President Roger started the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance …......
GREETER: Thank you, Will, & Josh for greeting us this morning.
GUESTS: Jan Damm
SERVER: Desiree was our server this week and Mona and Diane will be next up.
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES: None.
SCRIBE: July 29th is Toni, August 5th is Dan Dietz(he switched with someone but not sure who).
SERVICE ABOVE SELF STORY:
Melissa- made chili for a hungry group of actors from the Vermont Suitcase Company
MJ- just wrapped a golf tournament to benefit BMH and Grace Cottage, she doesn’t have a final number yet but believes it will be in excess of $10,000.
Evelyn- stuffed backpacks with back to school supplies for the Free Back to School Bonanza at Newbrook Fire & Rescue. It is scheduled for Sunday, August 2, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This event is hosted by Caleb's Cherubs Educational Fund.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Garden Party Sunday @ 10am.
- Bowl of Life was passed around so members could add to it.
- Several clubs in the district are participating in a Peace Pole project. It will be held at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Wallingford, VT.
- Shelter Box for Venezuela raised $375.
- When making dues payment via PayPal please round up to cover the credit card processing fee or use your bank account or debit card as they do not have fees associated with it.
CARDS: 5 of spades…You lose, losers 
BRAGS:
Josh-bragged about his two-week trip to Alaska. During the trip, they spent some time out on a boat that mysteriously stopped for a while. He discovered that shared uncertainty is a great bonding experience with complete strangers, as everyone sat together wondering why they weren’t moving. He also visited other Rotary Clubs and highly recommends that for anyone traveling.
Nick- bragged for Jan, whom he has known since they were two years old. He also bragged about the recent family trip to Wyoming, which was a meaningful “circle of life” moment for them. The family enjoyed all sorts of wonderful excursions, including hot air ballooning, hiking, and white-water rafting.
Jon- bragged for Alina’s three weeks at home. She is back in Lithuania for the next year trying to decide what is next as she gave her notice is not currently working.
Mona- bragged for herself, as she was finally able to start going to the gym again after six months of vertigo. She woke up on June 12th and it was gone, and she appreciates feeling normal again.
Tucker- bragged for John Blake as the Vermont Suitcase Company were trying to straighten out some banking issues they were having.
Diane- bragged for Tucker who volunteered to help out with the club’s Instagram page. He will be our “new voice of Insta”
Toni- bragged for Kyle’s flight school graduation down in Alabama at Fort Rucker, where her brother flew in from Colorado to pin her wings on her. After 2 long years down there, she will be off to new adventures.
SPEAKER: Jan Damm began performing juggling shows for kids in central Maine when he was 12 years old. Since then, he has toured nationally and around the world as a professional clown and circus artist. Highlights include headlining the production show on Celebrity Cruises ‘Silhouette’, Montreal’s ‘Festival Completement Cirque’ with ‘Midnight Circus,’ playing Broadway with ‘Cirque Mechanics,’ ‘Big Apple Circus’ 40th Anniversary Tour, and performance intervention work in Haiti and Lebanon with ‘Clowns Without Borders’. He has also appeared on David Letterman, and with Circus Bella, Circus Zoppe, Flynn Creek Circus, and Circus Flora, among others. Jan has a passion for coaching and creation, and has worked as an instructor throughout the country, including coaching featured acts on Smirkus Big Top Tour. He lives with his wife and circus partner Ariele, and their children Timo and Ilsa
BOWL OF LIFE-
“Jim Maxwell is a close relation to someone who looked after me as a child.”
So of course we started with Jim, who had no idea. He guessed Will, who guessed Dan, then Tristam, then MJ, then Melissa, then Tristan, then Sandy, who finally guessed Tucker. Evidently, Jim’s daughter used to be Tucker’s babysitter.
President Roger ended the meeting with the Rotary Four-way Test:
Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the TRUTH, Is it FAIR to all concerned, Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS, Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned.