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WELCOME

 
President Bill Vermouth welcomed all to the October 25th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the American Legion in Brattleboro. He introduced members of the PR Committee who have done a fantastic job promoting PolioPlus this week and winning an award tonight from BCTV for Rotary Cares.  In turn, the committee welcomed members and guests to the meeting in perfect unison. John Meyer offered a meaningful invocation:
Lord, remind us to use the time you have given us to add something of value each day. Added value is especially beneficial to us when it is given freely to those less fortunate. A smile, a wave, a helping hand add much more value to the day than we realize. Bless this food to our use and us to thy service. Amen.

This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Liz Harrison, Andy Rome and Stan Nowakowski.

 

As a luncheon chicken, pasta with pesto and spinach, pasta with tomato sauce, corn, salad, bread and chocolate chip cookies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
 
GUESTS: Visiting Rotarian Josh Trager (Sunrise), Eric Lineback, Alice Mays, Cory Ross, and Carl Christianson (speaker)
 

TRIVIA QUESTION

Each week the Brattleboro Rotary Club meets at the American Legion. When was the American Legion founded? 
BONUS QUESTION: Where was it founded?
 (Answer below.)
 
JOKE
 
For our Rotary joke, Cindy Jerome told the following:
 
There was a man in Bulgaria who drove a train for a living. He loved his job, driving a train had been his dream ever since he was a child. He loved to make the train go as fast as possible.
 
Unfortunately, one day he was a little too reckless and caused a crash. He made it out, but a single person died.
 
Well, needless to say, he went to court over this incident. He was found guilty, and was sentenced to death by electrocution. When the day of the execution came, he requested a single banana as his last meal. After eating the banana, he was strapped into the electric chair. The switch was flown, sparks flew and smoke filled the air- but nothing happened.
The man was perfectly fine.
 
Well, at the time, there was an old Bulgarian law that said a failed execution was a sign of divine intervention, so the man was allowed to go free. And somehow, he managed to get his old job back driving the train. Having not learned his lesson at all, he went right back to driving the train with reckless abandon.Once again, he caused a train to crash, this time killing two people.
 
The trial went much the same as the first, resulting in a sentence of execution. For his final meal, the man requested two bananas. After eating the bananas, he was strapped into the electric chair. The switch was thrown, sparks flew, smoke filled the room- and the man was once again unharmed.
 
Well, this of course meant that he was free to go. And once again, he somehow manages to get his old job back. To what should have been the surprise of no one, he crashed yet another train and killed three people. And so he once again found himself being sentenced to death. On the day of his execution, he requested his final meal- three bananas.
 
"You know what? No," said the executioner. "I've had it with you and your stupid bananas and walking out of here unharmed. I'm not giving you a thing to eat, we're strapping you in and doing this now. Well, it was against protocol, but the man was strapped in to the electric chair without a last meal. The switch was pulled, sparks flew, smoke filled the room- and the man was still unharmed. The executioner was speechless.
 
The man looked at the executioner and said "Oh, the bananas had nothing to do with it. I'm just a bad conductor."
 
ROTARY MINUTE

For Rotary Minute, Ted Kramer reminded us of the high level of volunteerism in the club. He then asked members to volunteer to string holiday lights on Main Street in Brattleboro on 11/10 at 9 AM. Hands immediately went up to volunteer.  

 

NOTE: There is no regular club meeting on November 1st.  We are meeting at the Latchis for a concert to benefit Senior Meals.
 
At our November 8th meeting, John Kohler will tell a joke or lead us in song and Joe Little will offer a Rotary Minute.
 
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
 
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
  • 11/01 – Roadshow to Latchis Theater to listen to Windham Orchestra;
                 benefit for Senior Meals
  • 110/8 – Tom Green, Edible Brattleboro
  • 11/15 – Carolyn Meub, Pure Water for the World
  • 11/22 – No Meeting = Happy Thanksgiving!
  • 11/29 – Eilidh Pederson and Carmen Derby, New Dental Center
  • 12/06 – Club Assembly – Senior Gift Wrapping
 
NOTE: 2018-19 weekly assignments are posted on club website.
 

REMINDERS

  • Bottles and cans can be brought to Putney Road redemption center to benefit Pure Water for the World. Please see Mara Williams.
  • “Like” the club’s Facebook page
 
If you like this newsletter, brag at next Club meeting. 
So far, still only 
THREE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  1. Board minutes are posted on the club’s website.
  2. Jeff Morse was recognized for his 23 years of service.
  3. BCTV is awarding the Rotary Clubs of Brattleboro its 2018 Non-profit Member of the Year for our series, Rotary Cares.
  4. Roger Miller is recovering at home from his surgery.
  5. Newest member Meg Donahue was not present so there is still time to sign her book.
  6. November 1 meeting is a roadshow to Latchis Theater for a concert benefitting Senior Meals.
  7. The club will be holding a fundraiser at 99 Restaurant on 11/6.  Proceeds from your dinner come back to the club.
  8. So far no one has signed up for  the community service project at the Vermont Food Bank on November 10, please contact Stan Nowakowski.
  9. The first Seasonal Overflow Shelter meal will be served by the club on 11/26. For more info, contact Stan Nowakowski.
  10. “Pie It Forward” will be baking 100 pumpkin pies for sale at Thanksgiving. Order forms are available on the club’s website, as well as member’s email. <ED NOTE: You can order a pie that can be delivered to the Seasonal Overflow Shelter.> If you can help with “Pie It Forward”, contact Roger Allbee.
  11. Xmas tree set up is on 11/17. If you can help, contact George Weir.
  12. Xmas trees will be unloaded on 11/23. If you can help, contact George Weir.
  13. Senior Gifts Committee will start buying gifts. If you can help, contact Sandy Rouse.
  14. There is an informational meeting for those interested in traveling to Cheyanne River Indian Reservation on Sunday 11/4 at the Guilford Community Church at noon.

FINES

NONE ;-(
 

BRAGS

 
  • Ted Kramer – for the club’s volunteerism spirit.
  • Bill Vermouth – for Rob Szpila and Josh Trager whose efforts at the Disc Golf Tournament raised $6400.
  • Rob Szpila – for the Disc Golf Committee, volunteers, and sponsors for making the event a success.
  • Josh Trager – for the club’s volunteerism spirit and for being among the top 5 Rotary Clubs in Brattleboro.
  • Tom French – for his granddaughter, Olivia, winning a bronze trophy at the Glendale, Colorado Rugby Tournament.
  • Bill McKim – for his final mountain climb of the season.
.

PROGRAM

Jeff Morse presented Carl Christianson who gave us an update about his new business venture, Northeast Processing, a large scale processor, extractor, and analytical testing lab for hemp.
 
To learn more, click here.
 
Rotary Cares - TV Show or Podcast
 
 
Rotary Cares, Episode 11 – Rotary’s End Polio Now Campaign
 
Brattleboro Rotary Club past president Marty Cohn talks with Alton Centennial Rotary member Dave Countway about Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio. Produced in the studio
of Brattleboro Community Television.
 
To view the show, click here.
 
To listen to the podcast, click here.

DISCLAIMER

Past President Martin Cohn who attempts to give a gist of the meeting respectfully submitted this bulletin.  However, it is always better to attend.  If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin...
 
 

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION

March 15, 1919 in Paris, France
For more info, click here.
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner