A Season of Thanksgiving
As we enter November and approach Thanksgiving, it's a good time to reflect on the many things for which we are grateful. For me, that includes each of you and the time, talents, and generosity you bring to our Rotary club. Whether you are organizing an event, serving on a committee, supporting a community project, or simply helping welcome a guest to one of our meetings, your contributions make a difference. Thank you for all you do!
After School Café Grant Approved
We finalized voting at our Wednesday, October 28 club meeting on the $10,000 grant to the Bigger Picture Community Fund for the Harwood High School After School Café. Members submitted 38 yes votes, one no vote, and one abstention online, followed by 18 yes votes and no opposing votes or abstentions in person.
The grant passed with a final tally of 56 in favor, one opposed, and one abstention. Thank you to everyone who participated in the voting process and to our Grants Committee and Board for their work reviewing the proposal.
I will also share with the Board and Grants Committee the request for more detailed project budget information to accompany future grant proposals. This is a reasonable suggestion that will help us continue to be responsible stewards of the funds entrusted to our club.
Our Club Featured in Rotary Magazine
As I mentioned previously, our club is featured in the November issue of Rotary magazine! I hope you'll take a few minutes to read the article highlighting our partnership with the von Trapp family and our annual Garden Days fundraiser.
It is wonderful to see this project receive national recognition, particularly because it reflects the work of so many members and the relationships our club has built within the community. Special thanks again to Jane Macan, Sally and Tobi von Trapp, and everyone who has helped make this partnership successful.
Consider sharing the article with a friend or prospective member you would like to invite to our club.
Extravagant Hospitality: December Greeters Needed
One of the things I hope we will continue to emphasize as a club is what Susan Klein recently described as "extravagant hospitality." I want us to be a club where everyone feels genuinely welcome, especially our guests and visiting Rotarians. Our greeters play an important role in making that first impression, but creating a welcoming atmosphere is something each of us can contribute to.
I was reminded of this recently when Clayton Jenkins, a visiting Rotarian from Plant City, Florida, approached me after one of our October meetings. Clayton shared that he has visited Rotary clubs around the world and, on a scale of 1 to 10, rated our club a 10! He later followed up with a note thanking everyone for making his visit so rewarding. That is exactly the kind of experience I hope we provide every person who walks through our doors.
Whether it's introducing yourself to someone new, inviting a guest to sit with you, or simply taking a few minutes to get acquainted, these small gestures make a difference.
We still need greeters for our December meetings, and I encourage you to consider signing up. It's a simple way to help us put that spirit of hospitality into practice.
Click here to sign up as a December greeter.
Upcoming Meetings
Our next meeting will be a breakfast meeting at the Waitsfield Meeting House on Wednesday, November 11. Dana Hudson from Shelburne Farms will join us to discuss the Vermont Farm to School Program. I hope to see many of you there! And watch for the sign up of the November dinner meeting on Nov. 18 at Rumbles Bistro.Please also note that our Wednesday, November 25 breakfast meeting has been cancelled due to the timing with the Thanksgiving holiday.
As we head into the holiday season, thank you again for your commitment to Rotary and to the communities we serve. I hope you and your families enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Warm regards,
Mike Leichliter
President, Mad River Valley Rotary Club
2026–2027