The Brattleboro Rotary Club recently inducted local businessman Norm Kuebler as its 59th club president for the July 2008 - June 2009 club year. Kuebler is pictured here with his son Hans.
 
Kuebler is a long-term-care insurance specialist and president of New England Senior Insurance Group. For the past 20 years, he has served individual and business clients throughout New England, focusing on the health insurance needs for those who are 50 years and older. As a result of his years of experience, Kuebler has been nationally recognized for his achievements.

Kuebler has been active in the Brattleboro Rotary Club since 1992 and has actively served on a number of club committees and participated in many of the club's community service projects. Kuebler' fellow board members this year include: President- Elect Jeff Morse, Treasurer Phil Turner, Secretary Cindy Jerome, Vice President Jesse Corum, Past President June Howe, and Avenues-of-Service Chairs Jody Haley, Liz Jones, Mike Mandracchia, and Bill Vermouth.

Kuebler has lived in Vermont for nearly 40 years, originally arriving to attend college where he earned a degree in education. He currently serves on the board of two local nonprofit organizations. Prior to his insurance career, Kuebler taught school locally, managed a restaurant and grocery store,  was a healthcare provider, and served as national sales manager for three businesses. He is a resident of Williamsville, Vermont, and the father of three grown children.

Founded in 1950, the Brattleboro Rotary Club is an active community service club of about 90 members. Every year, the club awards more than $50,000 to the greater Brattleboro area, including: $24,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors; $5,000 in awards that support more than 30 local community organizations; and up to $25,000 for various community projects including playground equipment, snowmaking guns, ice rink bleachers, and a water park at Living Memorial Park. The funds are raised through the club's annual Christmas Tree Sale, Charity Golf Tournament, and other fundraising endeavors.

In addition to fundraising, club members volunteer their skill and time to projects for several community service organizations, including, among others, the Christmas Stocking, the Senior Center, Habitat for Humanity, Living Memorial Park, and Youth Services. The club's community outreach each year also includes hosting a Sugar-on-Snow event at the Brattleboro Winter Carnival in February; co-sponsoring Project KidCare, a photo ID event at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital's Health Fair in September; welcoming local high school students into the club's Student Rotarian Program; and providing for senior gift-giving during the holiday season. In addition, the Brattleboro Rotary Club sponsored the launch of the Brattleboro Sunrise Club in 1995 and co-sponsored the launch of the Deerfield Valley Club in 2005.

One of the Club's proudest achievements is the founding of Pure Water for the World. The initiative began with Brattleboro Rotary Club member Peter Abell, a dentist who traveled with other local dentists and eye doctors to provide medical services to villages in El Salvador. He decided to organize a club effort to help Salvadoran villagers achieve potable water year-round. The Pure Water initiative has since spun off into a private foundation that has had much success.

For more information about the Brattleboro Rotary Club, please visit the club's website or contact Kuebler via email or phone at 802-348-7783.