Posted by Josh Goldberg
Welcome
 
Greeter was Turner
Next week greeter - Debbie Cox
 
Verify scribe:
 
5/15/19 - Josh Goldberg
5/22/19 - Diane Hashagen
5/29/19 - Tristan Toleno
 
Quote of the day:  “Have patience.  All things are difficult before they become easy” -Saadi
 
Today in History:
1942 - On this day in 1942, gasoline rationing began in 17 Eastern states as an attempt to help the American war effort during World War II. By the end of the year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had ensured that mandatory gasoline rationing was in effect in all 50 states. Rubber was the first commodity to be rationed, after the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies cut off the U.S. supply; the shortage of rubber affected the availability of products such as tires. Rationing gasoline, it was reasoned, would conserve rubber by reducing the number of miles Americans drove.
 
1756 - The Seven Years War, a global conflict known in America as the French and Indian War, officially begins when England declares war on France. However, fighting and skirmishes between England and France had been going on in North America for years.  In the early 1750s, French expansion into the Ohio River valley repeatedly brought France into armed conflict with the British colonies. In 1756–the first official year of fighting in the Seven Years War–the British suffered a series of defeats against the French and their broad network of Native American alliances. However, in 1757, British Prime Minister William Pitt (the older) recognized the potential of imperial expansion that would come out of victory against the French and borrowed heavily to fund an expanded war effort.
 
1972 - During an outdoor rally in Laurel, Maryland, George Wallace, the governor of Alabama and a presidential candidate, is shot by 21-year-old Arthur Bremer. Three others were wounded, and Wallace was permanently paralyzed from the waist down. The next day, while fighting for his life in a hospital, he won major primary victories in Michigan and Maryland. However, Wallace remained in the hospital for several months, bringing his third presidential campaign to an irrevocable end.  Wallace, one of the most controversial politicians in U.S. history, was elected governor of Alabama in 1962 under an ultra-segregationist platform, although ultimately his politics shifted dramatically and he received overwhelming support from the black community when elected to his last term in 1983
Introductions
Sandy Shriver introduced his dog Mosley and wife Diane.  Mosely is 9 weeks old, and is a Shetland sheep dog or ‘Shelty’
Valerie introduced her husband John Mabie, Noon Club member
Lucy, student exchange from Croatia
Vicky Case, Retreat Farm
Wendy Ferris, Retreat Farm
Buzz Schmidt, Retreat Farm, speaker
 
Birthdays Michelle Pong, 5/16
Michelle was serenaded by the Sunrise Rotary Singers from the actual stage at the Legion, very nice.
Anniversaries: None
Student Rotarian report: None
Club Announcements:
 
  • Tom apologized for volunteering Rotary for Marshalling for the Strolling of the Heifers, BUT…June 8th marshals are needed to help with the parade.  There will be a brief training the week before.  No badge included.  This year’s theme is ‘Farmers are our Hero’s’
  • Sadie announced that the community service signup sheet is circulated
  • Scholarship committee needs extra help if anyone would like to help read the essays, score them, and decide
  • Dan announced that the Touch a Truck grilling fundraiser was successful, last round of the club commitment to that event.  Raised around $500, and almost sold out of food.  Great day, great team effort.  Chris Stoner may be the new grill master, did a great job under pressure of a long line!  Will was fined for $5 for not showing for grilling, as well as committing to blood donationJ
  • Camp for a Common Cause is Friday night (5/15), come help grill.  Be there around 5:15 pm, see Sadie for details.
  • May 29th will be a blood drive, sign up ahead of time, will occur during the Wednesday meeting.
  • Kevin announced an additional fine on Will Shakespeare, who has agreed to step in for Rotary Cares this week, but seemed to have forgotten when they occur (Thursday afternoon)
  • Josh announced another ‘Pints for Polio’ sometime this summer, gauging interest.  $700 was raised last night; lots of interest was expressed.  Northstar Nuclear will be the sponsor.
 
Cards
 
Jack of Clubs was drawn, Mark Ethier won!!
 
