Welcome to Ludlow, VT Rotary

Ludlow Rotary Club

Service Above Self

We meet Tuesdays at 12:15 PM
DJ's Restaurant
146 Main Street (not for mail purposes)
P.O. Box 216
Ludlow, VT  05149
United States of America
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Venue Map
 
2021 DUCK RACE TICKETS 
Buy your 2021 Duck Race tickets here!  Read more below this Paypal link.
 
Ludlow Rotary Duck Tickets
 
 
Come join the fun!  Get your ducky today for this annual event!
 
It’s getting close to that time – when we’ll all be rooting for our favorite duck!
 
Yes, the annual duck race sponsored by the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) will soon be racing down the Black River to reward its owners.
 
The LRC formally announced that the traditional Ralph D Hogancamp Memorial Duck Race is scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 21 when the ducks will be dropped into the Black River at 12 Noon from the Depot Street Bridge.  Prizes for the regular winning ducks crossing the finish line at Walker Bridge will be
 
  •        $200 for the first duck
  •        $100 for the second place duck
  •        $75 for the third duck AND
  •        $25 for the last duck to finish
 
Corporate ducks also have a winning chance; the first Corporate duck to cross the finish line will have the honor of displaying the corporate duck plaque in their business for the next year.
 
If you’d like to rent a duck, a single duck will cost $5.  However you can get 5 ducks for the price of 4 if you buy the QUACK pack for $20.  Corporate ducks will rent for $50 a corporate duck.
 
Where can you rent your ducks?
 
You can purchase them at Ludlow Insurance Agency, Peoples United Bank, Fletcher Memorial Library, Benson’s Chevrolet, or see any Ludlow Rotarian.  If you prefer to go online, check out the www.ludlowrotary.com.  If you’re going to pay by check, please make the check payable to LARCF (Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Fund).
 
So, you’d better hurry since there are just a limited number of ducks in the race!
Home Page Stories
Ludlow Rotary 30th Annual Chili Fest
Posted on Sep 30, 2021
The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) is sponsoring its 30th Annual Chili Cook-off on Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The cook-off will be located at the traffic light on Depot Street.  Proceeds will benefit the The Ludlow Rotary Charitable Fund to enable the LRC to continue its programs of local support.   Admission is $10.00 per person which includes chili, bread, ice cream and cider.
 
Chili entries are welcome from individuals, clubs, and businesses.  An entry fee of $10.00 will include a table space and sterno to keep the chili warm.  Participants are responsible for arriving between 10:30 – 10:45 the day of the cook-off.   Cash prizes will be awarded in the “People’s Choice” category.  Awards will be given to the chili entry with the most voted in the “Judges’ Choice”, “Spiciest”, and “Team Spirit” categories.  Chili entrants are asked to provide four (4) gallons of chili for this event and be there to serve the chili.
 
Please mail your name, address and phone number along with chili entry fee of $10.00 to:  Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Fund, Inc. PO Box 616, Ludlow, VT  05149. 
 
For more info, contact Kevin Barnes at 802 558 0479.
Ludlow Rotary Memorialized Bob Kirkbride
Ludlow Rotary Club recently unveiled a beautiful 15’ street clock at the corner of Main and Elm Street in honor of long time Ludlow resident and Rotarian of 60+ years Bob Kirkbride who died in March 2020 at age 93.
 
The street clock, made by Electric Time Company, Inc. of Medfield, Massachusetts was designed by the Club and was placed on Town of Ludlow property with the blessing of the Ludlow Village Trustees. Special thanks are extended to the Town’s Municipal Manager Scott Murphy, Ludlow’s Highway Crew, Ludlow Electric Company, Benson’s Chevrolet who stored it for us once it was shipped to Ludlow and assistance from Brett Wright and Wright Construction all who were instrumental of erecting and making sure the clock was ticking!
 
The dedication was held after a Ludlow Rotary luncheon on Tuesday September 14th and family members were present along with an honor guard from The American Legion Post 36 and many fellow Rotarians, neighbors and friends.    Rotarian Kimberly Lampert started the proceeding with all reciting the Pledge of Allegiance then introduced the club’s present and last two presidents all who led the club while deciding on what meaningful tribute we could do in Bob’s memory.  Also recognized was Rotary Past District Governor Jon Springer of Reading who was a former Ludlow Police Chief in Ludlow and a friend of Bob’s since the 1970’s.   Brigid Sullivan, fellow Ludlow Rotarian from Belmont provided a blessing and then Rotarian Jim Rumrill said a few words about Bob as Rotarian; he was followed by Frank Heald, former Town Manager and fellow Rotarian who spoke of Bob as a Ludlow citizen and friend and how Bob always found the GIFT of TIME to help others and raise money to benefit our little town and the area. Several funny stories were told by each of course!
 
