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Charlotte Shelburne Rotary Club
Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 7:30 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room
Welcome
President John Beal, on the eve of passing the presidency to Linda Gilbert, opened the meeting with the pledge, and Kris Engstrom gave the devotional.
John introduced guest Rotarian Ed Reinsch from Hotsprings Village, Arkansas, who presented us with a banner from his club and received a Charlotte Shelburne Rotary banner to take home to Arkansas.
Announcements
· Rotary International is still seeking donations to help reach the goal of their match for Bill and Melinda Gates’ donation to Polio Plus.
· Changing of the Guard – Thursday, July 1 at 6 p.m. at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms. This is always a fun event with sociability, good food, and the recognition of special achievements. Seventy-seven people are registered. The price is $10 per person with the option of an additional $2 for a 50/50 raffle ticket. Volunteer set-up helpers should plan to arrive at 4. Cash bar/ potluck appetizers, sides and desserts/ William at the grill for steak, chicken and salmon.
· Our prayers are with our dear friend and charter member John Hancock who was admitted to the hospital yesterday.
· A thank you note from the parents of scholarship winner Nora Kaszubowski of Shelburne – with the news that she will be attending the University of Hartford.
Looking Ahead
The Halloween Parade this year will be on Sunday, Oct. 31 which might be a boost for attendance. Randy Longe at Champlain Lanes has already said he will have a float this year.
RYLA
Judy Christensen reported that the RYLA weekend at Lyndon State College last weekend was ‘awesome.’ She said this year, with 69 participants was the largest ever, and attributed that to the timing of the event – late enough in June to make it accessible to the students from Quebec and early enough for the Vermont students who head off to summer jobs soon. She said it was impressive to see how well the young people bonded, in spite of language challenges, and that their fund-raising effort in support of Polio Plus raised over $1,600.
The four CVU students who attended were ecstatic about the experience and will be attending a Rotary meeting in September to receive their certificates and report on the event.
Thanks to Judy for working so hard on this event.
Dues Up!
With an increase of $4 for district and $1 for Rotary International, the Club will raise its dues for 2010-2011 to $140. Invoices will go out soon. Jim Spadaccini commented that our dues are still the lowest in the district. Most are in the $150 range.
The Last Hurdle
John showed a video from Rotary International on the Polio Plus program, Rotary’s world-wide effort to eradicate the disease completely. Since the program began the number of countries where polio is still endemic has been reduced from 125 to 4 – but as the video pointed out, if polio exists anywhere, it could come back to be the scourge it once was worldwide.
In a densely populated country such as India, the challenge of getting polio vaccine to children is a daunting one, but with the cooperation of Rotary (including volunteers from the United States), the World Health Organization and UNICEF, progress is being made. In the city or Moratabad in the state of Utar Pradesh in northern India, as many as 100,000 clinics are being held and organizers are optimistic. However it is interesting to note that because of conditions of health, nutrition and sanitation, it may take as many as 17 doses of the vaccine to prevent polio in a child there. For more information and to donate, go to Rotary.org/end polio.
Sergeant at Arms
Don Condon paid tribute to Kris Engstrom and her “gentle touch” for the help she has given this year as his Sergeant at Arms substitute/deputy/lieutenant/fairy godmother.
Happy fines:
· John Hammer – described Kris’s approach as “the velvet hammer.”
· Eric Hanley – recovering from the strain of carrying Don in the golf tournament – Megan graduated from eighth grade and won the Joan Lenes award at Shelburne Community School -- the kids are in Maine with their grandmother
· Bob Sanders – just happy
· Joan Lenes – a scoot fine
· Carol Obuchowski – the sun’s out
· Terrell Titus – going to Maine – closed out the district simplified grant progress
· Chuck LaClair – celebrated their anniversary
· Ric Flood – happy to be alive – scoot fine – an informational note/warning – the shoulder people were patting in friendship is the one getting physical therapy – please stay away from his left shoulder.
· Alan Hathaway – his birthday – and Terrell Titus’ birthday too – funny she didn’t mention that!
· Tom Glaser – glad Ric is back – grandchildren came to visit
· Guest Ed Reinsch – he and his wife are celebrating their 45th anniversary – and going to the British Open to celebrate
· Michael and Michele Lash – celebrating their 30th anniversary
· Michael Lash – scoot fine
· Michele Lash – glad Ric is back
· Steve Dates – glad to see such sunshine
· Jim Spadaccini – his kids came to visit – and have gone home – now the grandchildren are coming – sad to report that their Argentinean exchange student has left for home – a great guest
· Bill Root – glad Ric is back
· John Dupee – happy his wife didn’t hear about Ed Reinsch’s anniversary plan
· Denny Bowen – glad he can still climb to the top of the mast
· Joyce Errecart – going to Europe for a month – including two weeks in the Basques region of Spain
· Judy Christensen – happy Ric is well – thanks to John Beal for his year of leadership – her son has a job
· Roz Graham – her niece and twin great-nieces are visiting for 10 days while the girls, who are 7, go to camp at Shelburne Farms – and the Farm to School Institute at Shelburne Farms with 100 educators, food service people, parents and farmers sharing strategies for improving school nutrition
· Sharon Beal – late fine – great year with John Beal as president
Lucky draw: Joyce Errecart’s number was drawn but she chose the wrong card and didn’t get the $491 pot.
Volunteer Requests
John Dupee asked for sign-ups for two upcoming volunteer opportunities:
· Charlotte Senior Center dinner – August 13 – need 12 helpers from 5 to 8
· Camp Ta Kum Ta breakfast on August 3 or 5 from 7 a.m. – prepare and serve breakfast for 200 campers
Guest Speaker
Dave Bielecki is President and CEO of AIM (Achievements in Measurable) Results, a professional development company that specializes in coaching individuals or management teams to propel them to success.
He said that people typically use 3% to 6% of their potential resources and if that could be raised by even 10% the impact would be dramatic. He pointed out that attitude, ranging from positive to negative makes all the difference between adding value a lot or a little. In their coaching, they focus on attitude, rather than on adding skills or knowledge.
Next Meeting
July 7: President Linda Gilbert and a report on the Hands to Honduras Tela program.