Called to order by: President Garlan
Opening song: ROTARY
Patriotic song: My Country Tis of Thee
Invocation: Jamie Whyte
Song Leader: Bruce & Ernst
Song: A Boy’s Best Friend, in honor of Mothers Day
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests: None
Raffle: 189! Jennifer Grant did not draw the Queen
Announcements: Jennifer asked about Club Runner with relation to non-member access
Green up day attendees were Steve Whitman & Ernst, Forrest, Steve, Rick Dement… Thank you!
Paul asked for a fine for not being mentioned as a Green Up Day participant!
Paul Boucher also announced the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Golf tournament on the 19th for Charity
Paul Boucher received an award to put on his pin for bringing in 2 new members
BOD Meeting changed from 12th to the 19th It will be held in the Heater Road Room 1A.
The Changeover Dinner will be held on Thursday, June 25 at the Hotel Coolidge. Sign up at club meeting or on line to Jean Wulpern; there will be no noon meeting that day.
Still time to sign up for the District conference in Stowe VT the weekend of May 28-31. Go to
www.rotary.7850.org to sign up for 1-3 days.
Brags: Martha was summoned by Carla to brag about Carla’s new car she purchased with Martha’s help!
Michael: Brag: Got his office as it was, same location. Complaint: City Cut down a beloved maple tree.
Rotary Minute: Martha Clark finished chewing her food and then shared the story of President Harris, who traveled extensively during the 1920’s and 30’s, often accompanied by his wife, Jean. During these trips, Harris planted trees along the way, which became his hallmark, to symbolize goodwill and friendship. The first tree was planted on European soil in Berlin, Germany, and the planting was attended by a large group, including Rotarians and city officials. Harris also planted trees in Australia, Brazil, Estonia, Sweden, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand. These trees can be found worldwide on 5 continents and several large islands. Today Rotarians continue to plant trees to symbolize enduring friendships and fellowship, to beautify parks and communities, and to contribute to a greener world.
Speaker: Steve Whitman announced our speaker, Clay Adams, of Simon Pearce
Clay Adams, originally a flatlander, graduated Tuck School with an MBA. He and his wife have lived in Norwich for 15 years with their 2 girls (ages 6 & 8), and he loves outdoor sports, including hiking the Appalachians. He is an active member of numerous community causes and groups, and has sat on the Mascoma Board for the last 4 years. Clay proudly shares that his father was a 40 year Rotarian, and comments on how his dear friend, Mr. Simon Pearce, would very much have enjoyed today’s program given his love of Irish songs.
Clay signed on with RSG, (a 20 person consulting firm started by 3 Dartmouth employees) in 2002 and still finds it interesting how he made the transition from consulting to retail. He loved his job and found it to be an emotional transition when he left to pursue his current position of CEO in 2012 for Simon Pearce.
Clay shares the story of how Simon was born of a potter (his father), and how Simon was diagnosed with dyslexia, and did not graduate from high school. Simon decided to travel to Italy and Sweden, where he met Pia, and opened his first glass blowing operation in Kilkenney, Ireland. In 1981, they made the decision to move the business to Quechee.
As business goes, the Quechee location comprises 1/3 of the company’s total sales, and was devastated when hit by hurricane Irene. They had a dozen stores, and had to close 5 of them. It was at this time Simon made the decision to hire a CEO and Board of Directors to help streamline and to reevaluate the business plan. There are presently 3 production facilities; Quechee and Windsor, VT, and Oakland, Maryland. Each plant runs one shift, but furnaces run 24/7, and are maintained at 2400 degrees, making overhead a challenge despite their ability to produce their own energy. So far as products, last year their number one selling item was their “Vermont Evergreens”, at 20,000 units. They are looking to expand into other dining and sitting room accessories, such as linens and flatware. Along with several retail locations in New York, Texas, and North Carolina, they also supply wholesale to prestigious companies, such as Cloverleaf, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdales.
Clay goes on to say that most glass production takes place in Eastern Europe and China, and that there are very few “American Made” glass companies still in existence today. Still, Pearce believes there is no economic benefit to taking production abroad and has adopted processes by Don McCabe of Corning Glass to work smarter, not harder. This effort coupled with the continued pursuit of handcrafted excellence, plus site design changes at Quechee, inclusive of a new bar which features hand crafted stemware, help to build the vision of making Simon Pearce not just a great place to stop, but a revered destination.
Submitted by Valerie Armstrong
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