Sharon Bixby spoke of the process of actually getting the clock and thanked those who helped the club with the project…  Rotarians, Town Departments, Ludlow Electric, Rotarian spouses like Jon Lampert who was a great help and even a Rotarian grandson who helped plant the flowers at the base of the clock.  
 
Then it was time for Kevin Barnes, Ludlow Rotarian and Jon Lampert to remove the covering and unveil the lovely clock!     Applause and some tears of joy & pride followed ...  Rotarian Mary Crowley closed the dedication leading us all in one of Bob’s favorite songs- God Bless America!
 
It was a picturesque day to honor and memorialize a great man who Ludlow will surely miss.  As noted by Rotarian Sharon Bixby, “Bob’s ‘gift of time’, dedicated to helping others and being with those we love and care for, is perhaps his lasting memorial from which we can all benefit”.

Drug Overdosing and Responses
Representatives of the Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Care Center (MAHHC) addressed a recent luncheon meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club on drug overdosing and death.
 
Melanie Sheehan and Astrid Bradish, two key members of MAHHC’s drug recovery program, stressed the fact that ”overdose death is 100% preventable - every life matters and efforts that save lives can be done by anyone and everyone”.
 
Their discussion focused are the key drug overdose signs and characteristics:
 
  •        What is an overdose
  •        Signs of an opioid over dose
  •        How to respond to an overdose
  •        The use of CPR to restore normal breathing
  •        The use of Narcan
 
Narcan, technically known as naloxone, was emphasized as a means of restoring breathing to an overdosed person.  Both speakers recommended carrying Narcan especially where opioid overdosing may occur.
 
Melanie Sheehan is the Regional Prevention Program Manager at MAHHC and has been there for over 20 years.  Her work is focused mainly on the prevention of substance use; however, more recently she has partnered with folks in substance use treatment and recovery to help curb the rate of drug overdose death in Windsor County which has the highest death rate in Vermont.
 
Astrid Bradish-Hoyt is involved with long term recovery and working for the Turning Point Recovery Center of Springfield.  She is the Supervisor for the Recovery Coaches in the Emergency Department of MAHHC and Manager of its Organization Grant function.  Astrid also serves as co-chair of the Substance Misuse Workgroup the hospital’s Community Health Improvement Plan.
 
Pictured here is Melanie Sheehan and Astrid Bradish-Hoyt as they peak to members of the Ludlow Rotary Club on opioid overdosing.
Ludlow Rotary Learns About Clear Lake Furniture
In its second face-to-face meeting since the pandemic restrictions were lifted, the Ludlow Rotary conducted its weekly meeting at ClearLake Furniture’s showroom in Ludlow.
 
The meeting was hosted by Brent Karner, the owner and master craftsman of ClearLake, and catered by The Cookster.
 
Brent was the featured speaker at the meeting, discussing his own background as well as the history and product design and creation procedures employed by ClearLake.
 
He began by describing his own development as a craftsman.  Brent grew up in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He attended Tewksbury public schools, Shawsheen Regional Vocational Tech. School in 1982, and in 1985 graduated from North Bennet Street School in Boston where he learned the art of fine woodworking. After graduating from North Bennet, prior to starting ClearLake Furniture, he spent many years crafting 18th and 19th century reproductions as well as contemporary furniture for clients throughout New England.
 
ClearLake Furniture was created in 1992 and has offered a wide variety of individualized fine furniture since.
 
In discussing the impact of the Covid pandemic, Brent observed that his business actually increased – but with a twist.  The was a much greater demand for two items that dramatically increased orders:  desks and liquor and wine cabinets.
 
Following his presentation, Brent took the Rotarians on a tour of his showroom and shop where all the furniture was made.  He is pictured here in his shop with the beginnings of a wine cabinet.
 
Brent currently lives on South Hill in Ludlow with his wife, Abi, of 35 years and their two children, Thacher and Rachel.
Rotary Honors Mary Crowley's Retirement
At its recent weekly meeting, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) paid tribute to Mary Crowley, a fellow Rotarian, on the occasion of her retirement.
 
Mary was the Senior Loan Officer at  the Citizens Banks for the past 11 years.  Prior to that she had functioned as a loan officer for a number of years in other agencies.
 
Residing in Reading, VT, Mary has an active Rotarian for 23 years.  She is fond of gardening, visiting her family and grandchildren, singing in a choir, and a dedicated Red Sox fan.
 
Pictured above is Art Randolph, LRC President, and Mary with a special retirement cake before them.
 
She graduated from Smith College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
Changing of Gavel
Ludlow Rotary Conducts “Change of Gavel”
 
As is usual for the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) at it last meeting in June, the current President handed over the leadership of the LRC to its incoming President in an annual event known as "the changing of the gavel".  In this instance, with the lifting of previous Covid-19 restrictions, the LRC decided to combine the changing of the gavel with a summer picnic to replace the Christmas program that was cancelled due to the pandemic.
 
The actual exchange of the gavel was done by Kevin Barnes, the out-going LRC President, presenting a gavel during the meeting and with Art Randolph, the incoming President  It also gave Art the opportunity to thank Kevin for what he had accomplished in the LRC  during the past year, awarding him a specially engraved plaque.  Pictured above are Art and Kevin during the exchange of the gavel.
 
An important step forward was announced at this session.  The next LRC meeting, scheduled for July 13, would be held at DJs Restaurant.  This would be the first formal meeting conducted face to face since the start of the pandemic.
 
The changing of the gavel process was conducted during a special summer picnic at the home of Tom Harris on Lake Rescue. 
Let's Grow Kids
Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids, and Emily Blistein, Business Strategy Director of the organization, were featured speakers at a recent Ludlow Rotary Club meeting.  They both discussed the purpose and objectives of the “Let’s Grow Kids” project, headquartered in Burlington.
 
“Let’s Grow Kids” is a project whose aim is to create “a road to high-quality child care for all Vermont families by the year 2025.  As noted by Aly, the organization has an unusual objective in addition to its prime purpose.  “We want to go out of business in 2025”, exclaimed Aly, noting that they wished to succeed in creating high-quality child care by that year.
 
In describing the current conditions of child care services in the state, she noted these key elements that needed to be addressed:
  •        3 out of every 5 Vermont children do not have access to good child care
  •        30% of a family’s income is spent on child care
  •        Child care personnel only receive an average of $13 an hour
Aly indicated that over 30,000 Vermonters have already joined them in supporting the group’s objectives.
 
One major part of the program’s purpose was realized this year when the state legislature passed H.171, a bill that allocated $12.7 million to address four major child care issues:  family child care support, child care worker salaries, infrastructure improvement, and an analysis of existing child care programs in the state.
 
Emily Blistein spoke of the need for business and corporate support to underwrite the programs operated by “Let’s Grow Kids”.  Information on how businesses may participate in this effort may be secured by contacting her at emily@letsgrowkids.org.
 
More information is available at the group’s web site, https://letsgrowkids.org.
 
Annual Community Service Award Presentation
The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) presented its Annual Community Service Award to Karen Trimboli at its recent meeting, held using Zoom.
 
In making the award, Kevin Barnes, LRC President, thanked Karen for her years of service to the community as the leader of the Ludlow Elementary School and Black River High School. He emphasized the important role she played during the Covid pandemic in providing meaningful educational opportunities to area students.
In her response to the award, Karen noted that, during the Covid crisis, students, teachers, and parents were “very resilient” in adapting to the demands of remote learning. She had high praise for parents, especially, as they “stepped up to help the kids adapt to the technical demands of the process”.
 
She indicated that a great deal of planning went into getting the students into a safe environment while maximizing the level of education provided through the remote learning process.
 
Karen noted that the major thing she missed during this process was the usual participation of local organizations like Black River Academy Museum, the American Legion, and other area groups who often assisted in helping the schools with the educational process.
 
During the business portion of the LRC meeting, it was decided to donate $1,000 to the non-profit charity SEWA International to purchase 2 oxygen generators for India to help with the Covid-19 crisis in the nation.
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Robert Adcock, new CEO of Springfield Hospital
At its recent on-line meeting, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) heard remarks by Robert Adcock, new CEO of Springfield Hospital.
 
