Past President Gina (President Rob was away) opened the meeting at our lunch meeting site: Holiday Inn Express of Brattleboro, VT. Rob welcomed all to the January 9, 2025 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary www.brattlebororotaryclub.org
Invocation:
Gina: Life is short, so do what makes you happy. Be with those who make you smile. Laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live. --Rachel Ann Nunes
Gina lead the club with the Pledge of Allegiance
Cathy Coonan led us in reciting the Rotary motto:
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?
28 Members, 4 Student Rotarians and 2 guests attended the meeting.
Guests: Mark Boutwell and Renee Woliver
JOKE OF THE WEEK - For our joke or song of the week:
Dart shared a joke that was enjoyed by all.
ED NOTE: 2023-24 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
Rotarians for Rotarians:
New Members:
ROTARY MINUTE
by Chris Hart. She reflected on her recent visit to France and the projects/sponsorships the Rotary club de Lyon was doing in its community.
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 for August:
On Behalf of our Club and all Rotarians, thank you for your Service Above Self
Student Rotarian updates:
The student Rotarians from Hinsdale HS and Leland & Gray HS gave updates on the happenings at their schools
Rubin announced both Greg Worden and Roger Allbee had birthdays, the appropriate birthday song was sung.
Announcements
Tom Franks announced the formation of a Brattleboro Rotary PeaceBuilder club. Anyone interested please speak to Tom.
Cindy Jerome read two thank you letters the club received, one from Pine Heights for senior gifts and one from the Rotary Club of Ashville, NC for financial support our club sent down in the wake of the last hurricane.
Gina announced upcoming community events at Winter Carnival sugar on snow and ski jump will need volunteer help. More to follow.
Happy Dollars - Brags - Fines
Stan bragged for yesterday's groundworks meal and all the helpers that provided food: Roger and Ann Allbee, Frank LaGrande, Theresa Glabach, Rich Carroll, Greg Worden, and of course, thank you Stan for coordinating.
Tom Franks bragged for the upcoming town elections and encouraged Rotarians to get inolved. Bill Vermouth bragged for his son who has been hiking at Machu Pichu in Peru and today had to be pulled out because of altitude sickness. Fortunately, he is doing okay and will have stories to tell when he gets home!
ED NOTE: Weekly assignments for the invocation or motivational thought can be found on the club website.>
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Jim Haine announced:
Jim Haines indicated that an upcoming program would include
an interactive back story next week and will experience "stump the chump" the following week
Jim Haine said the Rotary website is not up to date on the assignments. Jim sends out reminders ahead of time. Hopefully the website will be updated soon. You can email Jim if you have any questions about when your assignment is.
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.
Speaker: Mark Boutwell and Renee Woliver from Senior Solutions.
John Mabie introduced today's speakers, Mark Boutwell and Renee Woliver from Senior Solutions.
Mark has worked for nonprofit social agencies in Vermont and New Hampshire for over 40 years. He is currently the executive director of Senior Solutions. Renee is the communications and outreach Director for Senior Solutions.
Mark informed us of a 10 year plan at the State of Vermont level called Age Strong Vermont. It is designed to help deal with the impending aging demographics of Vermont. Currently there are 30% of all Vermonters over the age of 60. The goal of Age Strong Vermont is to move the State to become more age friendly. Senior Solutions works in collaboration with various local agencies to facilitate funding, programs, combat social isolation and build an infrastructure to address the looming senior needs.
Prior to closing the meeting, Bill Vermouth announced a recent article he read that mentioned BMH, the first newborn of 2025, and Gina Pattison. Gina accused Bill of taking the article out of context.
Scribe: Phil G
DISCLAIMER
Weekly changing scribes and questionable IT may have resulted in oversights and errors. We regret any mistakes.
.png)
