Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary - Newsletter

In Romania orphaned and ill children are consuming donated eggs, milk, meat and poultry because of a grant from The Rotary Foundation that benefits local farmers. Farmers use the grant to buy everything from animal feed to packaging materials. There is one stipulation, the farmers have to donate a portion of their products to children's hospital, schools and orphanages. 3H grants fund large long-term international, grassroots projects. By contributing to The Rotary Foundation you are taking part in these grants. The Rotary Foundation is our Foundation; it is critical that we take ownership of it and do what we can to change and save lives.

Announcements

Steve and Elaine Dates, Jim Spadacinni and John Beale will attend the district team training at Dartmouth Hitchcock Health Care on Jan. 31.
The first contingent of Hands to Honduras team has arrived safely, according to a report from Linda Gilbert, and the Dixon-Jonah family have met them.
Future programs: Jan. 28, Youth Day with speech competitors, RYLA students and Mexican Exchange student; Jan. 29, Board meeting.

We received thank you letters from the Hinesburg Food Shelf and an invitation to participate in the Bolton Ski 7 Ride Challenge on March 6. Kevin Spillane will coordinate the Charlotte Shelburne team.

Sergeant at Arms

Kris Engstrom urged anyone who wasn’t wearing their pin to ante up.

Happy fines:

Joyce Errecart – going to see her grandson in Virginia
John Hammer – snow this week and sand next week in Honduras
John Hancock – happy about something he forgot
Steve Dates – apologies to Paula Cope for introducing her as Paula Spadacinni
Elaine Dates – for visiting the new grandson – and the four-year-old granddaughter
Jim Spadacinni – his usual happy self
Ric Flood – he’s heading for Florida and a golf game with Larry Williams – and impressed that 2 million people could gather in D.C. and have no problems, no arrests
Robert Maynes – Bobbe recovering well from her knee surgery
John Dupee – happy happy happy
Michael Clapp – the state of affairs looking up
Alan Hathaway – his son’s engineering job – and in advance for his anniversary as he’ll be away next week
Colleen Haag – with Rotarian volunteers and friends in Honduras next two weeks
Fritz Horton – his son Andy is on his way to Spain to sail
Terry Kennaugh – thanks to his assistant who reconciled the finances
Kris Engstrom – for the amazing day on Tuesday – and the news that her daughter Erica will be graduating from last school in May
Rosalyn Graham – on such a cold morning, in praise of heated seats in her Mini Cooper S

Lucky draw: Paula Cope drew Linda Schiavone’s number, but Linda missed the Joker in the pack and didn’t win the $40.50 in the pot.

Annual Meeting

Honorary Member William Wessell and Membership Chair Ric Flood

Report on the Double Match – currently almost half of the $1,000 in matching funds from the club have been allocated to match contributions to the Polio Plus campaign by club members. Everyone is urged to make whatever donation they can afford to help this amazing cause – especially in light of the challenge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bylaws Revisions

Proposed changes to the bylaws as circulated, with some last minute editing for form or clarity, were approved. These include adjustments to bring our bylaws in line with new organizational model, modifying the membership categories and administrative changes such as cost of membership and board meeting dates.

Board for 2009-2010

Past President: Steve Dates

President: John Beale

President elect: Linda Gilbert

Vice President: Julie Won

Secretary: Terry Kennaugh

Treasurer: Russ Blodgett

Honorary members were reaffirmed: Ray Brown, Ray Cooley, Randy Longe, Larry Williams, Father Leo.

Newly installed honorary member, inducted by Membership Chair Ric Flood, William Wissell, in appreciation of his conscientious work as our breakfast chef.

A donation of $5,000 to the Hands to Honduras team for their Tela project was approved.

Committee meetings followed.