Tuesday, September 15, will be Rotary Day all day at Wild Meadows Books & Cafe in Williston. The business will donate 10% of that day's revenue to the Charity Fund of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club to support the group's charitable grants and community service work.
Wild Meadows recognizes the important work done by the Rotary club to support our community, including promoting literacy & youth leadership development, supporting home heating assistance, fighting food insecurity, along with many other causes.
Show your support to Rotary charities and the community it services by making a purchase at Wild Meadows on Sept 15th!!
When you become a member in Rotary, you are assigned a classification relating to your profession. Each new Rotary member or transferee is asked to give a "classification talk" after they have been in our Club for 1 - 6 months to share their life stories and journey with other members in order to develop deeper personal relations with club members beyond your work in Rotary.
On August 27th, McKew shared his upbringing in a family of 5 growing up in Montgomery, NY (near New Paltz in the Hudson Valley), his first connection with Rotary as an exchange student / scholarship winner to Spain where he found his love for the Spanish language, his 23 years as an adjunct professor at UVM teaching Spanish from beginner to advanced level, and his two international service projects – one in the Dominican Republic raising money and then building houses with the funds, and the second for El Camino de Santiago, the network of ancient walking and cycling pilgrimage routes across Europe.
At the conclusion of McKew's talk, he shared the Robert Frost poem, Mending Wall, and it's connection with the 4-way test. Whether you are new to Frost or know this poem well, the famous line is “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” that the neighbor of Frost inherited from his father and refused to question the need for the barrier or ask Is It the Truth?
From left to right sponsor Tracy Seamster, new members Mike Artist and Debra Fay, and President Chris Burns DiBiasio
On August 27th, we welcomed two new members, Debra Fay and Mike Artist into our club. Debra and Mike are residents of both St George Vermont and Florida as snowbirds. Both Debra and Mike are retired from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Debra is also a member of 100 Plus Women Who Care (https://www.100wwc.org/), an international organization of giving circles where members pool their donations to make a large, direct impact on local charities, and PEO International (https://www.peointernational.org/), an philanthropic educational organization where women motivate, educate and celebrate women through grants and scholarships.
Debra and Mike became Rotarians to belong to an organization that makes positive and collective impact in their community.
Welcome Debra and Mike. We are so glad to have you in our club.
Williston Rotarian Bonnie Lord-Meunier, Assistant Director and Youth Services Librarian at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library spoke to our club on August 13, 2026 about STEAM and why it is important to kids and the community.
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, and adds the Arts to traditional STEM programs. As a quick bit of history, STEM actually started as SMET (not as catchy as a phrase) back in 1957 when the US passed the National Defense Education Act to boost science and math funding after the USSR launched Sputnik. Educators and the National Science Foundation started using the term SMET in the 1990s, and in 2001, the NSF changed to the friendlier term STEM. STEAM (adding the Arts) was launched in 2006 and became mainstream in 2011. The term STEM is still used by government grants, news media, schools and job markets but STEAM is gaining steam.
The DAML offers Afterschool STEAM activities featuring hands-on activities, creative challenges, and unique learning projects along with providing STEAM backpacks filled with interactive activities and books for kiddos to take home and explore.
The future library expansion incorporates a physical STEAM room space in the building layout to include tech equipment such as 3D printers and the needed safety systems and electrical upgrades for these new technologies.
On August 6 rising CVU junior Avery Antonioli enthusiastically presented to our club about her experience this June at the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) that took place at Northern Vermont University in Lyndonville with participation from 61 teens from Vermont, New Hampshire and Quebec.
Avery described an exciting and action-packed weekend where she made new friends, learned about different types of leadership styles, and participated in a community service project packing meals for people in need. She also learned about Rotary Interact clubs, which bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self.
Avery felt so inspired, she resolved to start an Interact club at CVU. And our club is inspired to help her!
Stay tuned for news about the Interact effort and future acts of service from Avery and other young people in our area.
We had a great time participating in Williston's July 4 parade! Club members handed out “I Love Williston” stickers and had a great time showing off what Rotary does.
This year the parade judges awarded us “Best Float.” We love being part of our community's celebration!
Our annual Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run/Walk drew record participants this year, with 92 runners and 39 walkers participating on a beautiful morning. Our event kicked off Williston's Independence Day celebrations on July 3.
The event was dedicated in 2021 to the memory of longtime Williston Town Clerk and Treasurer Deb Beckett, who was an active member of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and had great enthusiasm for celebrating the Fourth of July.
In addition to bringing out the community for a fun activity, the race generates funds to fuel the club's charitable and service work.
Two shorter kids runs also took place that morning along with a visit from the Lake Monsters' Champ!
Past President Elizabeth Davidson, Secretary Jason Adams, President Elect Chris Burns-DiBiasio, President Vince Conte, Vice President Sherry Pidgeon, Treasurer Andy Mikell
Our annual meeting and Changeover celebration took place the evening of June 1st at the Isham Farm Barn. Outgoing President Vince Conte passed the gavel to incoming President Chris Burns-DiBiasio.
The evening included the awarding of two home heating grants to nonprofits for Vermonters in need:
$2,500 to Eric Axelrod of Wood4Good, providing wood
$5,000 to Matt Cota of Split the Ticket, providing fuel assistance
It was a wonderful night and an enjoyable evening event with food catered by Sandy and Dale Fischer and music provided by DJ and Rotarian John Jacob
Catherine Benedict from Vermont Stage was our speaker on May 28th. Catherine shared with us the importance of acting troupes (and Vermont Stage more specifically) for a community. Vermont Stage's mission statement is to create a future that makes a community a better place - and extremely noble goal. Their goal first off is to entertain through stories that move us, remind us we are human, and remind us, in this hectic world, that everything isn't so serious. HAVE FUN!!!
Vermont Stage offers 6-7 plays each season and a multitude of programs including Public Square Plays, Vermont Young Playwrights and adult summer classes in playwriting, Turning Experience Into Art, and Directing.
Their next production is The Bake Off running June 17-21 in Burlington, and is a lively experiment where 3 playwrights create brand-new short plays based on a beloved classic. This year's classic is Arthur Miller's The Crucible, and with 3 directors and 3 casts, each play takes the source material in totally different directions. We were honored to have Catherine join our club meeting and check out the meeting presentation.
On Monday, May 25 nearly 80 community members came together for our 5th annual Williston Memorial Day Observance to honor those who served in the armed forces and lost their lives to protect our freedoms.
An invocation was offered by club member and veteran Charlie Magill, reminding us of the toll of war.
"Whenever we are deciding that war is worth it, for good reasons, and for bad reasons, the decision for war is a deciding that people will die. Rather than look away on Memorial Day, this is a day to look directly at this reality.
As we honor those who die in wars, we must not lose sight of the reality that war equals death.
Let us honor all those who have died for our country by becoming workers for peace."
Our gratitude to Lesley Murray for organizing this year's event and to all those who contributed to its success. Please enjoy this photo album.
Get ready to kick off your holiday weekend with fun, fitness, and community spirit at the 2026 Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run & Walk!Hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and Williston Recreation & Parks, this exciting event takes place on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Williston Village Community Park. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome—whether you're racing for a personal best or enjoying a casual walk with friends and family.
Fun for the Whole Family! This year’s event once again features both a ½-mile and a 1-mile Kids Run for children ages 4–12. Young participants can also choose to join the 5K run or walk and be part of the action!
Kids Run = FREE No fees and no pre-registration required, just sign up onsite on race day. A parent or guardian must accompany each child to sign a registration form. Adults are welcome (but not required) to run alongside their child, and volunteers will be available to help supervise.
Special Guest Appearance Champ is back again this year! Don’t miss your chance to see everyone’s favorite lake legend.
For more details and to register, visit our event page.
Registration is open for the 2026 Deb Beckett Memorial 5K
Our crack team of spellers – Lori Ledak, Elizabeth Davidson and Howard Novak – claimed victory at the Burlington Rotary Spelling Bee on May 21 at Champlain College. The threesome bested fellow Rotarians from the Shelburne/Charlotte/Hinesburg, Essex, and Milton/Colchester clubs to regain the championship status we first won in 2024.
Additional rounds in the competition feature area businesses and students.
This annual fundraiser supports the Burlington Rotary Club's work to fight food insecurity and promote literacy.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club is hosting the 5th annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday May 25, 2026 at 9:00 AM. This event will be held in the War Memorial Park in Williston between the Town Hall and Town Hall Annex. *In case of rain, the event will move indoors to the Beckett/McGuire meeting room in Williston Town Hall.*
We welcome the community to join us as we honor service members who sacrificed for our safety and freedom. The program will include music, inspiration from club and community members as well as verbal recognition of deceased veterans from our community and veterans who are honored with an engraved brick on the patio of War Memorial Park. Light refreshments will follow.
Peter Cassels-Brown is the founder of Mountain Energy Design in Bristol, a pioneer to this day in clean energy, with a current focus on solar and hydrogen designs. He is also an author of The Key: Reflections and Wisdom of a New England Carpenter, a book about finding the key to free us from the chains of tension, anxiety and stress to find health, prosperity and success.
So, instead of a talk on clean energy, the talk was on The Cutting Edge, the next new thing, how it gets started and how forces fighting this change tries to keep it down. A cutting edge refers to the most advanced, innovative or pioneering stage of development in a field. Peter goes back in time to the cutting edge of building immense pyramids, to the fusion of gene chromosome 2, which is the single DNA difference between humans and apes, and to today's unratified 28th Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing equal rights under the law regardless of sex, protecting men and women in employment, education and healthcare. It was an eye opening discussion and hope you had the chance to hear some possible new thoughts to start the day.
Williston Rotary has had a long term commitment, both with financially and with club members mentoring, to the Connected Youth Mentoring Program at the Williston Central School and this year is no different. The program aim is to increase student confidence, social-emotional health, and and community connection, with research indicating that mentored youth often have better school attendance and higher aspirations. Our $500 gift to the program is but one part of our efforts and we are so proud to support our community youth.
Pictured left Rotarian Jude Hersey and right WCS Mentoring program coordinator Becky Martell
Laura Slesar, Director of Kidpower Vermont, was our speaker on May 7th, 2026. KidPower brings safety education to children, teens and adults of all ages and all abilities in Vermont. Kidpower Vermont is part of Kidpower International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching child protection, personal safety, and personal safery skills since 1989. 1700 people have gone through the program in Vermont and 10 million nationally.
Kidpower builds the skills and confidence to take action and Laura demonstrated some of these skills during the presentation, one in particular was the Kidpower trademarked Positive Practice method in which Laura role played with repetition so that the skill becomes natural and requires little thought to remember when faced with a fearful situation.
One important takeaway was the Kidpower Protection Promise that you can use when speaking to children in your lives:
“You are important to me. If you have a safety problem, I want to know, even if I seem too busy, even if someone we care about will be upset, even if it is embarrassing, even if you promised not to tell, and even if you made a mistake. Please tell me and I will do everything in my power to help you.”
Powerful words and a wonderful presentation worth watching and sharing.
The 6th Annual Burlington Rotary Spelling Bee is a great fundraiser being held MAY 21st at 5pm at Champlain College.
In addition to the main event, there is a separate spelling bee for Rotary Clubs to participate against other Rotary clubs. The 2024 first place Rotary club champion team was Williston-Richmond Rotary members Andy Mikell, Elizabeth Davidson, and Howard Novak.
Our 2026 team will be Elizabeth Davidson, Lori Ledak and Howard Novak, and they could use some support cheering them on.
To read more about the event or get tickets, go to: https://burlingtonvtrotary.org/events/2026-spelling-bee/
On April 23rd, we made another donation to a community food shelf in our effort to fight food insecurity in the Williston, Richmond, and St George area. As shown, the Richmond Food Shelf and Thrift Store was our recipient for $1000. Our club has partnered with the Richmond Food Shelf for 3 years now with previous campaigns of GOT MILK, an effort to provide milk, cheese and other dairy products for Richmond and surrounding members in need of food.
On April 16th, we gladly inducted a new member into our club - McKew Devitt.
McKew is a Williston resident and is a UVM educator for 20+ years as professor (Spanish) and lecturer. He recently added Williston SelectBoard member to his activities this year, actively giving his expertise to the community.
Fun fact on previous Rotary involvement - McKew was sponsored by a Rotary club back in 1992 to do a learning year abroad, where he chose Spain for his studies.
When asked why he wanted to be Rotarian, McKew responded he had a strong desire to be a part of our community and serve as a volunteer. Welcome aboard McKew!
Pictured left to right McKew Devitt, sponsor Eliabeth Davidson and President Vince Conte
On Saturday May 2nd, the Williston-Richmond Rotary club will be participating in TWO events. You can join us even if you are not a member!!!!
Green Up Day
Most people know Green Up Day is the time of year the entire state of Vermont cleans up the discarded items along the sides of the road. We are meeting up at Hannaford's parking lot at 8:45am for a 9am start. Our clean up area is Marshall Ave from Casa Grande at Rt 2A to a bit past Gardener's Supply and around the Harvest Lane circle (where Home Depot and Walmart reside). Bring gloves, bright colored clothing, and grabber/reachers if you have them.
Williston Green Fair
For the 3rd year, Rotary will have a booth from 9am-noon, where we hand out plants, meet and greet neighbors, and provide some insight on Rotary's Sevice Above Self. Stop on in and see us.
On April 23rd, our guest speaker was Ang Dawa Sherpa, a fellow Rotarian from Nepal, and one of the Himalayas' most accomplished mountaineers. Ang is an internationally certified mountain guide with more than 21 years of high altitude expedition experience. A ten time summiteer of Mount Everest, he and his wife, Pasang Phuti Sherpa, hold the Guinness Book Record as the fastest couple to summit Everest at 2 days, 7 hours and 36 minutes on May 14th, 2019. Everest is the worlds highest mountain above sea level at 29,032 feet, which is 6.6x Vermont's highest peak Mt Mansfield at 4,395 feet.
Ang started hiking in 2005 and made his first summit of Everest in 2007. Ang also runs ANH Sherpa Treks and Expeditions, and gave us a few pointers on how to make climbs at high altitudes. While most understand that physical fitness is needed, mental fitness is required to overcome fear from storms and the unknown, and technical ability is needed in cases of emergency such as if your guide gets sick or injured on the trail.
Other interesting facts were that Sherpa is not a job title, but one of the many Tibetan-speaking ethic groups who are globally renowned as expert mountain guides and high-altitude porters, carrying 66-220 lbs up the mountain, sometimes exceeding 100-175% of their own body weight. High altitude porters have to carry food, tents and oxygen for their clients. Absolutely amazing, and so was Ang's talk.
Rob Meehan, Director of Feeding Champlain Valley (FCV) gave us on overview of his organization on April 23rd - 4 pantries (Burlington, Middlebury, St Albans and Richford) that serves 12-15,000 people each year and moved 2.25 million pounds of food in 2025. That's 1125 tons of FOOD. Whoa!!
FCV has come up with some innovative ideas to reach more clients, especially those who stay hidden due to the stigma of needing food, including food trucks, food lockers, an online market for Head Start patrons, and access to those who checked yes that they had food security while visiting doctors offices. Unofficial food insecurity levels in Vermont, including those who don't report, was estimated by Rob to be 40% (2 of every 5 people), with the highest levels seen in rural areas. 10% is the official level of those in poverty in VT with many, many working families facing food insecurity - much more than years in the past, with the underlying issue being lack of money and growing unemployment for a 2 person working household.
Last, Rob mention the Vermont's 2035 Food Security Road Map.It's an interesting read.
On April 26th, Wendy de Forest, Richmond Free Library Youth Director, and her assistant Margaret, joined our club meeting to tell us what's new at the library. Wendy spoke to our club 2 years ago and her talks are always exciting.
First a few interesting facts
Vermont has more public libraries per capita than any other state at 3500 with 185 libraries. Vermont also has the highest public access computers per capita at 9 per 5000 people - almost double the 2nd highest state of Minnesota.
What's New at the Richmond Free Library and where our donations were spent over the years
1- Playaways are preloaded audio books. RFL has 174 playaways, 25 that were gifted from our club
2- Vox books are chidren hardcover books with built-in players for read-alongs. RFL has 62 Vox books, 17 gifted from our club.
3 - Launch Pads are educational game tablets for early literacy focused on social and emotional skills.
4 - Graphic Novels are book long narratives told through sequential art.
5 - Early Chapter Books are bridge books for readers 5-9 (grade 1-3) transitioning from picture books to longer novels
6 - Library of Things is a collection of non-traditional items available for loan, allowing users to borrow instead of buying. At RFL, you can get so many items from pickle ball paddles for outdoor activity to a briefcase and tie for an interview.
7 - STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) kits at the RFL are themed tote bags. “Bugs-themed” was brought in and contained books, a collection receptacle to watch catured specimens, and much more.
Jason Adams, our club's Secretary and Board member, led the April 9th club assembly on INTERACT. INTERACT is a Rotary club made up of 12-18 year olds, and Jason's team has been working hard to create a community club with 7-8 graders that will be supported by Williston-Richmond Rotary.
We do have the support from WCS, but we also want to reach alternative schooled children (home schooled, other). As the young members progress and succeed, hopefully they can also create a club at CVU in the next few years.
Why is INTERACT important to the youngsters? Independence and leadership are two identified skills needed for 7-8 graders, and INTERACT fulfills those needs, along with teaching them service, international understanding, finance, fundraising techniques, and collaboration.
Why should our club start an INTERACT club? Beyond giving youngsters important life skills and the platform to be future Rotarians themselves, Jason provided benefits including parents becoming Rotarians, a strong branding into our community, and extra hands at service projects.
Most Willistonian know that Chief Patrick Foley has announced his retirement from the force in July 2026, and we were so glad to be able to have the Chief come in to speak to our club one last time on March 26th. The Chief has spoken at our club three times before - in 2017 when he started here in Williston, in January 2023 and August of 2023. Each time he tells us the current vision of the department, the enacted and planned staffing, and the issues of the day with crime stats, along with his inspiration and expectations of an even better Williston of the future. You can tell he loves his job and his town.
The Police Team is currently at 16 officers and staff, and still hoping for a staff of 30 as recommended by a paid for consultant evaluation a few years back. The Detective hired in May 2025 has paid dividends so far with more cases closed and the department's ability to keep cases moving forward daily when lead case officers are on their days off. Their current staffing searches are for a new Chief, a Deputy Chief, and a social worker; the last needed for arbitration expertise and community support related to on-going cases. Other positions needed are not yet funded by the town, but get greater support each voting cycle.
It is no surprise that retail theft continues to be our number one case load issue as Williston becomes the shopping mecca of Chittenden County, but happy to find that a large group of cases have been closed with the help of the detective. Speeding has been the second highest case load for the department, and while the roadside speed monitors help in many areas identified by citizens, the higher volume of cars coming in for shopping keeps creating new speeding areas in our town. The third highest case load area was a surprise to many of us at the meeting - car crashes, which makes sense with so many out of town drivers flocking to our area. In the winter, we averaged 110+ crashes per month. The Chief told us that 3 Williston intersection areas are some of the highest for crashes in our state - Exit 12, Taft Corners and Rt 2A-Industrial Avenue.
Our club wishes the Chief and his wife tremendous happiness in their retirement, and thank him for keeping our town safe.
Thanks to amazing storytellers and generous donors, the 3rd annual Bill Skiff Story Slam delivered on fun and fundraising.
Our March 21 evening of stories on the theme of The Snowstorm featured true personal tales from community members, plus the fond and funny recollections of two of honoree Bill Skiff's children. Bill's daughter Nan opened the evening by sharing the time her dad pulled his kids into the village on a toboggan tied to the back of his pickup truck, while son Bill, Jr., recalled how his dad cried for help after he accidentally buried himself while clearing snow off the roof of their home.
Judges Bernie Peine, Gary Sadowsky and Bill Schubart had a tough assignment determining the top finishers among the talented storytellers – including several Rotarians – who shared their humorous snowstorm stories. First place went to last year's champion Bill Torrey, second to Dylan Hornibrook and third to Paula Cope, who was the winner of the inaugural story slam in 2024.
Along with the true benefit of an evening of laughter, warmth and community, the event raised over $7900 in sponsorships, ticket sales and donations – all to help fund Split the Ticket home heating fuel assistance and other charities supported by the club.
Thanks to the many club members who made the event possible, including organizer Sherry Pidgeon, emcee Elizabeth Davidson, the food committee, the musicians organized by Elena Wells, and the Public Image Team for promotion and online ticket sales. Thanks also to Williston Central School for the use of their facilities and support from their staff.
It's no bluster: Snowstorm Story Slam was a success!
The Williston-Richmond Rotary club will hold its 26th annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at Williston Central School on Saturday, April 4 for children 12 years old and younger. The parade begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. so please arrive early (and meet the Easter Bunny)! The event will take place regardless of the weather so children should dress appropriately.
Easter baskets with prizes will be awarded to children who find specially marked Easter eggs. Other prizes will be awarded to children wearing full Easter costumes. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets but if you forget yours, we've got you covered. Mark your calendar now so you don’t miss this fun event. For more information contact Andy Mikell @ 343.2704 or AndrewDMikell@gmail.com
Finish your day of skiing or other outside winter fun and join us for our yearly Bill Skiff Story Slam at the Williston Central School Auditorium TONIGHT!!!
We expect 10-12+ storytellers to delight you with their memories, escapades or made-up adventures of their Snow Storm.
We will have food and refreshments and profits help support our donation to the Split-The-Ticket Fund, which matches contributions with donations of heating oil, propane, and kerosene from local energy providers to help neighbors in need.
So, come on out for a night of fun with neighbors and your local Rotary club. We hope to see you there.
Courtesy of Champ Masters - Toastmasters International
Get ready to see a mini ToastMasters meeting at our Rotary club meeting. On Feb 26th, Warren Coolidge and 5 Champ Masters members came to present the mini meeting. Champ Masters is a Burlington-based Toastmaster's club. Toastmasters, a non-profit organization, gives you the opportunity to take your speaking and leadership skills to the next level. Members practice giving speeches, leading meetings, and receiving constructive feedback on prepared talks, impromptu speaking (Table Topics), and various meeting roles, fostering confidence and personal growth.
Along with Warren as the events toastmaster was his wife, Carol Coolidge, Kathleen Culver, Kaomi Taylor, Annie Paumgarten, and Raj Rawal, who all had roles in the mini meeting. While usually a 90 minute meeting, Warren kept the pace for this 30 minute presentation.
Annie started out with their mission statement
President Carol called the meeting to order
Toastmaster Warren opened the meeting and introduced Champ Master members
Kaomi gave us the Word of the Day, “nickname,” which came from Middle English eke-name, where eke meant additional = additional name. Kaomi was a recent Williston Rotary speaker from the Museum of Names. Her previous talk can be found on our YouTube page.
Kathleen was the main speaker of the morning, and she delighted us with “Credit or Results”. Kathleen was a also recent Williston Rotary speaker from the PMEZ, a project management made easy company. Her previous talk, Keep Calm and Carry On, was recorded on Zoom and is available upon request.
Warren filled in as the humorist with his story on Calvin Coolidge, US President from Vermont.
Next up was Table Topics, where Carol asked 3 volunteers to give a 2 minute impromptu presentation on questions she asked. Annie, Ted Kenney and Kel Bachus all did an excellent job with their topics.
Raj rounded out the morning as evaluator on all 4 speakers, and Carol closed out the meeting.
It is with humble gratitude that our club sends a heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every of our Skiff Story Slam sponsors, who generously want to support heating assistance for those in need this winter.
The Skiff Story Slam supports Split-The-Ticket, the local program we help start with Matt Coda 28 years ago, where every donation for fuel given is matched by fuel distributors, doubling each gift in fuel for our neighbors with little to no heat.
BLIZZARD Heroes
Williston Observer Williston-Richmond-St George Rotary
Williston Meets at 44 North Williston Road, Williston
Whiteout Supporters
K&S PropertiesWilliston Central School
Williston 195 Central School Drive, Williston
Flurry Supporters
Patterson Fuels Shift Construction
166 River Road, Richmond South Burlington
Champlain Periodontal
37 Timber Lane, South Burlington
Squall Supporters
Limoge & Sons Garage Doors Loso's Professional Janitorial Services
136 James Brown Road, Williston Burlington
Neville Investments
302 Mountain View Drive, Colchester
Snowfall Supporters
Bouchard-Pierce Ridgeline Real Estate
127 Pearl Street, Essex Junction 7997 Williston Road, Williston
MSIC Consulting Leslie Lyon Anderson
South Burlington Raymond, ME
Gift Cards for Story Tellers
Wild Meadows Books and Cafe Black Flannel Brewing Company
Story tellers and story lovers– Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the Williston Central School auditorium for the 3rd annual Bill Skiff Story Slam. Our theme this year is The Snow Storm.
Modeled after the Moth Story Hour, our friendly storytelling competition is a fun fundraiser to support home heating assistance and other local charities.
Our celebrity judgesare Bernie Peine, Bill Schubart and Gary Sadowsky. (Read about them below.)
Winners will receive fantastic prizes from local business!
Bernie has 45 years of IT experience in Missouri, Kansas, New York and Vermont. One of these jobs required traveling to implement IT systems and disaster recovery systems in Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Missouri and Arkansas. In this capacity, Bernie built recovery plans and did various tests to simulate a real recovery after disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and snowstorms. This required ensuring businesses had plans to cope with keeping the major functions running even if there were outages as well as taking the proper steps to begin the recovery process.
In 2006, Bernie and his wife, Kim (IT Librarian at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library) moved to Vermont. Their introduction to Vermont winters included the Valentine’s Day snowstorm of 2007, where 36 inches of snow fell in 24 hours.
Currently, Bernie works for the Town of Williston, operating a sidewalk snowplow as well as snowblower tractors and backhoes and other machines used for storm cleanup and other ground maintenance work.
BILL SCHUBART
Bill has lived with his family in Vermont since 1947. He writes about Vermont in fiction, humor, and opinion pieces.
Bill was educated in Morrisville Public Schools, then Phillips Exeter, Kenyon College, and the University of Vermont. His great uncle was the renowned photographer and champion of impressionist art, Alfred Stieglitz. Schubart is fluent in French language and culture which he taught before entering communications as an entrepreneur. He writes and speaks extensively on the media and other civic issues. He has spoken at numerous industry and media events including Book Expo. He has been a regular commentator on Vermont Public Radio and now writes a biweekly column for VTDigger.org. After college, he co-founded Philo Records and Resolution with his half-brother, Michael Couture. He has been active in various cultural, civic, and business organizations throughout his lifetime in Vermont. He has four children and lives and writes in Hinesburg with his wife Kate, a journalist.
Bill’s interests include poetry, photography, stone gardening, cooking and eating, classical and primitive music. He lives in Hinesburg, Vermont near his sons Bill and Steven and a daughter Anna, as well as a stepson Guy and a stepdaughter Phoebe who live in London and Brooklyn.
This is Bill’s third time serving as a judge for the Bill Skiff Story Slam.
GARY SADOWSKY
Gary was the long-time morning meteorologist for WCAX TV. After 26 years on the morning news, he spent the last couple of years of his career as Chief Meteorologist on the evening and late night newscasts before retiring in March of 2025.
Gary holds the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation from the American Meteorological Society and the Seal of Approval for TV and Radio from the Nation Weather Association. He was inducted into the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in November of 2024.
Gary know a thing or two about snow storms, having predicted, lived through, and reported on some Real Doozies (as per his exclusive “Doozometer” snow storm instrument)!
On Feb 19th, our speaker was Michael Chiarella, Executive Director of Richmond Rescue. Richmond Rescue is a non-profit providing 911 ambulance service to seven towns, started in 1971. Aside from dealing with emergencies, they also have a robust offering of public safety programs: annual bike-helmet giveaway, car seat fittings, CPR & First Aid instruction, and standbys at community events. As you may remember, we gave Richmond Rescue a $1000 grant for helmets to be given out this spring.
Michael found an early passion for medicine after hiking the Appalachian Trail and going on to become a Summit Steward in Lake Placid. He started his career in VT with Colchester Rescue and then joined Richmond Rescue covering the last 20 years. Michael's presentation gave us the rich history of Richmond Rescue from starting in a hearse as an ambulance to today's 2 state-of-the-art ambulances, 5 full time staff and 35 volunteers. Not only has the staff and vehicles grown, but so has the services provided to the community including helmets for kiddos, car seat installation, E-signs for better house identification, Sharps disposal, Heart Safe & High Performance CPR and backcountry rescue. Their turning point was when Richmond Rescue was named Vermont Ambulance Service of the Year in 2014.
Our guest speakers on February 5th were Sean Leach and Lesley Adams from Vermont Odyssey of the Mind, an international program led by volunteers that teaches students from elementary school through college important life skills such as creativity, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and public speaking. Sean is the International Problem Captain in charge of the technical problem and a Board Director. Lesley is an Association Director, leading and expanding the program statewide after serving many years as coach, Board member and VT Problem Captain for Performance.
Students can pick a problem (maybe one from their own passions) in areas of Vehicle, Technical, Classic, Structure, Performance or Primary – something for every student to excel, showcase or further develop their curiosity skills. The program follows the 4Cs and 5Es in modern education:
Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity and Communication
Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate
As part of the presentation, Rotarians were asked to participate in a challenge of the mind by table and using supplied objects to start the process. What a fun way to start the day and get those creative juices flowing.
On Jan 29th, we had another great presentation from the CVU Student Amnesty International club leaders- Maddie Morris, Lauren Morris, Emma Main, and Maya Girard.
The presentation started with an introduction to Amnesty International and the good work these amazing students are doing to advocate for others around the globe. A 2025 Rotary grant of $250 was given last spring, and the club told us who the funds were spent - stamps for letter writing campaigns advocating for international detainees and a portion for the NE Regional Amnesty International Convention in Boston. The CVU students were the only high school group at the convention and were thus invited to National Amnesty International Youth Week in the Capitol (Washington DC). What a pleasure to see youth in our community making global change and embody the spirit of Rotary. Our future is brighter with these leaders contributing to positive change.
To donate to the CVU student Amnesty club, you can provide funds to our Treasurer at our meeting and we will cut a single check from the club for their causes
On Jan 15th, our speaker was Kyle Ferguson, actor and Board member of Vermont Repertory Theater. Vermont Repertory Theatre is a nonprofit, all-volunteer, award-winning company based in Williston, VT, dedicated to making classic plays and musicals entertaining and accessible to modern audiences. Founded in 2022, this young company has grown quickly, producing seven successful shows and securing its own rehearsal space in Williston in 2025.
Kyle provides a (visually stunning) presentation on the shows and progression of the VRT, with many plays held at Isham Farm selling out multiple showings of 150 theater goers. In 2025, VRT won many categories at the 2025 BroadwayWorld Vermont awards ceremony including best musical, lighting, music, and sound for Sweeney Todd and best play, direction and supporting performer for The Miser.
Our Jan 8th speaker was Williston Rotary member, Kel Bachus,who provided a classification talk on “how I was kidnapped in Ethiopia”. Each new Rotary member or transferee is asked to give a "classification talk" after they have been in our Club for 1 - 6 months. Members are assigned a classification when they joined Rotary relating to their business and position - it is more of an conversation starter than anything . These classification talks are a chance to let members share a part of their lives with others so that we know them better.
Straight out of a Clive Cussler novel, young Kel was traveling overseas with their UN Nations Dad and Foreign Service Mom when the plane got diverted to Addis Ababa, run by a ruthless dictator in 1977. Passports were turned over under duress (of a machine gun) and they were then disappeared by the government. Saving the day was a French clerk in the French Embassy who fake paperwork/passports and the French claim the Bachus's as their own. The tale is one of true bravery from the clerk and the escape by Kel's family.
Donated toys ready for pick up at the Williston Fire Station.
2025 was a big year for our toy collections for the Vermont Marine Corps League Toys for Kids! This year we gathered over 70 bags of toys along with at least three bicycles. Last year we collected about 47 bags, so this was a big increase.
The statewide Toys for Kids effort served 2000+ families, over 4000 children and 1500 teens. Thanks to financial donations, the organization was able to purchase 982 Visa $30 gift cards.
Children and their parents across the region had a happier holiday season thanks to the generosity of those who donated toys and gift cards. Many thanks to members of our club and other Rotarians who helped make this big annual program a success.
In the last bulletin, we neglected to thank ALL of our direct donors to the Williston Rotary Senior Luncheon. The original story has been corrected, and we want to share those donors with you.
Vermont Home and MarineWilliston Meat and Fish Market
We revived a club tradition this holiday season – inviting children to write letters and receive responses from Santa. Organizers Sherry Pidgeon and Kel Backus worked with big help from the staff of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library to set up a special mailbox for the exchange of notes to and from the North Pole. Santa and his elves (who, of course, all happen to be Rotarians in good standing) received 18 letters and had a great time writing fun responses to the children. We started small this year to ensure we had a good process. Next year the elves may have more missives to manage!
Left to right, Rick Maguire (sponsor), new members Cindy Ody-Ortego and Gerry Ortego and Vince Conte (club president).
On Dec 18th, we gladly inducted two new members into our club - Cindy and Gerry Ortego. Cindy and Gerry have both been active participants at our community events and team meetings even before they became members, and their contributions are much appreciated. Cindy was previously a Rotary member in the Seneca Falls, NY and Essex Junction, VT Rotary clubs, and Gerry is getting his first admittance into Rotary through our Williston club.
Both are Williston residents, volunteer at other nonprofits including AgeWell and the Williston Community Food Shelf, and also volunteer as Friends of the Dorthy Ailing Memorial Library. When asked why they want to be Rotarians, their responses were to be involved with an organization that provides service to the community and for the social interactions with other Rotarians and speakers to the club. Welcome aboard Cindy and Gerry!
On December 18th, the club got the gift of FUN from our speaker Natalie Miller, executive director of Vermont Comedy Arts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to making comedy education, performance and community accessible to all. Natalie taught us about saying NO BUT, YES BUT, and YES AND, the last an important part of comedy improv. Did we plan a party? YES AND it had, lasers, Beyonce, fabulous food and so much more!!! Comedy, as Natalie told us, helps us manage the anxiety of unpredictable times, relieving tension by being in the moment, helping improve mental health, allowing us to make better connections and providing us life skills. What a fun way to start the day.
What a wonderful time was had at this year's Jonathan Milne Senior Holiday Luncheon. We had about 100 seniors join us, plus students from the Williston Central School Varietones choir. The students put on a splendid performance of seasonal tunes and new member Gerry Ortega played his guitar. All enjoyed a delicious roast turkey feast, laughter with friends, and table side visits from Santa (Gary Howard). Some lucky raffle winners took home gorgeous poinsettias.
Much thanks to Sally Stockwell-Metro for organizing another joyful event and for all who volunteered to make the magic happen. Special thanks to this year's event sponsors - Vermont Home and Marine, Williston Meat and Fish Market, Williston Place, and Williston-Richmond-St George Rotary members.
Please enjoy these photo memoriescaptured by Elizabeth Davidson.
It was a chilly afternoon, but we helped make the Williston Community Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 7 a bit warmer with steaming hot servings of hot cocoa. The annual event on the Village Green, hosted by the Williston Federated Church and our club, was filled with music, treats and colorful lights from the tree and the SD Ireland holiday truck.
On December 4th, our speaker was Mary K. Dennison, an ambassador for Braver Angels. Braver Angels is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide. Their pledge is to understand the other side's point of view, which for many Americans seems like an impossible task. Mary K told us a key is to get to know people better with direct, non-antagonistic, and non-judging dialog. Braver Angels got its original name from a famous Abe Lincoln quote: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” They later changed from Better Angels to Braver Angels.
Two books are available from Braver Angels authors: 1) “In Search of Braver Angels: Getting Along Together In Troubled Times” by David Blankenhorn and 2) “I Never Thought of It That Way” by Monica Guzman.
For those interested, the Essex Club meets on the 1st Thursday of every other month, with the next meeting in January.
Although we have had a family membership option in our club's bylaws for a long time, we haven't had a family membership in a very long time (if ever). In our plan update, both (or more) family members become Rotary members and will save 10% off their club membership dues. A little something to keep affordability in mind and hopefully grow our clubs ranks. Those interested, talk to any Board member or any Membership team member.
On Thanksgiving, think about what you're thankful for, such as family, friends, health, and simple pleasures like good food and a roof over your head, and those that are not as fortunate. It's also a good time to reflect on memories, practice mindfulness, and express gratitude to others, either by sharing your thanks directly or by giving back to the community. Enjoy your day in your own way – from our Rotary club to each of you.
The holidays give us wonderful opportunities to gather and celebrate our community. Coming up in December are two cherished Williston-Richmond Rotary traditions:
Sunday, Dec. 7, 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Williston Community Tree Lighting - Join us on the Village Green for carols, hot chocolate and cookies. This annual celebration co-hosted by the Williston Federated Church includes special music from the church's children's choir. Warm hats, mittens, gloves and socks will be collected at the tree lighting for the Williston Community Food Shelf.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 11 a.m-1 p.m. - Jonathan Milne Senior Holiday Luncheon - Our jolly gathering brings senior neighbors together for a holiday turkey feast, a visit from Santa, poinsettias, and music from Williston Central School students. Due to limited space, RSVP required by calling Barbara LeWinter at 802-872-5968 by Dec. 6.
It is with great thanks and appreciation to Vermont Home and Marine in Williston in becoming one of the sponsors to our Jonathan Milne Senior Luncheon, where our club serves approximately 100 Williston fellow community members for a holiday luncheon on Thursday Dec 11th at the Williston Federated Church. VT Marine has been a long time donator to our club's charity service and events, and a true friend to our club and the community.
The good folks at Adams Farm Market invited our club to sell hot cocoa to raise funds for our charity and service work as they hosted special guests from the Vermont Reindeer Farm. Attendees got to have photos with Santa's own Cupid. Local acapella group Root 7 got everyone in the holiday spirit.
Our speaker on Nov 20th was Kathleen Culver, project management consultant and cofounder of PMEZ.org (Project Management Made Easy) with Kelly Lozo. Kathleen's fascinating talk today was entitled “Keep Calm and Carry On”, which she originally gave as a TEDX talk and is a project management approach to the stresses and worries of anyone's daily life.
A key to project management is risk analysis and mitigation, and she masterfully used the elements to reframe worries as a risk. The approach was a simple but elegant way to get us understand our worries, assess the likelihood that it will happen, visualize the impact, ask “so what”, and take action if the likelihood and impact looms large. Kathleen was able to connect to the entire room of club members, whether we understood project management or not, and gave us the tools needed to remove / lower stress. It was a pleasure to have Kathleen in to our club today.
On November 13th, our club had a special meeting of updates from our teams (committees). Each team provided a list of team members, when meetings are held, current issues under discussion, events/actions for the next 3 months, and progress on the 1 year plan to be completed by Jun 30th. Our teams are the planning and organizing backbone that keeps us focused on our 1 year and 5 year plan, and this meeting gives you a glimpse of at all the great work going on by our members for the community.
New members representing Williston's Dorothy Alling Memorial library, Lori Ledak (3rd from right), Kevin Unrath (2nd from right) and Bonnie Lord (not pictured) were inducted at our Nov. 6 meeting. They are our first members in our new Business membership category, where up to three representatives of a business or non-profit organization can share a club membership, making it easier for working professionals to meet attendance requirements and become involved in club activities.
We're excited to gain their valuable contributions and look forward to welcoming more members in this category.
Our speaker for Nov 6th was Hazen Metro, overall Winner of the 2025 Grade 1 (premiere) CLASP World Solo Piping Competition in Glasgow, Scotland, and he came in with bagpipes awhirl with a haunting rendition of the Lament of the Laird Dungallen, a style of bagpipe music called ceol mhor, translated to meaning big music, followed by a short oral history of scottish music rich with instruments of the clarsach (celtic harp) and bagpipes. I recommend watching our meeting YouTube video to see and hear Hazen's music and talk.
Our Halloween Trunk or Treat at Village Community Park on Oct. 26 brought out a wide cast of characters and creatures looking for goodies and fun. This annual event, co-sponsored by the Williston Federated Church, seems to get bigger and better every year.
Please enjoy our photo albumfull of great costumes and big smiles!
Our speaker for Oct 30th was DrTara Zeleny from Color Our World. COW believe that art should be a part of everyone’s life to allow them to foster spontaneous creativity and meaningful self-expression. For that reason, COW works to facilitate mobile art relief around the world to allow everyone to experience the joy that comes from art. They have designed Art kits that are mobile and filled with crayons, markers, paints, colorful pipe cleaners, construction paper, and, most importantly, hope that can travel the world and provide much needed supplies to communities living in crisis. To do this successfully, art kits are developed to be highly accessible and transportable so that they can easily reach any community or child in need.
Tara's video presentation detailed the COW kits assembly and their destinations around the globe. COW kits made in Vermont now stay in Vermont, since the need is great, and some of the places the kits are given are at VT GAL (Guardians ad Litem), The Janet S. Munt Family Room, and our local Food Shelves. Club President Vince Conte received a colorful bandana to add some cowboy color to his attire, coloring his world.
On Oct 23th 26, we gladly welcomed Kelton Bogasky as our newest member. Kelton lives in Williston, and works at Casella Waste Management, where he is approaching his 5 year anniversary. When asked Why I Want To Be A Rotarian, Kelton responded “I am passionate about being an active and involved member of our community. I want to know more of my neighbors and find a way to give back to those in need”.
Kaomi Joy Taylor, the founder and “chief namiac” of Museums of Names, was our speaker on Oct 23rd, and she told us 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Name.
A name:
Can catch and reflect emotions
fluency is a trainable skill
Can be workplace gold or kryptonite
Is your Brand
Has extraordinary power
gathering is a thing
Has layers of meaning (see the YouTube video of our meaning to see and hear the layers)
Is a human right
Is a membership card
Your brain's wake up word
A fascinating talk about first names and a fun way to start the day.
We will hold our annual Veterans Day Observance on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. in the War Memorial Park between Williston's Town Hall and Town Hall Annex. The program will include brief remarks, music and the reading of the names of local veterans.
Attendees are invited to bring the names of veterans whom they would like to have recognized.
Saturday, Oct. 18 club members and one volunteer community member planted 250 of daffodil bulbs along the Rec Path in Village Community Park. The new bulbs will add more spring blossoms to the daffodils we have planted through the years. The project only took an hour and a half, with five augers doing the hardest part of the work, drilling the holes.
Pictured above from left to right: Nick Hardin, Elizabeth Zenger, Charlie Magill, Lisa Hamm, and Armand Fournier. Missing from the photo is Tracy Seamster and Leslie Murray.
Williston’s Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event returns this year on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Village Community Park at 250 Library Lane. Our free family celebration is sponsored by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, Williston Federated Church and the Town of Williston and will take place rain or shine.
Community members who wish to participant by supplying a trunk and treats will need to register by 4:00PM on Friday October 24 by email or phone to: A4nier@hotmail.com or 802-343-0777.
You will need to provide your name, address, phone number and a reference name from one of the three sponsoring groups. Thank you for not bringing homemade treats.
We are excited to continue this safe, fun, community event and look forward to seeing all the amazing costumes!
Our speaker on Oct 9th, Luc Pomerleau, spoke about many topics. Luc started with his motto of joy, pride and sense of belonging, everything we try to accomplish in Rotary and in life. He reminded us to DO ROTARY, not go to Rotary, a distinction that Rotary is an action and way of being, not a place to just meet. Membership was the next important theme which is a top issue not only to grow, but to survive. New members share the load to accomplish our service endeavors and bring new and exciting ideas to enrich our clubs. Luc challenged us to ask people we meet if they would like to be a part of Rotary and share with them our rotary journey that provides community and self fulfilment for many of us.
Our speaker on Oct 2nd was Zach Bennett, Assistant Professor at Norwich University, and he spoke to us about the political environment around the The Election of 1860. Powerful and enlightening, and relevant in today's political environment. A few takeaways: the Madison quote that "if men were angels, no government would be necessary" and that the birth of the Republican party to abolish slavery brought together a coalition that dominated the presidential landscape for 60-70 years. We need to have Zach back to hear how 1860 Democrats were antigovernment and pro-slavery, the Republicans were big government and anti-slavery, and how we got to each party being polar opposites today compared to their 1860 starts.
World Polio Day is a time for Rotary members, public health advocates, and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognize our progress in the fight to end polio, and talk about the actions we need to take in order to end polio for good.
Rotary International has been a leading organization in the fight to end polio. Learn more about the tremendous progress that's been made and how you can help: https://www.endpolio.org/
On Sept 25th, we gladly welcomed Tracy Seamster as our newest member. Tracy is a resident of St. George and works as an Adjunct Professor of Narrative Design at Champlain College in Burlington, teaching about writing for and designing video games. She is also an avid Seattle Mariners and Seahawks fan.
In high school, Tracy was in their Rotary Interact club for 12-18 year old who want to actively provide service to their community. More recently, Tracy did administrative work for the nonprofit Wood4Good, a friend of Rotary and multiple time speaker at our club.
Welcome Tracy. We are so glad to have you in our club.
Our speaker on Sept 25th was Meg Polyte, Public Policy Director for the Vermont chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Her video on Alzheimer patients advocating for Alzheimer awareness was moving, and her information on the latest medical breakthroughs on Alzheimer care was new information for a lot of us.
Did you know every September 21, Rotary honors the International Day of Peace. It provides an opportunity to imagine communities where understanding replaces division and cooperation prevails over conflict.
For Rotary members, peace is part of our DNA. Through service projects, fellowships, education programs, and training in Positive Peace, we work year-round to address the roots of tension and build conditions where peace can take hold.
Across the globe, Rotary Peace Centers prepare leaders to prevent and resolve conflict. Action Groups, Friendship Exchanges, and youth programs bring people together across cultures, encouraging trust and new solutions. Even local projects, such as mentoring young people, supporting schools, and helping neighbors in need, all add up to a ripple effect of goodwill.
