Past President Chris opened the meeting at the meeting site: Holiday Inn Express of Brattleboro, VT. Chris welcomed all to the July 9, 2026 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club,www.brattlebororotaryclub.org

Invocation:

Rich led us with a summer theme written by fellow Rotarian from British Columbia

Chris led the club with the Pledge of Allegiance

Chris led the club with the Rotary motto and Four Way Test.

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?

25 Members, 0 Student Rotarians and 3 guest attended the meeting.

Guests:

Michael Wagner, Sarah Weiker (2nd posting), Maeve Jenks

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

Jokes were shared by

Kurt chose the less appropriate one and was gifted with a 12-inch pianist.

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

Rotarians for Rotarians:

No concerns were raised.

New Members:

ROTARY MINUTE

Greg described the Group Study Exchange program he attended in Japan and how influential it was and how it led him to join our Club.

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

Roger Allbee and Milt Gilmore

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

Student Rotarian updates:

Birthday greetings -

BIRTHDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS Cindy-

George was celebrated in song and Tucker Kramer is upcoming on 7/16.

Announcements

Stan thanked the members who participated in the recent meal at GroundWorks. Next meal 8/10 stay tuned.

Happy Dollars and Brags and Fines

Mara fined two tables for not wearing badges
Ron for Maeve for her work at the HS and noting that her dad Robert actually hired him
Rich for his oldest son Matt for chaperoning trips around the world including Australia and Tahiti
Stan for his grandson Landon for being selected to the Polish National lacrosse team. He also noted that the current mayor of Warsaw shares his last name….hmmm
Kurt - $20 for missing the next 5 meetings as he teaches a class at Smith College
Cindy for her vacation to Martha’s Vineyard with Rudy and for watching the movie JAWS for the first time.
Bill V – for acknowledging his son Jack consistently puts him to shame with his hiking speed and prowess
Stephen for Marlene arranging a Rotary Exchange with a Spanish student and getting the whole family involved.
Gerry for his recent two week vacation on Cape Cod
Sarah (prospective member) for Mara’s fundraising abilities.

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:

7/16 – Sitting Bull
7/23 – Patty Whelan – international
7/30 – Club Assmbly

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

Sharon Hall-Smith, Executive Director of Community Asylum Seeker Project (CASP)

She described the work done locally in support of those seeking asylum while explaining the difference between asylum seekers and refugees. She also reviewed the current process, including recent changes, to apply for asylum. The organization receives no government money and is anxious to add more volunteers. We also learned of recent changes to the immigration process. The organization provides financial assistance, legal services, housing, employment and healthcare advice to asylum seekers.

Scribe: Mike

DISCLAIMER

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