Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary - Newsletter

President Steve Dates lead the pledge of allegiance and Kris Engstrom gave the devotional. Steve introduced guest Rep. Kate Webb and Colleen Haag introduced former member and former president Howard Seaver.

Rotary Foundation Thought

This week's Rotary Foundation Thought is about Ambassadorial Scholar Alumni.

Four alumni who traveled from the USA to study in Buenos Aires, Argentina have formed Project Patagonia, which provides educational support for school children. The alumni are constructing a multi-media library to meet both short and long-term educational needs at two schools for low-income students in rural Argentina. They are also providing school supplies and nutritional support. Ambassadorial Scholars represent the very best in intellect and character and they are future Rotarians. Every Rotarian, Every Year - imagine all we can accomplish today and tomorrow. Consider inviting local Rotary Foundation alumni to become members of your Rotary club.

Announcements

Makeups – Carol Obuchowski had a makeup at Burlington Sunrise
Future Meetings – March 11 – Toni Monsey on “The Bridge.”
Charlotte Senior Center Luncheon – 3/25 at noon – see Terrell Titus to sign up
Bolton Ski/Ride Challenge – 3/6 – see Trafton Crandall to sign up
Future Business Leaders Spring Leadership Conference – 4/2-3 – judges needed – see Steve to sign up
Double Match Status – only 4 cash and 2 point matches remain – see Steve
Basin Harbor Spring District Conference – a Kurik machine has been donated in our name thanks to John Dupee’s son Michael who was our recent speaker and works at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Rotary Speaking Competition – Kris reported that she and Jahala Dudley went to Vergennes Rotary for Round 2 of the competition. Jahala competed against two others and did well. The Middlebury Club candidate won.

Sergeant at Arms

Kris levied a birthday fine for Eric Hanley and Dave Rice (though his birthday isn’t until next week), a scoot fine for Ric Flood and a late fine for Sharon Beal.

Happy fines:

Trafton – his Bolton Ski/Ride team will include John Beal, Kevin Spillane, Debbie Hanley and himself
Rosalyn Graham – a great weekend visit with her daughter in Williamstown, Mass.
Eric Hanley – daughter Megan’s story about Honduras in the Shelburne News and daughter Lauren’s success selling Girl Scout cookies at Town Meeting
Don Maynard -- his grandson is competing in ski race in Garmisch, Germany
Terrell Titus – a visit from her daughter and son-in-law and seeing her daughter as “Miss Single Service Coffee”
Joan Lenes – had a birthday and Peter has had a great season
Jim Spadacinni – happy to see Howard Seaver
Russ Blodgett – winter break – his daughter in North Carolina is coming to Vermont and his son in Vermont is going to Florida
Colleen Haag – town meeting is over, everything passed and the counting was over early – and Howard Seaver is a welcome guest
John Hammer – his little grandson came to visit – Cucina Antica gets high marks as a great place for dinner – “a real gold mine,” John says – thanks to Jim for bringing pictures of our former exchange student at home in France – an update on two other exchange students – one in South Africa working for Daimler Benz, the other in Santiago where he has started two businesses

Lucky draw: Kate Webb drew Carol Obuchowski’s ticket but Carol didn’t get the $116 pot.

Legislative Report

Rep. Kate Webb and Rep. Joan Lenes

Guests Rep. Joan Lenes and Kate Webb reported on the activities of their committees and the House in its first two months.

Joan has continued on the Institutions and Corrections Committee where she is the clerk. It has been very busy, incredibly intense, she says. Committee met throughout the summer so they would be ready to hear witnesses as soon as the House convened in January.

Kate, who was elected for her first term in November, introduced herself, explaining that her background has been in special education which she considers great experience in identifying assets and solving problems, much as they do in the legislature. She also was a business owner in real estate for six years. She is active in the Vermont Association for Psychological Type.

She is on the Fish, Wildlife and Water Committee where she is clerk. The committee has been working on a water bill, invasive species rapid response plans, deer control, and chloramine issues.

Joan talked about the debate over the layoffs of 400 state employees last year and 660 this year. She said the layoffs are impacting programs and raising unemployment insurance costs. In an unprecedented move, the Chief Justice came to the House to testify on the negative impact on the court systems, the serious backlogs, caused by the cost-saving measure of not operating one day a week. The State Employees Union has said they are willing to renegotiate their contract to avoid layoffs.

Joan made the point that there need to be experienced state employees on the job if the state is going to make the best use of the federal funds coming to the state.

She said work on the budget is currently happening in the committees where each committee ensures that its budget is pared to be “smartly lean.” She said, “We are making adjustments now for the crisis that will be here in 2011 when the state revenues continue to drop.”

Kate commented on the impressive cooperation that exists in the committees. “Our work is non-partisan,” she said. “We leave party designations at the door.”