Whether you’re a long-time Rotarian or simply someone who wants to make a difference, you can help nurture peace in everyday ways: volunteering, sharing stories of hope, learning conflict-resolution skills, or just extending kindness to a stranger.
Your donation to the Rotary Foundation helps support scholarships for graduate degrees and certificates in Peace Studies.
Did you know that Vermont has a beluga whale as an official state fossil? On Sept. 18 Laura Meyer from the Vermont Master Naturalist (VMN) program presented to us about the glacial geomorphology of Williston and human settlement patterns of the last 13,000 years. It was fascinating to hear about the glacier that sat above Williston at 1.5 miles elevation, ultimately creating Lake Vermont at 625 ft. above sea level before changing to the Champlain Sea (hence the whale) at 325 ft and now leaving Lake Champlain at 95 ft above sea level.
About 2/3 of the land within Williston's borders was covered by water not too long ago, leaving behind clay deposits, except where deltas collected sand particles. The remaining 1/3 is rock, mostly in the southern portion of town, with some notable outcroppings where the Catamount Community Forest is today.
The Vermont Master Naturalist program was founded in 2016. Williston's branch was founded in 2019.
This month club member Sherry Pidgeon visited Champlain Valley Union High School to deliver our grant check to the school's chapter of Amnesty International. The students applied for the grant funding to support their advocacy for human rights, which we learned about when they presented to us about their activities earlier this year.
On a beautiful and sunny day in downtown Burlington, members of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club joined members of the Williston Federated Church to walk together in the Pride Parade. Pride Vermont was formed in 1983 and the first major Pride parade in Vermont took place on June 25, 1983 in downtown Burlington.
The values of Pride Vermont are liberation, localism, sustainability and diversity. Both the Rotary and the Church embrace and celebrate these same values. These values are an important foundation for community building and solidarity.
We gathered in City Hall Park and the environment and atmosphere was full of joy and excitement. There was music being played and songs being sung. The parade goers were adorned with beautiful colors and decorations. It was impossible to keep a smile off your face. There was a huge crowd cheering us all on, from Main Street, all the way down to the waterfront. It was an honor to participate in this important event and to show our support for the 2STLGBQIA+ community.
On Saturday, Sept. 6 club members Kel Bachus, Sherry Pidgeon, Dave Ericson and Nick Hardin, along with Champlain College students Hollis and Russell, joined a big crew of volunteers with nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). They sanded and branded to help make 50 beds for area children. What a rewarding experience!
As of August, the Chittenden County chapter of SHP has donated 2667 beds to local families.
David Zuckerman, our speaker on September 4, provided an interesting discussion on Ranked Choice Voting, which was described as a fairer way to choose a victor in a political race and is gaining some momentum as a possible choice in Vermont. In a nutshell, voters pick their top 3 candidates ranked 1, 2 and 3. If no one is elected by a majority, i.e., >50%, the lowest performing candidate is eliminated and their second ranked votes go to the remaining candidates. At that point either a majority candidate wins, or then the next lowest ranked candidate's votes get distributed to other candidates until someone achieves a majority. As of April this year two states (Maine and Alaska), 47 cities and 3 counties use this form of voting — a total of 63 jurisdictions across 24 states.
Zuckerman is a farmer and former lieutenant governor of Vermont who currently hosts a talk radio program airing on WDEV.
Rev. Dr. James Ross, Senior Director of Intercultural Centers and Director of the Interfaith Center at UVM, joined us on August 28 to discuss challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community. Some of the concerns he spoke about include how access to medical care is being increasingly decided by legislators instead of medical professionals and how the federal government is, in effect, prohibiting the use of certain words at universities.
In his work with the Intercultural Centers he partners with the directors of the Mosaic Intercultural Center, the Women and Gender Equity Center, and the Prism Intercultural Center to advance student learning, development and success. He is both curious and nervous to see what things are like on campus this fall given the current political climate.
Burlington's Pride Parade will take place on Sunday, Sept. 7. Our club missed the registration deadline to march this year, but those who are interested have been invited to join the group from the Williston Federated Church.
L-R: Charlie Magill, Phiona Atuhaire and Vince Conte
On August 21, we had a visit from Dr. Phiona Atuhaire, who serves as our assistant district governor, succeeding Charlie Magill. In this role she supports the Williston-Richmond club along with the South Burlington club and the Burlington club, which she joined in 2021. She first became a Rotarian in 2014 in her native Uganda. Through Rotary, she explained, she became more aware of difficulties people were facing and how, when we come together, we can do so much to help.
Dr. Atuhaire's main message to us revolved around Rotary's current top priority — membership — and the three pillars for growth:
1. Innovation - the importance of evolving in an evolving world, for example being open to different club models or changing club practices to better meet club member needs
2. Continuity - the power of choosing a long-term vision and plan so that efforts build into greater impact over time
3. Partnership - the power of collaborating with other groups, such as nonprofits, business associations, professional organizations, and academic institutions to achieve big things
Membership is our future — ensuring growth, sustainability and impact.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Chittenden County Chapter President Mike Lemieux poses with photos of some of the children who have received beds and bedding from the charity.
On August 14 we heard from Mike Lemieux and Dan Parot, founders of our local chapter of national nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Founded in 2019, they are one of 360 chapters in the U.S. and worldwide. To date they have donated 2667 beds to children between the ages of 3-17 years old.
The beds are built in donated space in Saxon Hill, Essex. The Superstore in Williston provides mattresses well below cost and Project Linus donates 50 quilts a month. This year our club donated $1000 to support their work.
To learn more and/or donate to Sleep In Heavenly Peace, visit: https://shpbeds.org/
Left - Vince Conte, Sally Metro and Debbie Ingram during their visit to Calgary for the Rotary International Convention in June.
Right - Debbie and Sally sport the hats they acquired in Calgary. Vince couldn't be convinced to adopt the cowboy hat.
Each year thousands of Rotarians from around the world gather for fellowship, inspiration and education. This June the Rotary International (RI) convention took place in Calgary, Alberta. Three of our members attended.
On August 7, Debbie Ingram and Sally Metro gave our a club a taste of what they experienced among this group of 16,000 people who serve to make their communities and the world a better place. The opening "Spectacular" included witnessing the Indian Relay Races, a thrilling Calgary tradition performed proudly by daring Indigenous riders. Each day started with a 2-hour general session attended by all. Some speaker highlights include the actor Geena Davis and the current leader of Sesame Street.
Incoming RI President Francesco Arezzo from Italy shared this vision with attendees:
On July 31 we welcomed Zoie Aguillon and Jack Thorley-Doucette, two rising juniors who our club sponsored to attend this year's Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) in June.
Zoie enjoyed the group challenges where participants learned how to communicate better, how to adapt to each other's communication styles, and how to collaborate. She shared that she learned that leadership "is about listening and working with others."
Jack, who feels that he is a natural leader, said that he had to learn when to step back and let others take the lead, as well as different ways to communicate effectively.
Both students were glad to have taken part and are ready to help us spread the word about the opportunity to sophomores at their school next year.
On July 24 we gladly welcomed Kel Bachus as our newest member. A resident of St. George, Kel is Program Director and Assistant Professor of Interactive Narrative at Champlain College in Burlington.
Kel (center) is pictured with their Rotary Sponsor Lesley Murray (left) and Club President Vince Conte (right).
Our speakers were Kevin Unrath and Bonnie Lord for the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Kevin, a new friend to our club and DAML Director, spoke to us about Public Libraries: 4 Truths and a Lie, which was enlightening and entertaining. The obvious answer most of us guessed was not so obvious or correct. Kevin provided perspective on each of the 5 statements.
Bonnie, a many year friend to our club, gave an excellent overview of the libraries new $15m proposed expansion, busted some myths, and took questions on the latest proposals. The 2 presenters could have easily filled 2 meetings.
To learn more and/or become friends of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, visit: https://damlvt.org/
Our speaker was Eric Axelrod, President of Wood4Good, a Jericho nonprofit that provides wood heating assistance to needy Vermonters. A friend of Rotary and previous speaker from 2023, Eric's nonprofit is expanding leaps and bounds. With wood increasing to $550/cord, 40% of Vermonters have wood as a source of heating (not all fully wood), and finances getting tighter, some Vermonters had to forego heat for food and meds. In steps in our hero, Wood4Good, to supply 1.2 cords per household. Great cause. Great presentation.
On July 7th, newly elected President, Vince Conte, held a Club Business Meeting. Our Business Meeting's are a time for all Team Leaders (Committee Chairs) to update their goal, mission, past recent events and upcoming activity to club members.
Between our float in the parade on July 4th and the Deb Beckett Memorial 5K on July 5th, we had a successful and fun part in Williston's Independence Day celebrations. Beautiful weather brought out the parade crowds and helped attract an increase in 5K participants. Club members volunteered for the library book sale, played in the Town Band and scooped ice cream.
We're so proud of fellow Rotarian Terry Macaig who served as this year's parade grand marshal!
This year's Rotary International Convention was in Calgary June 21-26, a convenient location for international travel in North America. The RI Convention rotates continents, coming to North America on average every 4 years.
This year, Sally Stock-well Metro, Debbie Ingram and Vince Conte embarked on the journey for learning, fellowship, and some fun sight-seeing, along with 15,000 other Rotarians who took over the town. Sessions were held and booths were set up on a variety of topics including club strengthening, Rotary's 7 areas of focus in separate sessions, global projects to start or join, and a myriad of fellowship groups to join. There will be a club talk later this year from the 3 attendees on their experiences in Calgary.
Did you know there is a Chess fellowship? A wine fellowship? An LGBTQ fellowship? A birdwatching fellowship? A horse riding fellowship? An AI fellowship? Over 100 international fellowships are in place to connect members with like passions. Some are free and some have a meager one-time for life registration fee.
Next year's 2026 RI Convention is in TaiPei, Taiwan, so for those of you who want to travel / see the world and get better engaged with all things Rotary, registration and housing is open today. I highly recommend the experience (Vince).
On June 26 we heard from Town Manager Erik Wells about upcoming changes to the administration of Community Justice Centers in Vermont. Recent state legislation is moving the administration and funding of the program from the Dept. of Corrections to the State Attorney General's office. For the centers located in Chittenden County, there will be a consolidation of administration in Burlington, forming a hub and spoke model. Erik Wells and the municipal leaders of South Burlington and Essex form an advisory committee helping to shape the transition that will take place over a couple of years. Williston's center will remain located in our community to best ensure the goals of the program.
Restorative Justice Specialist Mandy Ferland of Williston's CJC spoke about the work of our local center, which supports Williston, Hinesburg, Bolton, Richmond, Huntington, and St. George. Our club's recent cash grant to the organization allowed for the purchase of bus passes and bags of food and other necessities for people experiencing homelessness and other challenges. She noted that currently 14 trained volunteers serve on restorative justice panels and that they are actively seeking more volunteers from the community.
One of the most important things we do as a club is to support community projects and non-profit organizations who are doing vital work in our area. Throughout the year we raise money, then go through a rigorous process to choose grantees who are making a difference. In June we awarded grants to the following 12 organizations:
AgeWell - Meals on Wheels
Cancer Patient Support Center - assistance for local families
CVU Chapter of Amnesty International - human rights advocacy
Governor’s Institute of Vermont - local student scholarships
Jean Garvin School - school garden
Richmond Food Shelf - milk and food programs
Richmond Rescue - bike helmets
Sleep in Heavenly Peace - beds for local children
Split the Ticket - home heating fuel assistance
Williston Community Justice Center - supply bags and bus passes
Williston Federated Church - AED defibrillator
Williston Federated Church - Refugee Support Program
Williston Food Shelf - laundry detergent, personal hygiene products and pet food
Our annual meeting and Changeover celebration took place the evening of June 19 at the Isham Farm Barn. Outgoing President Elizabeth Davidson passed the gavel to incoming President Vince Conte. The evening included the awarding of a grant of $5000 to Split the Ticket, a nonprofit that provides home heating fuel assistance to Vermonters in need.
We also welcomed two post-secondary scholarship recipients who each received $2000 toward their further education - Alexandria Montgomery and Katelyn Reagan. Alex will be studying Secondary Education and Katelyn will be studying Nursing. Both Willistonians from CVU. Best of luck to these two young ladies on their education journeys.
It was a lovely evening with music provided by local musician Thea Wren accompanied by Elena Wells on bass. Elizabeth surprised us by performing a song herself.
Ourphoto album captures all of the fun and magic of the special evening.
On June 12 we hosted Beth White and members of her group from Habitat for Aviation, an apprenticeship program whose mission is to train the next generation of aviation technicians and avionics specialists for conventional and electric aircraft. The multi-generational group of women and girls (as young as 9!) have been building a plane that, once complete, they will bring to events to promote women in aviation.
On June 5th, Erica Marks, Director of AgeWell, spoke to our club. Most of us know the name AgeWell and connect the name to Meals on Wheels, but AgeWell has so many more services that many of us were not aware that AgeWell provides.
Agewell also provides:
Home Care Coordination to make senior's in-home needs a reality, catered to the individual and aimed at what will best allow clients to thrive.
Safety Checks to evaluate risks in the home environment
Community Meals outside the home to offer a chance for seniors to connect with others, share stories, and most importantly, have fun.
Community Events to connect seniors for outings such as ballgames and movies.
Wellness Classes on balance strengthening, weight and health management, TaiChi, mental and behavioral counseling, and medication assessment.
Financial Services, connecting seniors with Medicare or financial professionals to evaluate and support financial guidance.
Rotary Club members, aka Rotarians, have long been known as women and men of service. The Rotary Club motto, “Service Above Self,” conveys the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service. A myriad of service projects performed by Rotarians occur locally, nationally and internationally and are often selected in response to a need expressed by an individual or group within a community.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club maintains the Schmoker hiking trail and the Fontaine Canoe Access in Williston, as well as several benches in Williston and Richmond. In addition, club members build ramps and maintain Little Free Libraries and gardens within these communities.
These pictures show Rotarians Armand Fournier, Howard Novak and Lesley Murray along with Elena Wells, a Rotary family member, responding to a clean-up request from Rotarian Charlie Magill following a windstorm that felled trees in his yard. Trees were cut, split and stacked in response to this request.
We welcome requests for service projects and look forward to working with community members and groups to help.
Each year the Town of St. George holds their Dragon Days festival. This year was a first for the event in a couple of ways: It was the first year the event was forced to move indoors due to pouring rain. But it was also the first year the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, which also serves St. George, took part!
Despite the soggy conditions, great fun was had by all the friends and neighbors who gathered in the Little Red School House on Saturday, May 31. We gave away plants, spoke to community members, and enjoyed lively music and free pizza. Top notch entertainment took the form of a play that tells the mythical story of how St. George got its name, thanks to one scary looking but affable and peace loving dragon, followed by world-class juggling and comic performances.
One of the best parts? We were joined at our breakfast meeting the following Thursday by a community member we connected with that day.
Thanks to Lesley for organizing and to Erin, Barb, Marty and Susan for participating.
For more images of the day check out our photo album.
Clay Nicholson is a junior at CVU High School with a passion for engineering, education, and community. As captain of his school’s robotics team and founding member of a county-wide robotics team, he has helped lead students to success at both state and international competitions. He also works as a software engineer at Hack Club, where he helps students around the world access tools and funding for their own STEM projects. He has interned at local tech companies, including GlobalFoundries and BETA Technologies, and actively advocates for STEM education across Vermont, including through school board presentations and community outreach.
Clay attended RYLA last summer, as one of three students sponsored by our club.
Members of the Williston community gathered started off the Memorial Day holiday in a meaningful remembrance of those who gave all in service to our country. Our 4th annual Memorial Day Observance was organized by Lesley Murray with support from a large number of club members, town officials and residents.
Speakers included retired pastor Gary Lewis, Town Manager Erik Wells, and Rotarian Matthew Casey, who encouraged those present to not only engage in quiet reflection of those who sacrificed, but also to be inspired to action. “We are called to not only honor the dead, but to live lives that honor their sacrifice by upholding the values they served to defend: liberty, dignity, justice and service.”
John Jacobs emceed and provided music and sound. Several Rotarians read the names of area deceased veterans and the event concluded with "Taps" performed by Luke Buehler.
On May 1 we welcomed Jason Adams as a new member of our growing club. Jason is the owner of Adams Real Properties in Williston. He's excited to be of service to the community and has quickly become an active member of our group. Walter Nardelli (right) is Jason's Rotary sponsor.
Nick Hardin, our newest member, who became official on May 22, is a retired pathologist and professor. Debbie Ingram got Nick interested in Rotary and serves as his sponsor. Like Jason, Nick has jumped right in to club service projects and activities.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club once again showed terrific team spirit at this year's Spelling Bee hosted by the Burlington Rotary Club. The annual fundraising event supports literacy and food security.
Debbie Ingram, Andy Mikell and Howard Novak gave it their best shot cheered on by the champion rooting squad of Lesley Murray and Armand Fournier. Though their sign might have been an omen of sorts.
On May 22nd, Tony Simanskas from our Williston Fire Department spoke to our club about Stroke Awareness. May 2025 is designated as National Stroke Awareness month, a time to raise awareness about stroke prevention, recognition, and treatment. Knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke and acting quickly can significantly improve a person's chances of survival.
Tony has been a regular guest speaker at Williston Rotary, and every time, the topics and his stories are engaging and valuable.
On May 15th, Christina Erickson from Local Motion gave our club a superb understanding of the projects they are involved in around the state and in our county. Many of us had heard of Local Motion, but we did not know the breadth of their advocacy and projects. Amazing work has been and is currently being done to help make Vermont a safe and attractive place for active transportation.
On May 8th, Matt Boulanger and Emily Heymann came to our club meeting to discuss the progress on Williston's 2025-2033 Town plan. The plan has a tremendous amount of detail for action items on zoning, policies and ordinances and has been developed with a vision to what Williston wants to be in 2050. The plan was started from scratch 2 years ago, and has currently been completed and sent to the Williston SelectBoard for review.
While they did not go line by line for the 1000s of action items, we learned about what direction the town is going, and what is most important. To get insights on the town plan before it's final approval, the Zoom club meeting video is a must see.
We had great fun (fueled by donuts provided by John Jacob) on Green Up Day and at the Williston Town Fair on Saturday, May 3. Our team of intrepid Green-Uppers collected 18+ bags of trash plus all sorts of items too big to bag.
The club's booth at Town Fair was also a hotbed of activity as we chatted with neighbors and gave away dozens of garden and house plants.
On April 24th, Jodi Girouard, Presentation Coordinator for NAMI Vermont, shared some of her life experience with our club. Jodi Girouard has been writing since she learned to hold a pencil. She spends time writing for others to uplift spirits and bring more compassion to the world. She has written four books, and the latest one, "The Long Hall," is her experience at a psychiatric hospital where little treatment was provided. It was through writing about escaping into the framed Vermont Landscapes along the hallway that helped her begin her healing process. Her previous memoir, "Living with the Neighbors," is about living with severe mental health conditions and reaching out for help through faith, nature, and communities. Jodi's presentation was truly inspiring.
What a tremendous turnout we had for the 25th annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade & Egg Hunt on the Saturday before Easter! At 7:30 a.m. thunder was rumbling and drops were falling, but by the time the fun was to get started the rain had let up and our crowd of families, Rotarians, and the Williston Fire and Police departments enjoyed favorable conditions to parade around the Town Green and for children to race to collect thousands of candy-stuffed eggs.
We were happy to be joined on April 10 by Greg Paulman, president of the Williston Area Lions Club. The group has focused locally on earning durable outdoor benches from the Trex company, by collecting and recycling the plastic film used to make the bench material. They've been so successful in diverting this material from the landfill that they are able to help other groups earn benches, as well.
It was a pleasure to host Greg and to learn more about the history of this fellow service club. Known for their collection of eyeglasses to donate to people who would otherwise not have them, the Lions were urged to focus on vision and hearing by none other than Helen Keller when she addressed the Lions convention in 1925.
Like Rotary, the Lions were founded in the early part of the 20th century in the city of Chicago and soon spread around the world. We have so much in common, from our history to our missions of service. We hope to find a way to collaborate soon in supporting our community.
We were thrilled to celebrate two new members this month. Jonathan Leighton (2nd from left) and Matthew Casey (2nd from right) were joined by their sponsors, Erin Pond and Ellie Beckett, respectively, as Club President Elizabeth Davidson inducted them into our membership. Jonathan Leighton serves as branch manager of Community Bank in Williston. Matthew Casey is an HR professional at the University of Vermont. We have enjoyed getting to know Jonathan and Matthew and look forward to their contributions to our club!
On April 3 we learned about the tremendous experiences made available to Vermont high school students via the Governor's Institutes of Vermont (GIV) each summer. Development Director Tamira Martel, who is a member of the Rotary Club of St. Albans, spoke to us about this program founded in 1983 that offers immersive, residential week-long programs in a variety of areas, including the Arts, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Health and Medicine, and more. This summer, 608 students will take part in the programs taking place at UVM, Champlain College and other college campuses around the state. In 2024, 21 students from Williston, Richmond and St. George participated.
Designed to give students in-depth, experiential learning while building a community of peers and mentors, Vermont's GIV is part of a national-wide network of state programs. Vermont's is the 2nd largest in terms of number of students served. Ninety-eight percent of participants report lasting positive outcomes, including learning, personal growth, making new friends, professional networking, and seeing what their future could be like.
Funding for the Institutes comes from a mix of donations, tuition, and state funding. Students pay according to a sliding scale, so family means are not a barrier.
Liisa Reiman from the Malia Paddling & Rowing Club joined us on March 27 to tell us about this unique sport that has been growing in popularity around the world. Dragon boats are 40 feet long and hold 20 rowers who must learn to operate in complete coordination with each other. Liisa shared her personal story of getting involved in this exciting sport, which she found greatly improved her mental health.
In 2021 Liisa was a member of the US team that won the world championship in Hong Kong. She has brought her enthusiasm and coaching skills to the Malia club, which operates out of the Community Sailing Center in Burlington. The club's members range in age from 26 to 82. This July Liisa will be taking a team of 50 and 60-year-olds to the Pan American Championships in Montreal.
Join the fun at the 25th annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at Williston Central School on Saturday, April 4 for children 12 years old and younger. The parade begins promptly at 9 a.m., so please arrive early. The event will take place regardless of the weather, so children should be dressed appropriately.
Easter baskets with prizes will be awarded to children who find specially marked Easter eggs. Other prizes will be awarded to children wearing Easter costumes. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets.
For more information, contact Andy Mikell at (802) 343-2704 or email AndrewDMikell@gmail.com
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club is now accepting applications from high school seniors who plan to continue their education. These scholarships are NOT in the school's list of scholarships. Here are the details:
The purpose of this scholarship is to assist local students with their post-high school educational advancement. Scholarship decisions will be based on overall achievements and financial need.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club will award up to two $2,000 (one-time only) scholarships to be paid directly to the student. Payment to the student allows them to maximize financial aid they receive from the school / program.
ELIGIBILITY *Applicant must be a resident of Williston, Richmond, or St. George *Applicant must be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate accredited vocational, college, or university program
REQUIRED APPLICATION COMPONENTS *Copy of your high school or college transcripts or GED (General Education Degree) and any related experience *Two (2) letters of recommendation from school personnel (e.g. principal, counselor, teacher, etc.) *Completed scholarship application form.
DEADLINE *This form and all accompanying files must be received by Friday, April 25, 2025.
Need help paying for college or trade school this fall?
This year's International Convention is our "back yard" - Calgary Alberta Canada June 21st - June 25th. Attending a Rotary Convention offers a chance to connect with Rotarians globally, learn about Rotary initiatives, and give inspiration for service and leadership, while also fostering personal and professional growth.
On March 20 we welcomed new member Faith Leach (center). Though she is new to our club, Faith is no stranger to Rotary, having been an 18-year member of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh, NY. Faith recently retired as Director of Development at SUNY Plattsburgh and we are delighted to have her bring her interests and talents to our Williston-Richmond group. Pictured with Faith are Club Treasurer Andy Mikell and Club Secretary Sherry Pidgeon.
On March 20th, 6 CVU students from the CVU Amnesty International Chapter joined our club meeting to discuss the work they are doing to change the world. Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who are committed to creating a future where human rights are enjoyed by everyone. United by shared humanity, they know that the power to create positive change is within all of us.
The presentation was led by our own Rotary-CVU Ambassador Madelyn Morris, and these extraordinary women (Lauren Morris, Maya Girard, Annalise Wood, Maggie Connors, and Senja Erickson) highlighted the work they do and the causes they fight for. It is a refreshing reminder of the role youth takes to change the world for the better, and we can see the potential of these women as future Community Leaders and Rotarians.
On March 13th, Allie Schachter, Director of Development for The Flynn Center, was our guest speaker. Most of us know of, see events, and support The Flynn Center, but The Flynn is so much more - as we were about to learn.
Allie works on the Community Program side of the business (as differing from the Events side), which provides free programs to the community. So interesting to hear how much The Flynn gives back to the community. They bring art into different spaces and communities so that they can increase access, connect with new audiences, build partnerships, and offer everyone the opportunity participate in unforgettable artistic experiences. Such a pleasure to hear her talk and learn about all the great community service work at The Flynn.
Sarah Russell, Special Assistant to End Homelessness for the City of Burlington, works on developing and managing initiatives and policies with the aim to make homelessness rare and brief in Chittenden County. She spoke to us on March 6 about her role, which includes coordination among various support organizations, direct service, and advocacy in Montpelier.
One of the challenges currently facing efforts to reduce homelessness is the reduction of federal Section 8 grants, which help people get into subsidized housing. Additionally, the federal government has abruptly defunded fair housing programs that help prevent discrimination.
Russell explained that the state's contentious motel program, which she cited as costing $80 per room per night regardless of the number of people staying in the room, is cheaper than direct services programs. The latter cost about $140 per bed per night.
On Feb 27th, Laurie Keve, Development and Communications Director for the Janet S. Munt Family Room, enlightened our club on the unique parent child center providing programs to support connection for parents and families, provide education, promote physical, social, emotional, and linguistic development in children, and nurture a vibrant and diverse community.
Their programs serve 1,600 individuals each year through 29+ free drop-in and enrolled programs for caregivers and children, home visiting and family support, and concrete supports in times of need. Their mission centers on making sure families feel safe, have their basic needs met, and feel supported. With a multi-generational approach, they focus on the health of the whole family, not just the children.
We welcomed Janet Smith of the non-profit Vermont Transcendental Meditation Center as our guest speaker on February 20. We learned about this practice that aims to help people address their problems, achieve greater focus, and increase their capacity to be inventive. Interestingly, Janet shared, some studies have shown that once 1% or more of the population of a place has been trained in TM techniques, there is a positive "field effect" whereby crime and other societal ills are broadly reduced.
Random Acts of Kindness Week is an annual celebration that takes place in February. In 2025, it extends from Feb 9th to Feb 15th. It's a time to spread positivity and make a difference by performing kind gestures for others.
Random Acts of Kindness Day will be celebrated this year on February 17, 2025. Random Acts of Kindness Day is a beautiful day that inspires people to spread love, compassion, and positivity through small, unanticipated acts of kindness.
Writer Anne Herbert inspired the Random Acts of Kindness movement with her 1982 article, "Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Acts of Senseless Beauty." These events embody everything that Rotary stands for. Look for ways to do a random act of kindness in our community.
Those interested in ideas from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, can use these links:
The American Red Cross of Northern New England serves the 3.2 million residents of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. We all know about American Red Cross Blood Drives, but the ARC provides so many more vital services.
On Feb 13th, Sarah joined our club meeting to enlighten us on the many ways the American red Cross enriches our lives. From disaster relief, military family support and international vaccinations to home smoke alarm installation and business training on CPR & first aid, the American Red Cross touches all our lives is so many ways.
Bill Torrey spins his winning tale on the theme of magic.
Our 2nd annual Bill Skiff Story Slam, an open-mic storytelling event on the theme of “Magic,” was attended by about 120 community members and raised more than $3000 for home heating fuel assistance.
A dozen storytellers took the stage in the Williston Central School auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 8 to relate their personal tales, competing for bragging rights and prizes provided by Williston Hot Yoga and Chef’s Corner. Judging the competition were local magician Billy Jamez, Vermont author Bill Schubart and Williston Community Theatre founder Helen Weston.
Top prize went to Bill Torrey for his story about confronting a raging bull and the magic of learning how to face his fear and stand his ground. Tied for second place were Ellie Beckett, who spoke about the power of “trail magic” while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and Lucas Short, who humorously related a frightening youthful encounter with a UFO in Maine.
Club President Elizabeth Davidson emceed and shared a couple of stories of her own. The event also featured some close-up magic from Billy Jamez, music provided by Marty LeWinter and Elena Wells, and delicious sweet and savory treats homemade by club members and volunteers.
Matt Cota of the non-profit Split the Ticket Fund spoke of the longtime collaboration between the club and the charity, which arranges home heating fuel deliveries for neighbors in need throughout Vermont by combining charitable donation dollars with donations from local fuel dealers.
The event honors Bill Skiff, a consummate storyteller who was our club’s founder and first president. Bill passed away last year. Though his daughter Nan was unable to attend due to weather, Helen Weston, Bill's friend and neighbor, shared what Nan wrote about the magic that her dad brought into his community and into his family's lives. He is dearly missed, and continues to inspire us all.
We're grateful to all who attended and contributed to make our fun fundraiser a big success! Please enjoy ourphoto album.
Cancer Patient Support Foundation provides hope and emergency financial assistance to help Vermont cancer patients pay for basic living needs like housing, home heat and electricity, groceries, out-of-pocket medical expenses and gas for transportation to treatment. They serve more than 500 patients every year throughout Vermont, partnering with medical providers and social workers who refer patients to us for support.
On Feb 13th, Sarah Wallace-Brodeur, Executive Director of the Cancer Patient Support Foundation spoke to our club about the financial toxicity that goes along with a diagnosis has devastating consequences to patients and their families. Paying for meds, fuel, food or utilities, every bit relieves the on-going financial stress, and allows cancer patients to focus on self and treatment. An additional innovative service is the Maggie Card that cancer patients in Vermont receive discounts on products and services from participating local businesses.
To learn more about the work of the Cancer Patient Support Foundation, visit https://www.cpsfvt.org/
On Jan 30th, MaryJoy (MJ) Patchett joined our club meeting to tell us more about the Richmond Food Shelf and Thrift Store model, and update us on the 2024 $1000 Grant given by Williston-Richmond Rotary for their "Got Milk" program. They serve 200 individuals (68 families) each month, and turn away no one, from any town.
Got Milk Program - Richmond Food Shelf spends $45,000 yearly on food, paid for by financial donations and sales from clothes at the Thrift Store, and the food spend is up 10% from 2023. $4,800 of the total is milk and cheese vouchers used at the Richmond Market, which is 20% higher than 2023. The Richmond Food Shelf GOT MILK Project is an on-going need and not a one-time project or buying situation.
During the meeting, our club provided the Richmond Food Shelf an additional $1000 for the Got Milk Program through a grant from our Rotary District. Grant and Donation Chair Vince Conte is shown above with MaryJoy.
On Jan 23rd, Lisa Bilowith, Director of The Jean Garvin School, and Matt Conforti, Educational Director of the Garvin Delta Program, updated our club on the Grant given last Spring and opened our eyes to the wonderful alternative high school approach they employ.
The Jean Garvin School, operated by the Howard Center, provides a therapeutic, education program offering unique learning opportunities to inspire personal change and well-being for adolescents, age 12-18 years, grades 7-12. The goal of the program is to provide a safe educational and therapeutic environment that helps students achieve success in school, in the community, and at home. The school now has 2 program paths - Odyssey (27 students) and Delta (22 students). Class sizes are 5-8 instead of the 25-35 seen is many high schools, so students get the extra attention needed that they were not receiving elsewhere. One student graduated with their high school diploma this month, and two more will graduate in June. What a life changing environment!!!
Little Free Pantry Project - The Jean Garvin School built a free standing “Little Free Pantry” two years ago. The “Little Free Pantry” is located on Day Lane adjacent to the school, was built by a student with help from Matt Conforti, and is a free standing, self-serve pantry. Students and staff keep it running and stocked with donations, but was running dry quite often before the grant. The pantry is registered with Vermont 211. In addition to maintaining the pantry, students also created a Community Garden to help stock the pantry with fresh vegetable. It is so great to see students want to give back and engage with the community they live in.
Celebrating the legacy and considering the challenge of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Arnold Thomas, Pastor Paul Eyer of Williston Federated Church and event organizer Chris Burns-DiBiasio listen as CVU students Malashie Tonoki, Allyson Gutierrez and Lydia Eshete recite the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance on Sunday, Jan. 19 at Williston Central School. About 150 people attended the event.
Community organizations came together at Williston Central School on Jan. 19 in an observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The event included a dramatic reading of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech by CVU students Malashie Tonoki, Allyson Gutierrez and Lydia Eshete under the direction of Angela Pollock. It also included musical selections by WCS’s Varietones, led by Emy Berger.
The theme of the event was Dare to Dream: Dream of Equity, Dream of Justice, Dream of Hope, Dream of Inclusion.
Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Arnold Thomas spoke of America’s history of broken promises of fairness and equality to various groups. He noted today’s “widening chasm between rich and poor and the increasing callousness that brings with it.” He recalled Dr. King’s message exhorting the nation to become “a community where the love and care for one another promotes and prioritizes the common good.”
Thomas asked: “To what extent are you willing to change the recipe of the status quo, to risk the required qualitative and quantitative changes in your life and in your soul for the life of and soul of our nation and world?”
The observance concluded with all those gathered singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Written originally as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson, with music composed later by his brother John, the song became a rallying cry for the Civil Rights movement and has been referred to as the Black National Anthem.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, Williston Federated Church, Williston Racial Equity Partners, Richmond Racial Equity, Williston Central School and Champlain Valley Union High School collaborated in putting on the event.
DARE TO DREAM: Dream of Equity, Dream of Justice, Dream of Hope, Dream of Inclusion
This Sunday, Jan. 19 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at the Williston Central School Auditorium, we will honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at a free public event.
Our keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Arnold Thomas, retired pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Jericho, recipient of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Peacemaker Award, and founder and moderator of the Racism in America series in Vermont.
The event will also feature a dramatic reading of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech by Champlain Valley Union students, musical selections by the Williston Central School Varitones and an exhibit of WCS student art, poetry and essays.
Community partners organizing the event include Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, Williston Racial Equity Partners, WCS, CVU, Williston Federated Church, and Richmond Racial Equity.
We had the joy of helping with Toys for Kids collections again this year, placing and monitoring 14 barrels before the holidays in Williston and Richmond. Rick McGuire reports the team gathered about 47 big bags of donated toys for area children.
On January 9th, Ginger Morton, President of the Williston Community Food shelf, spoke at our club about feeding our neighbors in need, and provided a progress update for the 3 Rotary Grants given to the WCFS last Spring. The 3 Grants were for a Pet Care project, a Hygiene project, and a Walk to Shop project.
The Williston Community Food Shelf is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the elimination of hunger in the towns of Williston, St George, Richmond and Essex / Essex Junction, Vermont Their mission is to provide high quality food and connections to essential support services to those in need in our community. Their clients are the elderly on fixed incomes, neighbors with disabilities and working families whose paycheck isn’t enough to cover the necessities. They serve over 1000 individuals (330 families) each month.
Hygiene Care Project - Good hygiene is another basic human need the WCFS focuses on. The Food Shelf rarely receive physical donations for hygiene products, which can be quite expensive. Hygiene products are bought from local stores out of financial donations given and are not products that they can purchase at a discount at the central Food Bank.
Walk-To-Shop Project - While our grant did not start this project, it did allow the WCFS to give out 20 more rolling trolley carts than before. Many of the WCFS clients have to walk to get food, including those who ride the bus and walk from the bus stop to get to their location. These carts enable people to get gallons of milk and other heavy items that they would otherwise either have to carry or couldn't get at all.
Our 2nd annual storytelling competition will be taking place on Saturday, February 8. This year's story theme is MAGIC.
Come prepared to share your true, original story--or come to listen and cheer on our storytellers! Everyone who joins will help us deliver the 'Magic of Rotary' in the form of home heating assistance for our neighbors.
Storytellers prepare a true 5-minute tale about themselves around the theme of magic: Have you experienced a magical moment? Ever been enchanted by your surroundings? Witnessed a supernatural event that you can’t explain? Do you wish for a magic wand? Do you enjoy performing magic tricks? Funny, sad, moving, life-changing--share your best take on magic in your life.
Our panel of judges will award the top three storytellers some terrific prizes. There may even be a surprise magic act!
JOIN US: Williston Central School Auditorium, Sat. February 8 - Doors open at 2:30 p.m. - Storytelling begins at 3:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $20 ticket includes refreshments. The Bill Skiff Story Slam is a fundraising event for the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club charities. Profits will support home heating fuel assistance for neighbors in need. To purchase advance tickets visit: https://sevendaystickets.com/events/bill-skiff-story-slam-2-8-2025
TELL YOUR STORY: For details on how to prepare to deliver a storyclick here.
On Dec. 19, economist Stephanie Yu, the executive director of the non-profit Public Assets Institute, gave us a preview of the group's 2024 State of Working Vermont report, which tries to get at the question of how Vermonters are doing by connecting larger economic and fiscal indicators, which can say very little about what people are actually experiencing, to the realities and lives of everyday Vermonters.
A sampling of the reports findings includes:
- Vermonter's out-of-pocket health care expenditures nearly doubled between 2004-2024.
- The number of unhoused Vermonters has more than tripled since before the pandemic.
- The poverty rate of those aged 65+ is increasing.
- Once the New England state with the highest minimum wage, Vermont now has the second lowest in the region.
Ondrej Mach, Head of Polio Research and Product Development for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, describes the dramatic impact Rotary's contributions have made toward conquering the disease. Area Rotary clubs were invited to meet leaders from the World Health Organization working in polio eradication when they visited researchers at UVM's Larner School of Medicine this month.
We all know that Polio is a highly infectious disease, mostly affecting young children, that attacks the nervous system and can lead to spinal and respiratory paralysis, and in some cases death. While Polio has been eradicated in the US in 1979, the goal of Rotary and the World Health Organization is to eradicate the disease worldwide.
In the late 1980s, it was identified that ending paralysis, the metric used for polio eradication up to this point was not enough, and a new metric of transmissibility was added. Some individuals can shed polio for up to 30 years.
Today, only 2 countries have wild polio – Pakistan and Afghanistan; particularly in areas where war lords keep us from administrating the vaccine to get to global eradication. 28 cases reported in Pakistan and 23 cases in Afghanistan. The end of wild polio is in site, but not yet obtainable.
Around 2010, it was found that OPV has one drawback – mutations leading to new cases of polio, primarily in Africa and parts of the Middle East. Research on nOPV2 started and is finishing the clinic trial stages.
For more than a decade, researchers have searched for a safer alternative. They secured emergency approval from the World Health Organization last November to begin distributing a new version of the vaccine that's more stable and less likely to mutate. Tens of millions of doses have been distributed.
But that vaccine targets only one of the three main polio strains, type 2, while versions targeting the other two strains are still being studied.
That's where UVM comes in. The university's Vaccine Testing Center recently launched a trial of type 1 and type 3 oral vaccines through a global effort funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It's one of only three such studies under way in the U.S. The other two are at Dartmouth University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There are no plans to launch nOPV versions for strains 1 and 3 in the near future, with potential development timelines estimated to be around 2025/2026 at the earliest due to ongoing research and regulatory processes involved.
On Dec. 12, we learned about the background of our newest member, Lisa Hamm. Lisa grew up in Houston and Atlanta and attended the University of Georgia, where she studied public accounting and met her husband. After achieving her CPA she moved into industry, where she pursued her interest in building businesses and collaborative teams. From there she has transitioned into consulting for private equity firms, where she typically works with founder-led businesses who get acquired, helping to navigate that transition. It was fascinating to hear about opportunities and challenges that come from managing the often competing goals of visionary, mission-driven founders and private equity investors seeking to maximize capital and cash out.
Lisa and her husband Jeremy moved from Georgia to Vermont a few years ago to enjoy a cooler climate and be closer to their adult children.
We had a wonderful time at our annual Jonathan Milne Senior Holiday Luncheon hosting area seniors for a turkey feast, a musical performance by Williston Central School's Veritones, and a visit from Santa who handed out poinsettias to lucky door prize winners.
Please visit our photo album to see more of the festivities.
At this year's community tree lighting in Williston's band stand on the Village Green, Dec. 8, club members carried on the tradition of providing the hot cocoa to keep the gathering full of cheer. The annual event organized by the Williston Federated Church drew a happy crowd who enjoyed the singing of the church's new children's choir and the newly fallen snow. Many thanks to Armand Fournier and Lesley Murray who cooked and served up copious amounts of cocoa, inventively using Armand's beer brewing equipment.
During the holidays, households generate more waste than usual. On Dec. 5, Gabriella Stevens, the business outreach coordinator for the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) shared tips on how to reduce what we use and throw away and how to properly recycle holiday-related materials. Among the things we learned:
- Non-working holiday lights can go into scrap metal recycling -- no need to worry about the plastic coating.
- Batteries are banned from the landfill, but may be recycled at most CSWD drop off centers.
- Not all wrapping paper is recyclable. If coated or made with foil, papers should go into the trash. Uncoated paper and tissue paper can be recycled in the blue bin.
High school students are invited to participate in Rotary's annual student speech contest with the potential to win up to $1750!
The contest is a great way to get experience writing and delivering a short, persuasive talk. Speeches are to be no longer than 5 minutes and may be read. They do not need to be memorized.
This year's speech theme is: How can a Rotary-School partnership increase respect?Increase respect, tolerance & understanding of one another.
Round one will take place on Thursday, January 16 at 7:30 a.m. in Williston.
Interested students aged 14-18 who live in the towns of Williston, Richmond and St. George can contact Barb LeWinter at lewinterb@yahoo.com.
On a trip a few months back, Barb and Mary LeWinter visited Vienna, Austria, and along the way, they met lawyer and Rotary member, Willibald Plesser. After finding common interests in Rotary, the arts, fundraising, and many other topics, the Barb and Marty invited Willi to be our Nov 21st speaker at our club over ZOOM. It is customary for those traveling to different Rotary clubs to swap flags with the host club, and the host club reciprocates. Above are the 2 clubs flags - each proudly displayed at club meetings.
Willi's topic was fundraising, which all Rotary clubs do to support community service events and charitable grant giving, but Willi's club of 65 members is really really successful, collecting over $100,000 euros ($100k USD) in some years, allowing the Modling Rotary club (founded in 1960) to fund some amazingly large community projects in learning and in health. Willi's comments highlighted some does and don'ts acquired by trial and error in recent years. The club is hugely appreciative of Willi for spending time with our Williston VT club, and now each club has a connection in the larger world for those in each club desiring to visit each other's country.
To learn more about the Modling Austria Rotary club, go to: https://moedling.rotary.at/de/ (and select English to translate if using Google)
To see and hear the Willi's talk with our Rotary club, go to: https://youtu.be/kUnC-V5rz5A on Williston Rotary's YouTube free channel
On Nov 14, Dr. Deborah Rubin, retired radiologist oncologist, now beekeeper, delighted our club with an understanding of honey bee biology and how we can improve gardening strategies to help all pollinators. Honey bees are one of the few bee species that create honey, and the only one that produces significant amounts of honey during the Spring and Summer. While bumble bees do create honey sporadically during the winter months, in very small amounts and only for a few days to feed the larvae, honey bees are truly unique. 20,000 other bee species and subspecies do not create honey. Beekeepers usually harvest honey in early fall, ensuring bees have enough honey stored for winter.
Dr. Deborah Rubin taught us so much about the amazing beings that are honeybees and she brought in honey to sample! Some things we learned: bees are considered farm animals, 1 teaspoon of honey is the lifetime work of a bee, honeybees have 5 eyes and can see UV light but not the red spectrum, flowers are negatively charged and bees carry a positive charge so the pollen is attracted onto the bee, theirs stings smell like bananas and the pheromone in them attracts more bees, they have 3 smell organs, and they communicate with pheromones and dancing! Hopefully we can have a part 2 to learn more about how we can help the bees.
What are you supporting when you give to the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club?
Our "By the Numbers 2023-24" poster offers a good picture of the impact and reach of our club, whether through service projects, grants, scholarships or community events.
He began his life in Jamaica, attended college in Montreal and found a place to call home when he arrived in Vermont for graduate study at St. Michael's College. Since then Patrick Brown has been deemed a Burlington "legendary local" for his many contributions to building community and advancing social justice in Vermont's Queen City.
On November 7 we were pleased to host Patrick Brown as our guest speaker to hear about his life's journey and the ways he has created connection and brought important voices to our area. His varied professional activities have included working for Digital Equipment Corp., opening and operating the Caribbean Corner restaurant, teaching courses at UVM and organizing for 32 years Burlington's Martin Luther King Day program. He has brought to Burlington a host of nationally recognized speakers, including Anita Hill, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Cicely Tyson. He has also served on the boards of Burlington College, the Fletcher Free Library and the Vermont State Board of Education. He is currently a trustee of St. Michael's College, from which he holds an honorary doctorate.
He encouraged us to remain focused on lifting up those in need, noting improvements don't just lie in the hands of government, but in the hands of all of us.
So much gratitude for Sherry Pidgeon and her amazing woodwork! Sherry has recently developed fine wood crafting skills and turns out beautiful wooden bowls, votive holders and cutting boards, among other special objects. On Nov. 2 she made her first craft fair appearance at the Williston Craft Fair, donating all her proceeds to our club's charitable fund. (Over $1800!) She certainly puts the Fun in FUNdraising!! And the Good in Woodworking!
In October we officially kicked off our annual charity fundraising drive for the 2024-25 year. We have our highest goal yet: $30,000 to support our community. Fundraising Committee Chair Chris Burns-DiBiasio got us excited to get out and share the great stories of the beneficial grants, events and service projects our club brings to our community each year, thanks to the generous support of local businesses and individuals.
On Oct. 31 club members Lesley Murray and Armand Fournier took us along on their trek in September and October to complete the Camino Francés, the most popular of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes. After attaining the pilgrimage goal of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, they carried on to the Atlantic coast, walking a total of 697 miles. They logged 15-23 miles over 7-9 hours each day.
Armand and Lesley were inspired to take on the joys and challenges of this famous walking route after viewing "The Way," a movie starring Martin Sheen. The film relates the experiences of a father who travels to Spain to retrieve the body of his son who died during a storm in the Pyrenees while attempting to make the pilgrimage. In his grief, and as homage to his son, the father decides to complete the walk with his son's ashes.
Lesley and Armand's journey this year began in Los Arcos, where they left off in 2022, having spent 6 days then hiking the first leg of the path in the Pyrenees. All along the way they represented the Rotary Club well, forming warm connections with many friendly residents and fellow pilgrims. We can just imagine all the fun conversations they had!
On the blustery afternoon of Sunday, October 27, we enjoyed our biggest turnout yet for the 4th annual Trunk or Treat hosted by our club, the Williston Federated Church and the Town of Williston. The new location in the parking lot of Williston's Village Community Park worked great.
Another Little Free Library has made its debut in St. George! Andy Mikell installed the structure provided by the town St. George atop a base contributed by the homeowner's association. Barb LeWinter ensured it was well stocked with an array of children's books to suit a range of interests.
On Oct 24th, Beth Wilson, Jenn Townley and Marla McQuiston from the Developmental Disabilities Housing Initiative were our guest speakers, and the trio gave a deeply moving discussion for the need of affordable housing for adult children with intellectual and/or developmental disability diagnosis (I/DD). Developmental Disabilities Housing Initiative (DDHI) is a Vermont parent-run volunteer advocacy group of over 100 parents; all with adult children with I/DD.
Act 186 for Pilot Planning was enacted in 2022 with initial funding of $500,000 to create plans for affordable housing needed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While a step forward, much more grant funding is needed to build and fill the void of needed affordable housing for these individuals.
Dress up and bring a bag or bucket! The W-R Rotary Club, Williston Federated Church, Williston's library and recreation department, are teaming up to put on fun Halloween displays and hand out loads of treats. The event is free and all are welcome!
Sunday, October 27, 2:30-4:00 p.m. Williston Village Community Park behind the WC School.
Veteran's Day Observance, Nov. 11
We gather to honor our veterans and their families, reflecting on their contributions and sacrifices to keep us safe and free.
Monday, November 11, 9 a.m. Light refreshments to follow. Williston's War Memorial Park (between Town Hall and the Town Hall Annex).
On the beautiful morning of Saturday, Oct. 19 club members planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs along the Rec Path in Village Community Park. The new bulbs will add more spring blossoms to the daffodils we planted a few years ago.
Pictured (l-r) are Rotarians Angela Arsenault, Charlie Magill, Andy Mikell, Marty LeWinter and Lisa Hamm.
Brendan Magill, grandson of club member Charlie Magill, spoke with us about his three experiences through hiking Vermont's Long Trail. He first tackled the challenge as a 14 year old, completing the length of the trail from north to south with his dad, Stephen. Going this direction, their toughest stretches were at the beginning. Brendan next solo hiked the trail when he was just 17. And in 2020, during the pandemic, he completed the trail "side by side," hiking all of the side trails that branch off from the Long Trail. This last was not a through hike, but a total of 38 separate days where he covered over 300 miles.
Brendan shared three key challenges in completing the LT:
Being wet
Staying motivated
The physical challenge of hiking so far over so many hours, days and weeks
Some things Brendan believes factored into his success:
Learning to be outside all of the time
Taking a measured approach with frequent breaks
Eating good food, including big, hot lunches
Knowing you have the ability to face your challenges, you can be responsible for yourself.
Today, Brendan lives in Maine where he works ski and bike patrol at Mt. Abram Ski Area and Bike Park.
Our guest speaker on Oct. 10 was Dave Carter, a retired attorney and longtime Rotarian, who spoke with us about his decades of service as a ski patroller in Vermont. Trained as an EMT, Dave has helped ensure safety on the slopes and assisted countless injured skiers in getting off the mountain and to the medical attention they need. In 68 years of skiing he has only had one injury himself. Best of all, he has developed lifelong friendships through ski patrolling.
On October 10 we were excited to officially welcome our newest club member, Lisa Hamm. Lisa, a consultant, and her husband moved to Williston a couple of years ago. She's excited to become involved in the community and we're very glad to have her join us!
Williston-Richmond Rotary Club member Lesley Murray shares why she chooses to be a Rotarian:
As a new resident of Williston, I joined the Rotary club to learn more about my new community and to become engaged in the many activities designed to benefit my community. This was the BEST decision I made as a new resident!
I continue to be involved with the Rotary club because of the activities that we engaged in, the things we learn through the speakers we have at meetings, and because the rotary club has become a second family to me!
I would invite a prospective member to join us for a couple of meetings to personally witness how engaging, friendly and fun the meetings and the members are!
To see what other members of our club have to say, visit our Member Voices page.
On September 26th, Debbie New provided a really fascinating presentation on geothermal energy (heat from the earth) in a down to earth way. "We don’t have to rely on importing fuels from out of state or install air source heat pumps in every building. We can add geothermal and other kinds of Thermal Energy Networks to our mix of solutions and benefit many of our communities."
Networked geothermal systems use water-filled pipes in closed loops underground to both heat and cool buildings in a neighborhood or town center.
Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) can also capture existing waste heat from building ventilation or wastewater and put it to use to heat or cool buildings in the network.
(Left) Mentee Lily Gates, then a sixth-grader at WCS, and her mentor Angie Thibault show off crafts they created together. (Right) Rotarian Chris Stewart enjoys a book with his mentee of several years ago.
One of the Williston-Richmond Rotary's longest standing causes has been supporting Williston Central School's Connecting Youth Mentoring program that pairs adult volunteer mentors with children who will benefit from a supportive relationship with an adult who is not a teacher, parent or guardian. Each year we purchase books for the program's library that fit a theme designated by the program's leadership. We also provide funds so that each student mentee can select books of their own to keep. In the past, our club has also supported an annual celebration that includes mentors, mentees and their families. In recent years, we've purchased tickets for mentees to enjoy a Lake Monster's baseball game.
Mentoring has proven to have measurable benefits to students across academic, social/emotional and family dynamics. And mentors benefit, too, reporting the value of the friendships and perspectives they gain through sharing time with their mentees. Many of our club members have and continue to serve as mentors in the program.
To read more about Connecting Youth Mentoring and learn about volunteering, visit:
The Rotary values expressed in the Four-Way Test and our motto of Service Above Self are universal and helpful in approaching any aspect of one's life. The Rotary Club of Fairborn, Ohio has developed two apple-themed children's books to bring these ideas to early readers, children in grades 1-3.
Barb LeWinter, chair of our Youth & Literacy Committee, arranged for our club to donate the books to the public libraries in Williston and Richmond, as well as to the Allen Brook and Richmond Elementary Schools. Hopefully we'll plant a seed of interest in some potential Rotarians of the future!
The Four-Way Test —Of the things we think, say, or do:
We had special guests at our September 19 meeting when Jennifer Vaughan and Stella Richards, handlers for New England K9 Search and Rescue, visited us with their dogs, golden retriever Harley and German shepherd Mookie.
The mission of NE K9 Search and Rescue is to provide, without cost, trained search and rescue personnel and K9s to the law enforcement agencies of Vermont and New Hampshire to assist in their efforts to locate lost and missing persons. Last year the group performed 38 searches in Vermont and 18 in New Hampshire.
Dogs and handlers go through 1-2 years of wilderness air scent training in hopes of qualifying to be part of the service, with only about 50% achieving certification. To succeed requires from the dogs not only the ability to learn, but also the temperament and drive to work for 4-5 hour stretches at a time. Team members bear all costs for their initial and ongoing training and are on call for whenever a need for their service arises.
Jennifer, a Williston resident, has been a member of the service since 2015. Harley is her second certified canine. Stella and Mookie, from Stowe, joined in 2022. The two teams practice twice per week together. After our meeting they were headed off for some water training.
We were extremely impressed with their selfless dedication and skill in providing this critical public service.
What is now called UVM Home Health and Hospice has been serving Vermonters since 1906. On September 23 our speaker was Maya Fehrs, director of development for the organization that serves over 4000 people each year and which became affiliated with UVM seven years ago. The staff of 1000 employees and hundreds of well-trained volunteers provide direct care based on patients' own goals, allowing the involvement of family members and the ability for people to stay in their own homes comfortably and safely. In Colchester they also manage the McClure Miller Respite House, which previously operated in Williston.
Among the many benefits of the services they provide are helping keep people from ending up back in the hospital after being released. Their palliative care helps keep people from needing to turn to assisted living and nursing homes, where there is limited capacity and unfamiliar surroundings.
We welcomed this year's District 7850 Governor Kelly Drew to our meeting on September 5 for an uplifting talk befitting this year's Rotary International theme: The Magic of Rotary. Kelly, a 3rd generation Rotarian, hails from North Conway, New Hampshire and has been a member for 33 years. She encouraged us to embrace change (Rotary is a living, evolving organization!), to find ways to include youth in our projects and fundraising efforts, and to help people learn about Rotary by speaking from the heart, from our own experiences. For Kelly, Rotary has been more than an impactful nonprofit service organization, but also a family that has supported her.
Pictured above are current Williston-Richmond Rotary Club President Dr. Elizabeth Davidson, District Governor Kelly Drew, and Assistant District Governor and Williston-Richmond Rotary Club member Charlie Magill.
To see and hear Kelly's talk with our Rotary club, go to: https://youtu.be/k8-HorZjkjo
District Governor Kelly Drew: Speak from your heart
After installing the post and building a platform to house a Little Free Library in St. George, Williston-Richmond Rotarian Chris Stewart is seen perusing the library's inventory. The library is located near the entrance to old (relocated) schoolhouse in downtown St. George.
The Town of St. George provided the library and Chris Stewart performed the construction work. He was very well supervised (okay, watched like a hawk) by fellow Rotarian Andy Mikell. The project came to the club from Amanda Vincent who, by day, is the St. George Town Clerk and who, otherwise, is the Co-President of the Charlotte/Shelburne/Hinesburg Rotary Club.
Having supported the placement and maintenance of several Little Free Libraries in Williston, our club was delighted to have the opportunity to boost community literacy in St. George, as well!
Our club got busy this summer sprucing up the benches we've placed and maintain around town. Members had fun pairing up and trying to make sure more paint and stain ended up on the benches than on themselves. Thanks to Walter Nardelli for making the work so efficient by pre-sanding all the benches and organizing the materials and teams to get the job done!
Grace Gray, CSA director at Jericho Settlers Farm, shared her talk "Reimagining Food Systems" with us on August 29. She discussed the large and growing number of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in the US and the negative environmental, health and economic outcomes associated with them. We learned about a range of alternatives from regenerative agriculture practices to cultivated meat that have the potential to better support human and animal rights, as well as the environment.
Grace will soon be entering a master's degree program in Sustainable Food Policy at the American University in Rome.
September is the time Rotary plants daffodils in the community. Members and non-members can participate planting by reaching out to our Charlie Magill at cmagillvt@aol.com.
We're excited about getting a group of Williston-Richmond Rotary members to attend the Rotary International Convention next summer! This will be held June 21 to 25, 2025 in downtown Calgary, Canada. Registration for the multiple day event is open now, and for club members over age 31 the fee is $525 if you register before Dec 15th of this year. The link to find out more info and to register is: https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/registration.
Our group has selected the Royal Hotel Calgary as our home base, checking in on Sat, June 21 and checking out on Thurs, June 26. The double occupancy cost per room is $195.77, or approximately US $98 per person per night ($489 for the entire stay of 5 nights). Please make your own reservation at this hotel, but go through the Rotary registration system: https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/registration/housing.
We encourage you to do this as soon as possible, as rooms seem to be going fast. We'll give you info about transportation to Calgary at a later time. If you have any questions, contact Debbie at 802-310-4625 or ingramdeb@comcast.net. This should be a super fun time, so please join us!
Join us at the 2025 Rotary International Convention!
Our club has a long history of awarding post-secondary education grants to students, as well as scholarships that cover the cost of the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy for rising high school juniors. This year we supported CVU student Maddie Morris as she pursued a different sort of educational experience, the Tufts Summit Program in Talloires, France. On August 22, Maddie offered us a presentation about her month-long experience in the beautiful alpine town that included intensive French language learning, a college-level class in International Relations and a trip to Geneva, Switzerland. She shared with us her busy weekly schedule of classes and excursions, including French lessons that built conversation and listening skills, as well as educating students on the culture, history and geography of the region. Living with a warm and fun French family who speak no English added to the challenge and enjoyment Maddie experienced. The International Relations (IR) class included lectures and simulations where the students learned three theories of IR—realism (offensive and defensive), constructivism, and liberalism—and used them to understand the origins of World War II, as well as the current Russian war in Ukraine.
We are impressed with Maddie's commitment to learning and her outstanding presentation skills and happy to have helped someone who embodies Rotary's commitment to building friendship and understanding across national boundaries. We are also so very excited that she has agreed to serve as an ambassador for the Williston-Richmond Rotary club at CVU high school, helping us spread the word about scholarship opportunities, RYLA and Rotary's annual speech contest.
John Thomas, development director for the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, joined us on August 15 to provide an overview of the vast array of resources the organization makes available to people who are blind or visually impaired to be more independent, cultivate adaptive skills and improve their quality of life. Services are provided free of charge, customized to the needs of each person and available to all residents of the state regardless of where they live. Programs include "talking books," a summer camp for kids with impaired vision, tactile aids installed in homes to help with tasks of daily living, and a SMART (Speech, Magnification, Access, Reading, Telecommunications) Device Training Program.
The organization is hosting an exciting fundraiser on Saturday, September 14: Dancing with the Burlington Stars. Like the TV program on which it is based, the event pairs professional dancers with area amateurs who will compete for the dance title. The duos practice for 17 weeks to prepare their performances. The event also features guest appearances by dance groups and past contest winners. To purchase a ticket, visit: https://www.flynnvt.org/Events/2024/9/dancing-w-the-burlington-stars.
Offering support -- and dancing -- for the visually impaired
On August 8th, our club held it's Quarterly Business Meeting. During this meeting, there were no outside speakers, but instead, Committee Chairs have the opportunity to update fellow members on current and future activities and actions.
If you are a member and missed this meeting, or a non-member and curious about our Committees, activities and event, check out the meeting on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9lfDcn-9F8E
Two students we sponsored to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) in June joined us at our meeting on August 1. Both rising juniors, Chloe Ngu and Clay Nicholson, found the weekend fast-paced, fun and educational. We learned they quickly formed new friendships and learned about themselves through the engaging and enlightening activities over the course of the weekend.
Chloe has plans to start a new club focused on mental health when she returns to CVU this fall. She attended RYLA aiming to develop her leadership and speaking skills and thinks what she learned about her own and others' leadership styles will help her as she forms a new group from the ground up. Clay enjoyed the team efforts which ranged from assembling meals to feed the hungry to putting together a talent show act in just two hours with an assortment of instruments and musicians who had never played together. Both found their fellow participants to be friendly and encouraging and each expressed interest in serving as counselors for next year's RYLA.
What should Williston be like in 2050? What should the Town’s priorities be to achieve that vision? In the Fall of 2023, the Williston town leaders invited all community members – residents, workers, property or business owners, and visitors – to share ideas for the new Town Plan. On July 25, 2024, Matt Boulanger, Williston Town Planner, provided insight on the released Engagement Report, and gave our club the opportunity to ask questions.
To read about the Williston 2050 Engagement Report, go to: https://www.williston2050.com/engagement-report
To see and hear Matt's talk with our Rotary club, go to: https://youtu.be/4yp1pB7_WDE
Cristalee McSweeney (center), executive director of the Williston Community Justice Center, accepts a donation from Williston-Richmond Rotarians Lesley Murray and Armand Fournier.
The Williston Community Justice Center (WCJC) is committed to promoting and advancing the safety and wellbeing of our communities by providing resources for positive change, striving to dismantle patterns of racial and economic disparity, and seeking to repair damaged relationships through restorative practices tailored to meet the unique needs of impacted and responsible parties. In the course of their work, the center frequently finds the people they interact with have urgent needs that must be addressed.
Our club's final $1000 grant for the 2023-24 fiscal year will help fund the WCJC's Community Covers program that provides emergency shelter supplies such as bivy bags, sleeping bags and tents for those who are experiencing homelessness and who do not meet the state criteria for emergency shelter or housing.
Providing resources for those experiencing homelessness
Our guest speaker on July 18 was Tricia Coates, director of UVM’s Office of Engagement and the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. Her office facilitates connections between UVM and Vermont organizations, businesses, and agencies to support the economy and communities. Among the many diverse projects where faculty and students bring value throughout the state are the piloting of a community school model in five schools; a research project in Windham County with the Ethiopian Community Development Council, a refugee resettlement organization; and the development of a map of wastewater capacity by parcel throughout the state to guide municipalities and developers. Under the office's umbrella is also the Community News Service, a program that provides UVM students with opportunities to engage in journalism while supporting local newspapers and expanding reporting throughout the state.
Tricia has a special connection to the Williston-Richmond Rotary club as her father, Mike Coates, was a founding member and beloved friend of many in the club.
To read about the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, go to: https://www.uvm.edu/ruralpartnerships
To see and hear Tricia's talk with our Rotary club, go to: https://youtu.be/TxmT3HJ9XQI
Mary Joy Patchett, executive director of the Richmond Food Shelf & Thrift Store, receives our club's donation check from Vince Conte, Grants & Donations Committee chair.
To close out the 2023-24 Rotary year that ended on June 30, the club made a series of grants to local nonprofits with a focus on programs that provide immediate benefits to community members. One such recipient of a $1000 grant is the Richmond Food Shelf's GOT MILK program that provides vouchers to clients to purchase milk and cheese from the Richmond Market. Because the food shelf has limited refrigerator capacity, this collaboration with Richmond Market offers a way to expand the range of nutritious food that can be offered to households. You can learn more about the organization here: https://www.richmondfoodshelfvt.org/.
Thomas Renner is the Deputy Mayor of Winooski and previously served the community on the Safe, Healthy Connected People Commission. He is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in the August Democratic primary. On July 11th, Thomas came to Rotary and discussed the challenges he sees for Vermonter's today.
To read about Thomas's vision for Vermont, go to: https://www.thomasforvermont.com/vision
To see and hear his talk with our Rotary club, go to: https://youtu.be/C6qW6h6f9J4
DISCLAIMER: Rotary is an apolitical organization, and has provided candidates of all political affiliations equal time to speak at our club's meeting.
Volunteers Jennifer Selah and Betsy Johnson from the Williston Community Food Shelf accept three grant checks from Rotarians Charlie Magill, Sherry Pidgeon and Vince Conte.
The Williston Community Food Shelf, first open in fall 2008, has grown into more than a source of nutritional support for community members, but also a hub to address a wide range of needs. Many of our Rotary club members have and continue to serve as volunteers and regular donors to this vital community resource. This year our club was able to step up our monetary support through the provision of three $1000 grants from our 2023-24 charitable budget.
One of these grants will fund the purchase of personal hygiene products, items that are less frequently donated to the food shelf. These include laundry detergent, toilet paper, soap, deodorant, women’s hygiene products, toothpaste and toothbrushes, etc.
A second grant will allow for the purchase of pet care products to expand the support for cats and dogs who are members of the families served by the food shelf.
The third grant will fund the purchase of 20 large trolley carts to provide to homeless customers and people who have to walk to get their food, including people who ride the bus, but have to walk from the bus stop to get to the food shelf location. The durable trolleys are made of a canvas-like fabric and enable people to transport gallons of milk and other heavy items that they would otherwise either have to carry or couldn't get at all. Food shelf clients who have received one love them and use them regularly.
As the community's reliance on the food shelf has increased this year, our club is glad to be able to expand our support for their important work.
Helping Williston's food shelf address a range of needs
Lisa Bilowith, director of the Jean Garvin School, and Rotary member Chris Burns-DiBiasio stand beside the "Little Free Pantry," which was the beneficiary of a $1000 grant recently awarded by our Williston-Richmond Rotary Club.
The Jean Garvin School in Williston maintains the free standing “Little Free Pantry” stocked with food donations. It was built two years ago by a student who needed to make reparations for some choices he had made.
Operated by the Howard Center, the Jean Garvin School is a therapeutic education program for adolescents aged 12-18. The goal of the program is to provide a safe educational and therapeutic environment that helps students achieve success in school, the community and at home. Students spend time each day learning strategies necessary for improved mental health and wellbeing. The school offers core academic classes.
Families of students impacted by food scarcity and residents living in the Champlain Housing Trust apartments in Finney Crossing (Zephyr Place) are the most frequent users. The school has seen an increase in use and the pantry often runs out of food.
The grant provided by our club will help augment donations to stock the pantry with additional food and hygiene supplies.
Runners and walkers of all ages turned out for this year's 5K honoring the memory of beloved Town Clerk and Rotary member Deb Beckett. The event was enhanced again this year by kicking off with shorter Kids Runs plus a visit from the Lake Monster's mascot Champ. Many thanks to all who participated, volunteered and donated to make this a successful and fun event.
Blue skies and warm sunshine made for the perfect Independence Day parade morning. Our float featured the beautiful Rotary International wheel built by Chris Stewart last year along with signs promoting a couple of our signature community events: the Easter Parade & Egg Hunt and the Halloween Trunk or Treat. The Easter Bunny, to the delight of children along the route, rode on the float that Chris pulled behind his tractor. Club members marched behind carrying "Community Service" signs that highlight some of our many causes and service projects. What a great day to join our neighbors in celebration of our freedom and connection!
The 2024–2025 presidential theme for Rotary International is "The Magic of Rotary," which emphasizes the transformative power of Rotary's work in communities around the world. The theme's message is that through Rotary's service, dedication, and collaboration, incredible things can be achieved to make the world a better place.
Transformative power of Rotary's work in communities
On June 27th, Chris Burns-DiBiasio gave us a glimpse into her life journey as Ohio Northern University’s director of community relations, her various Board of Directors positions, her fundraising experiences, her 11+ years of Rotary service in OH and VT, and her endless drive to strengthen communities.
Each new Rotary member or transferee is asked to give a "classification talk" after they have been in our Club for 1 - 12 months. We are assigned a classification when we joined relating to our profession and position, and the classification talks gives us a chance to tell members about ourselves and our life journey.
Link to the Chris Burns-DiBiasio's classification talks / YouTube video: https://youtu.be/ZRB1VDcjNzI
2024-25 W-R Rotary VP Chris Burns-DiBiasio shares her experiences
The 2023-2024 Williston-Richmond Rotary Club's charitable fund drive is nearing its end and we need your help!
Every spring we raise money to direct to a host of community needs and service projects: home heating assistance, building wheelchair ramps, the annual senior holiday luncheon, literacy and mentoring projects, youth scholarships and leadership training, providing and maintaining public park benches, and more.
Each donation, combined with the volunteer power of our Rotarians, has a profound impact on the lives of our community members.
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals we are 87% to our goal. Help us get the rest of the way! The funds we receive go back into OUR community.
Areas that we gave back to the community in 2023-2024: 30% Heating Assistance 25% Scholarships-Youth 25% Food Insecurity 10% Seniors 5% Homelessness 5% General Community Projects
You can help strengthen your community by mailing a check to Williston Rotary Club Charities, PO Box 114, Williston, VT 05495. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and your donation is allowed for a tax write-off.
Williston-Richmond Rotary has been selected as the beneficiary of the Williston Hannaford's Community Bag Program for July 2024! For each strong, reusable bag you purchase, our charitable fund will receive $1. Help us make the dollars add up fast!
Education & Enrichment for Everyone (EEE) is a lifelong learning organization that offers weekly lectures on interesting and diverse topics. Carol Hinkle, President of Education Enrichment for Everyone, was our guest speaker on June 20th, and the array of fascinating lectures from the 2023-Spring 2024 session was impressive.
Are you interested in a lecture on The Great Vermont Flood of 2023? How about Artificial Intelligence (AI)? The Middle East? Or maybe The Underwater Archaeology of Lake Champlain. So many varied topics to choose from that is is truly Education Enrichment for Everyone.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Carol Hinkle and Linda Sparks: https://youtu.be/xsQdDMfzrCY
Link to Education Enrichment for Everyone's website: https://eeevermont.org/
Lifelong learning lecture series alive and filling interests of our community
As we approach the end of June each Rotary year, we hold our Changeover event where we celebrate the service and accomplishments of the past 12 months and vote in our new slate of officers. On June 13, we gathered at the Isham Farm Barn to thank outgoing club President Susan Cote, Secretary Phil Stevens and Treasurer Jeanne Albertson. They have been terrific stewards of the club's resources and helped keep us organized and effective. We're grateful for their leadership! Susan also thanked committee chairs Sherry Pidgeon, Vince Conte, Lesley Murray, Andy Mikell, Chris Burns-DiBiasio, Barb LeWinter and Marty LeWinter for their outstanding contributions.
Our members welcomed incoming officers President Elizabeth Davidson, Secretary Sherry Pidgeon and Treasurer Andy Mikell, as well as President-Elect Vince Conte and Vice President Chris Burns-DiBiasio.
Additional highlights of the evening included:
The presentation of a grant of $6542.12 to Matt Cota of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association for the Split the Ticket home heating fuel assistance program, an annual recipient of our club's charitable giving. We were thrilled to greatly increase our donation this year due to our successful Bill Skiff Story Slam event and improved community fundraising results.
Two generous recognitions through donations to the Rotary Foundation:
A Paul Harris Fellowship award graciously given by Armand Fournier and Lesley Murray to Susan Cote.
A special Rotary International acknowledgement to the staff and owners of the Williston Observer recognizing the weekly paper's importance as a trusted local news and community resource, magnanimously given by Barb LeWinter.
Many thanks to Farmer Mike Isham, Helen Weston, Dana Kamencik and Devon Lawler for the use of their beautiful event barn. Be sure to enjoy the photo album of our special evening!
No one in our community deserves thanks more than the folks who work at our schools. On the last week of school we delivered 234 handwritten notes, one for each of the hardworking members of Allen Brook and Williston Central Schools staff, thanking them for their dedication and skill supporting the learning of the children in our community. As part of the project we held a thank you note creation and writing session with residents at Williston Place Independent Senior Living. That was a lot of fun and a big help!
On June 6 were pleased to hear an update from Becky Martell, coordinator of the WCS Connecting Youth Mentoring Program, this program that's been a long-running focus of our club's efforts and charitable giving. Becky brought with her a mentor, Lindsey Bloxham-Fisher, and her mentee, Ayla Gates. After Becky provided an overview of the program and its positive impact on both students and adults, Lindsey and Ayla spoke about how they enjoy and benefit from their time spent together.
Mentors and mentees can spend their weekly hour together however they want. Many pairs enjoy crafts, bake cookies, play games or just talk. Mentors don't need to prepare anything, just be a trusted adult who is there to listen and have fun. Measured positive results from mentoring include: Improved school attendance, stronger social and communication skills, and higher self-confidence and self-esteem.
Becky noted that 59 pairs participated this year and there is demand for more mentors to volunteer. She would welcome inquiries from anyone who would like to learn more about becoming a mentor.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Becky Martell: https://youtu.be/7vSq8X08tms
On May 30 our guest speaker was Chris Donnelly, communications director for Champlain Housing Trust. A community land trust, CHT works within Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties to address housing safety, security and mobility. Focus areas of their work include homelessness, rental housing and home ownership.
Among the many examples of their work that Chris shared are forgivable loans to farmers to improve the quality of farmworker housing, the purchase and conversion of motels into affordable apartments, providing supportive housing for those escaping domestic violence, and partnering with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity to help families achieve homeownership. In Williston, CHT converted the former Marriott Townplace Suites on Zephyr Rd. into 72 apartments, 38 of which are designated for people exiting homelessness. At this location supports include social workers who can connect residents to needed services, as well as access to Turning Point substance use programs.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Chris Donnelly: https://youtu.be/daDFPSDPTuw
Link to Champlain Housing Trust's website: https://www.getahome.org/
Building Bright Futures (BBF) is a nonprofit organization working to improve the well-being of young children and families in Vermont. They do this by monitoring Vermont’s early care, health, and education systems while advising the Governor, Administration, and Legislature on policy improvements.
Ali Dieng, BBF Regional Manager for Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle, gave an aspiring presentation to our Rotary club, providing the vision and projects for early child care in our area. Building Bright Futures (BBF) played a key role as the primary advisor to the Vermont Legislature on early childhood this 2023-2024 General Assembly again, and more detail on their impact can be found at the BBF website.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Ali Dieng: https://youtu.be/nd-xrsF5nnE
Link to Building Bright Futures' website: https://buildingbrightfutures.org/
Come join the fun and help contribute to a healthy and happy community!
The 2024 Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run & Walk takes place on Saturday, July 6 at Williston's Village Community Park. Runners and walkers of all levels are welcome. We'll be having a visit from Champ of the Vermont Lake Monsters to cheer our athletes on!
For full details and to pre-register for the 5K Run/Walk visit the Williston Recreation and Parks website HERE. Those who pre-register are guaranteed a race t-shirt and souvenir water bottle. The deadline for pre-registration is June 16, 2024. Same-day registration will also be available.
Kids Run: This year will also feature both a ½ mile and a 1-mile Kids Runs for children 4-12 years of age. Children may opt to participate in the 5K run/ walk or either of the Kids' Runs. There are no fees or pre-registration for the Kids’ Runs. An adult must accompany each participant to the race site and sign a registration form. The accompanying adult is welcome but not required to run with their child or children. Arrangements have been made for adults to run with and supervise the kids. Children should arrive for registration by 7:15 am for the 7:45 am start for the ½ mile and the 8:00 am start for the 1 mile.
Check-in for all walks or runs open at 7:00 AM. Please check in as early as possible. There will be signage from Williston Road to the registration/start area.
The annual Deb Beckett Memorial 5K honors a beloved Rotary and Williston community member who served for many years as Town Clerk and Treasurer, as well as serving her country in the Vermont National Guard. The annual event takes place each Independence Day weekend as part of the festivities in the town of Williston, which is fitting as Deb had so much enthusiasm for celebrations on the 4th. Importantly, the event also serves to raise funds for crucial community grants that support home heating fuel assistance, child mentoring, reading, scholarships and more.
The Williston/Richmond Rotary Club is hosting our 3rd annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday May 27, 2024 at 9:00 AM. This event will be held in the War Memorial Park in Williston which is adjacent to the Town offices.
We welcome the community to join us as we honor the veterans who have paid the ultimate price for our safety and freedom. The program will include “occasion appropriate” music, inspiration from club and community members as well as verbal recognition of deceased veterans from our community and veterans who are honored with an engraved brick on the patio of War Memorial Park.
Light refreshments will follow and attendees will be provided with information about how they can honor veterans in their lives with an engraved brick with the option of having the brick installed in the park.
We look forward to sharing this important acknowledgement with our community!
Generous donations from businesses and individuals have gotten us to 75% of our goal of raising $22,000 during our charity drive!
We thank our leading business donors who have given so far during this year's drive, including Engineers Construction (ECI), New England Air Systems, Vermont Home & Marine, CRW and BEVS.
There's still time to help us reach our goal and help us support the needs of children, seniors and others in our community. We'll be sure to put your donations to good use and to let our community know of your caring generosity. Donate here!
Ben Kinnaman, CEO and founder of Greensea IQ, an ocean robotics company, was our guest speaker on May 16. He shared with us his life story to date, which includes the meaningful support he received from a Rotary Club in his town when as a young man he and his mom wondered how he could ever afford to pay for college. A scholarship from that group helped him get on a path to finding a way to make it work.
Today Ben, a serial entrepreneur, heads a leading ocean technology company based in Richmond with a mission to make the world better. They have created software and hardware that has revolutionized the detection and removal of sea mines, dangerous explosive devices that have been deployed in the many thousands in waters around the globe, often harming innocents. Their innovation has also tackled the problem of vessel biofouling, when organic matter builds up on the hulls of ships creating greater drag as they move through the water rendering them less efficient. Ships that deploy their hull cleaning robots have reduced fossil fuel usage by 15%. The company estimates that this year the technology will have prevented 150 metric tons of carbon from being released into the atmosphere.
It's inspiring to learn of the groundbreaking work being done here within our own community that has such a positive global impact.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Ben Kinnaman: https://youtu.be/pMdfLNxZxzw
Gretchen Owens, Executive Director and founding member of EDD Adaptive Sports in Vermont, has dedicated over 25 years to EDD programs encourage people with disabilities to get out and play. EDD Adaptive Sports is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating sports programs for athletes with disabilities, and is named EDD is memory of her brother, Eric D Dettenrieder. Their goal is for people with disabilities to experience freedom, independence and adventure through participation in sports.
Gretchen's heartwarming presentation touches on the lives positively affected for over 170 disabled athletes in VT and NY state. While starting out focused on skiing in the early days, the programs have expanded to basketball, soccer, kickball, running, pickleball and yoga.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Gretchen Owens: https://youtu.be/T6Gs1fvEB7E
Creating sports programs for athletes with disabilities
We had good cleaning-up fun on Green Up Day and the Williston Town Fair on May 4. Our team of about a dozen volunteers picked up 16+ bags of trash around Marshall Ave. and Harvest Ln., contributing to the overall haul of nearly 5000 lbs. of trash collected in Williston on Green Up Day 2024.
At the Williston Town Fair on the Village Green we gave away about 100 plants and had lots of friendly conversations with our neighbors. We even heard stories of how well some of the plants we gave away last year were doing.
On May 2, two of our club members were awarded well-deserved Paul Harris Fellowships:
Andrew Becher was honored by Chris Stewart, who thanked Andrew for his friendship and support over the years and for getting him involved in Rotary.
Chris Stewart was honored by Sherry Pidgeon who wanted to recognize Chris for his huge contributions to the efforts of the club and to community members.
Andrew and Chris have given countless hours and energy to serving our community. We are grateful to them and so happy to recognize their longstanding commitment, generosity and friendship.
Karen Peterson, Seacology, provided a highly interesting presentation to our club, with breathtaking imagery telling her journey and successful island protecting projects. Seacology (www.seacology.org) is a Berkeley, CA-based nonprofit organization that works only on the world’s islands, because they are uniquely vulnerable. In the last 500 years, 80 percent of all recorded extinctions have occurred on islands. Island communities face constant pressure to exploit their natural resources. But if a community wants to preserve its forest or sea, Seacology makes a grant for something the whole community needs, like a school, solar power, or help with ecotourism. Seacology helps island communities prosper by protecting resources – not exploiting them.
Karen’s presentation include success stories on the Dominican Republic National Mangrove Initiative and work in Africa and Sri Lanka, as well as Guatemala and El Salvador.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Karen Peterson: https://youtu.be/NxDOH4PwovY
One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary "4-Way Test." It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago based Club Aluminum Company, which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy.
Herb Taylor became president of Rotary International during 1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.
"Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
When a local family receives help with home heating, a child gets to choose a book of their own to take home, a promising high school student builds confidence at a Rotary youth leadership weekend, and a senior citizen enjoys a delicious holiday lunch it is because of contributions made by generous area businesses and individuals.
Each year our club raises funds to support our service work and charitable grants through events and an annual charity drive that runs from March through June. This year our goal is to top $22,000 and we are more than a third of the way there!
We hope you will consider supporting our work in the community. To read more about the causes the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club's charity fund supports, and to donate online, visit our Donate page.
If you have questions, please feel free to email us at RotaryClubofWillistonVT@gmail.com. We'd love to connect with you!
On April 18 club member Jeanne Kennedy spoke to us about her long and interesting career as a lobbyist at Vermont's State House. After serving for a time in the state legislature, Jeanne embarked on a multi-decade career as a one-person lobbying firm, advocating for her clients' interests with legislators, administration officials, agencies and boards. As a lobbyist, she worked to make sure her clients' voices were heard in order to influence legislation, administrative rules and actions. By being a resource, providing accurate information and always following through on commitments, a lobbyist can be effective for clients and respected by those with whom they interact in government. We learned a great deal from her talk!
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Jeanne Kennedy: https://youtu.be/Ks0e8jeM3Jo
Pickling is Carter's passion, and he shared his wonderful journey and his gardens with us through photos on April 11th.
Carter Smith is the owner and operator of Williston Village Farm. He farms on an acre of land behind the 1838 farmhouse -- on 2A in the village of Williston. The parcel includes a barn, a greenhouse and 20 raised beds where he grows vegetables for pickling. Williston Village Farms is also a mainstay at the Isham farmer's markets in the summer and fall, and those who have met him there know he if famous for his Dilly Beans, but he does so much more including beets, salsa verde, corn relish, and sweet and dill pickles.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with Carter Smith: https://youtu.be/AdY26kNlf0Y
Could be our biggest turn out yet for the annual Bill Mikell Easter Egg Parade and Egg Hunt! It was a chilly morning but we had no rain so lots of families, plus the Williston Fire and Police departments, joined the fun. Thanks to Andy Mikell for doing a wonderful job organizing and providing treats -- and to all who contributed baskets and/or their time to make the event a big success.
Whenever a new Habitat for Humanity house is built, it's about building capital as well as stability for the family who will end up calling it home. Homeownership remains one of the most effective ways for Americans to build wealth, explained David Mullin, CEO of Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, when he spoke to our club on March 21. Some of that potential equity comes from the "sweat equity" contributed by the recipient families themselves, who each help build the homes they will occupy.
The organization is currently managing to build 5-6 energy efficient homes per year and aims to increase that to 10 per year. Retail sales through their three Habitat ReStore locations provides much of the needed funding. The Williston store alone raises enough to support the construction of two houses per year.
Williston-Richmond Rotary Club members Charlie Magill and Dave Ericson currently serve on the board of the GMHH. David Mullin is a past president of the club.
Link to the Rotary YouTube video with David Mullins: https://youtu.be/F6NKXgBroYE
On March 14 we held our weekly breakfast meeting in the beautiful community room at the Richmond Free Library. Hosting us was Youth Director Wendy de Forest, who shared the history of the library and the building, once a church and then part of a school, that it has inhabited since 1991. She explained how the library's collections have evolved over time as various technologies have waxed and waned -- and recently as the restrictions of the COVID pandemic prompted the adoption of new ways to engage and support the community. Wendy shared specific children's resources that our club's recent monetary donation, arranged by Barb LeWinter, have helped fund. These include VOX books with built-in audio to accompany the printed picture book pages. We also learned about Play Away books, STEAM kits, Launch Pads, and Storytime Bags -- all wonderful resources that augment the collection of books featured in two youth-focused rooms on the second floor of the library.
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/GMffcUoTXdI
The Grants and Donation Committee received a compelling request to provide $500 funding to the Big Beautiful Life Adventure Chair Program. Big Beautiful Life's Adventure Chair Program makes hiking a trail, getting down to the water’s edge on a sandy beach (and then floating in the water) possible. BBL will donate a $4400 Adventure Chair to Partners in Adventure, which will heavily utilize it in its existing programs and create a lending program to our community members who are significantly physically disabled. In February, Williston-Richmond Rotary approved the $500 donation.
Partners In Adventure provides camps and year-round social and recreation programs partnering disabled teens with non-disabled peers in northern Vermont. PIA offer individuals opportunities to be included as participants in their communities, to enjoy enriching experiences adapted to their specific needs and to learn about tolerance and diversity. Partners in Adventure is an Essex non-profit, and operates out of the Williston Federated Church.
Link to the Big Beautiful Life Adventure Program: https://givebutter.com/KVoNAZ
Link to Partners in Adventure: https://www.partnersinadventure.org/about/
Link to the Extreme Motus Chair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjbYjZePACE&t=1s
Adventure Chair donation given providing rough terrain access
Dr. Steven Shepard is the founder of the Shepard Communications Group in Williston, Vermont. A professional author, photographer, audio producer and educator with more than 40 years of experience in the technology industry, he has written books and articles on a wide variety of topics.
Stephen spoke to Williston-Richmond Rotary on the benefits and concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Social Media, involved the club with thought-provoking scenarios, and entertained the club immensely. Unfortunately, the Internet of Things did not let us record the event, but I've posted a previous Dr. Shepard YouTube video and his webpage. So interesting - check him out!!
Link to 2016 YouTube Internet-of-Things video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xKfzc1CYR8
Link to Dr. Shepard's webpage: https://steven-shepard.com/
Well over $2000 was raised to support home heating assistance at the club's first-ever Bill Skiff Story Slam, an open mic storytelling event held on Saturday, Feb. 10. Named in honor of club founder and first president Bill Skiff, the event attracted a full house who enjoyed stories on the night's theme of hope, along with many fond and funny remembrances of good times with Bill. Members of Bill's family were in attendance and, since he was unable to join us, daughter Nan shared one of his stories with the crowd.
Judges Sara Byers, Sarah Hibbeler and Bill Schubart chose Paula Cope as 1st place winner, Chris Stewart as 2nd place and Charlie Magill as 3rd place winner for sharing their moving personal stories of hope.
Representing home heating fuel assistance nonprofit Split the Ticket, Matt Cota shared the inspiring story of its founding and how gifts of fuel have touched the lives of Vermonters going through hard times. The Williston-Richmond Rotary club was instrumental in getting the program off the ground in 2007 and has contributed to it every year since.
Check out our photo album to see all the fun we had preparing for and enjoying the event.
Link to the Bill Skiff Story Slam YouTube video: https://youtu.be/4SZFZ5CKa-M
On February 8 we ran a full-page ad in the Williston Observer to thank our generous donors and sponsors. Their monetary and in-kind donations make our service and charitable work possible. THANK YOU!
Williston Town Manager and Rotarian Erik Wells spoke with Rotary about the proposed Town budget and ballot items that are up for a vote on Town Meeting Day, March 5.
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/itHcMKMHG-E
Wolfgang Mieder, Emeritus Professor of German and Folklore at the University of Vermont and longtime Chairperson of the Department of German and Russian, has special expertise in the areas of German and international folklore, the history of the German language, the Middle Ages, and especially the study of proverbs.
Wolfgang provided current and historic perspective on The Making and Meaning of an American Proverb of Democracy.
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/uzxd1a8ojsM
The Making and Meaning of an American Proverb of Democracy
Kathryn Kernoff coaches the speech and debate team at CVU, and organized the statewide Vermont Debate and Forensics League (VDFL). Previously, Kathryn worked as the Assistant Director of Debate at Dartmouth College. As a competitor, she received second place at the national collegiate championship three years in a row.
Kathryn discussed the current state of speech and debate in Vermont, the benefits for student participants, and the challenges of growing the activity in a small state. Her impact and dedication to the skill is changing the lives of school children across Vermont.
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/vT9ZLaUK2Ok
Warm your heart with stories and warm your neighbors at the same time!
Don't miss your chance to take part in our first-ever storytelling event!
Listen to short stories from community members and/or share your own in this friendly, competitive story slam. Our theme is hope and stories can be inspiring, funny, moving or sad — they just must be true and personal.
Our gathering honors Bill Skiff, the founder and first president of our club, an accomplished storyteller who has delighted our community with his tales for many years.
Proceeds from this fundraising event will go toward a favorite cause of our club: home heating fuel assistance. For years the Split the Ticket program has brought hope to Vermonters in need, helping them keep warm during our cold winters. Our club was instrumental in bringing this program to life and we've made it a charitable donation priority ever since.
Visit this page for more details about the event and to purchase tickets: Bill Skiff Story Slam.
Are you looking for a way to connect with members of your community? Do you enjoy hearing from speakers on topics of local and global interest? Would you like to find ways to be of service?
Members of the Williston-Richmond Rotary find both fun and meaning as part of a friendly group of active, curious, caring people. We enjoy each other's differences as well as our shared commitment to making our community and our world a better place.
We welcome guests at our Thursday morning breakfast meetings, in person or by Zoom. To come check us out or to find out more, email us at RotaryClubofWillistonVT@gmail.com.
Hedayat grew up in eastern Afghanistan, and after completing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, worked in Afghanistan for rural development, nonprofits, and social enterprise. Hedayat held positions in different capacities, such as Area Manager, Research Coordinator and Civil Engineer, constructing school buildings for marginalized girls in hard-to-reach areas of the Afghan countryside.
Hedayat was evacuated from Afghanistan on August 27, 2021 when the democratic government of Afghanistan collapsed and chaos ensued. However, his wife and three children were unable to leave the country. Hedayat arrived in Vermont in November 2021, and now resides in South Burlington, where he works in the construction industry.
Hear about his journey and the efforts to bring education models to both Afghanistan and the US.
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/gMRi9c0ODIs
Next Monday, January 15 is Martin Luther King Day, a holiday set aside to encourage community service and to commemorate the contributions of Dr. King to the advancement of civil rights in our country. This year there is not a designated observance in Williston, but the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club values this holiday greatly and would like to encourage folks in town to find other ways to observe this important day.
Attending the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center’s speakers event, featuring 22-year old Talladega, AL Mayor Ashton Hall and Ambassador Suzan Cook at 3 pm on Sunday, January 14th at Burlington’s Contois Auditorium: https://gbmrc.org/mlk2024/
Each new Rotary member or transferee is asked to give a "classification talk" after they have been in our Club for 1 - 6 months. You were assigned a classification when you joined relating to your business and position. This is your chance to tell members about yourself and your business.
In these 2 videos, three long term and one new Rotary member are given an opportunity to share their classification talk with members who joined after them, and want to know them better. The journeys of these 4 are so fun, fascinating, and inspiring. So glad to call these club members friends!!!!
Link to the Andy Mikell & Dan Clark classification talks / YouTube video: https://youtu.be/unnpHKfN1c0
Link to the Gary Howard & Sally Stockwell-Metro classification talks / YouTube video: https://youtu.be/imqvbVVkJvM
Best wishes to everyone for a happy and safe holiday season, and thank you for being a part of our Club. Together, we Create Hope in the World and our Community.
Cristalee McSweeney serves as the Executive Director and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Anti-Racism Lead for the Williston Community Justice Center (WCJC) as well as the Director of the Williston Racial Equity Partnership. She spoke about the crucial work being done by the WCJC to utilize community/social justice treatment versus criminal justice treatment to replace shame and blame and replace it with accountability and responsibility when working with individuals who have committed crimes. The WCJC employs one full time and 3 "very part time," staff in addition to 65 community volunteers to meet the demands of the 300 cases they serve per year. The WCJC serves the towns of Williston, Richmond, St. George, Hinesburg, Huntington, Bolton, Shelburne, Charlotte, Jericho and Underhill and are funded by the town of Williston and with a grant from the Vermont Department of Corrections.
Responsible parties (previously termed criminals) are referred by local and state law enforcement agencies and provided the opportunity to work to make amends or repair to impacted parties (previously termed victims) by way of a contract developed in conjunction with WCJC staff, input from impacted parties and community volunteers. Each contract is individualized and requires the responsible party to tell the story of the infraction, why and how it happened, how they could minimize or prevent this occurence in the future and to explore the impact their actions have had on others. Unmet needs (housing, finances, food, transportation, education, health care) are identified and addressed through resource education and assistance with access to help insure that these will no longer be barriers to success as a member of their community. For example, if lack of reliable transportation interferes with work or legal commitments, this needs to be addressed. Financial education and resources are provided so that
WCJC works WITH responsible parties NOT FOR them to achieve their goals and provides education and support at every level.
Cristalee challenged members to identify what we have in common with responsible parties, to understand that no one is disposable and to better understand the work of the WCJC. There are many ways to be involved in this important work. For more information go to: https://willistonjustice.org
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/LpxpD2Q-76k
Williston's Community Justice Center and Restorative Justice
Our annual Jonathan Milne Senior Holiday Luncheon, held on Dec. 13, attracted over 70 area seniors for a festive, joyful gathering. The delicious, hot turkey dinner was matched by the warmth of smiles and friendly chatter. Marty LeWinter provided holiday tunes with singing led by Charlie Magill. Santa Gary Howard brought cheer to every table. A dozen or so lucky guests took home beautiful poinsettias.
Many thanks to Sally Metro for her coordination of the event and to the many club members who volunteered to set up, serve our guests, and clean up. Thanks also to Nancy Milne who once again joined us in hosting the event which honors her husband.
Enjoy more photos of the event in our photo album.
Each new Rotary member or transferee is asked to give a "classification talk" after they have been in our Club for 1 - 6 months. You were assigned a classification when you joined relating to your business and position. This is your chance to tell members about yourself and your business.
In this video, two long time Rotary members are given an opportunity to share their classification talk with members who joined after them, and want to know them better.
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/zLnzI1kYln4
Rotary members, Marty LeWinter and Howard Novak provide Classification talks
Susan Evans McClure is the Executive Director of the Vermont Arts Council, where she leads the talented team as they work to build a more creative state. Prior to joining the Council, she was the executive director of Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and, before that, the director of programs and audience development at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. She holds an Ed.M. in Arts in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Theater from McGill University. Susan is thrilled to bring her experiences working in arts education and public history at theaters and museums, in small towns and big cities, to this role leading the state’s arts council.
Link to the Rotary meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/wlnciWzgiWI
Story and picture courtesy of the Williston Observer
Lighting of the Williston VT Christmas Tree
Christmas caroling, cookies and hot cocoa will accompany this year’s lighting of a Christmas tree in the Williston Village Green gazebo. The event, sponsored by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and the Williston Federated Church, runs from 4:30-5:30 pm on Dec 3rd.
Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of new hats, mittens, gloves or socks for the Williston Community Food Shelf.
2023 Toys for Kids Drive
The holidays are almost here, and that means its time to help our fellow Vermonters and northern New Yorkers to have a season full of wonder and joy.
NBC5 is a partner for this year's Toys for Kids drive, which is sponsored by the Marine Corps League. We need you to donate new, unwrapped toys to help children in our region.
All money collected stays in Vermont and northern New York and is used to purchase age appropriate toys to supplement donations, and for older children.
From now until Dec. 20, The Marine Corps League is looking for donations for children of all ages.
Williston Drop-Off Locations:
Community Bank
28 Cottonwood Drive
Williston
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
21 Library Lane
Williston
Hannaford's Supermarket
78 Marshall Ave
Williston
Kismet Place
378 Blair Park Rd.
Williston
M&T Bank
421 Blair Park Rd.
Williston
New England Air Systems
43 Krupp Dr
Williston
New England Federal Credit Union
141 Harvest Lane
Williston
Richmond Dental
72 Bridge Street
Richmond
Thomas Chittenden Health Care
586 Oak Hill Road
Williston
Union Bank
31 Market Street
Williston
UPS Store #3034
34 Blair Park Rd
Williston
Williston Central School
195 Central School Dr
Williston
Williston Fire Dept.
7900 Williston Rd
Williston
Jonathan Milne Holiday Senior Luncheon
Each year, Williston-Richmond Rotary invites Seniors to a holiday luncheon, and this year, it will be bigger than ever. The luncheon is dedicated to Jonathan Milne, who advocated and coordinated the events for many years. The event runs from 11:30-1:00 pm on Wednesday Dec 13th.
If you would like to attend, please call 802-557-4875 to RSVP by December 9.
To either volunteer or find out more about the event, email us at RotaryClubofWillistonVT@gmail.com.
Amanda Janoo gave a thought provoking presentation on the greater economy with a focus on social environmental factors that brings our understanding beyond the financial economy . Amanda , Economics and Policy Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll), is an economic policy expert with over a decade of experience working with governments and international development institutions around the world. Her work aims to build just and sustainable economies through goal-oriented and participatory policy design processes.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/HYiZ5nIJfvI
Building an Economy that Supports Thriving People and Nature in Vermont
Story and picture courtesy of the Williston Observer
On Saturday, Nov. 11, community members, town officials and veterans and their families attended the Veterans Day Observance held by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club in the War Memorial Park that lies between Town Hall and the Town Hall Annex.
Williston Federated Church Pastor Paul Eyer offered an invocation, Rotary President Susan Cote delivered remarks, and the names of local veterans were read aloud. A letter sent by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders for the occasion was shared.
Attention was drawn to the brick patio that fronts the granite memorial where an increasing number of engraved bricks display the names of veterans. Anyone wishing to honor a veteran, living or dead, with an engraved brick to be installed in the patio is invited to contact Phil Stevens at philipsstevens@gmail.com to learn more.
The event was recorded by Town Meeting TV and will be available for viewing on their website.
Wayne Maceyka, UVM Office of Engagement, provided an enlightening presentation to Williston VT Rotary. Wayne is a member of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, a global collaboration of organizations, alliances, movements, and individuals working to transform the economic system.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/T3MCHXIyqKc
Our third annual Trunk-or-Treat on Sunday, Oct. 29 drew a large crowd of costumed families eager for treats. Our club was joined by members of the Williston Federated Church, Dottie the (haunted) bookmobile, as well as the Town Recreation & Parks and Planning departments. Officer Matt Cohen and K-9 Duke shared in the fun.
Summer and fall farmers markets provided an opportunity for our club to get out and meet members of the community. We hosted booths at the Richmond Farmers Market and at Isham's Farmers Market and Fall Festival this year, raising a little money for our scholarship fund, having great conversations, and helping build awareness of the fellowship and service provided by Rotary.
For those of you Rotary members who either missed the meeting or want to review the meeting again, Andy Mikell provide a tutorial on ClubRunner with a focus on creating and sending group emails.
To see the YouTube video, the link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWunqJW-yNU
Mike Carrier, chair of our district's DEI Committee, presented to us at our October 5 meeting. He reviewed the differences between equality and equity, the nature of implicit and explicit biases and ways clubs can pursue Rotary's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
"Diversity is being invited to the dance. Equity is playing music we all can dance to. Inclusion is being asked to dance."
On September 21, our guest speaker was Mary Burns, president and CEO of Lund. The organization today offers 17 programs around the state providing residential services for pregnant women with drug addictions, as well as outpatient counseling. Lund works with Vermont's Dept. of Children & Families to direct families to substance use recovery services and to find new homes for children whose parents can no longer care for them. Additionally Lund operates within Vermont's women's correctional facility providing a welcoming space where mothers can spend time with their children. https://lundvt.org/
Link to the YouTube meeting presentation: https://youtu.be/6GykenrvBy8
We were contacted this summer by the folks at Memory Care at Allen Brook, a nonprofit facility in Williston, to ask if our club might be able to take on a landscaping project. Rotary member Andy Mikell and his wife Ashley, with help from club members Sherry Pidgeon, Jeanne Kennedy and Elizabeth Davidson, cleared out an overgrown perennial garden. "It looks so good and will provide our residents with more space to play lawn games or just to sit and enjoy," wrote Cathedral Square CEO Kim Fitzgerald.
Michael Kennedy discussed Vermont's Professional Responsibility Program, including the basics of legal ethics and the attorney deterrent behavior system in Vermont.
Kennedy, bar counsel for the state’s Professional Responsibility Program, advises attorneys on issues related to legal ethics and Vermont’s Rules of Professional Conduct. He also screens complaints and administers the program for resolving complaints via non-disciplinary dispute resolution methods. Michael and his office have proactively taken complaints received in one instance, and shared remedies to a broader group of lawyers, which had dropped overall complaints in half over a 10 year period; a remarkable feat when inquires doubled over the same 10 years.
To help lawyers remember the most important lessons of ethical responsibility, Michael uses a 7C program consisting of Competence, Communication, Confidentiality, Conflicts, Candor, Commingling, and Civility.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/4-J-VWFjbdE
Michael Kennedy, Esq. Vermont Bar Counsel and the basics of legal ethics
On September 7 the club hosted Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak. Mike spoke about growing up in Brattleboro and the examples his mother and father set for him that led him to pursue a life of public service. He shared information about the Vermont economy, which today looks more promising to him than when he first joined state government several years ago. IRS data suggests that the pandemic drew about 6000 new people to Vermont, the majority being in the 24-44 year old age group with incomes $100K+, contributing to a higher wage base for the state. He also noted that venture capital investment in Vermont has increased significantly, reaching $550 million in 2022. The greatest challenge he sees for the state is housing. He expects the recently passed S.100 bill, which eliminated single-family zoning, to help address housing availability and affordability problems in combination with other state investments focused on this issue.
After Mike's talk, Pastor Paul Eyer shared a humorous anecdote about how challenging it was for the members of the Williston Federated Church marching in last year's Pride Parade to follow right behind the popular Pieciak who was constantly being greeted by parade watchers on both sides of the route.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/UCAHN2g4nvI
VT State Treasurer shares good news and challenges
Matt Boulanger, Williston's town planner, was our guest speaker on Aug. 31. He shared some of the history of statewide planning in Vermont and the intersection of state and municipal planning. Act S. 100, Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone (HOME), signed into law in June, aims to reduce barriers to the development of affordable housing. Among other things, the act commissioned a study on delegating Act 250 compliance administration to municipalities, which could ease the permitting process for developers by removing duplicative approvals at the municipal and state levels. Act 182 from 2022 commissioned a study on the state's designations, such as Williston's Taft Corners Designated Growth Center, to see how they can help achieve goals, including more affordable housing.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://youtu.be/mjsvL_gQERU
On August 24 Leslie Black-Plumeau, Research and Community Relations Manager for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, spoke to the club about Vermont's housing shortage and the particular challenges faced by Williston. The state is today facing a housing "triple-demic" due to (1) longstanding availability and affordability problems, (2) a pandemic-related increase in demand coupled with a reduction in builders and contractors, and (3) extensive damage to homes caused by the devastating July 2023 floods.
With the third highest job to home ratio of any municipality in the state, Williston is one of the hardest communities to both work and live in.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5lbudlWrQI
Williston Police Chief Patrick Foley spoke to the club on August 17th. After reaching full staff back in Jan 2023, the town’s police department is currently understaffed by 5 positions. Chief Foley shared that the current community challenge is business theft that is on pace for over 430 cases this year; nearly double from last year's 230 cases.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y74yBt9ckmU
Our guest speaker on August 10 was Vermont's Senator Peter Welch who spoke with us about overcoming partisanship by focusing on shared constituent concerns, his proposal for a new agency to regulate the digital sphere (social media, AI, etc.), and the importance of building back for resiliency following natural disasters such as the flooding experienced after Irene and the July 2023 storms.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JmmOzXvSCc
On August 3 Williston Fire Department Chief Aaron Collette addressed the club about the technical rescue training and capabilities of his team, as well as recent challenges he and other members of the department faced when deployed throughout the state during the devastating floods in July. WFD personnel undertake training in a variety of specialize rescue areas, including vehicle extrication, ice rescue, rope rescue and swiftwater rescue. Chief Collette is an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team manager and a number of department staff are also Vermont USAR members who can be called upon when needed. We were impressed by the bravery and expertise demonstrated during the difficult situations they faced during the flooding disaster, as well as with the wide variety of training department members do to prepare themselves for whatever situation may arise.
Link to the meeting YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHs7uGgd5wU
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where teens develop their skills as leaders while having fun and making connections. Our rotary district invites teens in their sophomore year to apply for a RYLA scholarship. This year our club sent three teens, Eloise Durant, Thomas Mathon and Abigail Usher, all of Williston, to Lyndon campus of Vermont State University for the weekend district-wide convention that included students from Vermont, New Hampshire and Quebec.
On July 20th the three of them came to our weekly club meeting to tell us about their experience. The common theme among the three was that they had lots of fun and made deep connections. They also talked of the value of learning their leadership styles and the insight it gives them in communicating and being a community member. Two of them were more adaptable “off the cuff” leaders while the other preferred to have a plan in place. While there they were involved in making hundreds of meals for those in need. They also experienced a ropes course, various trust and confidence building activities, and the weekend culminated with a talent show. Having them come speak made for such a fun meeting. They were generous with their impressions, answered our many questions thoughtfully and were excited to recommend RYLA to next year’s potential applicants.
As an immediate response, club members rallied in July to build 12 cleaning buckets to assist Vermont flood victims working to make their homes livable again. Each bucket includes liquid cleaning agents, gloves, masks and cleaning tools specifically chosen to address post-flood needs. Involved in the effort were Sherry Pidgeon, Charlie Magill, Dave Ericson, Marty LeWinter, Howard Novak and Jenn Murphy (missing from photo). Other club members contributed funds to purchase supplies.
Have you missed a Rotary meeting or a speaker, and want to catch up on what you missed? Or did you see a Rotary speaker that you loved and want to forward the talk to a friend?
All meetings are recorded via Zoom, and almost all recordings are posted within 2-4 weeks. The link to our Williston-Richmond YouTube channel is:
Governor Phil Scott declared a State of Emergencyin Vermont on July 9, 2023 due to heavy rainfall, significant localized flooding, washouts, and road closures across the state. Williston made it past the current Flooding State of Emergency fairly unscathed, but many of our towns did have damage, washed out roads and displacement from their homes. Around us, Richmond, Montpelier, Barre, to just name a few will still have weeks of clean up.
For those of you who many want to donate time, resources or money, here are a few options to check out:
Support Vermont Flood victims by donating to the American Red Cross
Williston-Rotary Cleaning Kit Project spearheaded by Charlie Magill (buy and drop off some of the below at the July 21st Rotary meeting)
One five-gallon round bucket with re-sealable lid (14.35” h x 12.19” w x 12.19” d) One 32-64 oz. bottle liquid laundry detergent One 16-40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner, Not spray cleaners One 16-34 oz. bottle dish soap One 4-8 oz. pump spray air freshener (liquid, not gel) One 6-14 oz. pump spray insect repellent (pack of 10-20 wipes also acceptable) One scrub brush With or without handle 18 re-useable cleaning wipes, Not terrycloth, microfiber or paper towels Five scouring pads, Not stainless-steel pads with soap in them 36-50 clothespins One 50-100 ft. clothesline (cotton or plastic line) 24 roll of heavy-duty trash bags (33-45-gallon sizes) Remove from packaging Five N95 particulate respirator dust masks (1-3 mm thickness) Two pairs kitchen gloves, Durable for multiple uses One pair work gloves, Cotton with leather palm or all leather Two sponges All cleaning agents must be liquid form
On July 6 our guest speaker Patrick Gallivan shared inspiring stories of the founding, evolution and impact of Vermont's Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, the nonprofit organization that serves children who have or have had cancer. Patrick has volunteered with the camp for over 25 years and serves as the summer camp director. The focus of camp is Safety, Connection, and Joy -- and these benefits are delivered in abundance to the families and children who participate.
The Williston July 4 parade and Village Green activities booth gave us a great chance to connect with the community and share what we Rotarians do.
It was also a showcase of the talent and creativity of our members. Especial kudos go to Chris Stewart and Sherry Pidgeon for their beautiful Rotary wheels, to Andy Mikell for initiating and organizing the float plan, Dan Clark for the float signs and banners as well as being the Man in the Yellow Hat, Lesley Murray for bringing the fuzzy Easter Bunny to a steamy July parade, and so many more contributions from other members. We had fun!
Plus we raised funds for our youth scholarships with a 50/50 raffle. Congratulations to our winner, Trevor Thompson! Thank you to Trevor and everyone who participated to support our work in the community.
Here are some of the images we captured for our photo album.
The 2023 Deb Beckett Memorial 5K on Saturday, July 1 brought the community together to honor a beloved Rotarian and public servant and to enjoy some fun and fierce competition. The annual 5K Run/Walk was joined this year by a half-mile Kids Run with some ambitious runners taking on both challenges.
Our annual Changeover gathering was held on June 29 at the Isham Family Farm event barn. We celebrated the year's accomplishments, acknowledged our members' contributions, voted in our new slate of officers, had a lovely meal and time for fun and fellowship. Two guests were awarded checks: Matt Cota of the Split the Ticket home heating fuel assistance fund received the club's annual donation and soon-to-be college freshman Grace, who plans to study music education, received her Rotary scholarship. Outgoing president Sally Stockwell-Metro passed the gavel to this year's president, Susan Cote. Terrific music was provided by members Marty LeWinter on keyboards and Greg Marino on trumpet along with two talented musicians on drums (Matt DeLuca) and guitar. Thanks go to Mike Isham and Helen Weston for the use of their beautiful facility.
Above, all past presidents in attendance, including founding president Bill Skiff, posed along with this year's president. See our photo album for more images capturing the evening.
We're bursting with anticipation for the fun and excitement of Williston's annual Fourth of July festivities!
Events kick off with the Deb Beckett Memorial 5K on Saturday, July 1, which this year will also include a free half-mile Kids Run. Pre-registration for the 5K is open until June 18 with same-day registration also an option.
The parade theme this year is "Growing Community." After an absence of several years, the club will once again field a float, which promises to deliver lots of positive energy. Our booth on the Village Green will give us a chance to say hello to our friends and neighbors and share what Rotary is all about.
At our first meeting in June, we hosted Joe Duncan, general manager of the Champlain Water District (CWD) as our guest speaker. Joe gave us the history of the water district, which was formed in 1973 and now serves 12 water systems--including Williston, South Burlington, Shelburne, Essex Town and Essex Junction, Milton, Jericho Village, Winooski and parts of Colchester--with a total of 9 million gallons of water a day.
We learned that the intake line is located 1/2 mile into Lake Champlain at a depth of approximately 80 feet. The pump station, located in Red Rocks Park, generally cycles on during the day to take advantage of solar electricity generation. Water takes 2-3 days to travel to Jericho. Surprisingly, the rapid development experienced in this area since the 90s has not led to increased usage, as the number of residential and business users has been offset by greater efficiency and the area's conservation mindset. The biggest fluctuations in usage the district has seen in past decades have been due to changes in demand from industrial customer IBM/GlobalFoundries.
Our club's second annual Memorial Day Observance took place on a beautiful morning at the Williston Memorial Park that sits between the Town Hall and Town Hall Annex. Rotarians, first responders, veterans, families and residents from Williston and Richmond gathered to reflect on the sacrifice of those who we have lost in service to our country and communities.
The Rev. Katelyn Macrae of the Richmond Congregational Church provided an invocation and Club President Sally Stockwell-Metro reminded us of the history and meaning of what was once called Decoration Day. Major Patrick "Gene" Enriquez, a resident of Williston, spoke eloquently about the necessity and power of remembering those who have sacrificed to protect American liberty and values to help unite us in this difficult time of national division.
Several new veteran's bricks for the memorial patio were dedicated and the names of Richmond and Williston first responders and veteran's were read. Hazen Metro's stirring bagpipe music and the playing of taps by CVU student Luke Buehler enhanced the solemnity of our occasion.
Thank you to Lesley Murray for organizing the event and for all the club and community members who contributed their efforts.
Read a local news story about the event here. For more photos from the day, check out our photo gallery.
On May 25 our guest speaker Kevin Thorley filled us in on the activities of Williston's Energy Committee, which was formed in 2022 following the 2020 adoption by the Williston Selectboard of a comprehensive energy plan. The mission of the committee is to create a community powered by renewable, locally produced and owned energy, fed by town farms, housed in efficient homes with an environmentally responsible transportation system, all sustained by a vibrant, local economy and social network. The volunteer committee's activities focus on community education, decreasing transportation-related energy demand, taking an active role in drafting town bylaw amendments and incorporating energy efficiency in town capital improvements.
One example of their work involves outreach to energy-burdened households in Williston to offer assistance in making their homes more energy efficient and affordable.
Anore Horton, Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont and Williston resident, spoke to the club on May 18. Now in its 30th year, Hunger Free Vermont's mission is to create permanent systems that remove the need for people to access food pantries and feeding sites. The organization's focus is on changing policy and on helping people access programs such as 3SquaresVT, Vermont's name for SNAP or food stamps.
Today, hunger in Vermont is at the highest rate ever recorded. Income cut-offs for 3SquaresVT are very low, so many who need help are ineligible. Meals on Wheels, a program that helps address hunger among the elderly, hasn't seen an increase in federal contribution per meal in decades.
A positive development this year in addressing hunger in Vermont was the passage of the universal school meals bill. First introduced by Debbie Ingram in the state senate a number of years ago, Rep. Erin Brady of Williston was the introducing sponsor for the bill that passed this year. Published research conducted in Vermont and elsewhere demonstrates the positive effect on academic achievement when universal school meals are provided.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club is a non-profit that services OUR community with a focus on youth literacy, seniors, veterans, those individuals in need, and the community at large. Each dollar collected goes back into your town (Williston, Richmond and St George). We are a 501(c)(3) organization, and your support is tax deductible.
