Ava Nnochiri, CVU Student competes in the Rotary Club Speech Contest
Today was a busy day for our Rotary Club. We began with the Rotary High School Speaker Contest, Club Round 1. Ava Nnochiri, a tenth grade student from Champlain Valley Union High School presented to us. She prepared and delivered a five minute speech relating to how her personal and school life helps to live a life putting service above self, an important Rotary value. Ava talked about collaboration, connection, communication and celebration. She also gave our Rotarians some ideas on how we might work together with the younger generation to accomplish these important goals. Her suggestions included a possible cyber workshop together with students and Rotarians. She also talked about interesting opportunities to sponsor generational events such as sporting activities or art gatherings or a social dance where everyone could strive for excellence and together we could volunteer together! Ava did an outstanding job and we were pleased to nominate her as our club's award winner. Unfortunately, she is the only student that participated but it made no difference she received a hearty round of applause!
Tom Spencer, Publisher of Resort Guides then presented to the group a bit about his life and how he ended up as a publisher. Tom suffered a bit of a mid-life crisis after spending 30 years running a transportation company he decided to walk away and try something totally different focusing on environmental stewardship and leading a purpose driven life. He began publishing a four season guide in the Mad River Valley - the guides were so successful that he expanded to the Adirondack area and is now working on a first ever Southern Champlain Valley guide. The guide will begin by including Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg and possibly Middlebury. These resort guides have been very successful as well as interesting and fun for Tom. He enjoys working with businesses all over Vermont and is able to use much of his past experience in customer service to help expand this new business and help Vermonters and visitors to our state to understand and recognize the importance of taking care of the incredible resources we have here in Vermont.