Newsletter March 22, 2017

 

President Damon called the meeting to order.

 

 

1894: Hockey’s first Stanley Cup championship game was played in Montreal.  That city’s Amateur Athletic Association beat the Ottawa Capitals 3-1.

 

1982: NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia is launched from the Kennedy Space Center on its third mission, STS-3.

 

1993: The Intel Corporation ships the first Pentium chips (80586) featuring a 60 MHz clock speed, 100+ MIPS, and a 64-bit data path. 

 

Thanks to KJ for greeting.  Greeter next week - Josh

 

Rotary project of the week:  Slovenia

 

In November 2015, Rotary Club Ljubljana 25 successfully closed last year’s charitable project with a solemn handover in the maternity hospital where they donated means in the aggregate amount of EUR 196,595 ($210,000 USD) to the intensive care unit for nursing and therapy of newborns.

 

Scribe today – Cindy

 

Scribe dates ahead: Nick 3/29, Mark 4/5, Booie 4/12, Bob 4/19

 

Guest Speakers: Today Amelia, 3/29 Sadie

 

Guests today:  Former student Rotarian John Lonardo, Josh Unruh – Brattleboro Reformer, former Sunrise Rotarian/Landmark College Ellen Smith as well as Devi, Lucy & Evelyn.

 

Current Student Rotarians Rachael & Samantha from Hinsdale HS talked about the Hinsdale town meeting day this past Saturday.  One of the items up for vote was the expansion of the elementary school which passed with 280 votes (18 people voted no!).  The Student Athletic Leadership provided childcare during the vote for up to 40 kids.  In other news, the girls’ basketball team unfortunately lost but with Monday came spring sports and all eyes are now looking toward Softball, Baseball and Track.

 

Birthdays & Anniversary’s - none this week so no lovely singing.

 

 

Damon - The District conference will be on April 1^st in Keene and it looks like perhaps Jim V. has been nominated to go unbeknownst to him.  Those details are still working out. 

 

Damon - Mixer with noon club at the Brattleboro Country Club had a nice turnout.  Country Club has undergone some renovations that were noticed.

 

Damon – Deerfield Valley rotary has a putt and pour golf event on 6/9 at Mount Snow.

 

3 on 3 update Kevin & Toni – A wonderful success with only one very minor kerfuffle. We came close if not matched last year’s $9000 in revenues.  Totals are still being tallied.  “Thank you” letters are next to go out as well as last minute invoicing to those in need.  There are a lot of extra shirts available to be given out to all sponsors.  We had a robust turnout of volunteers with new faces.  As always more volunteers than jobs available but one of the best days yet in terms of how it was organized and run.  15 teams played.  Unfortunately, no participation from any Brattleboro area schools.  Looking to have a conversation perhaps on how the proceeds are distributed.  BUHS has not had a girls or boys team in years so maybe it would be a good idea to distribute the proceeds to the athletic department for disbursement.  They have been very good to us for this event. 

 

Sadie – Sign-up sheet going around for Overflow Shelter dinner service for 4/3

 

Sadie – We are putting together two teams for bowling which benefits the Big Brother & Big Sisters fundraiser “bowl for kids” on 4/1.  Sign-up sheet going around. 

 

Josh – Facebook following is high with 167 followers which is very good for a club with 38 members.  In that same vain a “members only” site like FB has been set up called BAND.  Can be used to communicate amongst members but not post new dog pictures (Jon)

 

Tristam – Trip to Honduras in August is a no go…. but good news is that the Coffee Shop is indeed open and not any longer online and virtual.  You can go and touch it, smell it and bring some home today!!

 

Sandy S. – Trivia night updates:  Battle of the Boards will be on 4/17 and Battle of the Schools will be on 5/8.  Thank you to all who participate.

 

Multiple club members - There were 3 extraordinarily dedicated Rotarians who braved wind, snow and other awful things to make their way to our meeting last Wednesday to only find that alas it was cancelled.  Kudo's to Tristam, Michelle & Ali……  

 

The potential for $42.00 but no one was a winner…. the Jack of Diamonds was not a friend to any.   

 

 

This Rotarian met their spouse on the first day of college. 

 

Will picked Booie & Bob. NO. Then Will picked Turner. NO. well wait a minute, yes per Jon who had a conversation with Turner and thought that is what happened.  No worries, Nick did meet his wife on the first day of college so all is good.  

