January 12, 2022
Guest speaker today is Beth Royer, Director of the Carpenter-Carse Library in Hinesburg.
Susan opened the meeting at 7:30
Nancy shared opening words.
The club recited the four way test.
Susan welcomed Gerry Lawrence as our guest and prospective new member.
Chris explained the photo of him and Linda Gilbert presenting Bill Fraser-Harris of the Town of Charlotte Recreation Commission the plaque that was attached to the shed at the Charlotte town beach recently. The shed was built by the CSH Rotary Club in 2019. The town of Charlotte may have a couple of other projects they would like us to be involved in, more details to come.
Ric Flood handed out a packet on “How to Propose a New Member,” reminding us one of the most effective methods is to intentionally invite people. Ric shared fundraising updates. The letter campaign project has raised $6,027 and the car raffle has raised $5,075. An additional $500 is coming in through PayPal. There is no deadline to these projects so money can be collected all year long.
Susan shared that Carrie is developing a post card that we could mail or hand out to the community and/or prospective members. The cards will have all the icons relative to our club and Rotary International. She also ordered some business cards and some blank Rotary cards. These will be available to all members for public relations purposes.
Speech contest publicity is on Front Porch Forum and Jon Hammer will put a blurb into the town newspapers in our community. It continues to be challenging to inform and attract contestants.
Mike Carrier, District Governor, sent us a letter thanking our club for our efforts to eradicate polio in the world.
Susan will purchase the club approved monies to purchase the Hannaford Gift cards for the Refugee Resettlement Center. Gerry offered to deliver any items we have collected to the organization.
The Shelburne Farmer’s Market will resume this summer and the idea that our club may be a presence at the market was discussed. This would be a great opportunity for our club for community exposure.
Chris collected the happy fines.
Chris introduced Beth Royer, Library Director at the Hinesburg, Carpenter-Carse Library. Beth grew up in Pennsylvania where her Mother brought her and her siblings to story time at the local library. With a Master’s Degree in Poetry, she headed to Providence, RI, where she took a position at the library there within the literacy program. She moved to Vermont in 2016. Upon arrival, she took a job at the Bixby Library in Vergennes on a substitute basis for the Vermont Department of Libraries. From there, Beth became the Interim Director at the Carpenter-Carse Library, which eventually led to the full time position.
Beth believes that libraries promote community and along with the lore and love of books, this creates the magic of a library she first experienced as a child. Libraries are inclusive, safe environments, which really became evident during the pandemic. A library is everybody’s friend.
In conclusion, Beth shared information on the budget for the library, how they handle book donations and how they support the community.
Carrie thanked Beth for allowing our club to have a barrel for the Gadue’s Winter Coat project at the library.
Jim presented Beth with the book “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference” by Greta Thunberg which will be donated to the Carpenter-Carse Library in her name. Jim informed Beth that our club has donated over forty books since we began our books to speaker presentation.
Susan adjourned the meeting at 8:30.