Rotary minutes 9/8/21
7:15, Meeting comes to order
Present in person: Josh G., as President today while Mona is out due to dog surgery, Bethany, Lisa, Will, Jason, Turner, Tristam, Staci, Kevin, Marcy
On Zoom: Josh T., Nick
This week's greeter: Will Shakespeare
Next week's greeter: unfilled
Sergeant At Arms: Will Shakespeare
Jason brought speaker this week. Staci's turn next week but she is seeking a switch with somebody as her speaker not available.
ROTARY MINUTE
World leader Rotarians: JFK, FDR, Angela Merkel, Neil Armstrong, Senator Diane Feinstein, Bill Gates, Joyce Hall (founder of Hallmark Cards), Walt Disney, Francoise Barre-Sinoussi (French virologist who helped isolate HIV as the cause of AIDS; received the Nobel Prize in 2008)
Extra note re the Gates foundation: Rotary is committed to raising $50 million per year over the next three years, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars from the Gates Foundation. This expanded agreement will translate into up to $450 million for polio eradication activities.
President-elect Josh G., reviewing Rotary causes such as promoting peace, supporting education and growing local economies around the world, wonder if we have the same opportunities to effect change in our local cities and towns: How should we be connecting with and supporting new businesses, supporting local schools, educators, and students? What does it mean to promote peace?
QUOTES
If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away. And you have their shoes.
STUDENT ROTARIANS Steve Perrin has asked for the necessary forms to induct a new round of Student Rotarians. We'll ask Toni to help with the application process
ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES Josh Goldberg, 4 years on 9/13, congratulations!
BIRTHDAY Tristan Toleno, 9/5 but not here to be celebrated via Sunrise Quartet/Quintet/Sextet/whatever
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Josh Goldberg – have been discussing Rotary volunteer opportunities around Brattleboro High School needs including picnic tables, and a larger idea around a pavilion near the football field. Would like to put together a small (2-4 member) group to consider needs and opportunities for the high school, especially in conjunction with student Rotarians working with the Sunrise Rotary team
Staci -- Trivia returns on the 13th – helpers are all signed up
Tristam – Food Drive Raffle. Tristam showed a beautiful star quilt done by Lakota quilter. The star quilt represents honor & generosity. Raffle tickets for the quilt are $10, only 100 will be sold. The proceeds from the raffle will be used to replace a 300K-mile engine in the van that transports donations of food, winter clothing, fuel, and water to the elderly and grossly impoverished Lakota Sioux on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD.
Josh T. – continuing to seek sponsorship for the Rotary disc golf tournament, a great opportunity for sponsors to support the tournament and also have their logo/sponsorship acknowledgement at every hole – for the whole year!
P.S. on that: we will be handling burgers etc. for the Sunday round of disc golf (Noon club has Saturday)
BRAGS
Dan – for BMH, he had leg surgery last week, all went well
Marcy – son Rowan starts as a freshman in H.S. Marcy drove him for first day, failed to take picture, and to let him know what bus he'd take home. . .
Turner – to Maine last weekend for the Thomas Point Blues Festival
CARDS Staci. Instant winner: asked to draw from the deck, drew her own card. $9 bucks and change.
GUEST Guest speaker Norman Vancor spoke about his experience as a recon marine in Vietnam and the book he has written and published, Swift, Silent, Deadly. Norm had never talked to his parents about his Vietnam experience, nor had he asked his dad about what his dad went through serving in World War II. Norm's initial aim was to break that silence and write an account for his children and grandchildren. There are many accounts of the war, but Norm's is not a war story, it's about his personal experience as one member of a 5-man recon team. He tells his story from the time of his arrival in Vietnam to his discharge at Camp Lejeune. His book has brought Norm many acknowledgments from readers who themselves went through Vietnam but had not talked about it – and in their cards and letters to Norm they begin to do just that. Norm told us how important those acknowledgments and personal stories have been to him.
ADJOURN with 4-way test at +/- 8:15. / Submitted by Jim Maxwell