President Chris opened the meeting at the meeting site: Holiday Inn Express of Brattleboro, VT. Rob welcomed all to the January 29, 2025 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary www.brattlebororotaryclub.org

Invocation:

Roger Miller shared an invocation.

Chris lead the club with the Pledge of Allegiance

Rotary Motto: Service Above Self

Four Way Test -

Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

27 Members, 0 Student Rotarians and 2 guests attended the meeting.

Guests:

Mary Wilson from the Brattleboro Retreat
Libby Bennett, from Groundworks (speaker)

Please welcome our newest member Nebras.

JOKE OF THE WEEK - For our joke or song of the week:

Nina shared a joke on behalf of Marcy:
Why did the jaguar eat the tightrope walker? To have a balanced meal.

EDITOR NOTE: 2025-26 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.

Rotarians for Rotarians:

Regina Stefanelli in our thoughts. Roger Allbee is recovering but is still at home and has trouble with his knee.

New Members:

Welcome Nebras

ROTARY MINUTE

Stay tuned.

Note for future presenters; The Rotary Minute could also have the speaker talk about their personal involvement in Rotary or personal background.

Years of Service in our Club

Rick Manson has served 36 years in the club as of Feburary 1

On Behalf of our Club and all Rotarians, thank you for your Service Above Self

Student Rotarian updates:

Birthday greetings -

BIRTHDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS from Cindy-

Ron Stahley

Announcements

Ski jump volunteers are needed, please see Betsy. (Mandatory event)
Sugar on Snow volunteers are needed, please see Nina.
Nebras announced that she is looking for a part-time job for the mom of an Egyptian family. The father is a trucker, and there are two children, so the mom wants to work during school hours.

NINA – reminder SUGAR on snow during carnival. Sat Feb 21st. Sign up sheet being passed around. Last year a couple hundred people. More this year because not in competition with ski jump.

Happy Dollars and Brags and Fines

President Chris gave $5 to thank Rob for filling in last week while she was in St. Lucia.
Stephen gave $10 for reading the Rotary Magazine and remembering why he has come back to Rotary.
Betsy bragged about the Humane Society’s Pet Trivia night.

ED NOTE: Weekly assignments for the invocation or motivational thought can be found on the club website.>

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Jim announced the upcoming programs as follows:

Feb 5: the dual enrollment program at BUHS
Feb 12: Peter Richards about IMA Financial Group
Feb 19: George Weir

REMINDERS

Please bring your bottles and cans to the Putney Road redemption center to benefit APPN. Pure Water for the World is no longer operating in the USA; it continues in Honduras as APPN.
Maria Inestroza, the PWW country director for Honduras is continuing the work in that country under the name APPM, acronym for Agua Pura para El Mundo, or Pure Water for the World in Spanish Pure Water for the World. Please remember to inform the staff that the bottles and cans should be credited to the club.
“Like” the club’s Facebook page

PROGRAM

Betsy introduced Libby Bennett, the executive director of Groundworks Collaborative.

Some points Libby shared:
The Foodworks programs feeds 5000 neighbors.
They provide Housing and Support services to 500 neighbors.
There are currently 5 separate shelters in the community.
Groundworks 34-40 beds.
Beloved Shelter 8-15 beds.
Winston Prouty serving families.
Women’s Freedom Center
Youth shelters at Interaction.
There are 100 households in hotels 153 adults, 70 children.
Vermont has the 4th highest per capita rate in the country.

Scribe:

DISCLAIMER

Weekly changing scribes and questionable IT may have resulted in oversights and errors. We regret any mistakes.