St. Johnsbury Rotary Club Begins New Year With Changeover Recognitions

The St. Johnsbury Rotary Club held its Changeover meeting, in preparation for the 2022-2023 Rotary Year, on June 29, presided over by outgoing president, Brynn Evans.

Evans highlighted some of the Club’s accomplishments for the 2021-2022 Rotary Year:

Service and Fundraising Activities: donated thousands of masks to schools, the welcome center, and other non-profits; provided volunteers and outreach for six Red Cross Blood drives held at the Moose Lodge throughout the year; volunteers read stories at the Athenaeum, and worked during Get Downtown events, worked on Green Up Day; held the annual fruit fundraiser; held a drive at Job Lots in St. Johnsbury for wellness/fun kits for kids — the project of high school senior Emily Ely and in partnership with NEKCA; provided monetary support, assisted with planning and took part in a playground build at Cornerstone School; held a Speech Contest for high school students; provided Community Service Awards to three students and started a new partnership with NKHS to offer an additional award; sent a student from the club’s service area to RYLA, and made it possible for a student from another club in the district to attend; provided more than 6,000 meals to the community through the outreach program, distributed through the NEK Council on Aging; prepped the area around the Bay Street Trailhead Pavilion, thanks in part to funds received through the 2021 St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser and a district grant; held the second annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner to-go fundraiser.

Donations made during the year included: supporting an international project with Natron Health Care to provide anemia test kits in Tanzania; scholarships for youth to attend athletic sports camps through RecFit; continued support of the youth library at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum by providing book dedications for the club's speakers; Caledonia County Fair; Fairbanks Museum; First Night North; HELP (shared heat program); Kiwanis pool; District 7850 changeover service project, Rise Against Hunger; Santa Fund; St. Johnsbury Baseball and Softball associations; St. Johnsbury Senior Meal Program.

Because the annual Rotary Basketball Basketball Tournament, an annual fundraiser for the club, was once again called off this past year because of COVID, local businesses provided funding to the club in support of its many projects: Champion Sponsors — Community National Bank, Milne Financial Planning, NFP, NVRH and Passumpsic Savings Bank. Promoter Sponsors — Celtic Marketing, Edward Jones, Northern Counties Health Care, r.k. Miles, Union Bank and Wells River Chevrolet. Supporter Sponsors — Adler & McCabe PLC, Anthony’s Diner, Barrett Insurance Agency LLC, Community Restorative Justice Center, Dan Wyand PT & Associates and Weidmann.

The following awards and special recognition took place:

Honorary St. Johnsbury Rotary memberships were present to two former members. Honorary Rotarian status is used to recognize people who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service and who embody Rotary ideals, or those considered friends of Rotary for their support of Rotary’s causes. The Club’s Board voted to present honorary memberships to Rosie Smith and Archie Prevost. Evans highlighted their service:

“Rosie has been a member of Rotary for more than 20 years, serving as president of the Club for 2007-2008; as assistant governor for District 7850 from 2008-2011, and was in line to be District 7850 Governor (prior to her move to Texas). Rosie was named Rotarian of the Year for the club for the 2008-2009 Rotary year.

“As a member of the club, she kept The Caledonian-Record informed of all the club’s meetings, speakers, events and awards. She organized and recruited the basketball referees to officiate during one of the main fundraisers for the club (the Rotary Basketball Tournament) and served as a referee herself. She also secured auction items for the club’s silent auctions … I’m sure there is much more! Rosie was a joy to have at meetings and her positive attitude was greatly appreciated. In addition, Rosie continues to support our club. She writes articles about our activities for the Caledonian-Record, was willing to assist with referees for the basketball tournament … and was a judge for our community service award process.”

Evans also acknowledged Prevost’s contributions to the club: “Archie was a member of Rotary for more than 40 years. One of our members described him as ‘everybody’s favorite member’ and the ‘most active member — he would volunteer and help with everything.”

Archie was named Rotarian of the year for 2002-2003 and served as president during the Rotary year of 1984-1985. He was also named a Paul Harris Fellow. Archie was the Sargent-at-Arms and led in the singing for years. He stayed in touch with inactive Rotarians and wrote Rotary Foundation notes; he led service projects, and more. He was instrumental in putting together floats for the town parades.

“Thank you, Archie, for all you have done for our community and for our Rotary club. We all hope our club lives up to the example you set," said Evans.

Two Paul Harris Fellow pins were presented to Susan Cherry and Bruce Corrette. These pins are presented to individuals when they donate $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. People may also be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow when the amount is contributed in their name.

