was in Chicago in 1910.
The first Rotary club outside of the U.S. was chartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1910.
The first Rotary club outside of North America was chartered in Dublin, Ireland, in 1911.
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At our October 19th meeting (ED NOTE: A Road Show to Scott Farm), Dave Neumeister will tell a joke or lead us in song, while Tami Purcell delivers a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: Weekly assignments are posted on club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
10/19 – ROAD SHOW to Scott Farm
10/26 – Marty Cohn presents: Sal Napoli and Larry Johnston, McDonald’s
NOTE: 2017-18 Weekly assignments (program, joke, and Rotary minute) are posted on club’s website.
FINES
NONE ;-(
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2017-2018 dues are over due. If you haven’t paid you dues, you are in arrears and need to speak to Treasurer Rhonda Calhoun.
Road shows are planned by Rotarians for Rotarians Committee: Scott Farm on 10/19; NECCA on 11/2. Contact Dave Twombly for more details and to sign up.
Mixer with Sunrise Rotary is scheduled for 10/26 from 5-7pm at The Marina. Please RSVP Dave Twombly.
The club received a banner from a visiting Rotarian (Liverpool Garston).
The club received a banner from Rotary Club Toggenburg, Switzerland; a potential partner in our international project.
A sympathy card is being sent by the club to Carl Lynde for the passing of his brother, Stanley.
Volunteers are needed for our “Free Library” project. See Joe Little for details.
BRAGS
George Weir – for an article about our “Free Library” literacy project in this week’s Commons.
George Weir– for Sunrise Rotarian Josh Trager and Rob Szpila receiving a district grant to add holes to disc golf course.
Ron Stahley– for his 41st wedding anniversary.
Marty Cohn– for the donation by Textile Company (Greenfield, MA) of quilting fabric for Pine Ridge.
Marty Cohn– for the wedding this weekend of his youngest daughter Jessica to Michael Adams.
Steve Gordon– for the retirement of Linda Bedard from BMH after 54 years.
Chris Hart – for what would be her father’s 100th birthday.
Bill Daley – for BMH receiving its certificate of need for a $22.7 million expansion project designed to address "current and future facility needs"
Bill Daley – for his 36th wedding anniversary.
Dart Everett – for his quick getaway to Las Vegas and being 20 feet from massacre.
Betsy Gentile – for Marty Cohn producing the informative club bulletin. (ED NOTE: If you are reading this then you should be bragging at next club meeting.)
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting. So far only three members have acknowledged this rag.
This bulletin was respectfully submitted by Past President Martin Cohn who attempts to give a gist of the meeting. However, it is always better to attend. If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin....
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION
No. 15 of the Acts of 1999, effective May 10, 1999, designated the apple as the official State Fruit.
