President Jeff Hagstrom welcomed all to the February 16th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Phil George provided a meaningful innovation. This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Dana Lewis.
As a luncheon of chicken, ravioli stuffed with squash, potatoes, salad, and vanilla cake with chocolate frosting for desert was being digested, the meeting continued.
Guests: Ricki Davidson, Erin Rich (2nd posting), Wendy Harrison (2nd posting), and Kevin Veller
TRIVIA QUESTION
Where was the first hospital in Vermont located?
(answer below)
JOKE / SONG OF THE WEEK
For our Rotary joke, Chuck Cummings told versions of the following:
A blonde was speeding down the highway while she was knitting. A cop sees this and speeds up alongside her vehicle. "Pullover!" the cop says "No!" the woman replied, "They're mittens!"
A blonde and a brunette are driving down the highway in a convertible. The brunette knows that she’s speeding so she asks the blonde if there’s a copy behind the. The blonde looks behind her and sees a cop and tells the brunette. The brunette then asks if he’s got his lights on. The blonde replies “Yes…No…Yes…No”
A blonde went to a hairdresser’s one day, listening to a Walkman. The hair dresser asked her what she wanted, and the blonde replied, “I need to get my hair trimmed, just make sure that you do not take these headphones off.” The woman looked at the blonde, surprised, but did as she was told. While she was brushing the blonde’s hair, she accidentally bumped the headphones, knocking them to the ground. As bent down to pick them up, the blonder fell over, onto the floor. The hairdresser was very confused. She picked up the headphones and listened. This is what she heard…”breath in…breath out…breath in…breath out…”!
A young blonde was on vacation in the swamps of Louisiana. She really wanted a pair of genuine alligator shoes to bring back for her boyfriend but didn't want to pay the high prices the local stores were charging. After becoming very frustrated with the local shopkeepers, the blonde shouted, "I'll just go out and catch my own alligator so I can get a pair of shoes at a reasonable price!" The shopkeeper replied, "Good luck! Maybe you'll luck out and catch yourself a big one!" Determined, the blonde turned and headed for the swamps, set on catching herself an alligator. Later in the day, the shopkeeper is driving home, and he spots the young woman standing waist deep in the water, rope in hand. Just then, he sees a huge 9 foot alligator swimming quickly toward her. She lunges, wraps herself around the beast and with a great deal of effort hauls it on to the swamp bank. Laying nearby were several more alligators all tied up. Completely amazed, the shopkeeper got out of his car and walked toward the young lady. Just then the blonde flips the alligator on it's back, and frustrated, shouts up at the shopkeeper, "Ugh! This one isn't wearing shoes either!!"
ROTARY MINUTE
For our Rotary Minute, Phil George reminded us that this is the centennial year of the Rotary Foundation.
“Arch Klumph’s idea for an endowment fund dedicated to “doing good in the world” planted the seed for The Rotary Foundation in 1917. That one idea and an initial contribution of $26.50 set in motion a powerful force for good that has transformed millions of lives around the globe.” To celebrate, how about everyone making a donation of $26.50? To learn more, click here.
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At our March 2nd meeting, Bill Daley will tell a joke or lead us in song, while Milt Gilmore delivers a Rotary Minute.
NOTE: Weekly assignments (program, joke, and Rotary minute) are posted on club’s website.
FINES
NONE ;-(
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Golf Committee presented a check for $21,253 to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. This is the fourth payment of a five-year commitment. So far, the club has donated $87,000 (NOTE: club’s commitment was $75,000 in five years.)
One more week to sign Chris Wocell’s book.
Two more weeks to sign the club’s newest member George Ruhe’s book.
A scholarship fund has been created to honor Janice H. McElroy, who served as Rotary District 7870 Governor in 2011-2012. For more information, visit the club’s website.
Rotary mixer is on March 9 at Brattleboro Country Club from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sugar on Snow served 264 people; 100 more than last year!
Next two Overflow Shelter meals are March 23 and April 12. See Stan Nowakowski for more info.
Banner committee will be meeting following today’s club meeting.
International committee is meeting on Friday at 7:30 a.m. at The Works.
Presentation of the 3rd Annual Jesse Corum Scholarship will take place on March 2 at 5:45 p.m. at CCV.
There will be no Rotary ski race this year.
Road show to benefit senior meals will take place on March 23 at Latchis.
Back to the 80’s dance by Sons of American Legion and Sunrise Rotary on March 4. Proceeds go to Pure Water for the World.
BRAGS
Jeff Hagstrom – for Marty Cohn and Katja Matthews knowing that February 23 is the 100th birthday of Rotary
Dana Lewis - for becoming a grandfather next month
Stephen Stearns – for celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary in Peru.
Steve Gordon – for his daughter becoming a curator at Peabody Essex Museum.
PROGRAM:
Stan Nowakowski presented Steve Gordon who updated us about the Brattleboro Hospital’s modernization plan. For more info, click here.
REMINDERS
Bottles and cans can be brought to Putney Road redemption center to benefit Pure Water for the World. Please see Mara Williams.
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting. Update, to date there have been no brags. Either you do not like this newsletter or you are aren't reading it.
This bulletin was respectfully submitted by Past President Martin Cohn who attempts to give a gist of the meeting. However, it is always better to attend. If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin....
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION
Founded in Burlington in 1879, Mary Fletcher Hospital was the first hospital in Vermont.
