President Chris opened the meeting at the meeting site: Holiday Inn Express of Brattleboro, VT. Chris welcomed all to the July 17, 2025 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary www.brattlebororotaryclub.org
Invocation:
Offered.
Chris lead the club with the Pledge of Allegiance
Former Rotarian and today’s guest, Clyde Johnson, led the 4-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 4 guests attended the meeting.
Guests:
Former Rotarian Clyde Johnson, Carol Fredericks, and Grace Khartoum, a student from South Sudan who received a scholarship to pursue college in the United States.
Grace shared that she’s going to Bard in the fall. She joins us today to share that she started a go fund me page to help put her two sisters through high school. She has achieved her goal and a little more so now is looking to help put one or both of her brothers through school, too. Below is a link to the Go Fund Me if Rotarians are interested in making a donation.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-educate-my-sisters
JOKE OF THE WEEK - For our joke or song of the week:
Tami Purcell shared a joke with the membership. Ed. note: joke was funnier than most - bar is raised.
ED NOTE: 2023-24 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
Rotarians for Rotarians:
New Members:
Kurt White will have 2nd posting next time he attends.
Rudy - remember to sign his book.
ROTARY MINUTE
Ron Stahley shared a fun fact about himself for the Rotary minute. He asked others to also share. Frank Rucker and Mark Anderson provided fun facts. Marcy Jones asked people to raise their hand if they know who the only former VT State Police officer in the room is. Most knew but some did not that Rick Manson was a VT State Trooper!
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 RUBEN -
Ruben announced that today is Rob Szpila birthday.
Announcements
Mike M –Wheels Sept 27 at Park Place.
Annual Disc Golf Tournament October 4th and 5th.
Happy Dollars and Brags and Fines
Betsy - for Dana Farber for successful surgery on Libby Bennett’s daughter, Willow, who had brain surgery
Bill V - Rhonda for offering to proofread scribe notes , for Frank LaGrande who collected Bill’s scribe notes when he left them behind last week, and for Gina for taking scribe notes today because he was tardy
Cheri Ann - Thankful she is here. First time in life she had a full weeks' vacation and it was wonderful.
Frank Rucker – Grace for being so courageous and committed to family. She embodies so much of what Rotary stands for.
Theresa - Frank LaGrande for providing such great accommodations to her family who visited for her baby shower - So much so that they are coming back for two weeks after the baby is born!
Mark – For camaraderie and how nice it is to see Rotarians in the community, for John Meyer and Bill Vermouth for their assistance with Gateway
President Chris - For gardening with Frank LaGrande, Rudy, Jenifer, and Mara. It was a lot of fun and wonderful experience. And did amazing job in 2 hours.
Frank LaGrande - seconded Chris’s brag. Great camaraderie.
ED NOTE: Weekly assignments for the invocation or motivational thought can be found on the club
website.>