Adcock noted that the hospital was “facing tremendous challenges” following its recent bankruptcy problems combined with the impact of Covid-19. Noting that the hospital has “put some of its troubles behind us”, he stressed that the organization’s ability to come out of bankruptcy was a significant step. However, like most hospitals throughout the nation, it still was dealing with the declining patient count resulting from the impact of the Covid-19 situation.
 
He added that, as new leader of the hospital, it was his intent to “earn back the confidence of the community”. Adcock indicated that his main focus was “to build back to case-load of the hospital to pre-Covid levels”.
 
With respect to the current Covid status, he said that the hospital was averaging about one case of Covid a day. He also noted that Windsor County currently has about 60% of its population with at least 1 vaccination compared to 48% of Chittenden County.
 
Adcock said the hospital expected to receive the new Pfizer vaccine for youngsters, 12 through 15, shortly and open clinics to administer them.
In terms of staffing, he noted that the hospital shortly will have a second general surgeon and that key staff members have stayed with the hospital. When queried about the possibility of reopening maternity care, he noted that it was not coming back in the near term.
Snowshoe Art
John Predom Describes Snowshoe
Art to Ludlow Rotary Club Members
 
At its recent weekly meeting, members of the Ludlow Rotary were pleasantly witness to the snowshoe artistry of John Predom, formerly of Ludlow now a happy resident in the North East Kingdom.
 
Predom described how he developed his snowshoe art, noting that it took about 4 to 6 hours, or up to six miles of walking to create his graphic art work.  He usually used his own “back field” to create the art but required a drone to take photos of it.
 
When asked what type of showshow he preferred, Predom said that he liked wooden shoes, as opposed to metal, and that they measured 46 inches in length and about a foot in width.
 
He commented that “doing straight lines was much harder than walking in circles” due to the not-so-flat nature of the land.
 
One Rotarian asked him if he ever made a mistake.  To this Predom admitted that he did occasionally make mistakes and that they were hard to correct since the impressions in the snow were obvious.
 
Predom maintains a facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SnowdogSnowshoeArt, where some of his graphic art may be seen.
 
Above is one of the many graphic art designs created by John Predom as taken by a drone.  Some of his work has been recently featured on WCAX.
 
Here is a video link to follow for more fun:  Snowshoe art
Abenaki Chief, Don Stevens
Abenaki Chief, Don Stevens, Speaks to Ludlow Rotary
 
Don Stevens, Chief of the Nulhegan Bank of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, spoke to members of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) during its recent weekly meeting.
 
During his comments, Stevens described the historical background of the Abenaki, its geographic location in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Canada, and the influx of southern tribes from the Connecticut and Massachusetts areas.
 
He noted that the Abenaki have a history dating back 11,000 years in this area.  With the influx of Europeans in the 17th and 18th centuries, tribes from the Deerfield and Greylock areas of Massachusetts were forced north in Abenaki territory.
 
Of particular interest was the relationship between the tribes and the English and French settlers and military personnel.  According to Stevens, the British, especially their military, was very standoffish while the French tended to develop a rapport with tribal members.  For this reason, the Abenaki allied themselves with the French during the French and Indian Wars.
 
Stevens described the period in Vermont during the early 1930’s as a troubling one for Abenaki members.  In 1931, the Vermont Legislature enacted eugenics laws forcing “undesirable” people to be sterilized.
 
This highlighted the perennial problem faced by the Abenaki in terms of their identity.  Stevens noted that non-Indian cultures normally had a long history of their family and national identity.  Unfortunately, the Indians, due principally to language differences, did not as far as the European-oriented people were concerned.
 
Stevens was the first Vermonter to be vaccinated during the Covid crisis.  This was part of his effort to convince the Abenaki of the desirability of the vaccination to deal with Covid.
 
He also noted that the Abenaki language, initially with the help of the French, was being preserved.  Currently Stevens has been working with Middlebury College to provide training in the language.
 
Don Stevens is an award-winning leader, businessman, writer, and lecturer. He has been featured in magazines, books, TV shows, and documentaries. Don was appointed to the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs by Governor Douglas in 2006 for two terms where he served as Chair. He led the fight to obtain legal recognition for the Abenaki People in Vermont. He was able to acquire tribal land for the Nulhegan Tribe which had been absent for over 200 years. He has over 26 years of experience in successfully developing Information Technology, Logistics, and Manufacturing strategies for multi-million dollar companies. He proudly served in the US Army and graduated from Champlain College with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
Lake Rescue Milfoil Discussion
Lake Rescue Milfoil Problem
Discussed at Rotary Meeting
 
The co-Presidents of the Lake Rescue Association (LRA), Barbara Silver and Bruce Zanca, recently spoke to a meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) to discuss the problems facing them due to Eurasian Milfoil and river sediment.
 
