Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary - Newsletter

Two future members, and great supporters of Charlotte Shelburne Rotary and its Hands to Honduras Program, Megan and Lauren Hanley, were guests at the meeting – and sold lots more fund-raising raffle tickets to club members. Adam Greshin, a member of the Valley Rotary Club, speaker for the meeting, was also welcomed.

This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is about a Rotarian going the distance for the Foundation.

Running, biking and swimming 482 miles in the course of a year or even a month is hardly the marvel of sports headlines. But racking up that distance in three days staggers the imagination. Jeff Glidden did just that through his Ultra Distance Triathlon Challenge, raising $100,000 and counting, as of June 2007 for the Annual Programs Fund. “It was difficult” said Glidden, “but it was more rewarding than anything I have ever done. Many Rotarians that had never given before contributed and supported me, that was definitely one of my goals” Corporate sponsors helped fuel Glidden’s mega-triathlon challenge by each contributing at least $1000. Local media coverage also raised overall awareness of Rotary. All the proceeds from Glidden’s challenge went to support The Rotary Foundation. going the distance

Announcements

Thank Yous

Thank you notes were received from Home Share to whom we had given a donation and from Stephan Jost of Shelburne Museum for the $12,000 contribution we made toward their new entrance project. We also received an unexpected donation of $250 from the GDS Foundation in Manchester.

It was announced that the St. Michael’s Ambulance has arrived in Tela and training of ambulance personnel will begin in January.

Speaking Competition

The Speaking Competition was held at Champlain Valley Union High School last week and club members Elaine Dates, Steve Dates (subbing for John Beale who was ill), and Julie Won were present as judges. Much thanks to Tami Jo Dickenson who organized the event at the school. The competitors will speak at a club meeting in January.

Calendar

Dec. 17 meeting – Club Assembly, vote on bylaws and committee meetings
Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 – no meetings

Polio Plus Double Match Plan

Anyone wishing to participate in this project to increase our support of the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus campaign (and benefit from the double match opportunity) can write a check to Champlain Shelburne Rotary with “Polio Plus Fund” in the subject line, and get the check to Treasurer Russ Blodgett. Russ will match the amount in the member’s check with an equal amount from a $1,000 item in our budget designated for Polio Plus, and it will also be matched with “points” for our club from the Rotary Foundation.

Sergeant at Arms

Kris Engstrom assessed late fines on Rosalyn Graham, Julie Won (who kindly paid Roz’s fine), Bill Root, the Hanleys. She also paid a notoriety fine for her most recent television commercial.

Happy fines:

Jim Spadacinni – a pin fine – happy that our former Korean exchange student is visiting her Vermont host family
Alan Hathaway – just happy
Deb Hanley – appreciate support for her daughters’ fund raising project
Ric Flood – that his prayer was answered – he thought he was going to have to take the minutes of the meeting because Roz was late – but she came and saved him
Michele Lash – happy to be here
John Hammer – it’s snowing
Elaine Dates – for Tami Jo and her good work organizing the speaking competition
Steve Dates – for Ric’s poem (to be shared more widely at a future meeting!)
Linda Schiavone – happy Adam Greshin could be with us
Jim Spadacinni (take two) – happy to have a representative of the Valley Rotary Club present

Guest Speaker

Steve Dates and Adam Greshin

Adam Greshin, co-owner, and guest and community relations manager at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, shared many interesting historical notes as well as challenges faced by Sugarbush.

25% of those who ski or board at Sugarbush and Sugarbush North (on Mount Ellen connected by a two-mile lift across the valley) are Vermonters
Sugarbush has 900 employees at high season and 175 at the low point of their season
Greshin and his business partner Win Smith purchased Sugarbush from American Ski Company in September 2001. One of the few locally owned resorts

Challenges:

Their season is 160 days long – from before Thanksgiving to the end of April – and 30% of their revenue is from 40 days each year (Christmas week, Presidents Week and weekends in February and March) – they are expanding their business to reduce the reliance on winter by adding mountain biking with 25 miles of trails, and a golf course.
Finding employees for such a seasonal demand – and finding employees who know Sugarbush, and understand their service mantra – they go to job fairs (which they have found are an economic indicator: when times are good there are fewer people looking for jobs; this year there are lots of people looking for ski resort jobs) – they have had good luck with exchange students from Peru
Who is their customer – ranging from the east coast (New Jersey) guest who comes for a long weekend and stays in their hotel, to the local person who has a pass and comes 100 days a year, to the person from South Burlington who is visiting for the first time for one day. On holidays the guests are from away, but they have to rely on locals for the season passes and day visits.
Vermont business with the Vermont economy and the natural ecology – the advantage of the beauty of the landscape that makes people want to come – and come back – and stay – but businesses costs are high for workers’ compensation, health insurance

This weekend they are celebrating the 50^th birthday of Sugarbush – opened on Christmas Day, 1958. Adam is hoping a lot of people will hop in their cars and come to join the celebration.

A political note: Adam (who has lived in Warren since 2002) ran for the House seat in Warren/Waitsfield/Fayston this year as an Independent and won.