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President Chris opened the meeting at the meeting site: Holiday Inn Express of  Brattleboro, VT. Chris welcomed all to the October 23, 2025 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary  www.brattlebororotaryclub.org

Invocation: 

Cheri Ann Brodhurst presented the invocation.

Chris lead the club with the Pledge of Allegiance

Frank LaGrande  led  the club:

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 1 guests attended the meeting.

Guests: 

Guests were welcomed which included former member Stephen Stearns, who may consider rejoining the club. 

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

George Weir led the club, America the Beautiful
Note: Bill McKim donated a book of songs to the Club
 

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

 

Rotarians for Rotarians: 

Regina in our thoughts.

New Members:

Remember to welcome Kurt White then sign his book.
 

ROTARY MINUTE

Cathy Coonan shared the rotary minute which was inspired by Mara Williams; The topic was on the Paul Harris fellow award that originated in 1957 to honor individual rotary members.  Comments included;  Commitment to humanitarian and educational programs, also used to recognize rotary ideals, millions of individuals have received the Paul Harris award worldwide to promote service above self.
 

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 March:

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

 

Student Rotarian updates:

 

Birthday greetings -

BIRTHDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS from Cindy-

Stan Nowakowski
 

Announcements


President Chris shared appreciation expressed for completing the Senior center project.
Members were encouraged to participate in the Rotary District Survey
Cheri Ann inspired the idea of having a club PA system,  to be stored by the very hospitable Frank LaGrande.
Mara Williams; garden cleanup project at Mara’s house, will prepare breakfast, scheduled for November 1, 9am at 261 East Orchard St, wrap up by 11:15am
 
 

Happy Dollars and Brags and Fines

Stephen Stearns; $20, thank you for the warm welcome, touched looking around room heartwarming to know nearly every one in the room. Bragging for Broadway in Brattleboro at the Latchis Theater to celebrate New England Youth Theater (NYT) and his vision of theater for kids and of kids, to learn life skills. Graduates of NYT are all over the country and are giving back to the vision.  Taylor Patno is challenging Stephen to sellout Latchis with Broadway performers including; Hanna Bonet, Amanda Wilson Booth, Alex Nicholson, Alexander Stillberg, Cassidy Stoner, and other NYT alumni.
Performance will be Saturday November 1 please join.
Ron Stahley; Bragged for Stephen, worked with NYT for social change, great support in launching programming at BUHS.  Rick Manson bragged for Stephen for acknowledging his daughter and her success with NYT.  George Karabakakis bragged for Stephean signing at a family memorial and for his family member’s favorable experience at NYT and  to acknowledge all of what Stephean brings to our community.
Cindy Jerome bragged for Stephen, her son Ben worked with Stephen at NYT which inspired him to be a better middle school teacher.
Jenifer Aambler bragged for Stephean about how her daughter gained valuable experience in stage management at NYT.
Bill McKim bragged for Stephen’s wife Bonnie for her support of the community.
Mara Williams also bragged for Stephen for giving so many children positive experiences
Bill Vermouth bragged for positively influencing youth and for Ted Kramer’s “flowerchild” tie.
 
 
 
 
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:
10/30 Ben Stockman from NEYT
 
 

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
Frank shared a slideshow about his career in hospitality and some of the many fine establishments in our region.
Frank went to school for travel industry management, obtained his first job in 1996 with Howard Johnsons.  In 1998 accepted a position at the Holiday Inn Express in Poughkeepsie NY which was a new concept in the industry at that time. Frank provided oversight of major renovations at the property and became the assistant general manager.  In 2005 Frank moved to Keene as General Manager for the Keene Holiday Inn Express through 2012 until it was sold.  In 2013 Frank accepted the position of General Manager at the Riverside Hotel West Chesterfield NH.  This was a new experience and a niche market.  Frank and his team won hotel of the year award due in part to the luxury accommodations with views of the river. For most of his career Frank worked six days a week, ten hours per day.  In 2017 Frank accepted the position of General Manager at the Holiday Inn Express in Brattleboro. He is grateful for the current opportunity and has an excellent relationship with owners.  He had oversight of the 2023 renovations that included major interior upgrades and additional floors. Frank and his team won the IHG torchbearer 2024 award and has accomplished robust growth in the industry.  Frank was awarded General Manager of the year in 2021 and 2022 and was quick to point out that the awards reflect the great team in place.
Frank attended Johnson and Wales college, he considered a career as a chef, he has always liked travel, cooking, good health and spending time with family.  He is excited for future and has been motivated by making people happy.
Meeting adjourned at 1:15pm
 
 
 
 

Scribe: Frank Rucker
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

DISCLAIMER

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