July 23, 2025 minutes 

Rotary Club Meeting – July 23, 2025

Attendance and Opening:

*  Greeters, Josh and Will

* Mona scribe 

* Collier scribe for next week

* Upcoming speaker for next week: Dan, then week after, Rotary member from      London

* Josh proposed rotating scribe and speaker list on a monthly basis too ensure everyone can track their role and when it comes up to avoid missed duties.

Service Above Self:

• Mona’s friend, Leann, demonstrated kindness by checking in and bringing flowers to others at a local event. Recent nursing graduate, Amy  Nelson, sent letter of appreciation for receiving 2023 scholarship. Graduated nursing school with 4.0.  Beginning labor/delivery nursery. Rotary was a great contribution to her success.

New Member Induction:

• Liz Collard Inducted.

• Liz is a bookkeeper, relocated from NYC to Dummerston, Vermont in April, 2020. She is a mother of two, owns two dachshunds. She haas a Masters in Elementary Education, volunteers “Big Sister” to 14 y.o. girl. Love sking, skiing, canoeing.​

Club Actions and Announcements: 

• Melissa Lee is recognized for her 1st anniversary.

• Garden Project: Meet Sunday, July 27 
@ 9:00a.am for weeding, planting and watering. Now have an agreement with Holbrook House and the Christian Science Church to allow hoser hookups for easier watering. Sign-up sheet for watering duties to be sent out soon.

• Our Rotary Club received a $1,000 district grants for  scholarships, with great thanks to  Melissa for writing the application and Nick and Josh for the strategic plan.

• West River invasive plant project: We will be working in collaboration with the noon Rotary club in helping the Riverstone Preservation invasive plant removal. WE will have a designated spot that we will work on on August 23rd from 9:00am to 12:00.  Access to the site is from Rice Farm Road. Directions will be handed out.  Long pants, closed toe shoes, globes and water suggested. Dam Heasley will join us an give us a lesson in what plants we should pull and what to leave. 

• Historic Plaques Project: Bill Holiday from the Historical Society, has reached out regardinggetting permission for installing the plaques on the Main Street historical buildings, including the Wilder, Devons, Cutler, Engage. Volunteers are needed to locate and speak with property owners. Suggestion to collaborate with the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance. 

Brags and Recognitions: 

• Kristas participated with the NEYT film camp in collaboration with BCTV with impressive kid-produced videos and a Josh in it. Plands to share YouTube to club. including Josh!

• Diana announced that KJ passed his instrument rating exam, now in commercial flight training

• Jon attended a two-week intensive class in Lithuanian at the University in Lithuania in Vilnius. And then headed off to Georgia the 10,000 foot mountains with Kerry.

• Toni: announced that Kyle (her daughter) is in helicopter flight training. Toni is overcoming apprehension of all this flight training. 

This is Your Life- Toni:

• Toni was born in Poughkeepsie , NY to a large Italian-American family with six children, second generation, all grandparents emigrated from Italy. Hder family owned and operated Italian restaurants.  She grew up deeply immersed in food and hospitality.  She went to SUNY Oneonta.  

Toni moved to Vermont in 1988 with her then boy-friend (later X-husband) to settle in the Mt Snowe area. They opened a business, butcher shop, baker, restaurant in Montpelier area. 

Transitioned to Brattleboro as son started school, employed by Raymond James, then Advest. Recruited to BS&L by George Haynes and Joe Little to serve as financial advisor.   Developed broad experience from office management to licensed advisor, now trust management.  Joined Rotary in 2000 at urging of Jason Pasternak. Over 25 years of Rotary membership with rolls of Treasure, President, Board, instrumental in clubsfinancial operations and foundation establishment. 

Married fellow Rotarian, Peter in 2016 after many years as a friend and colleague, both sharing banking experience. Siblings spread between ?Hyde Park,  Albany and three sisters in Dalton, Georgia.

Brett (son) and Kyle active and successful as adventurous personalities.

Planning trip to Italy with Kyle on her completion of flight school.