Good Morning MRV Rotarians, friends, community members and supporters. These warm, dry, fall days are quite special - extending the summer activities just a bit. Saturday Farmer's markets will still be active for a few more weeks so I have opted to hang onto the summer header, above, for just one more month.
But hey, before we flip the calendar over to fall, I think we might want to take one final look at our busy MRV Rotary summer season. We successfully organized a parade, a duck race, Open Garden Days, a fund raising concert and then capped it off with a rip-roaring successful Community event. This is like the equivalent of a fancy 4 course dinner topped off with bananas foster! I wake every morning feeling so blessed to be a part of this group.
Coming up next Thursday, October 9 we are hosting a prospective new member Meet Up at Emily's Bar and Bistro from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Please spread the word. Thank you to the members who have offered to attend and chat with folks who are interested in what we do. Appetizers are on us! Bring a friend!
ByLaw update - At the recent meeting the membership approved a change in the ByLaws which will allow for a Corporate Membership Option. This option will expand voting membership to businesses, educational institutions, professional practices and government entities. As with a personal membership, once an application is approved, the business designates one employee to serve as a primary member and may appoint up to 2 additional employees to serve as alternate members. Dues will be the same as for any member.
Grants Approved
The Rotary Club of Ukraine Electronic Club was granted $500. This project provides creative arts and skill development to address the urgent mental health needs of internally displaced children in Ukraine. Here is a link to more info about the project. https://rotaryeclubukraine.org.ua/
Thank you, Doug Stoehr, Shawn Sullivan, Gary Plewak and Tom Emory for your time and commitment to work on grants.
Upcoming Rotary meetings:
10/8, 7 a.m. Wednesday breakfast meetingat the Village Meeting House at Waitsfield UCC. NOTE THIS SEASONAL SHIFT IN LOCATION.
10/15, 5:30 p.m. Dinner meeting at Mad Bush Falls.
10/22, 7 a.m. Wednesday, breakfast meeting at Village Meeting House at Waitsfield UCC.
A reminder to please sign up for breakfast meetings whether or not you will be eating.
UpcomingDinner meetings:
Please include these in your calendars.
Wednesday, October 15- Mad Bush Falls
Wednesday, November, 19, at Rumbles Bistro at Sugarbush
Wednesday, December 18, Holiday gathering at Afterthoughts.
Volunteer opportunities
I know that Tom Emory is looking for help with getting businesses signed up to donate gift certificates for the Restaurant Raffle. Please see Tom if you can help.
Community Pantry deliveriy folks are always needed. Thank you, Doug Stoehr, for organizing. Click the link below to help.
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.
The month of September was one of the most rewarding months I can remember for our club. Hot off the successful Duck Race on 8/31, we barreled through Outpour fundraising live music event on 9/13, raising $8200 for the Vermont Foodbank. The Join or Die movie event on 9/19 and Community Volunteer Fair on 9/21 celebrated the deep spirit of community volunteerism and resulted in several new members and prospects. A Meet & Greet is being held by our membership team on Thursday 10/9 at Emily’s Restaurant (apps are on us!) in the Village Square. Please encourage member prospects to attend!
I spent the first 18 years of my life in Norwich, Conn. in the Eastern part of the state, aka “the other Connecticut”, not to be confused with the very different Western part of the state. My parents encouraged me to learn to play tennis, to sail, to ski and to play the cello.
I loved school. Norwich and many surrounding towns did not have a public high school. Rather, we were tuitioned into a private school, Norwich Free Academy. I took advanced placement courses in mathematics and science with 11 boys and Rill Ann Bellatone. We were quintessential nerds. Many of our teachers did not have “teaching certificates” but did have PhDs. And, I do believe that some of what we were taught was not generally available in other public high schools, like 4 years of Latin and chemistry and physics courses that earned us credits at UConn. I was also able to take an ethics course at Connecticut College.
Helen Wybrow, author and owner of Knoll Farm presented at a recent breakfast meeting. Helen shared a bit about her life as a sheep farmer and also talked about the writing of her new book, Salt Stones.
At a recent meeting, Dr. Mike Leichliter welcomed Rotary Exchange Student, Emil Calmervik from Sweden. Emil shared a bit about the differences between American high school and Swedish high school. Emil is attending Harwood Union High School for the year.
While adventuring in Australia, Pat and Shevonne Travers met Rotarian, Joanne Jousef, of the Ryde Rotary Club. Joanne was a perfect host and offered the travelers a ride to the train station!
While at the Outpour25 event, Jasper Brock, of Carol and Jasper fame, our honorary member from Coral Gables Florida Rotary, perused over the very-well designed Outpour t shirts, printed by our very own Rob Perry's business. By the way, contact Betsy Wilkinson for one of these. She has a few extra.
