Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary - Newsletter

President Steve Dates welcomed our newest member Bill Root to the meeting. After everyone got over looking puzzled, Steve explained that Bill belonged to Rutland Rotary before he moved to Shelburne, and the Rotary International records gave him a new membership number, distorting his length of participation. Now the mix-up has been cleared up, but it could be translated as Bill being “new” to the club.

Rotary Foundation Thought

This week's Rotary Foundation Thought is about Health, Hunger and Humanity Grants (3H).

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.

Bowl-a-Thon Pitch

Ric Flood gave his first appeal of the 2009 Bowl-a-thon season, asking that members get names of the people they would like to solicit for donations to the annual Bowling for the Community fundraiser. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year – and it could be even bigger if every member sent appeals to their friends – and all the people who have asked them for donations.

A Letter from Denny

Denny Bowen sent a very entertaining and up-beat letter from California where he is having what he described as “a radiation vacation.” Hope you’re back soon, Denny.

Hands to Honduras Report

Linda Gilbert reported on the very successful and productive Hands to Honduras Tela project this year.

83 volunteers with Charlotte Shelburne Rotary very well represented
A full week of ambulance training – Tom Candon and Bill Christmas taught the local rescuers how to handle the ambulance donated by St. Michael’s
Classrooms were built in the Los Palmos school, two infant daycare classrooms
The medical, dental and women’s health clinics saw 1,500 to 2,000 patients
Built a kitchen at a rural school and equipped it

John Hammer added his report on the child care center that was build on top of a mountain at the end of a challenging muddy road – including new latrines. And Dorrice lead a group of artists who painted a mural to brighten up the dreary space at the school in Jasmine.

There were also water projects, installing five electric water purification systems funded by Charlotte Shelburne Rotary

Announcements

Kris Engstrom will be a judge at the second stage of the speaking competition
Helpers are still needed for the Charlotte Senior Center lunch on March 25
Next week’s meeting – Shelburne and Charlotte legislators will give a legislative update

Sergeant at Arms

Kris Engstrom levied birthday fines – one from Elaine Dates, and one from Joan Lenes who had sent her dollar via Roz Graham

Happy fines:

Alan Hathaway – off to South Carolina for a couple of weeks
Don Condon – appreciates it when Bill Root is present to be a target for the crap
John Hammer – skied on Tuesday, happy to be back from Honduras, visited Roratan and dived on the second largest reef in the world -- and he’s planning to organize a diving trip there after H2H next year for anyone who would like to participate
Tom Glaser – a visit with his granddaughter in Florida last week and going to Tahoes, NM next week
John Beal – skiing out of bounds in Jackson Hole with his son
Pat Sokolowski – her daughter is fine following a car accident – the car was not so fortunate
Michael Lash – his daughter is home for a visit
Roz Graham – Shelburne Selectboard passed the new zoning regulations at their Tuesday meeting, clearing the way for an affordable housing project in town
Michael Clapp – thank you for the flower, and a donation for his birthday – and John Dupee’s birthday
Steve Dates – heading to another flower show – and to Montreal
Ric Flood – an inspiration presentation by a man named Ed Hoyt who has competed with his disabled son Ricky in a thousand races including the Iron Man – his motivational message – stop whining – Yes You Can

Lucky draw: Ric Flood ticket was drawn but he chose the wrong card and missed the $102 pot.

Committee Reports

Public Relations – Roz Graham

The handy flyer for use as an invitation to come to Charlotte Shelburne Rotary is almost ready for distribution – the committee is now focusing on upgrades to the website – sharing the responsibility for keeping it up to date and useful to people looking for information about us.

Administration – Dave Rice

There have been lots of people signing up to help with set up; new members are helping as greeters; Kris is always looking for people to sign up to do the devotional; the newsletter continues to provide useful and timely information to members thanks to Roz and Jay; programs continue to be interesting and lively thanks to George and Linda Schiavone.

Membership – Ric Flood

The committee has targeted members whose attendance has been low, and contacted them – some have responded by attending and he expects we will lose some at the end of the year; our membership numbers, for both retention and recruitment are good – we have the best growth in the district

Foundation – Elaine Dates

Education about the work of the Foundation continues and more members are being involved.

Tribute

Linda Gilbert recommended a vote of appreciation to the people who contribute their time and energy every week to making the meetings and the club run smoothly.

Photo

Since there is not a photo in this week's newsletter, here is one from last weekend in sunny Florida.

Fort Myers Beach, Florida