Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary - Newsletter

Guests: Robert Maynes introduced two guests, Carol Smith and Deb Woodbury, both members of the staff of TD Bank North. Julie Won introduced her husband Song and daughter Ainslee.

President Steve Dates read the Rotary Foundation Thought: This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought highlights the cooperation between two Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program alumni.

Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program alumnus, Francis Kabosha is busy repatriating refugees in Zambia back to their homeland in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Through the repatriation process, Francis also educates the leaders of the repatriated groups in the ways of peace to help them build and maintain peace in their home areas. He recently called his fellow RPCS alumnus, Abdulai Jalloh, logistics officer for the United Nations in DRC, to say, “I’m giving them the tools to build peace, you must ensure they reach their destinations safely.” Francis and Abdulai now work together to build peace in the region. Keep in mind, every dollar that you contribute to The Rotary Foundation goes to actual program spending.

Announcements

John Beal is recovering from surgery on Monday.

Emily Morrow will be absent until the end of March as she will be spending time visiting New Zealand.

A leader and members of the team are being recruited for the GSE next year to Russia. The leader is a member of Rotary and the team members are young professionals who are not members of Rotary or family members of Rotarians.

There will be a District Team Training Seminar on Jan. 31.

Sergeant at Arms

Kris Engstrom assessed a notoriety fine on herself for a recent ad on television, and Dennis Delaney paid a notoriety fine for a recent radio interview. Birthday fines were paid by Michele Lash and John Hammer.

Happy fines:

Trafton Crandall – snow and his daughter’s wedding
Julie Won – apologizing for calling Terry Kennaugh so early to tell him she wouldn’t be able to help hang the banners – and happy that her husband daughter could come to the meeting with her
Carol Obuchowski – her daughter arrived safely from California for a visit
John Hammer – snow
Bob Sanders – for sitting next to Dennis Delaney
Joyce Errecart – for a recent cruise – and a shipboard Rotary meeting
Terrell Titus – for the great article in the Charlotte News about Linda Gilbert and Hands to Honduras – and for becoming a great aunt
Linda Gilbert – for returning from Jacksonville where she visited her sister – and for the Lake Champlain Waldorf Schools Hikes for Honduras that raised money for the project
Ric Flood – his daughter has returned to the East Coast (Boston, to be exact)
Robert Maynes – sitting at a table of beautiful women
Tom Glaser – the Cowboys beat the Giants
Alan Hathaway – just happy
Chuck Dunham – also just happy
Ric Flood – received the last bowl-a-thon check – thanks to Tom Glaser
Deb Woodbury – thanks for the welcome
George Schiavone – got his first deer

Lucky draw – really lucky draw: Guest Carol Smith drew Elaine Dates ticket and Elaine chose the right card, taking home a very nice $277.50 pot.

Club Assembly

Donations

The main item of business was discussion and approval of several requested donations.

Treasurer Russ Blodgett had brought some of the requests to the Board who had approved them since they were $200 or less. These were promptly ratified by the membership:

$150 – Green Mountain Club for Long Trail maintenance
$200 – Vermont Youth Orchestra
$100 – Essex Rotary Key Bank All Star Hockey Classic
$200 – Howard Mental Health

Also brought to the club for discussion and approval were the following:

$500 – Visiting Nurse Association
$500 – Red Cross Disaster Relief
$300 -- Kacey O’Brien – delegate to the People to People Leadership program in DC in April 2009 – raising funds towards $3,500 cost
$500 – Recycle North
$300 – each of the local Food Shelves – Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg

All approved except the request from Kacey O’Brien which will be reconsidered in January after we have more information about the opportunities for her to share what she learns with students in our towns, and with Rotary.

Polio Plus Double Match Campaign

Five people have donated $300 to date, with a total of $1,000 in matching funds from the club as well as Paul Harris points available for matches. Club members encouraged to participate.

Slate of Officers

Candidates for the five offices that are open were presented and the vote will take place in January. They are:

President – John Beal
President Elect – Linda Gilbert
Vice President – Julie Won
Secretary – Terry Kennaugh
Treasurer – Russ Blodgett

Next Meeting

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009