Evans also presented three special awards. The first one, the Change Maker Award, was given to incoming president, Jay Miller. Miller joined the club in the early days of the pandemic, and “brought enthusiasm, energy, and effort — helping to lead service projects, taking part in meetings, and was always willing to chat about ways our club could continue to have an impact on the community, despite the challenges we faced," according to Evans. He agreed to be the vice president before being a member for a full year. Miller helped the club to envision a new way of doing things and will lead the club in focusing on service to the community.

Evan presented the Inspirational Rotarian Award to Bruce Corrette. “Bruce has been a member of the club for the past 54 years! He was Rotarian of the Year in 1976-77 and President from 1977-1978. He has been a leader in our club, filling many roles, and always taking part as an active member.”

Corrette was one of the first Paul Harris Fellows for the club and this year he became a member of the Paul Harris Society. The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants.

Evans added, “The club did not have anyone who had received the Paul Harris Fellow designation after more than 50 years as a club. So a group of members, including Bruce, all put money into a fund to raise the $1,000 amount … they chose someone out of the group to receive the designation. The first person was Dr. Edward Cramton. He ended up writing a check out for the full amount, and that left 5 others to be chosen, including Bruce. Bruce said he waited until the other 4 people (Wesley Calderwood, Frank Landry, Laine Vance and Sterry Waterman) were pinned before accepting his pin.”

The last award — Rotarian of the Year Award — was presented to Jim McFaul.

Evans said, “Jim’s belief in our youth programs, international projects, and more has kept some of our traditional projects going. Jim led our work as sponsors of the Red Cross Blood Drive at the Moose Lodge … He volunteered for every single blood drive — taking time out of his work day to volunteer 6 or more hours each time, as well as encouraging others to help and coordinating with those volunteers."

McFaul organized the club’s St. Johnsbury Rotary Speech Contest and Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) scholarship program. He helped undertake an International Project, coordinating with Melanie Finn of Natron Healthcare to support anemia test kits for women in Tanzania. He was also instrumental in coordinating a donation to support youth athletic camps through the St. Johnsbury Recreation Department.

Evans congratulated McFaul, saying, “You are always willing to step up to help when needed, working behind the scenes to help our club work. This even includes picking up the Rotary mail on a regular basis … As a board member, your input, advice, and support helped us to move forward, and I appreciate how you helped us to look at things from various perspectives. Jim, your contributions this year have been phenomenal and we are so grateful for all you have done!”

In addition to the Rotarian of the Year plaque, McFaul was also given a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

Under the 2022-2023 theme for Rotary, “Imagine Rotary,” the new leadership for the St. Johnsbury Rotary Club was welcomed: President Jay Miller; President Elect Barry Waldner; Treasurer Brynn Evans (Bob Hersey was acknowledged for having filled this role for a number of years); Assistant Treasurer Katheryn Laferriere; and Secretary Jamie Milne.

Each year, St. Johnsbury Rotary gives Community Service awards to area high school seniors going on to post-secondary education or pursuing technical/vocational training. Students at St. Johnsbury Academy, Danville High School and Hazen Union High School are eligible to apply.

An application process takes place and includes: a letter from the student, outlining their community service and their plans for the future; a statement of need; letters of recommendations; and a resume of community service. All applicants need to reflect the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

Starting this year, St. Johnsbury Rotary is partnering with Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) to provide an additional service award opportunity for local graduating seniors who are furthering their education in the human services/mental health areas at a college in Vermont. This annual award is being made through NKHS’s Wellness Committee and is provided by donations their employees make on “Jeans Days.”

This year’s recipients of St. Johnsbury Rotary’s $1,000 Community Service Awards are Allie Beliveau, Liza Morse and Zeb Kane.

Allie Beliveau, a 2022 graduate of Danville High School, plans to attend White Mountains Community College in the fall to study in the Culinary Arts field. She is the daughter of Stacie Ruggles and Chris Beliveau.

Liza Morse, also a 2022 graduate of Danville High School, plans to attend Dartmouth College in the fall, majoring in Biology and minoring in Music. She is the daughter of Spencer and Lauren Morse.

Zeb Kane, a 2022 graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy, plans to attend Champlain College this fall, majoring in Business Administration. He is the son of Adam and Andrea Kane.

Lauren Thomas, a 2022 graduate of Hazen Union School in Hardwick, is the recipient of the Northeast Kingdom Human Services Service $200 award. She plans to attend Castleton University in the fall, pursuing a degree in Nursing. She is the daughter of Peggy Thomas and Mark Fletcher.

This years sponsors of the St. Johnsbury Rotary Club make it possible for the club to offer these Community Service Awards to the graduating seniors: Milne Financial Planning, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Community National Bank, Passumpsic Savings Bank and NFP.