Newsletter for June 26th, 2013 Meeting
June 26, 2013 Newsletter
By John Hammer
Charlotte Shelburne Rotary
Wednesday, June 26, 2013, 7:15 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room
Welcome
President Adam Bartsch opened the meeting with the Pledge. Kris Engstrom gave the invocation.
Guests: Vicky Wacek, Works at Business Networks International, Vermont (www.BNIVermont.com)
Megan Hanley – Daughter of Eric and Debbie Hanley
Quote for the Week: ““Everyone who I asked on the way, stood up and did a great job. I appreciate that. It’s been a great year.” By Adam Bartsch with respect to his presidency this past Rotary year.
Word for the Day: Look for the * and definition at end.
Upcoming:
July 3 – No Meeting
July 10 – Police Captain Michael Shiring, Burlington Chief of Police
July 11 – Board Meeting
July 17 – Club Assembly
July 24 – Ed McColin, Boy Scouts of America
July 31 – Camp TaKumTa – Serving Breakfast 6-9:30 AM. There will be no meeting that day.
Announcements
Club Bowlathon
Last Friday, June 21 at the Champlain Lanes we had 36 bowlers there who really enjoyed William’s heavy hors d’oeuvres and bowling. Robert Maynes rolled a 194. Some suggested that it was with the bumpers engaged. So far $21,500 has been raised, more than $9,000 by the indefatigable* Tom Glaser alone. Tod Whitaker did a bang-up job with the banners. Ric Flood was very thankful for everyone’s participation.
Letters of Thanks
The Club received a letter of thanks from the Committee on Temporary Shelter (C.O.T.S.).
Steve Dates, Incoming District Governor
Introduced flyers on the tables putting forward an invitation to Rotary Night at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Baseball spectacular against the Altoona Curves on Saturday, July 27 in Manchester, NH. This is an event co-sponsored by Districts 7850 and 7870. Your $10 ticket will yield $4 to Polio Plus. It should be a great night with fireworks on the program. Deadline for ticket purchase (checks made out to our club which will consolidate them) is July 9. Visit NHFISHERCATS.COM to see what will be going on. See Flyer at the end of this Newsletter.
Steve also reported on the District Conference cruise to Bermuda. His comments were that the cruise was great though the weather was a bit rough. It was hard to maintain a strong sense of camaraderie because the Rotarians constituted only 150 out of the 2500 aboard, so only at the district meetings were they able to really bond. The speakers were really good.
Better-Late-Than-Never Awards
Dave Jonah, President-Elect, beat the system by presenting Soon-to-be-Past President, Adam Bartsch, with the coveted silent gavel award for past service as Club President. However, he hit a home run when he called forward Past Presidents, Linda Gilbert and Kris Engstrom, for their silent gavel awards. Their awards were one and two years late. Well done and thanks to all three.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Megan Hanley, daughter of members Debbie and Eric Hanley, attended the RYLA camp last weekend and reported on her great time. The three days were “awesome.” During her time there, she and her fellow campers did the Ropes course, made blankets for the Lund Home and were thoroughly motivated by Travis Roy, a world-class hockey star who has suffered a paralyzing accident on the ice, but didn’t let that stop him. Megan reported that our member, Judy Christensen, ran a wonderful program and was a universally praised for her work in running the program this year. “She deserves a lot of credit.” This year, as in most years, the club sent four campers that exceeds the normal two allowed. We do it because we can.
Jim Spad’s Humor
With apologies for any Taliban supporters in the audience, Jim launched into a story about a Taliban terrorist who was fighting his way across the Afghan desert. He was on his last legs, suffering from mirages and desperate for water. He saw something far off in the distance. Hoping to find water, he hurried as fast as he could toward the mirage. He was surprised when he came upon a wizened old Jewish merchant with a display rack selling ties.
The Taliban terrorist asked, “Do you have water?”
The Jewish man replied, “No, I have no water, but I do have ties. The very finest silk ties and they are only $5. Would you like to buy a tie?”
The Taliban shouted hysterically, “Idiot, infidel. I do not need such overpriced western adornment. I spit on your ties. I need water.”
“Sorry I have none. Pure silk, and only $5.”
“Har, a curse on your ties. I should wrap one around your scrawny neck and choke the life out of you, but I must conserve my strength and search for water.”
“OK,” the little old Jewish man said, “it does not mater that you do not want to buy a tie from me, or that you hate me or call me names and threaten me. I will show you that I am bigger than that. You continue over those dunes to the east about two miles and you will find the restaurant of your dreams. They have plenty of cold water there. Go in peace.”
Cursing him again, the desperate Taliban staggered off over the dunes, only to return some time later, even worse off than he was before. He was on his last gasp with which he said, “They won’t let me in without a tie.”
Sergeant at Arms –
Happy Fines
Debbie Hanley – Thanks for the club’s supporting Megan in the RYLA program.
Kris Engstrom – Joy at having Megan at her table and the box of rocks that she received in the mail from her sister.
Dave Jonah – For Adam’s leadership in the last year, for the fact that despite the heavy downpour outside, the church’s sprinklers are going full blast, and for daughter, Kim’s receipt of the Joan Lennes Community Service Award.
Robert Maynes – For all the pies at breakfast this morning.
Ric Flood – The Bowlathon is almost over.
Terrill Titus – Thanks to Ric for all that he does, Judy Christensen, Adam, Alan Hathaway had a wonderful birthday on Sunday, and the fact that she is about to embark on the MS 150-mile bike ride.
Linda Gilbert – Busy with Nana Camp. Having fun with grandchildren looking for snakes, chipmunks, etc. Also for her granddaughter’s learning how to make baby blankets for the Lund Home.
Tod Whitaker – For a sunny Saturday.
Bill Deming – Anniversary
Alan Hathaway – For his birthday.
Dave Rice – Spent time last week in Las Vegas, had fun and ended up losing only $30.
Fritz Horton – Sad fine for all the muddy brown water in Shelburne Bay. Happy that it is not from urban erosion but mostly from the rivers.
John Dupee – For the bumper sticker seen in Underhill, “Pie fixes everything.”
Richard Fox – For his bonding experience with his infant daughter in which the two of them spent a very late night watching the Bruins, with their respective bottles.
Adam Bartsch – Happy that the year is over. “Everyone who I asked on the way, stood up and did a great job. I appreciate that. It’s been a great year.”
There were many happy fines in recognition of Adam, Ric, and Judy.
John Dupee’s number was called and he drew the 3 of Clubs. Roll over the $38 pot.
Speakers – The speaker did not show up.
Definition – indefatigable, adj. – Tireless.