The LRA, formed in 1933 and incorporated in 1954, is, according to Silver, “facing a crisis right now”.  She was referring to the rapid build up of milfoil, a non-native, invasive  aquatic plant that can grow from 4 to 6 inches a day in full sunlight.
 
The milfoil invasion of Lake Rescue and Lake Pauline was “rediscovered” in the lake system in 2014 following tropical storm Irene.  It has become an on-going problem that, if not addressed, could turn the “lakes into a swamp”.
 
Over the years since Irene, the LRA, in conjunction with state agencies, has spent thousands of dollars to remove the milfoil from the lakes.  It was estimated that the LRA would spend about $48,000 next year on removing milfoil.
 
Zanca noted that they would probably never be able to totally eradicate milfoil from the lakes but would be able to reduce it to a controllable situation with constant maintenance care.  To this end the LRA is constructing a “Dash” boat that will be able to literally vacuum the milfoil from parts of the lake and its floor.
 
In addition to this problem, the LRA is also addressing the impact of sedimentation caused mainly by the Black River. 
 
One area of concern is the channel between Lake Rescue and Round Pond.  Over the years, the sediment build-up has resulted in the creation of “islands” of sediment and raised the floor of Round Pond so that the depth of the water has been severely reduced.
 
The LRA has about 150 members.  There are approximately 250-300 individual lake properties involved.
 
Pictured here is Barbara Silver, co-President of the Lake Rescue Association, as she discusses the milfoil problem in Lake Rescue during a Zoom-based meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club.
 
Ted & Linda Fondulas Zoom with LRC
At its recent Zoom meeting, members of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) were entertained by Ted and Linda Fondulas, previous owners of Hemingway’s Restaurant in Killington as they described the history of that famous restaurant.
 
Linda Fondulas offered a detailed outline of how the duo created Hemingway’s.  In particular, she noted the development of usage of locally produced foods and their interest in creating a diverse menu that made the restaurant one of the 25 greatest in the nation.
 
In detailing his approach to cooking and creating unique menus, Ted Fondulas indicated that food preparation was the second most active career in the country.
 
He also took this occasion to comment on the role that the late Bob Gilmore of Ludlow played in bringing new and innovative concepts of restauranteuring to Vermont noting “he was a leader in promoting food service in Vermont”.
 
In response to the impact of Covid-19 on the restaurant business, Fondulas raised the question of “will people continue to eat out as often after Covid?”  He added that with so many people now preparing their meals at home instead of eating out, there may be a drop in restaurant business as a direct result of the virus.
 
During the business meeting, Kevin Barnes, LRC President, indicated that the club had received 1,000 face masks.  Of this total, 300 would be used in Mt Holly while another 400 would be presented to Ludlow.
 
 
“Pictured below are Linda and Ted Fondulas with Julia Child.  Child would go to Hemingway’s on her birthday during the period when she visited relatives in Woodstock.”
Help for First Responders
HELP FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
 
As part of Rotary International District 7870, which includes southern Vermont and New Hampshire, the Ludlow Rotary Club participated in an effort to fund area groups that offer important services addressing the Covid-19 outbreak in the community.
 
The grants are for food for Black River Good Neighbor Services, which will receive $2,100, and personal protective equipment for local first responders: $1,650 to the Ludlow Ambulance Service and $450 to the Gill Odd Fellows Home.
 
In the right-hand photo are, from left Ludlow Town Manager Scott Murphy, David Norton of the Ludlow Ambulance Service, Kevin Barnes of the Ludlow Rotary and John Mazurek, also of the Ambulance Service.
 
In the left-hand picture, at the Gill Odd Fellows Home from left are January Reichert, Gill director of nursing, Gill administrator Theresa Southworth and Ludlow Rotary’s Kevin Barnes.
 
