Call to Order – Pledge
Good Morning
Bonnie Anderson – BF Bike Project Guest
No Quote of the day and no Rotary Minute – Mask and Delta Variant update DG email “Reminding people that you can wear mask, all in person meetings in NH and in Bennington County (wear mask) b/c rise of illness.” Stay tuned for updates from the CDC. Visitors or guests please remind of the same rules; if you are unvaccinated wear mask. Open to return to zoom or hybrid meetings.
Rotary Major Project – Vietnam Vet Memorial need more help – seeking volunteers for supporting the meals. Thursday September 16th, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, and Sunday 19th Dinner. Also serving Lunch on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th.
Greeter – KJ
Next Week – Nick
Scribe – Nick, next week Jeff Dunklee 8/18; Sadie 8/25.
Speaker – Nancy Deltra 18th, 25th is Tristam 8/25, KJ – Sept 1.
Guests – Brattleboro and BF Bike Project
Anniversary – 6 year Jim Verzino, Cindy and Lisa – August 10th 5 years. Will 20 years, Kevin 26 years.
Birthday – Marcy Caulkins
Rotary Announcements –
Diane – Trivia 2nd Monday of every Monthly. September is Living Memorial Moving Wall 6:30PM Monday September 13th. Email reminders, FB,
Josh – October 2nd, 3 Rotary Disc Golf Tournament – 140 participants. Need most help on Friday the 1st. Weekend will be singles tournament. Tony, Josh Golberg, working on sponsorship.
Will – Fundraiser coming up Hungry Lion September 25th – 30/50/70mi bike tour. Dancing, Food, Beer. Dover Rotary and Whittingham Lions club.
Tristam – Read through dedicated funds, just need to find what we want to do. Easy outline and funds should be readily available. Deadline – midnight September 15th. Windham County, national, international.
VFW Moving Wall – September 11th and 12th Weekend before constructing wall and laying platforms – time YTBD. Also need help with parking assistance during event.
Mona – VFW Moving Wall September 16th – 20th. Seeking volunteers for 6 shifts 2-3 servers per shift. 3 hours serving and 30 minute b/4 after event. Power at site; seeking crockpot foods. Need to feed 25-50 people per meal. Sign-up going around for people; signup genius being sent out. Deli in Coco-plum plaza offering discounts for people volunteering.
Community Forum – born afterwards, protestor, veteran, parent of person who served. Ask whatever want to ask for community. Goal is to come out with sympathetic appreciation for what happened in Vietnam War.
District 7870 Golf Tournament going on August 20th @ Brettwood in Keene, NH – Email Shared with Club
Brattleboro on Wheels Event – September 18th 9-2PM Car Show and Cruise in (Noon Time Club)
Reminder Putney Rd Redemption Center will take returnable bottle and cans, money from the returnable goes to Pure Water Foundation for Rotary (Noon Time Club)
Load the Latchis, August 19th 9-4, drop-off on Flat St. they also take $ donations.
BF Bike Project – Bonnie bfbike.org
Non-Profit Turning 8 in September – Started out in Canal Street BF. Then moved to better location on Route 5 in BF. Volunteer run for first few years. Now evolved into 2 paid staff, then part time employees over time. Mission is to provide accessibility to bikes for low cost alternative. Pre-COVID teach volunteers/Middle Schoolers how to work on bikes and safe riding procedures. Since then middle school and kids will come by anytime to work on their bikes. Noticeable increase in bikes around BF. Now working to get a better bike system in town. Working with local schools to teach basic repair skills, safety tips etc. Also have smoothie bike that bring to events. Since COVID popularity has increased dramatically and busier than ever. No classes or after school program yet. Another new exciting program is the duet wheelchair bike. Made in Sweden – wheelchair in front, pushed behind with Bike. Can take seniors or anyone who cannot go out by themselves. Someone drives – Pilot and then safety personal follows.
Community Support? – BF has been incredible supportive, 1 year in realized that community really supported and wanted/Needed them. More donated bikes and volunteers than can handle. Volunteers can work outside.
Initiative – Looking to help other towns to get started. Mostly advice but also bikes. Springfield Restorative justice program. Getting folks on bikes. Looking to expand and helping them expand their project. Bikes, support, advice, training, etc.
Stephen – Looking to startup similar projects in Brattleboro, VT. Initial startup phase, tools, parts etc. Now seeking space.
Many other shops but mostly they carry very expensive high-end bikes. Their clients are more seeking used bikes, or work with their clients to provide a bike (volunteering, sponsorship, etc.). “Earn a Bike!”
Long Term Goal – Every community needs a bike project as climate changes worsen needs to have clean alternative. Looking to expand projects on a broader scale.
Q&A – Josh – visited years ago up at shop and was incredible. Seeking a bike this is the place to go and does incredible work. Pass along to anyone to get on the map and thanks for all your hard work.
Will – Are you asking for Bike donations? We cannot solicit now with no more room for them. Jonathan – Unused bike shops, and surplus of bikes in community. Leadership in community for governance “rebikiling Brattleboro.” Group of techs, Groundworks, people ready to distribute bikes. Trying to find Bonnie of Brattleboro! Youth primary target for Bikes, also working with folks who are unemployed, coming out of recovery, etc. Funds are available to startup just need a champion!
Brags – Skipped
Cards – House wins every time.
4 Way Test – Is it the truth, Is it Fair to all concerned, Will it build goodwill and better friendships, Is it beneficial to all concerned.