 

 

Evelyn: Saturday at the Bellow Falls Opera House there was a wonderful production of Sweeney Todd with a lot of participation from NEYT in both performance and costuming. 

 

Jon:  A little bit more conversation about Turner and his wife.  Also, shared that the Secrest family has welcomed a new addition and long anticipated member to the family, 6-year-old Aubrey(sp) who is a Shih Tzu. Dog allergies aside everyone is adjusting nicely and it was an arduous process of getting accepted by the rescue organizations to make this happen.   

 

Sandy L: Sandy and John finally had the opportunity to take a well-deserved vacation to St. Croix.  First real vacation in 2 years!! Wonderful time snorkeling.   

 

Erin: Wishes everyone Aloha and is so happy to be back.  Thank you to everyone for the tremendous amount of support and lovely card.  She had the amazing opportunity to be on what was described as an epic journey of courage and beauty as she was with her mother during the last three weeks of her life.  Her mother being a musician and dancer was blessed to have a house filled with music and many many members of her hula troop.  She in wonderful spirit danced from her wheelchair with up to 19 visitors at one time.  Erin’s mother was very courageous as she transitioned and Erin stated how grateful she was to celebrate her mother’s life in the way they did.  She hopes to have another celebration of life in Brattleboro in the near future.  Erin also attended rotary on the island at the oldest established rotary there which was formed on July 1^st 1915.  The meeting was a lunch meeting and the setting and food was spectacular.  She presented a flag from the island to our rotary. 

 

Tristam: Tribute to Bernie Sanders for his commitment to all of us and his travels all over the country from being in Brattleboro and Springfield for town hall meetings in one day then traveling to West Virginia then back to Vermont on Monday to speak at a VA Clinic. 

 

Amelia: Brag for Hilltop Montessori and the upcoming Tag Sale which will be on 4/10.  Tables are going for $10.00 and Sunrise Rotary could have a table.  Come on out on that day to either re-home some items or acquire a new collection of stuff!  And there will also be a Pancake Breakfast!!

 

Turner: Spoke a little more about how he met his wife by circumstance when a previous interest (Jeanette) turned him down for a date because he did not have a car!!  He also reported that the Iditarod was very good.

 

Cindy: Had two brags – one for her oldest son who just returned from a trip to Cuba & Panama and for her youngest son who turns 21 tomorrow!! 

 

Kevin: A big thank you to Toni for all her dedication and help to the 3 on 3.  It has been going on for 21 years and during this past 5 years of his involvement he is so grateful for Toni’s assistance and all the club member’s participation.  A great event.  Also, a brag for his son and new wife who will be moving on 4/1 to a cottage in Alameda CA and leaving their condo. This will be a good move and much excitement for the next chapter of their lives.  Also, Kevin’s wife has had her 2^nd carpel tunnel surgery and despite doctors’ advice is still doing too much around the house.   

 

Josh: Loves the March snow storms and in honor of all of this snow is wearing a pretty cool circa 1970’s sweater that he got from his dad.  Josh also shared how his daughter is a budding art teacher and is having a lot of practice teaching Josh how to paint - with a great deal of care and patience. 

 

Lissa:  Inviting everyone to a Cuban dance party at 118 Elliot for some food and (BYOB) drink and the great sounds of the Cuban band Criollo Clásico on April 1st.

 

Guest Speaker Ellen Smith – VP Institutional Advancement Landmark College

Ellen spoke about what she has been doing at Landmark College in the 2 ½ years that she has been there.  Landmark College was established in 1985 in Putney as a school for individuals that learn differently.  It currently has students that come from a large spectrum of learning differences (LD’s).  Starting only offering associate degrees they currently have added three bachelor degree programs to include Liberal Studies, Computer Science & Studio Art.  There is a staff of 208 and a student body of 480.  One unique feature to Landmark is the FY course that requires each student to study their LD and identify what might assist them to be successful in school This modeling of a course is being training across the country by representatives of Landmark College.  Ellen has the opportunity to travel to many wonderful places and enjoys her time with her daughter who also is a world traveler either in DC or when her daughter is on break to visit locally. 

 

Meeting was adjourned and all went forth to do their good work!!

 

Meeting notes respectfully submitted by Cindy Delgatto