 
 
 
2020 Chili Event Cancelled
Ludlow Rotary Cancels Annual Chili Cookoff
Due to Covid-19 and Seeks Donations
 
“For the past 19 years, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) has sponsored a Chili Cook-off regardless of the weather or other worldly problems.  But 2020 will see the first cancellation of the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  We believe it is a necessary step to take to protect area residents and visitors from unnecessary exposure to the virus.”
 
With these words, LRC President, Kevin Barnes, announced the cancellation of an event that represented a major fund-raiser for the club in addition to the Penny Sale earlier this year.  Both of these events were major programs to raise funds for the $9,000 in scholarship funds given by the club to area high school seniors.
 
“We still managed to use our reserve funds to cover the scholarships this year but really need to find other source of revenue for the coming year”, added Barnes.
 
He indicated that the Ludlow Rotary Club would appreciate any donations people were able to make to help LRC prepare for the scholarship they will hopefully be awarding in 2021.
 
Such donations may be sent to the Ludlow Rotary Club, PO Box 216; Ludlow, VT  05149.  Direct online donations may be made through PayPal at www.ludlowrotary.com.    All such donations are fully tax deductible and will be acknowledged.
 
“We hope events will make it possible to continue the chili cook-off next year”, noted Mark Huntley, Chili Committee Chairman, “but our primary concern is the health and well-being of those who may have attended this event and the community in general”.
Weston Playhouse, Susanna Gellert
Susanna Gellert, Executive Artistic Director of the Weston Playhouse, was the featured speaker at the recent meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club via the Zoom app.
 
She described the impact of Covid-19 on the decision to cancel the current season’s production at the Weston Playhouse noting that it was difficult considering the many artists who would be affected by the decision.
 
In determining what the playhouse could do to provide some form of artistic performances while complying with restrictions associated with Covid-19, Gellert cited the various projects the playhouse sponsored. 
 
One of these projects was to commission 14 well-known playwrights to write short plays with a single actor.  The resulting works, called “One Room” concentrated on the question of what makes a home.  This series, along with several other projects, is available on the playhouse’s YouTube page,  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=weston+playhouse.
 
Gellert indicated that the playhouse was considering possible productions for the 2021 season.  She cautioned that such a schedule, if the situation permitted, would probably be shorter than their normal season productions.
Ninevah Foundation
At its recent meeting, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) was addressed by Kelly Beerman, Conservation Director for the Ninevah Foundation, a group dedicated to the protection and conservation of Lake Ninevah in Mt Holly.
 
Beerman indicated that one of her primary concerns was the protection of the lake from aquatic invasive species.  She described how the foundation has created “greeters” who assist people visiting the lake and ensuring that no invasive species are allowed to enter the lake’s environment.
 
In describing some of the various projects she is responsible for, Beerman noted the grants used to underwrite the lake’s conservation.  She is also associated with the Farm and Wildness Foundation in a similar role.
 
The Ninevah Foundation is governed by a dedicated and knowledgeable staff as well as a diverse and experienced board of trustees. Our staff are well-versed in outdoor education and environmental stewardship. Many of our trustees were once campers and/or counselors at Farm & Wilderness camps, Ninevah Foundation’s affiliated partner.  As of 2018, Ninevah Foundation and Farm & Wilderness jointly share the same staff and board members as affiliated organizations.
 
21st Annual Ralph D. Hogancamp Memorial Duck Race
 
 
 
Come join the fun!  Get your ducky today for this annual event!
 
Socially distanced duckies will be dropped into the river on August 15, 2020 at 12:00 noon.
 
One duck is just $5 bucks, a "Quack Pack" is 5 duckies for $20 and a corporate duck is $50.
 
Proceeds benefit community projects, scholarships and literacy just to name a few.
 
 
 
CASH PRIZES FOR FIRST THREE DUCKIES TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE.  
And the last little ducky receives $25.00!
Read more...
WCAX Weather Woman Sharon Meyer
WCAX Weather Woman Describes
Impact of Covid-19 to Ludlow Rotary
 
Sharon Meyer, key weather woman at WCAX-TV, was the guest speaker recently at the on-line meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club LRC).
 
Sharon devoted her presentation to the effect the Covid-19 crisis had on her personally and its impact on how WCAX adapted to the rigorous demands of dealing with the virus.
 
The meeting, held using the Zoom app, allowed members of the LRC to get a detailed picture of the changes that the station and its personnel had to make to operate.  The main change was working from home.  This required that the various reporters, weather staff, and production staff by in large work from home.
 
