Call to Order at 7:16 by interim President Nick DuBois
Pledge
Mona introduces speaker Alysia and Gilbert – host family for Adam Solar
Thanks to our servers – Londa and MJ
Jim Maxwell steps up to serve next week – Josh Traegger applauds (just one applause)
Melissa is next week’s scribe
Will and Josh were greeters – Will is greeter next week
Josh filled in for Sargent at Arms – Thank you Josh!
Announcements:
This Saturday – November 1st NEYT event to watch Broadway in Brattleboro benefit for NEYT
Window Dresser update – building window inserts for insulation – Will did building, it was fun and got to eat for free!
Polio International donation from last week’s breakfast - $2,400 raised by this club! Which was matched by prior District Governor! Please consider donating $25/quarter to the rotary foundation, every Rotarian is encouraged to give to the foundation every year.
November 14th get together 5:30 at Bar 580!
Still working on Holiday Party – may ask the noon club to join us
Historic Site markers – permissions and locations have been secured – markers are almost done and we are inches away from being done!
Nutrition project – Lorilei and other folks are working on how to put the nutrition project back together. They are in the brainstorming phase.
Putting the garden to bed – November 9th at 10 (ish)
Five minute social break – and eat!
Back to it!
Thank you to Londa for all the work she did helping Deborah out walking dogs and other things and to Liz for driving Deborah.
Gilbert – introduces himself – he is a student Rotarian – trombone player in Jazz band, plays soccer and runs track!
30 for 30 ideas – suggestion of the history markers around town
Brags:
Jon – he was away this weekend visiting friends on Martha’s Vineyard – brag for KJ for helping Kerry get her new printer squared away.
Tristam – just got back from Greece, Italy and France visiting with friends and family! Was able to go visit Normandy beach! Amazed to see the flags and memorials all over Europe. Saw the amazing bunker system with craters all around them.
Dan – hospitals – with Deborah and her surgery the technology of modern medicine – Dan’s mom was flown up to Dartmouth (her first flight ever!) with a brain clot, but recovering well.
Ben – hard work the NEYT community has done on the Broadway in Brattleboro show. It is shaping up to be an incredible night!
Diane – Katja is getting settled in, was able to get a visit to her family in Germany. Attended trivia night over there!
Toni – on the board of Kurn Hattin Homes – it is an amazing place! They have about 38-39 students, Kurn Hattin Homes changes lives. If you get a chance to help them, it is a very special place and it just may change your life.
Nick – U14 Storm soccer team is at a point where they trust each other and are learning to play real soccer. They are undefeated this year! They are a big strong, fast and smart team. Jack has decided to try out for Vermont ODP (Olympic Development Program). Nick has a soft spot in his heart for Jamaica (not Vermont), they are getting clobbered right now.
A thank you card from BMH Auxiliary – thank you for the trivia night beneficiary!
Mona introduces Alysia Saunders Adam’s host mom (and Gilbert is here too!)
(Slide show of Adam’s time in VT)
Was looking for an exchange student to host and found Rotary. Alysia thought it was going to be a girl from Italy but ended up being Adam!
Met him at Logan, he was very excited to be here in the US.
Adam was very excited to see his space at the house and integrated into the house smoothly. He was a wonderful addition the house and family.
He was worried he wouldn’t meet the right friends. He did a great job and made everywhere he went better.
Encourages the club to host another exchange student. It is the best experience!
Gilbert suggested it took Adam the whole year to really settle in, the takeaway is do not freak out about needing two to three host families. It really makes sense to have just one family.
Many people from the club were involved in taking Adam to do exciting and interesting things.
Gilbert says the sibling life is much better than the single kid life, he really liked having Adam in the house. At the end, when they were comfortable with each other he really felt like a brother.
Adam comes in via WhatsApp to say hi!
Alysia says she is willing to host again!
Cards are drawn – Kevin is the winner with the 10 of diamonds!
Interim President Nick closes the meeting with the four way test