August 20, 2025 Newsletter

 

 

1. Main Topics Discussed

 

1.1. Upcoming Speakers & Events Scheduling

• Speaker Schedule:

• Today: Tristam Johnson  

• Aug 27, 2025: Melissa (correction from previous confusion, noted in discussion); Guardian ad Litem coordinator, Diane Shamus

• Sept: District governor to speak; details to be confirmed on the website.

• Scribe and Speaker List: Members were reminded that the current scribe and speaker schedule is posted on the club’s website for reference.

• https://www.brattleborosunriserotary.org/speakers

 

1.2. Acts of Service Tracking (30 for 30 Initiative)

Club continues with their 30 for 30 acts of service campaign (goal: 30 acts of service).

 

1.3. Announcements & Social Gatherings

 

• Goodbye Gathering for Katja: Scheduled for August 27, 2025, at 5:30 PM at the marina. Members encouraged to attend.

• 'Crepes for a Cause' Event: Happening tonight (Aug 20, 2025).

• Extra tickets available due to accidental duplicate purchases.

• Suggestion to offer extra tickets to refugee kids.

• Proceeds benefit ECDC and the local refugee support. https://www.ecdcvt.org

 

1.4. Upcoming Service Project

• Invasive Plant Removal:

• Date/Time: Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 9:00 AM

• Location: West River Trail, meeting at the start of River Stone Preserve (with detailed directions provided; clarification made about avoiding Fox Farm).

• Led by: Dan Healy, who will provide guidance on plant identification and removal.

• Members reminded to bring gloves.

 

1.5. Historical Markers Project

• Current Status:

• Permissions have been secured for placing historical markers on town hall, high school, and other significant buildings.

• Next steps: Physically attaching markers (with QR codes and possible video links) to buildings.

• Limited equipment: There is only one special drill suitable for use.

• Further Saturday morning work sessions anticipated; volunteers needed.

• Query raised about Holstein Association building’s inclusion due to its global significance—follow-up requested.

• Marker size confirmed to be about 8x11 inches; members discussed the drill's specifications.

• Coordination needed to finalize process and tools.

 

• Anniversaries: Tristam - 37 years with Rotary! and 37 years married to Wendy.  

• Birthdays: Katja’s birthday noted; she was not present and will be celebrated next week.

• Will’s family trip to Franconia, including hiking with a 4-year-old and post-surgery trail accomplishment by Tina.

• Evelyn - she and Lisa Shippee participated in Head-to-Toe Children’s Event: Lisa Shippee provided ~30 children with haircuts.

• Alice (Kristin Sullivan's child)- participating in clown camp with performances scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 5:00 PM.

• Kristin- Health update: A member recovering from recent surgery and planning for additional surgery in mid-September; support for meals and assistance offered.

• Jon- Family news: Alexa leaving for Prague for a semester abroad; Elena securing a teaching job in Vilnius, Lithuania, resolved through help with visa issues.

• Josh- Brags for members’ work in maintaining local gardens, organization of ‘Crepes for a Cause,’ and club’s role in aiding refugees.

• Tristam- Personal stories of recent travels and boating adventures around Lake Champlain; humorous anecdotes included.

• Sandy- Recognition of new Rotarians stepping up for Trivia Night (Kristin Sullivan on publicity; Londa as fact checker).

• Appreciation for Roger and Diane prospective members- transferring into our club from Dover club on Sept 3rd- volunteering at the club garden.

• Multiple mentions of community members providing unexpected kindness (e.g., random breakfast sandwiches to garden volunteers).

 

• Club played their customary interactive guessing game, encouraging storytelling and club engagement.

• Today’s fact: “Someone hitchhiked on a plane.” After several incorrect guesses and quarters collected for this fundraiser, Josh Traeger recounted the story of hitching a plane ride in Crested Butte, Colorado to Aspen Colorado, shared details, and resulting experience.

 

1.8. International Projects Presentation (Tristam Johnson)

• Overview of Club’s International Focus

• The aim was to clarify where the club has made contributions and maintained connections globally.

• Three main projects highlighted:

• Mujeres Mejorando sus Vidas (Women Improving their Lives) – Guatemala

• Started 2012; support for abused women—refuge, health, educational, and job skill programs.

• Guatemalan Government increasingly aware and supportive of abused women's shelters.

• Project focus: Economic empowerment, specifically through artisan chocolate-making workshops.

• Funding contributions: $500 recently contributed, used towards construction of a building/shelter.

• Project features: Lisa Tavella (from Brattleboro) is local lead and liaison; notable innovation includes a bicycle-powered cacao bean grinder for chocolate production (designed by Maya Pedal organization).

• Next Steps: Current needs met, but club encouraged to stay involved as project grows.

• Honduras Scholarship Project

• Ongoing for nine years at an agricultural school: Berlin de Suyapa.

• School situated in a remote, mountainous, and at times dangerous region west of San Pedro Sula.

• Area has challenging road conditions and has been a place of refuge for families escaping hardship (notably not drug violence but other challenges).

• More details anticipated beyond this point in the transcript.

• Connection with Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota

• To be discussed further (transcript was truncated before these details).

 

2. Action Items

• Acts of Service: All members should continue logging acts of service; identify someone with good penmanship for board documentation.

• Historical Markers Project:

• Confirm inclusion of Holstein Association building.

• Organize and schedule physical attachment of markers; coordinate with those licensed/experienced with special drill.

• Determine finalized process for identifying and drilling at building sites.

• Garden Volunteer Coordination: Add new Rotarians (not yet on chat) to communication channels.

• Crepes for a Cause: Distribute extra tickets (particularly to refugee community), ensure proceeds benefit intended causes.

• Upcoming Service Project: Confirm attendance for invasive plant removal (West River Trail, August 23, 9 AM); remind all to bring gloves.

• Bowl of Life: Members to submit new, interesting facts for future sessions.

• International Projects: Monitor developments from Lisa Tavella in Guatemala project, and consider future funding or involvement as needs are identified.

• Support for Surgery Recovery: Organize meal delivery/support for member undergoing surgery in mid-September.

 

3. Follow-up Points

• Holstein Association Inclusion: Confirm building is included in historic marker project, report results to Tristam Johnson.

• Brattleboro Historical Society Markers: Stay tuned for Saturday morning work session for attaching markers; finalize and circulate date.

• Support for Members Out of Commission: Revisit meal support and check-in as major surgery date approaches in mid-September.

• Speaker Schedule: Reaffirm accuracy/reset confusion around upcoming presentations; circulate updated lists if needed.

• Garden Chat Group: Add new/active members.