President Chris opened the meeting at the meeting site: Holiday Inn Express of Brattleboro, VT. Chris welcomed all to the November 13, 2025 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary www.brattlebororotaryclub.org

Invocation:

Ted Kramer said a very thought-provoking invocation

Chris lead the club with the Pledge of Allegiance

Bill M 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?

23 Members, 0 Student Rotarians and 3 guests attended the meeting.

Guests:

Guests were welcomed

Stephen Stearns

Robert Sims from BS&L as our guest speaker
Nbras Elrebate was introduced and had her last posting for membership

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

Bill Daley told a joke of the beginning of mankind, Adam & Eve vs. monkeys; depends on which side of the family you’re from.

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:

Kurt White read names of persons needing to welcome Kurt and pay a dollar fine.

ROTARY MINUTE

Betsy gave a Rotary minute about center for solace

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 Miller 60 YEARS!

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

Student Rotarian updates:

Birthday greetings -

BIRTHDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS from Cindy-

Tom French
Carla Lineback
Bill McKim

Announcements

Cheri Ann announced need for about 200 senior gifts for shut-ins / nursing home / assisted living

Happy Dollars and Brags and Fines

Bill McKim, bragged $90 for his 90th birthday to the Rotary Foundation. He also passed a hat for contributions to the senior gifts. Bill then recited a poem for us.
Frank LaGrande bragged for the garden project at Mara’s house and the groundworks meal coordinated by Stan.
Bill Vermouth bragged for Carla being volunteer of year. Carla also bragged that the award will be presented on her birthday.
Ted bragged for Bill McKim for being the elder statesman of the club and having graced the club with his talents for many years.
Stephen Stearns bragged for Bill McKim for his help as a colleague for community events over the years.

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:

Kindle Farm
Thanksgiving
Gift Wrapping

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

Marcy Jones introduced our speaker Robert Sims, the new President and CEO of BS&L. Robert told us about his 10 children and their educational and military accomplishments. Robert came to Brattleboro originally in 2004 with Chittenden Bank but relocated when his job was moved. He recently returned here when BS&L offered him the CEO position. He relayed to us how important BS&L is to this community as an organization and to the vitality of Brattleboro. On behalf of the bank many thanks for the community’s business.

Scribe: Phil G

DISCLAIMER

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