President Jeff Hagstrom welcomed all to the April 20th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. President Jeff noted that it is the 7th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion. Joe Little offered a meaningful invocation in which he read President Coolidge’s 1928 “Brave Little State” speech.
My Fellow Vermonters:
For two days we have been traveling through this state. We have been up the East side, across and down the West side. We have seen Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Windsor, White River Junction and Bethel. We have looked toward Montpelier. We have visited Burlington and Middlebury. Returning we have seen Rutland.
I have had an opportunity of visiting again the scenes of my childhood. I want to express to you, and through the press to the other cities of Vermont, my sincere appreciation for the general hospitality bestowed upon me and my associates on the occasion of this journey.
It is gratifying to note the splendid recovery from the great catastrophe which overtook the state nearly a year ago. Transportation has been restored. The railroads are in a better condition than before. The highways are open to traffic for those who wish to travel by automobile.
Vermont is a state I love. I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney, Killington, Mansfield, and Equinox, without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me. It was here that I first saw the light of day; here I received my bride, here my dead lie pillowed on the loving breast of our everlasting hills. I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and her invigorating climate. But most of all because of her people. They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves in the service of others. If the spirit of Liberty should vanish from other parts of our Union and the support of our institutions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of the brave little state of Vermont.
Note: On September 19, 1928, President Coolidge left Washington for Vermont to view the damage and reconstruction resulting from the flood of 1927. On September 21, 1928, he gave the following speech in which the last paragraph contains the often quoted, “Vermont is a State I Love”.
As a luncheon of pork (again!), turkey, potatoes, carrots, salad, chickpeas & spinach, and cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
Guests: Gary Fox and Elsie Smith (speaker)
TRIVIA QUESTION
Who was Consuelo N. Bailey ?
(answer below)
JOKE / SONG OF THE WEEK
For our Rotary joke, Phil George told a version of the following:
Where do homeless accountants live? In a tax shelter.
What do accountants suffer from that ordinary people don’t? Depreciation.
What’s the best pick up line by an accountant? You’ve got a lovely pair of W-2’s.
Why do accountants make good lovers? They’re great with figures.
If an accountant’s wife cannot sleep, what does she say? “Darling, could you tell me about your work.”
Be audit you can be.
ROTARY MINUTE
For our Rotary Minute, Wendy Harrison told us about World Polio Day 2016. For more info, click here.
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At our April 27th meeting, Milt Gilmore will tell a joke or lead us in song, while Chris Hart delivers a Rotary Minute.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
04/27 – Presented by Ana Saavedra: Kristen Mehalick, BDCC Internship Coordinator
05/04 – Presented by Ron Stahley: Windham Regional Collegiate High School
05/11 – Presented by Marcy Jones: Lt. Anthony French & Trooper James Matthews, State Police Update
05/18 – Presented by Phil Steckler: Kim Benzel, NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Our collective history in peril”
05/25 – Club Assembly
06/01 – Presented by Robin Sweetapple
06/08 – Rotary Golf Tournament
06/15 – Presented by Rob Szpila
06/22 – Presented by Jerry Theberge
06/29 – Changeover Dinner
NOTE: Weekly assignments (program, joke, and Rotary minute) are posted on club’s website.
FINES
Tami Purcell was fined for having her picture in newspaper.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Club’s annual meeting will be conducted on April 27. The following slate is being proposed: President: George Weir, President-elect: Bill Vermouth, Vice President: Marty Cohn, Secretary: Ana Saavedra, and Treasurer: Rhonda Calhoun.
If you are interested in attending District Conference on April 28, see Jeff Hagstrom.
Don’t forget to introduce yourself to Wendy Harrison, Aaron Rich (note: Aaron has not attended last four meetings), and Ricky Davidson so that you don’t have to take “the walk of shame.”
Club will be staffing Welcome Center on Friday, 6/16. For more info, see Greg Worden.
Disc golf course cleanup will take place on 4/29. If you can help, see Rob Szpila.
Club golf tournament is on 6/8. See Cathy Coonan for more info.
Applications for 2017 Club scholarships have been issued. The deadline is 5/8.
Camp for a Common Cause is taking place on May 19. Click here for more info.
Transcendental Meditation: Free Introductory Talk will take place on 4/29 from 11-12:30p.m. at Brattleboro library.
BRAGS
Carl Lynde – for woman in England who donated money to Rotary because of water projects.
George Weir – for his knee treatment at Cheshire Hospital in Keene.
Cindy Jerome – for Marty Cohn diligently providing the club’s bulletin each week.
Cindy Jerome – for Holton Home celebrating its 125th anniversary.
John Kohler – for raising the most money at Bowl for Kids Sake.
John Kohler – for Rob Szpila’s help at the Retreat.
John Kohler – for the work of the International Committee.
Phil Steckler – for Marty Cohn’s patience with the pork entrée week after week.
Phil Steckler – for his wife Marcia attendance at the Earth Day Rally in D.C.
Rob Szpila – for his daughter Lucy being a LAX machine.
Roger Allbee – for Grace Cottage Hospital being named a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) for “Best Practice – Patient Satisfaction.”
PROGRAM:
Bill McKim presented Elsie Smith, co-founder of New England Center for Circus Arts, who gave us an update. ED NOTE: one of her students gave us an acrobat demonstration that hurt my back from watching. To learn more about NECCA, 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 only 3 brags. (Editor NOTE: President Jeff claims he bragged but record cannot be found). 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
Consuelo Bailey was the first female lieutenant governor of any state in U.S. history, serving as the 65th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont between 1955 and 1957. For more info, click here.