Brags
 
  • Michelle bragged about her daughter graduating from Quinnipiac Law School, and she has a job!
  • John and Valerie bragged about their daughter completing 4 years in the Army, coming home to go to VT Law School
  • Jacques bragged for her son graduating from college
  • Will Shakespeare bragged about his daughter taking a trip to Rome, and getting engaged!  Spent Mother’s Day looking at dresses!
  • Ali for her daughter travelling and coming home Sunday! 
  • Kevin bragged about his grandson, who took first steps last week, Wyatt James Yager
  • Tom bragged for the Noontime Rotary, very welcoming when visiting their meeting.
  • KJ for his wife Diane watching their daughter graduating from college
  • Lisa for her son Stephen receiving his master’s degree along with his wife!
  • Toni for her daughter being at Ft. Hood and missing her own graduation for her Master’s degree
  • John Mabie bragging for Aly working on the Rotary garden, ‘was wondering where everyone else was’.  Aly reminded that catcalling is mandatory.
  • Nick was up all through the night between dogs and young children, reminding all of the parents of graduating students what that was like.
  • Ali let us all know that Michelle is celebrating her 50th birthday, 7-11 at the Eagles Club.  Live music AND a bar.
Bowl of Life
 
  • This person lived upstairs from a famous flautist (related to another Rotarian) and could hear lessons. 
    • Will guessed Aly (no)
    • Aly guessed Cindy (no)
    • Cindy guessed Michelle (nope, left town at 18)
    • Jaques – Toni?
    • Toni – Sadie?
    • Toni to Jim V
    • Jim to Nick (no, Nick didn’t know what a flautist was)
    • Nick to Damon (never lived in Brattleboro)
    • Damon guessed Katya
    • Katya to Sandy
    • Sandy guessed that it was Tom (and it was!)
      • It was in Montpelier actually, 20 years ago, no one said this was in Brattleboro!
 
Speaker
 
Cindy Delgatto introduced Buzz Schmidt of Retreat Farm, who serves as chair of the FB Heron Foundation and on the boards of Vermont Council on Rural Development and the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children.  He founded and led GuideStar and subsequently GuideStar International.  He served on the boards of the Nonprofit Quarterly (President), TechSoup Global, The Institute for Philanthropy (London), The National Philharmonic Trust, and Preservation Virginia.  The Nonprofit Times named him National Executive of the Year in 2000 and one of the 25 most influential nonprofit actors over the past 25 years (2014).  Time Magazine named him one of six visionary leaders in philanthropy in 2000.  He is a graduate of Princeton (AB) History and Stanford (MBA and MA Education).
 
Buzz recalled getting his driver’s license in 1968 at the Gibson Aiken building, remembers driving Route 30 past Maple Valley, kayaking on the West River, always seeing the very large red barns on the left.  Saw again years later, but never stopped.
 
5 years ago, he moved back to town in retirement, and asked the chair of the Windham Foundation how he could be helpful in rural VT?  “Join the board of the Windham Foundation, and figure out what to do with the Retreat Farm” was the advice.
 
Retreat Farm Facts
 
150 years old, amazing architecture and history
In 2016, the Foundation gave the Farm to Retreat Farm Ltd (separate non-profit)
Provides restorative therapy for Brattleboro Retreat patients
500 acres, 9 historic barns, forest and meadows
Goal is to restore all aspects of the property to become a significant aspect of the region
 
Activities
 
Children’s Farm and Forest program, Community Events program (24 events last year, 50 this year) incl VT Land Trust Celebration, the Governors Cabinet, CT River Conservancy, and Food Truck Thursdays
 
The property is a 4-season recreation center, to be expanded, with 7 activity areas
 
The Retreat Farms does need community help and investment to promote the restoration of the barns, volunteer on the trails, etc.
 
North Barn Restoration project was the location of the petting farm, beautiful and very large barn featuring hand hewn beams.  This barn will become a very important community meeting/event space, with capacity for up to 300 occupants.  All are invited to come by anytime for a tour.
 
Q&A
  • Are there hours that the public can come by?  
    • Yes, 8-5 M-F
  • In the North Barn, are they planning on kitchen space? 
    • They have permission to put a catering kitchen in the North Barn, but the preference is to put a very large kitchen in the Ox Barn to satisfy catering needs for all barns and to supply a café.  This plan is still in the works.
  • How does the Retreat Farm relate to the VT Land Trust?
    • VT Land Trust has a use easement that controls how the property can be used.  The majority of the forest and meadows are protected as agricultural only. Retreat Trails are on land owned by the Retreat and the Retreat Farm.  Care of the trails are divided between the two groups.
  • Will there still be goat yoga
    • Yes, weekly goat yoga starting in mid-June (Yoga with goats walking on your back)
  • What is changing about the children’s program?
    • Animals will remain for petting, will be expanded
    • Educational garden and nature trail will be new features, along with a ‘forest playground’
 
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m. with the four-way test –
 
  • 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?