Meeting Notes - October 10, 2012

Posted by Jay Pompar 
on Oct 10, 2012
 

Charlotte Shelburne Rotary
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, 7:30 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room

President Adam Bartsch led the pledge and Dave Rice gave the devotional.
Adam introduced two guests, Dan Cox and Robert Bloch.

Announcements

Steve Dates reviewed the plans for the Halloween Parade. All the clowns are signed up, but do need some help with makeup.

Dan Cox presented a project he would like to initiate this year, with Rotary as his partner (and getting all the kudos). He is proposing a pumpkin carving contest for kids from Shelburne and Charlotte -- elementary, middle and high school ages. They would sign up by Oct. 26, bring their carved pumpkins to the fire station area by noon on Sunday, Oct. 28, and judging will be following the parade. Prizes would be $50 for first in class. The lighted pumpkins would be displayed on the Green in Shelburne Village following the parade.

Board meeting – Thursday, Oct. 11

Club Assembly – Wednesday, Oct. 17

Thank you to everyone who helped with the bridge building project on Saturday, Oct. 6 A special thank you to Michael Clapp who organized it with Town Manager Paul Bohne, and to Dave Jonah and Adam Bartsch who hauled the wood to the site for the work to begin. And to William and Cucina Antica for the pizzas for lunch. Michael reminded everyone that there will be a shed building project in Charlotte in November.

Sergeant at Arms

Richard Fox (striving to reach the top 10% of Sergeant at Arms Class – not sure of the parameters for judging and grading, but the CSR consensus is that he’s #1) .

Happy fines:

  • Roz Graham – for the bridge builders
  • Joan Lenes – happy
  • Dave Jonah – bridge building fun
  • Sarah Rouse – her parents’ visit
  • Debby Hanley – for the Magic Bash at the end of the month … and for a damp day building bridges
  • Doris Sage Heins – thank you to Rotary
  • Jim Spadaccini – just happy
  • Eric Hanley – a great day of golf
  • Steve Dates – working on the bridge … heading to the Zone meeting in Vancouver
  • Denny Bowen – happy
  • Alan Hathaway – building the bridge
  • Tom Glaser – a trip to New York and heading to Florida
  • Tod Whitaker – a sunny day for the last Farmers Market of the season
  • Terry Kennaugh – building the bridges … touring the park
  • Michael Clapp – thanks to the bridge builders
  • John Dupee – for seeing his son quoted in the New York Times
  • Dennis Webster – fun building the bridge and playing in the mud
  • Trafton Crandall – building the bridge … and his anniversary
  • Linda Schiavone – happy
  • Gary Marcotte – for Little Mikey’s help building the bridges

Lucky draw: Tod Whitaker’s number was drawn but he pulled the wrong card. Roll over.

Program

Robert Bloch, Director of the Champlain College Bring Your Own Biz program.

BYOBiz was founded six years ago based on the observation by then new President David Finney that a remarkable number of students had small businesses. “We have to serve these students,” he said, and BYOBiz was formed. Bloch is its first director. He brought entrepreneurial experience having started his own business, and also a lot of experience in marketing.

The goals of BYOBiz if to provide support and mentoring for students who may be operating a business outside of school times, are very motivated but face the challenge of how to blend full-time student responsibilities and full time or more business demands.

In some cases professors let students do papers and projects related to their businesses or recruit other students to work with them.

The BYOBiz program presents lectures with guest entrepreneurs from the local area. They also have a competition for elevator speeches.

Some of the ideas being explored:

  • Support services for small businesses
  • Agame dive company that is ready to launch their first game when they graduate – and want to stay in Vermont
  • An algorithm for Smart Phone to evaluated driving on different roads
  • A cross-fit program that offers research and fund raising and offered classes at Dorset Park, them moved to 2,000 sq ft. in Williston and now are in 9,000 sq. ft. in Williston.

He said that there are so many ideas and they are typically tested by asking:

  • Is it a good business idea?
  • Is it a good business idea for you?
  • Is it a good business idea now?

Fledgling entrepreneurs are advised to fail fast and fail cheaply. He said that getting used to failing is a good learning experience as often people have been protected from failure and they tend to persist too long.

There are 20 to 35 students in the program. They are always looking for advisers, mentors and those who can provide technical help.

Bloch has also written a book which will be out soon. It is a series of interviews with student entrepreneurs.