Happy MLK Weekend and Happy 2025! I know I am a bit late with the Happy New Year. Perhaps like me, you have enjoyed ample appetizers and plentiful potlucks and are welcoming some cozy, unscheduled days. We have been enjoying the skiing, traveling and recovering from a busy holiday season. Hope all is well with you all and perhaps with a bit of luck and hard work, your resolutions are still in place.
As I write, I realize that I am unaware of the Restaurant Raffle winners' names but I suspect that news will be forthcoming soon. Thank you to all who danced outside Mehuron's to stay warm selling tickets. Once again, we reached our fund raising goal. This is important as it allows MRV Rotary to continue to offer as many grants as possible. Thanks also to Tom Emory and others who worked hard on the management and administrative end of this project.
An interesting tidbit of info....last month our Rotary granted $5,000 to Mad River Valley Ambulance for the purchase of an electric Nomad Snowmobile for rescue operations in the backcountry. I just read in the Jan. 16 Valley Reporter that the vehicle has already been used. On Dec. 29 Mad River Valley Ambulance was called for a rescue that required use of the vehicle. Rotary funds going to a worthy cause.
Upcoming Rotary meetings:
1/22, 7 a.m., Wednesday breakfast meeting at the Village Meeting House at the Waitsfield UCC.
2/12, 7 a.m. Wednesday breakfast meeting at the Village Meeting House at the Waitsfield UCC.
Grants Approved
At the recent Board meeting, members voted to approve a grant for $1,000 for the Children's Literacy Foundation.
In addition, a grant was approved to fund $3,000 to Everybody Wins, a literacy program that operates in the Waitsfield School.
Thank you, Roger Porter, Doug Stoehr and Shawn Sullivan for your work on these grants.
Volunteer opportunities
As of this writing, Ben Olds is looking for one more volunteer to help with the annual July 4 celebration. Thank you to Kira Bacon, Roger Porter and Mike Curtin for stepping up to help with this Community event!
In addition, we have been called upon to help with clean up at the Senior Center. I believe all slots are filled but if you have a few hours this coming week and can help out, please contact Doug Stoehr. Thank you to those of you who have offered your valuable time.
In addition, you can always sign up to help with Community Pantry deliveries, thank you Doug Stoehr, or if you would like to be a Greeter, click on the following link https://mrvrotary.org/1451/Page/Show?ClassCode=Page&Slug=members-only. Being a greeter is a fabulous way to say hello to folks you have not seen in a while and if you are new to MRV Rotary, a wonderful way to get acquainted. So many ways to get involved!
Dear Fellow MRV Rotarians, Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season filled with happiness and warmth. Speaking of warmth, I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our dedicated volunteers who braved the bitter cold at Mehuron’s to sell Restaurant Raffle tickets. Thanks to your efforts, I’m thrilled to share that we successfully hit our goal again this year—well done, team!
Fred Messer, Waitsfield's Emergency Management Director, spoke to MRV Rotary members about how emergencies are handled and about how he and the other Valley EMD's hope Rotary can help everyone be better prepared for future emergencies.
Thank you again to all of our members for your continued efforts to support this beautiful Valley. If you know of anyone who might be a good addition to our organization, please invite them to a meeting anytime. We welcome part time residents as well.
