Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary - Newsletter

President Steve Dates welcomed back Rep. Joan Lenes who has been in Montpelier every Wednesday since January – but now is back to our meetings. He also introduced the scholarship winners and their parents: Juliana O’Brien with her mother Robilee Smith, Karoline Foote with Zsu Kados-Foote and Richard Foote.

Rotary Foundation Thought

This week's Rotary Foundation Thought is about sponsoring Ambassadorial Scholars.

"I am confident that I am demonstrating a commitment to Rotary ideals-furthering peace and cultural tolerance- through the work that I produce." – Alissa Nicole Creamer

As a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar Alissa Nicole Creamer got a close- up look at how people recover from the ravages of war. While studying documentary filmmaking in Spain she participated in a project supported by 60 Spanish Rotary Clubs to fund rehabilitation of child victims of land mine explosions. Nearly every day for three months Creamer visited with two Angolan children at a local hospital. She got to know their life stories and now she is telling their story to the world through a documentary film she is directing.

By sponsoring and hosting Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotarians give the world hope for the future.

Announcements

President Steve reviewed the successes of the District Assembly at Basin Harbor Club last weekend.

A Hands to Honduras presentation was made by Linda Gilbert, John Hammer, Debby Hanley and Sarah Sprayregan.

The finalists in the District Speaking Competition, from Middlebury and Randolph, gave their speeches and the Middlebury speaker was the winner.

The GSE team who traveled to Taiwan gave a report. The Quadricentennial was observed with a history of Lake Champlain presentation.

There will be changes in the Foundation Matching Funds, with less money available as Rotary International has been impacted by the current financial situation. Matching Grants for less than $25,000 will be very competitive and the application deadlines for grants have been shortened.

John Beal was congratulated for his success in the golf tournament – in the rain. He commented on the growth of the youth component of Rotary, Interact and Rotaract.

Bowl-a-thon is almost here! Ric said money is coming in, the plans are moving forward. He expects about 90 people to attend. Irv Rose and Randy Longe will be cooking and Ric needs to know if members are planning to bring extra dinner guests.

Sergeant at Arms

Kris Engstrom promised a continued excalation of the birthday fines of Chuck Dunham and Robert Maynes were absent. Dennis Webster paid a fine for his 23^rd birthday – well actually for his birthday on the 23^rd.

Pin fines were also levied.

Happy fines:

Kris paid a happy fine, in fact a huge happy fine, in recognition of her visit to her daughter Erica, of her grandson Max calling her Mimi for the first time, for Erica graduating from law school, and for hearing President Obama speak at the graduation attended by 60,000 people. So amazing!
Elaine Dates – back from Texas, has checked her gun, reports it was over 100 degrees and they don’t serve drinks before noon
Ric said he was happy not to be in Texas
John Dupee – Don Rathbone is celebrating his 80^th birthday
Dave Rice – two weeks in Florida
Dennis Webster – his son graduation from college
Fritz Horton – spending one and a half hours in a glider – addressing his fears
Chuck LaClair – joining a new golf league
Pat Sokolowski – seeing John Hancock at church
Joan Lenes – back at last – and her second child has graduated
Alan Hathaway – glad to be back after three weeks in South Carolina
Gary Marcotte – a pin fine – and an early fine
Jimmy Fayette – a pin fine
Rosalyn Graham – in honor of Anne Pardee’s contributions of good stuff to many local organizations from the Food Shelf to SCHIP’s Treasure Resale Shop.
Steve Dates – at Basin Harbor he piped in the flag procession

Lucky draw: Mrs. Foote drew a lucky ticket held at Gary Bergeron’s table – but they didn’t choose the right card.

Scholarship Winners

Scholarship Committee Chair Alan Hathaway introduced two of the three winners of Rotary scholarships: Juliana O’Brien and Karoline Foote, both from Shelburne. A third winner, Rhiannon Neela-Stock, also from Shelburne, was not able to attend.

Alan said that Vermont Student Assistant Corporation handles much of the application process and publicizing the scholarships. Then committee members, Linda Barker, Joan Lenes, Adam Bartsch, John Hancock and Dave Rice review applications and choose the recipients. This year there were twice as many applicants. Alan raised the question of whether we should give more scholarships or increase the dollar value.