Rotary Meeting, 5.17.23 Ramuntos
7:15 AM –Meeting to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Thank this week’s greeters – KJ and Josh
GUESTS:
Randall Barclay
Evelyn
Emily Webb
Kay Turner
Michael Mayer
Andrew from Foodworks
Elissa
SCRIBE is: KJ, next week is Tristam Johnson.
Sargent At Arms – All hands on Deck – aka Justin
Speaker List –Michael Mayer -Green Burial Movement, next week Millicent Cooley Refugee support at SIT.
Check out website for updates www.brattleborosunriserotary.org – contact Toni if you are seeking a member login account/instructions.
SERVICE STORIES:
Andrew from Foodworks $500 Donation. $500 goes a long way, between $500 - $1000 purchases an entire box truck full of food from the Vermont Food Bank. So this goes a long way!
Evelyn’s history: transplant from Connecticut, works right up the street at a Credit Union, loves living in Brattleboro with all the little stores. Big fan of getting people back to downtown. Her work donates 10% of their net income to charity.
Emily and Evelyn are both inducted as new members to our club!
Student Rotarians –
Shoshana and Ava from BUHS
Ava: Prom is coming up on Saturday at the Stone Church, spring sports are going (Ava is on the Tennis team), just won their first match in four years!
Shoshana: Last weekend was the Vermont All State Music Festival in St. Albans. Had a great conductor and a great time! Had 9 students from BUHS attend.
Steve Rice’s last concert is next weekend.
Rotary announcement –
Service Award – Randal Barclay DG, Afghan refugee program, All of the folks that have helped in some way, Katja, Deborah, Josh, Jim and Elissa. Best Community Service award for District 7870!
School Nutrition/Workstation Project – Tristam: Noon club is helping fund the workstation project! So it is a go!
Afghani Family -Josh, Elissa: took two girls to their physical and they didn’t need an interpreter, their English is amazing!
International Update – Tristam: the school in Mexico, Tristam is working toward getting some money sent down for a scholarship.
Elks Trivia – Tonight!! For the Windham County Humane Society
Welcome Center June 17th, Scholarship Committee – Sadie says scholarship committee is now reviewing applications – they will meet May 27th to make decisions. Also – they are looking for Penfield Scholarship applicants – e-mail Sadie ASAP for potential candidates.
History tours - Sandy/Jon: Did a fun tour last week, only had one person who isn’t a club member. Want to get out the word, please share and get people going. June 3rd and June 24th are the next tours.
Changover Party: July 12th at the Latchis Pub at 5:30 for a drink, 6 PM for the changeover.
Welcome Center on June 17th! Look for a signup genius coming soon.
Deb: this Sunday at 9:30 AM Katja and Deborah will be at the garden to cleanup and get things squared away for summer. Should only take about an hour. Going to plant a little tree in the garden in memory of Janet.
Brags –
Jim: To Jon and Sandy, went on the history tour! This past Saturday was splendid! The history of this town is fascinating, Jon and Sandy are doing a wonderful job presenting it!
Josh: More to Rotary than just our club, there are Rotarians around the world. Josh stopped by the Providence Rhode Island club, it was a great feeling and wonderful to meet folks.
Jon: Caught a possum this morning, although Aubry (their shitzu) likes to get in the have a heart trap.
There was a carjacking in Brattleboro – please let the Select Board know your feelings on the matter.
Will: Sang in a concert this weekend at the old Marlboro College Campus, it was a spectacular presentation, wonderfully reviewed.
Turner: Second of the amazing presentation at the history tour. If you’re traveling go to a Rotary club!
Toni: Visited a Rotary club in Keene on Thursday, very lively, active and amazing group.
Nick: Sandy and Nick had a standing wager on the Celtics/76ers, which Sandy lost. Sandy will be wearing Celtics gear next week.
Cards – King of Clubs – it’s in the deck!
Speaker – Michael Mayer - Green Burial Movement. A movement that is taking hold about 100 years too late. Embalming started during the Civil War to bring the people back and bury them near home.
Natural burial allows people to be buried in a natural state to allow our soft tissues to feed the land we love.
When Michael’s mother was getting ready to die, Michael and her discussed if she wanted to be buried in a natural way on their property. She said absolutely and was buried there.
A friend of the family was interested being buried next to her good friend.
Seven years ago the Legislature codified in to law the ability for people to be buried in a green way.
They setup a non-profit for green burial area in the conservation land which Michael’s parents purchased. Many organizations got involved to make sure things are done in an environmentally sound way, things are moving along!
The organization will help with everything after a person dies, transportation, caring for the body and burial. The Higher Ground organization works on conservation land which means the burials are done in a way that works within conservation land use agreements. Everything used in the burial is biodegradable.
Service to our place holders and stewardship of the land
Community to honor the passage out of this life
Honoring nature and our place in it
Financially sustainable enterprise - $2,000 for the entire thing from funeral to burial.
4 Way Test - Is it the truth, Is it fair to all concerned, Will it build goodwill and better friendships, Is it beneficial to all concerned.