Rotary Club Meeting Minutes
Date: December 17, 2025
• No Rotary meetings for the next two weeks due to Christmas and New Year’s.
• Next scheduled meeting: January 7, 2026. Nick will be the server that day.
• Evelyn assigned as scribe for January 7.
• Sandy served as scribe for the current meeting.
• Melissa recognized for her work as secretary.
• Repeated thanks to Will, Josh, Mona (servers/greeters), and Justin (sergeant-at-arms).
• Adriana Collemacine from the Red Cross welcomed as the day's guest speaker.
Blood Drive: Scheduled for January 27, 2026. Signup link included in the agenda email.
3. Trivia Night Review
79 participants, noted as the second largest turnout.
$903 raised for charity. Congratulations to the winning team: Melissa, Deborah, Ike, George, Tom, Aida.
New Trivia Additions:
A trophy created by Londa awarded to the winning table, with the winning team required to return to defend it next round. Consideration of having a prize for the lowest scoring team (“suck points”), similar to Ladies Golf League. All Rotarians identified at the event and introduced at the start so potential new members can connect with them. Suggestions to wear badges, provide membership info at tables, and have clear placards for visibility.
4. Scribe Procedure & Documentation Standardization Initiative: Working on a documented procedure for scribing, editing, and distributing meeting notes. Will is drafting a protocol and invites volunteers to review and refine the process after a future meeting. Aim: Consistency and clarity in note-taking and newsletter publication; Toni is key for the integration with the bulletin.
5. Dinner Raffle Planning: Raffle anticipated to culminate around February 14, 2026 (Valentine’s Day). Desire to have gift certificates collected before the club reconvenes after the break. Reminder for members who agreed to solicit or donate prizes to confirm via Signup Genius. Noted contributors: Dan Dietz for Peter Havens, Evelyn for multiple establishments, Josh for 99 Ramuntos and Terrazza, Londa for Pan Asia.
Open assignments remain for T.J. Buckley’s, New England House, Kips, Saxons River (maybe), and others. sleep-and-stay prize from Latches already secured.
Recognition of member service stories for 30 for 30. Thanks to Ben for filling out the chart.
BRAGS:
Evelyn: 75 kids dressed at Newbrook Fire House event. Sponsored by Caleb’s Cherubs. Santa came in on a fire truck. She was exhausted.
Mona: Got her 83 year old mother in law out of the house.
Josh: For trivia people.
Justin: 3 brags. Good cardiologist visit. Don’t worry if he passes out on occasion. He will be back soon. He did a huge catering event with Tristian’s help. This Saturday, he will be selling crafts at 4 Star Brewery… 508 Pine Meadow Road, Northfield MASS.
Diane: Look for the survey from the District and fill it out. Beware of hack e-mail from Ruth.
Nick: For the amount of bragging we have done so far. Good for the budget. Diane says that may allow us to do Every Rotarian, Every Year.
Nick: For a great day with the family including a visit to Crumble Cookies.
Jim: A $10 brag just for us.
MJ shared photos of a car filled with gifts for local families; Rotary was the only group to donate for those families. Noted scarcity of contributions to Toys for Tots; club's impact considered significant for local families.
Speaker: Adriana Colomacine (Donor Recruitment Specialist)Red Cross Mission/Profile:
Blood drives are critical; every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood donations fund other Red Cross activities: disaster relief, international family tracing, smoke alarms, etc. Brattleboro highlighted as a high-participation area.
Upcoming Blood Drive: January 27, 2026. Holiday InnExpress, Brattleboro 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM Target: 37–40 donors; already 3 signed up as of this meeting
• Volunteers Needed: To welcome and register donors, manage refreshments.
• Donation Basics: Blood can be donated every 56 days (whole blood) or 112 days (Power Red). Power Red: removes more red cells, gives back plasma/platelets and fluid; more intensive but beneficial to certain recipients. Standard draw: roughly one pint per donation. Testing and Tracking: Health assessment before donating; no longer requires finger prick—noninvasive sensors used. All donations tested for major diseases and genetic markers; donors notified if issues are found.
Blood Donor App: Donors can track impact, see testing status, and where their blood is delivered.
Incentives: $20 e-gift cards given to all donors (choice of vendors) sometimes. Special recognition for Power Red donors but no specific additional perks.
Volunteer Roles Explained: Simple check-in, minimal paperwork (scanning ID/app card). Refreshment table stocking/oversight.
Ongoing Local Drives: Two regular sites in Brattleboro per month (Eagles and Winston Prouty Center). All locations/searchable via app or website.
Bowl of Life:
• Members submit anonymous fun facts for guessing; featured story of air traffic controller (Roger) landing two F4 jets during a sandstorm in Yuma, Arizona as a 21-year-old Marine. lively guessing and story-sharing segment. It was Roger.
Cards: Announced Queen of Hearts. Londa won and donated the money back to the Club.
Final recitation of Rotary Four-Way Test, wishing everyone happy holidays.