Our 2023 goal is to raise $20,000 to support the events you, your families and businesses rely on, including:
Heating assistance for neighbors in need (“Split the Ticket” Program)
Building ramps for those with accessibility challenges
Funding a lifesaving Cyanokit for the Williston Fire Department.
Coordinating the annual Deb Beckett 5K Memorial Run on the 4th of July weekend
Hosting an annual senior holiday luncheon
Sponsorship of the Williston Central School mentoring program
Funding for local and international literacy and STEM programs
Rotary Youth Leadership training weekends for high school sophomores
Academic scholarships for 2-3 college or vocational bound students from Williston, Richmond, and St. George
Our community park bench placement and maintenance
On April 20 guest speaker Rick Cote shared the challenges and adventures he and two college classmates have had over twenty-five years as "highpointers," people who aim to visit the highest point in each of the 50 states. Having achieved 48 of the 50, leaving only Montana and Alaska, their travels have afforded them the opportunity to experience natural beauty and cultural sites all across the U.S. while also building a deep friendship.
Rick recently completed a Denali prep course to qualify for a guided attempt of Denali in Alaska. He shared the tricks he learned about winter camping and how to stay safe and healthy while trekking with heavy gear in a harsh environment.
Kate Alberghini, Executive Director of Green Up Vermont (GUV) spoke with us on April 13th. She described the year-round efforts of GUV and the positive impact of Green-Up Day itself. GUV works throughout the year to increase youth engagement, broaden public awareness, promote educational initiatives and increase partnering relationships within communities. Community engagement in Green-Up Day continues to grow resulting in the following statistics from last year. Over 19,000 volunteers cleaned 75% of Vermont town and city roads, collecting 497 tons of trash (42,992 bags) and removing 14,315 tires. Green-Up Day is held the first Saturday in May (May 6, 2023). For more information: https://greenupvermont.org/.
To support the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, the club recently contributed funds to ShelterBox, a charity that provides critical disaster relief. The funds will purchase two ShelterBoxes, each containing a family-sized tent and essential items needed to begin the process of recovery.
ShelterBox was founded over 20 years ago by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall, UK and has since provided disaster relief in 98 different countries, supporting 2.5 million people to get back on their feet after hurricanes, earthquakes, conflicts, droughts, cyclones and more.
Olive Hirschfeld poses with the Easter Bunny at the
Williston-Richmond Rotary Club's annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt in 2022
The Williston-Richmond Rotary club will hold its 23rd annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at Williston Central School on Saturday, April 8 for children 12 years old and younger. The parade begins promptly at 9 a.m. The event will take place regardless of the weather, so children should be dressed appropriately.
Easter baskets with prizes will be awarded to children who find specially marked Easter eggs. Other prizes will be awarded to children wearing costumes or bonnets. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets.
For more information, contact Andy Mikell at (802) 343-2704 or email AndrewDMikell@gmail.com.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club is now accepting applications for our annual Rotary Scholarship. All high school seniors living in Williston, Richmond, and St. George are eligible to apply.
Our club will award two one-time scholarships of $1500 to assist with post-high school educational advancement (e.g. trade program, college).
Williston Police Chief Patrick Foley spoke to the club on January 19. The town’s police department is currently fully staffed with 17 officers including three women. Chief Foley shared that the department is engaging a consultant to help look at what the staffing needs of the future are likely to be 5, 10, 15 years from now given the expected continued growth of the town. He also spoke about the shared dispatch arrangement with the town of Essex that has created greater efficiency and coverage following the loss of dispatch services provided by Vermont State Police.
A performance by KeruBo was a highlight of the club's 2nd annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Photo by Luke Awtry
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club hosted a second annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16. Organized by Debbie Ingram, the virtual event featured inspiring remarks by members of the Williston Racial Equity Partnership and Richmond Racial Equity, as well as MMU high school student Kennedy Jensen and other area residents, each providing their perspective on the significance of Dr. King's work, words and legacy. Dennis Francis spoke of key messages in King's "I Have a Dream" speech; Denise Noble spoke of the need for those who hold white privilege to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable; and Peet Grobler, who grew up in apartheid South Africa, noted the comparisons between Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. Burlington-based singer/songwriter Kerubo offered a stirring musical performance of "Black and Blue."
A recording of the 45-minute event can be viewed on YouTube.
On December 15, Youth Services Librarian Bonnie Lord spoke with us about the resources our club has donated to the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) themes supported by these materials have included chemistry, “Dynovember” and robotics. Solar Bug Kits purchased with Rotary funds enabled children to make paper bugs that walk around powered by tiny solar panels. Supporting Education is one of Rotary International’s nine global causes and the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club has supported education and literacy in our community by funding youth library resources, books for the WCS Connecting Youth Mentoring Program and materials to establish Little Libraries built by WCS students.
Bonnie Lord, seen here at the Town Fair last May, is youth services librarian at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
Rotary supplied STEM kits and Wonderbooks popular at library
The annual Veterans Day Observance hosted by the club was made even more significant this year by including the dedication of a granite bench in memory of Deb Beckett. The bench was newly installed in the small park that sits between Williston's Town Hall and Town Hall Annex. This park also houses a war memorial and brick patio. Club President Sally Stockwell Metro presided over the ceremony, which featured the reading of the names of veterans engraved on newly installed bricks, a moving tribute to her mom from club member Ellie Beckett and remarks from Town Manager Erik Wells and veteran Charlie Magill.
For the second year the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and Williston Federated Church teamed up to provide a fun and safe treat-filled afternoon for area children and their families. This year, blessed with blue skies and warm sunshine, we estimate we were visited by over 200 witches, robots, action heroes, fire and police officers, chickens, strawberries, sharks, soccer stars and more creative characters. About 15 vehicles and the Town Recreation & Parks Department offered goodies and a very scary/friendly Tyrannosaurus Rex kept everyone on their toes.
To see photos capturing the fun, view our photo album.
In late October members of area Rotary clubs joined to pitch in at Wood 4 Good, preparing wood to be donated for home heating. See our photo album of the industrious group in action.
About Wood 4 Good:
In 2019, Eric Axelrod and his two young sons, Devin and Logan, discovered they had more firewood than they needed and decided to give it to members of their community who needed it. After making a delivery to a particularly grateful neighbor, Devin told his father, I want to do wood for good every day.
Since the inception of this idea, Wood 4 Good has grown into a fledgling non-profit with the generous support of local businesses, community members, and volunteers. This past winter, Wood 4 Good was able to deliver 75 cords of firewood to families and individuals in need. It is our hope to continue to grow and expand our reach.
Wood 4 Good and the Axelrod family believe strongly in the value of building community, giving back, and the joy that comes from working hard to help others. We hope you also see the value in the mission of this organization, and join us in creating a little more warmth in Vermont.
If you need wood, want to volunteer or want to donate, please contact Eric@wood4goodvt.org
Rotary club members Lesley Murray and Armand Fournier set out in 2020 to visit every one of Vermont's state parks. They describe magical adventures, especially appreciated during the pandemic, as they explored corners of our state that were previously unknown to them.
Many of their visits took place during winter when they found they were among very few other visitors and could enjoy the quiet beauty around them. Lesley shared that these experiences were both "centering and restorative."
Inspired? The Green Mountain Passport, available for $2 to any veteran or person over the age of 62, permits lifetime day use of all of Vermont's state parks. Day passes are also available to check out at local libraries. Visit https://vtstateparks.com/index.html for more pass options and park information.
Lesley and Armand's next odyssey? Visiting every covered bridge in the state.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club sponsored a successful Red Cross blood drive on September 28 at the Williston Church of the Nazarene, generating 32 pints of donated blood.
The organizations will team up again on December 10 for another blood drive at the same location. To schedule an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter WILLISTON or call 1-800-733-2767.
Captain Prescott Nadeau and EMS & Paramedic Coordinator Tony Simanskas of the Williston Fire Department spoke to our club on August 4 about cyanokits. Cyanokits contain a lifesaving medical injection to treat cyanide poisoning that can be carried on emergency response vehicles and used to treat victims of smoke inhalation. Cyanide is often released when everyday items found in most homes and businesses combust, making smoke inhalation the most common cause of acute cyanide poisoning.
Being able to administer this medication on the scene or while en route to a hospital can mean the difference between survival and death for fire victims. The Williston-Richmond Rotary has agreed to fund the first kit to be available to our local fire department and make this critical tool available to the community.
On July 21 our club hosted the three recipients of this year's Rotary Scholarships who each will receive $1500 toward their pursuit of education beyond high school. Pictured above from left to right, Tyler Morehouse, Grace Andrews and Amelia Worth each spoke to us about their ideas for how the club can serve our communities. We were impressed with their thoughtful recommendations and effective communication skills. We look forward to seeing how they continue to grow and contribute to a better world.
To learn more about their ideas and plans for the future, read the story in the Williston Observer.
On July 14 the club heard from Charity Clark, a Williston resident and candidate for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General of Vermont. Charity was hired as an Assistant Attorney General in the Public Protection Division by former Attorney General Bill Sorrell in 2014. Beginning in 2018, she served as Chief of Staff under Attorney General T.J. Donovan.
A spectacular morning and a spectacular turnout for the July 2 Deb Beckett Memorial 5K hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary. The event, which benefits the Rotary's charity fund, attracted 72 runners and 25 walkers who completed the course cheered on by family and friends. Special guest Champ, the Vermont Lake Monsters' mascot, got everyone revved up for a great race.
A wonderful collaboration between the students in the Swift Sustainability Action Project, the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and the Williston Federated Church has resulted in five new "Little Libraries" placed around Williston.
Williston Central School students Clay Nicholson, Sunshine Haines, Jaden Jiang, Zach Pratt, Myrah Ngu and Lainey Campbell constructed the "Little Libraries," while the Rotary club provided funding for materials. The libraries are well made and will provide free access to select and leave books for members of our community throughout the year. One of the libraries, installed at the edge of the Williston Federated Church parking lot adjacent to the Williston community recreation path, will be maintained by the Rotary Club.
On Monday, May 30, the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club hosted a Memorial Day observance at Williston's War Memorial located between Town Hall and the Town Hall Annex. Speakers included Rotary President Lesley Murray, Rotary member Debbie Ingram who provided an invocation, and Town Manager Erik Wells. Phil Stevens offered a dedication to newly installed engraved bricks honoring veterans with ties to Williston. Selectboard Chair Terry Macaig read the names of over 120 deceased veterans. The gathering was enhanced by the bagpipe music of Haven Metro and closed with the playing of taps by Luke Buehler, a student at Williston Central School. Among those recognized with new bricks was longtime Rotary member Ken Stone, seen above standing near the brick that honors his service as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. More photographs can be seen in the album posted here: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/1453/PhotoAlbums/memorial-day-observance-2022
May speaker chair Barbara LeWinter helped us celebrate the visual arts, music and theater with three fascinating guests. On May 12 we were joined in person by Kat Lawliss, adult art coordinator at the Davis Studios in South Burlington. Kat led the group through creative drawing exercises that anyone of any skill level can enjoy. Soovin Kim, co-artistic director and Robert Whipple, executive director of the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival shared the history of the festival and many highlights of the upcoming season on May 19. The arts-themed month of speakers concluded with Cristina Alicea, producing artistic director of Vermont Stage in Burlington.
Green Up Day 2022 provided a good opportunity to get outside and help spiff up Williston's roadways. And our booth at the Town Fair that day allowed for lots of friendly conversations with our neighbors. We had such a good time, we're planning to host a booth at upcoming farmers markets this summer!
The Rotary Club of Williston-Richmond was delighted to recognize two members as Paul Harris Fellows during meetings in April. Rotary club president Lesley Murray awarded a certificate and special pin to Martin LeWinter on April 7 and to Sally Stockwell Metro on April 21.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
Upon receiving her award, Sally spoke of her confidence that giving to the Rotary Foundation in support of the people of Ukraine would ensure her donation was put to good use.
On orders from the Easter Bunny, our crew of Rotarians prepared some sweet treats for Williston's annual Easter Parade and Egg Hunt taking place this Saturday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m. on the grounds of Williston Central School. (For more photos of the early morning fun check out the photo album.)
Are you interested in a way to give back to your community? We're welcoming volunteers to join our many local service projects. Whether you have just a few hours or time for a weekly commitment, Williston-Richmond Rotary invites you to join us in activities to help others and support our community.
Do you know of a need in our community? We want to hear from you about how we can help.
Contact us! To find out about volunteer opportunities and to share your ideas for how we can serve, email us at RotaryClubofWillistonVT@gmail.com.
April Cornell, founder and owner of the eponymous clothing and linen company based in Burlington, joined our meeting via Zoom on March 31 to share the story of how a visit to Afghanistan in 1975 set her on a path to bringing more beauty and color into the lives of women around the world. April works with fellow female entrepreneurs in India and Afghanistan, where she says the textiles industry is predominantly led by women.
Listen for more potentially surprising facts in her inspiring talk at this link. Note: April Cornell's talk starts at the 5 minute mark.
The March 24 hybrid meeting of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club was a double delight. The morning marked the first club meeting featuring a delicious breakfast in over two years.
On top of that, the club hosted District Governor Michael Carrier, who shared a presentation on this year’s Rotary International theme, ‘Serve to Change Lives.’ He reminded us that, “Rotary is the premier humanitarian and peace building organization in the world that allows community members (not just elected officials) to engage in projects and interactions that literally change people's lives.” He reflected on the Rotary vision statement:
TOGETHER, we see a world
where PEOPLE unite and take action
to CREATE lasting
CHANGE across the globe,
in our communities, and in ourselves.
The club’s renewed engagement and energy will soon be put to great use when we host the return of Williston’s annual Easter Parade and Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16. Started years ago by Bill Mikell and carried forward by his son, Andy, the well-loved event is returning after a two-year hiatus.
Seventy-five area families were helped this past year by Wood4Good, a non-profit that supplies firewood for heating homes to those in need. Founder Eric Axelrod spoke at the March 17 meeting of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club. He and his two young sons found they had extra firewood in 2019. After donating their surplus to a neighbor in need, the seed of a bigger idea was born. The organization now accepts donated wood from municipalities and tree services. Volunteers help split and stack the wood. After aging, it is delivered to households throughout Chittenden County and beyond who request help with their home heating needs.
Wood4Good aims to expand their giving to 140 or more families and is actively soliciting volunteers and donations. They also hope to hear from those in need of wood to help heat their homes. https://wood4goodvt.org/
The 2022 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) program, taking place June 24-26, will once again be a lively in-person event hosted on the campus of Northern Vermont University in Lyndonville.
Students gather for a weekend of fun outdoor activities aimed at building communication and problem-solving skills. As shown in this short promotional video, the event also includes inspirational speakers, a talent show and a community service project to support the non-profit Rise Against Hunger.
Sophomores (aged 15-16) from the towns of Williston, Richmond and St. George -- regardless of where they attend school -- are eligible to apply through the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, who will cover all program costs.
Chosen participants will join students from throughout Rotary International District 7850, which includes parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Quebec.
The application form is available for download here or by emailing Jude Hersey at vtheyjude@yahoo.com. The deadline to apply is March 25.
In-Person Rotary Youth Leadership Academy Returns for 2022
Honor a beloved veteran in your life with a brick custom-inscribed with their name and installed by the Town of Williston in the patio at the town’s War Memorial.
The memorial, beside Town Hall, is the site of public observances each year on Veterans Day and Memorial Day to recognize veterans who have served our country.
Two brick sizes are being offered for purchase by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club: 4” x 8” for $50 and 8” x 8” for $100. Typical content includes the veteran's name, branch and/or operation and dates of service. Bricks may also feature multiple veterans and can include an optional emblem of the branch of service.
A portion of the proceeds from brick sales will support the many community service programs of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, such as youth mentoring and literacy, home heating fuel assistance, park beautification and community holiday celebrations.
Place your brick order by March 18, 2022, and your brick will be installed at the War Memorial prior to Memorial Day, May 30, 2022. An observance will be held that morning to dedicate the bricks and recognize our veterans.
For more information and to receive order forms call or email Phil Stevens at 802-734-7477, philipsstevens@gmail.com.
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club invites high school students residing in the towns of Williston, St. George and Richmond to participate in a speech contest sponsored by Rotary District 7850. Cash prizes will be awarded at each stage of the competition: $100 prize for the Club round, $200 prize for the Area round and $500 prize for the District round winner, along with a $250 prize for the runner up.
The speech contest topic is "How can your school partner with Rotary to change lives?" Students must prepare and deliver a 5-minute speech. Memorization is not required, but adhering to the time limit is critical.
The Club round will take place on March 3, the Area round later in March, and the District round on May 7 at Jay Peak Resort.
Registration forms may be requested from school counselors and speech/English teachers and can also be downloaded here. Return forms to sonjakstevens@gmail.com by February 18.
Public, private and homeschooled students are all welcome to participate.
High School Speech Contest Deadline is February 18
The Rotary Club of Williston-Richmond and the Williston Racial Equity Partnership co-hosted a virtual observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day via Zoom the morning of January 17. The event attracted over 40 participants and featured seven speakers who offered reflections on the impact of Dr. King's life and words, as well as the need for continued dedication to forwarding the causes of racial equality and justice in our nation.
Rotary member and event organizer, Debbie Ingram, who serves as executive director of Vermont Interfaith Action, spoke of Dr. King’s role as a prophet who delivered a message of hope. “[H]e was telling us there is hope as long as there are people of good will, people who seek to do the right thing, people who seek to live in right relationship with their neighbor – all their neighbors,” said Ingram.
Additional speakers included Dennis Francis, a member of the Williston Racial Equity Partnership, who highlighted Dr. King’s guiding principles of love and selflessness; Cristalee McSweeney, director of the Williston Community Justice Center, who encouraged the community to do more to change systems that perpetuate inequality; resident Ginger Isham, who shared the experiences of a relative who traveled to Alabama in the 1960s and joined civil rights marchers in Montgomery; Rotary member Pastor Paul Eyer, who noted how the power of Dr. King's words "elevated an entire nation"; and finally, CVU student and Racial Alliance Committee member Morgan Ackerly, who shared personal reflections on the importance of inclusion and representation, as well as our duty to continue moving forward the societal changes promoted by Dr. King.
For over 15 years the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club has contributed to the Split The Ticket Fund of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association to assist community members in need.
While thousands of Vermont families receive fuel assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, there are many Vermonters who don't qualify but still need help. These families can receive donations of heating oil, propane, and kerosene from the Split the Ticket Fund, a Vermont based 501c3 non-profit organization.
This innovative program matches cash donations with donations of heating oil, kerosene and propane from Vermont's fuel providers. The delivery ticket is split in half: every $1 donated buys $2 worth of fuel. Vermont's heating fuel and service providers are mostly small, family-owned businesses. They are often the first to hear about and respond to a heating emergency. This program gives them, as well as local businesses, organizations and individuals, the opportunity to provide a gift of warmth to someone in their community. Since it was created in 2007, the fund has delivered more than 100,000 gallons of free heating fuel to our neighbors in need.
Those receiving a gift of warmth are nominated by someone in the community. If you know someone in need, please send an email to split@vermontfuel.com.
On Monday, January 17 at 7:30 a.m., the Williston-Richmond Rotary and the Williston Racial Equity Partnership will host a virtual observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The event will feature remarks from a variety of community members, including Debbie Ingram of Vermont Interfaith Action, Cristalee McSweeney of the Williston Community Justice Center, Pastor Paul Eyer of the Williston Federated Church and Dennis Francis of the Williston Racial Equity Partnership. Additional speakers are to be announced.
“Everyone in Williston is welcome to attend as we recognize the importance of Dr. King’s leadership in the struggle for a more just, compassionate, and inclusive society and recommit ourselves to that struggle today,” said Debbie Ingram.
On December 30, the club hosted speaker Major Shannon Blake, Afghanistan veteran and founder of Warriors S.O.A.R. He shared how personal struggles and loss led him to his work to save and improve the lives of his fellow combat veterans. Veterans commit suicide at a significantly higher rate than the U.S. adult population at large. S.O.A.R. stands for Support, Outreach, Assistance and Recovery. The non-profit has grown to offer programs in several states, including Vermont, providing members with opportunities to bond with other veterans and find healthy ways to cope with mental or physical injuries they may carry. More information can be found at https://warriorssoar.org/.
Speaker Karin Ericson shared insights from her recently published book, What Works When Memory Stops Working, at the December 9 meeting of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club. A blend of personal memoir and advice borne of experience -- her mother suffered from Alzheimer's disease -- her book offers useful guidance and support to families who are caring for a loved one being lost to dementia. The book is available for purchase locally at Phoenix Books and online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Author Ericson speaks on supporting a loved one with Alzheimer's
Early the morning of November 11, a Veterans Day observance was held in Williston’s Veterans Park for the first time in several years. Organized by the Rotary Club of Williston-Richmond, the event was kicked off by Rotary president, Lesley Murray. Speakers included selectboard chair, Terry Macaig; town manager, Erik Wells; Williston Federated Church pastor, Paul Eyer; and veteran, Armand Fournier, who organized the event. Charlie Magill, also a veteran, delivered a roll call of Williston veterans living and deceased who are honored in the park. The club plans to make this an annual event. See more photos of the occasion.
Happy trick-or-treaters didn’t let rainy weather dampen their enthusiasm for the Halloween Trunk or Treat event put on jointly by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and the congregation of the Williston Federated Church. The event took place in the parking lot by the Williston Community School tennis courts and attracted over 100 costumed children and their families. Check out these fun photos.
A hardy bunch of Rotarians gathered to plant 300 daffodil bulbs along the recreation path in Williston on the cold, sunny morning of October 29. Thanks to the efforts of several Rotary club members, including Charlie Magill, Angela Arsenault, Gary and Sue Howard, Marty and Barb LeWinter, Sally Stockwell Metro, Leslie Murray and Armand Fournier, our community can look forward to being greeted by the friendly faces of these sunny flowers when spring arrives next year.
To mark World Polio Day, October 24 -- and to shine a light on the world's opportunity to wipe out polio entirely -- the Rotary Club of Williston-Richmond placed an educational display in the foyer of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston in mid-October. Wild polio is still present in just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. New and better vaccines continue to be under development, including at the University of Vermont, leading us closer to the day when polio will no longer take lives or leave children crippled for life. Ending polio is one of the signature efforts carried out by Rotary International in partnership with other international organizations, and has been a focus of fundraising by the Williston-Richmond club. Set up by Jude Hersey and Susan Cote, the display will be in place until the end of November. To learn more and to donate, visit www.endpolio.org. Just $3.00 protects a child from polio for life.
With a wry grin Jonathan and Nancy blessed us with three boxes of artifacts. Howard gets the trophies. What do we do with the rest. Thank you, Jonathan.
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DARE TO DREAM: Dream of Equity, Dream of Justice, Dream of Hope, Dream of Inclusion
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