She noted that the most difficult phase of this adjustment was for production staff who needed to be “hands-on” with the various technical equipment used to produce live and recorded news and weather programs.
 
On a personal note, Sharon noted that she was on vacation in Mexico at the onset of the virus.  On her return to Vermont, she learned that she would have to spend 14 days in isolation, following the newly-introduced requirements of Gov. Scott.
 
During a Q and A session following Sharon’s presentation, Brett Wright, a LRC Rotarian, described the similar difficulties he encountered when he tried to leave the Dominican Republic.  He finally found a flight carrying American citizens back to the states only to learn that all the rental car companies had no more cars to rent due to the heavy demand created by the coronavirus crisis.
Caption to attached photo:
 
Pictured above is Sharon Meyer, a weather woman for WCAX, during her Zoom, on-line, discussion with members of the Ludlow Rotary Club.
Robert W. Kirkbride

We are saddened by the news of our beloved Bob Kirkbride who passed away earlier this afternoon.

Bob was a devoted Rotarian of 63 years to our club. He often stayed after lunch to help clean the tables at DJ’s after our regular weekly luncheon. Bob kept our club on its toes with his general comments, happy dollar stories and weekly program music director. He had near 100% attendance .. very seldom did he miss a meeting.

He participated with all club activities and he never missed a Penny Sale!

His smiling face will be missed by many. He was a true friend to many in our town and touched our hearts dearly. We love you Bob ❤️❤️

 

 

Ludlow Rotary Raising Funds for Australian Fire Victims - Both Human and Animal!

Ludlow Rotary Raising Funds for Australian

Fire Victims – Both Human and Animal!

 

Given the enormity of the fires now threatening all of Australia, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) has initiated efforts to raise funds to help the Australian people and the millions of injured and dislocated animals in that country.

 

According to Mark Huntley, LRC President, “We will be joining Rotary International in raising funds to help the be leagued Australian people and animals begin to recover from the devastating fires currently engulfing that nation”.  He noted that the LRC’s fund raising effort would be in concert with Rotary International’s program to provide assistance, Rotary International Brush fires Appeal.

 

The local club will donate $2,000 to this fund split equally between humanity and wildlife rescue. All funds collected will be divided the same way.

 

The LRC Rotarians plan to distribute “drop-boxes” to many area stores and businesses so that additional funds will be secured for this effort.

 

Huntley indicated that “we suspect that everyone has been concerned about loss of life and property resulting from these fires in Australia and wants to find some way to help that nation recover and rebuild from this tremendous calamity”.  He noted that he, like many others, were particularly overcome by the plight of the animals like the koalas and kangaroos that we have become attached to.

 

In addition to the LRC donation and the drop-box collections, interested people may also send checks to the Ludlow Rotary Club’s tax-exempt organization.  The mailing address for such contributions is: Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Fund, Inc. (LARCF), PO Box 216, Ludlow VT 05149.  This is a 501 (c) (3) organization so all contributions are tax-deductible.

 

More information on this effort may be obtained by calling 802-779-7194 or emailing LRC at kimberlylampert@bensonschevy.com.

 

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RVTC Leaders Speak to Ludlow Rotary
 
 
The recent meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) featured leaders of the River Valley Technical Center (RVTC), located in Springfield, as they discussed the role and objectives of that school.
 
Both Scott Farr, the Superintendent/Director of RVTC and Dave Culver, its Cooperative Education Coordinator, explained how the school has created a wide variety of technical subjects aimed at helping its students select a career path or enhancing their educational background.
 
They noted that the school, which services a number of Windsor County high schools as well as one in New Hampshire, is dedicated to ensuring that attending students gain an in-depth view of selected technical career opportunities so they may opt for those they find rewarding.
 
Pictured above are Barbara Lemire, LRC Rotarian; Mark Huntley, LRC President; and Scott Farr, RVTC.
Club Executives & Directors
President
Art Randolph
President Elect
James R. Rumrill
Secretary
Barb LeMire
Treasurer
Kimberly Lampert
Past President
Kevin Barnes
Co Foundation Chair
Brigid Sullivan
CO-Foundation Chair
Paul Rix
Home Page News
Attendance Make-ups
It is the Rotarian's responsibility to report any make-ups to the club secretary, Barbara LeMire.  Make-ups should be reported immediately for recordkeeping purposes.
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