Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary - Newsletter

Check out your most recent issue of The Rotarian for the shocking statistics on hunger in the world (49.1 million people are hungry, ¼ of them children) and the programs Rotary Clubs are doing to help.

Announcements

Upcoming meetings:

4/7 – Scott Johnson of Efficiency Vermont
4/14 – Make A Wish

Bowl-a-Thon

Ric Flood renewed his appeal to everyone in the club to be involved in the fund raising for the Bowl-a-thon. Currently we raise $24,000 to $25,000 each year. If everyone submitted a list of about 20 people to whom they would send letters asking for a donation to the project (a painless effort as Ric’s office creates the letters and envelopes and all you have to do is sign it and add a little personal note and put them in the mail), we could raise $40,000. Ric said that he does not expect the people who are involved in fund-raising for Hands to Honduras to participate as they are already committed to the H2H project – and have already asked their friends for help. The challenge is for everyone in the club to raise $500. He suggested asking the people who regularly ask you to support their charities. He said that Tom Glaser raises $8,000 to $10,000 himself by asking his suppliers to donate to this important cause. Gary Bergeron brings in several thousand more by selling advertising banners to local businesses.

Instead of organizing another fund-raising event, Ric said it would be much more efficient to capitalize on the successful event we have – and make it bigger.

Thank You Notes

Linda Gilbert read a thank you letter from the Charlotte Senior Center for the gift of service Rotary gave them, helping with the clean up and serving at their volunteer appreciation dinner. Having the Rotarians’ help meant that the CSC organizers and volunteers could chat and enjoy their evening which Rotary kept things running smoothly.

Sergeant at Arms

Don Condon issued a notoriety fine to John Beal who was mentioned in a Free Press story on the weekend, and a scoot fine for Eric Hanley. He also challenged the tables to answer questions about the world of the theatre, awards won, records set, and famous plays everyone should know. Amazing how many people have such bad recall.

Happy fines:

Tod Whitaker – the last Winter Farmers Market is this Saturday – on the Parade Ground if the day is sunny and warm
Michael Lash – just happy
Alan Hathaway – scholarship applications are in
Gary Bergeron – his birthday
Jim Spadaccini – the Boy Scouts did a great job with their Pancake Breakfast
Judy Christensen – the Boy Scouts really did a great job with their Pancake Breakfast
Ric Flood – tee time Friday
Kris Engstrom – her garden is growing
Alexi – no school today
Fritz Horton – no more need for winter underwear
Sam Feitelberg – his grandson earned the mortar board at UVM
Carole Obuchowski – back from California – where they had great weather
Linda Gilbert – the season’s first maple beer
Linda Schiavone – thanks to Don for his emails
Eric Hanley – great trip to Disney with the Community School musical group – they did a great show – many thanks to Rotary for their support
Michael Clapp – Don Rathbone’s grandson won three golds at the Ski Nationals at Lake Placid

Lucky draw: Tod Whitaker’s number was drawn but he chose the wrong card. $291.50 pot rolls over.

Syndi Zook, Executive Director of Lyric Theatre

John Beal and Syndi Zook

Syndi Zook has been a member, actor, director of Lyric Theatre for more than 29 years and was named Executive Director in 2005. She is the only paid staff member of the largest volunteer community theatre group in the country.

Lyric was founded as a community theatre group in 1974, the inspiration of Howard Delano, who had been an usher at the Flynn Theatre, built originally for vaudeville just as movies became popular and never used for theatre until Lyric asked to use it. When Merrill Jarvis proposed to turn the Flynn into a multi-plex in 1980, Lyric lead the campaign to save it for theatre, raised the money to buy it, and then helped to set up the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts under the leadership of Andrea Rogers.

This year they are presenting their 76^th show La Cage Aux Folles, musical comedy. They do two musicals a year and have been self-supporting since their first show in 1974, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

La Cage will cost $120,000 to present, the largest expense being royalties. They rent the Flynn, pay an orchestra and the rest of the production is done by volunteers. There were 66,000 volunteer hours last year.

Lyric is an important link in the fabric of the community, she said. Community theatre is a good way to meet people, attracts a diverse group of all ages, has been a path to careers for local young people, benefits other non-profits and helps school theatre groups, as well as offering summer theatre camps.

The next production will be Peter Pan.