President Greg Worden welcomed 66 folks to the March 3rd meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Ian Harrison offered a meaningful invocation. This was followed by the pledge of allegiance.
As a luncheon of salad, chicken, beans, broccoli and housemade cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
Guests: Gina Patterson, Al Jerard, Master Sergeant Chad Mulverhill, Lt. Col. Laura Caputo, Olga Peters (The Commons), and Maddi Shaw (Brattleboro Reformer)
TRIVIA QUESTION
When did the Vermont Air National Guard become active?
(answer below)
JOKE / SONG OF THE WEEK
For our Rotary joke, Cindy Jerome told versions of the following:
It was at the end of the school year, and a kindergarten teacher was receiving gifts from her pupils. The florist's son handed her a gift. She shook it, held it overhead, and said, "I bet I know what it is. Some flowers." "That's right" the boy said, "but how did you know?" "Oh, just a wild guess,"" she said. The next pupil was the candy shop owner's daughter. The teacher held her gift overhead, shook it, and said, "I bet I can guess what it is. A box of sweets." "That's right, but how did you know?" asked the girl. "Oh, just a wild guess," said the teacher. The next gift was from the son of the liquor store owner. The teacher held the package overhead, but it was leaking. She touched a drop of the leakage with her finger and touched it to her tongue. "Is it wine?" she asked. "No," the boy replied, with some excitement. The teacher repeated the process, taking a larger drop of the leakage to her tongue. "Is it champagne?" she asked. "No," the boy replied, with more excitement. The teacher took one more taste before declaring, "I give up, what is it?" With great glee, the boy replied, "It's a puppy!"
Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Police Officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!” So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies — two in the front seat and three in the back – eyes wide and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?” “Ma’am,” the officer replies, “You weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.” “Slower than the speed limit?” she asked. No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly… Twenty-Two miles an hour!” the old woman says a bit proudly. The State Police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that “22” was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error. “But before I let you go, Ma’am, I have to ask… Is everyone in this car ok? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time.” the officer asks. “Oh, they’ll be alright in a minute officer. We just got off Route 119.”
ROTARY MINUTE
For the Rotary minute, Carl Lynde told us about the object of Rotary. For more info, click here.
At our March 10th meeting, Norb Johnstonwill tell a joke or lead us in song, while John Mabie delivers a Rotary Minute.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
03/10 — Club Assembly: TBA
03/17 — Milt Eaton Presents: John and Ann McClaughry, “Climate change and the proposed state”
03/24 — Bill Daley presents: Louis Josephson, Brattleboro Retreat
03/31 — Dart Everett presents: Ken Couture, Reliability of Power
04/07 — Tom French: Katelyn Atwood, Vermont Veterans Legal Assistance
04/14 — Club Assembly: TBA
NOTE: Weekly assignments (program, joke, and Rotary minute) are posted on club’s website.
FINES
Phil Steckler proposed a fine on Marty Cohn for whispering that Ian Harrison was a Vermonter. Marty explained that Lt. Col Caputo had asked if he was a Vermonter and he noted that he was a flatlander. However, given Ian’s accent, he was a Vermonter. Marty gladly paid the fine.
Dart Everett proposed a fine on Phil Steckler and Marty Cohn for interrupting his birthday greetings. Marty paid the fine as Dart announced there were no birthday greetings.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student Rotarians from Career Center, Boys & Girls Club, Hinsdale, BUHS and Leland & Gray gave their reports.
Save the date for this year’s Golf Tournament – June 9. For more info or if you have items to put in gift bag, see Cathy Coonan.
Community Service Project – Next meal at Overnight Shelter is 3/7. Student Rotarians are particularly invited to participate. See Stan Nowakowski for more info.
Club mixer with Sunrise is scheduled for March 10 at the Brattleboro Country Club. See Dave Twombly for more info.
The Bratteboro Rotary Club ski team brought home two awards from the 50th Annual Newport Rotary Ski Race for the McCrillis Cup. Thanks to Roger Miller, the Oldest Skier Award and thanks to Student Rotarian Zack, the Fellowship Award.
BRAGS
George Weir – for Zack coming up with a creative way to get out of school for the day.
Terry Keizer – for her upcoming event to raise funds and awareness about autism.
Ted Kramer – for meeting The Rock at a recent conference in Boca Raton.
Phil Steckler – for his daughter’s appointment as a professor at UMass Lowell.
PROGRAM:
Marty Cohn presented Lt. Col. Laura Caputo, who told us about the history, missions and people of the Vermont Air National Guard. To learn more, 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.
Old/Broken laptops are still being collected for Pine Ridge. Please see Marty Cohn.
“Like” the club’s Facebook page.
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
The Vermont Air National Guard became active on August 14, 1946.
