Newsletter for Meeting of May 21, 2014
May 21, 2014 Newsletter 
By John Hammer
Charlotte Shelburne Rotary
Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 7:15 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room
Welcome
President Dave opened the meeting with the Pledge. Sam Feitelberg gave the invocation. Kris Engstrom was absent having her second cataract operation today.
Guests: David Gladstone, Member of the Burlington Rotary Club
Scholarship Winners and parents.
Upcoming:
May 28 – Vera Simon Noes of Shelburne Farms speaking on Agritourism
June 4 – Clary Franko of Sun Common
May 28 and 30 – The Red Sox are holding Rotary nights. Special pricing of $55 for seats in the Right Wing Box. See President Dave for information.
Early June – Volunteer work in repairing a second (and shorter) bridge at the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge. The Hinesburg garden shed project is still in the design phase though the lumber has been delivered.
June 6 – Bowlathon at Champlain Lanes.
June 11 – Essex Rotary Golf Championship.
June 26 – Changing of the Guard at the Trinity Church Parish Hall.
August 22 – Volunteer support to the Charlotte Senior Center Annual BBQ
District 7850 Calendar: Hot Link http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Events/EventsCalendar.aspx?accountid=50051
Announcements
Bowlathon – Ric asked for any last-minute solicitation letter addresses.
Charlotte Project – Michael Clapp reported that seven members: Denny Bowen, Bill Deming, President Dave, John Hammer, Debby and Megan Hanley, and Dave Rice turned up last Saturday to repair the longer of two bridges in the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge. Nine hundred feet of lumber were hauled in and installed on the bridge and 900 feet were hauled out.
The club has been approached to provide 72 total hours during one week in August to help harvest the invasive lake weed – frogbit. More information will be circulated later.
Shelburne Business and Professionals Association (SBPA) – The SBPA will hold a mixer on Thursday night 5:30 to 7:00 PM at the Teddy Bear Offices. The first Shelburne Farmers’ market will be held on May 31st.
Potential New Member – The Club Bylaws require that potential new members be warned twice before they can be inducted into the club. In this case, this is the first notice for Ed Cafferty of 263 Half Mile Road, Charlotte. Ed is being sponsored by Ric Flood and would fit in classification as College Professor. He is active in civic affairs in Charlotte and has served in law enforcement including the Vermont State Police.
Sergeant at Arms – Richard Fox started immediately. Quite a few happy fines were paid for the scholarship winners, bridge builders and Elaine Dates recovery.
John Hammer – Paid fine for a great trip to California and another in recognition for all the work, in front of and behind the scenes by Michael Clapp in coordinating and leading the volunteer program.
President Dave – For all the scholarship winners present and Bill Deming who lasted on the bridge project longer than he did.
Robert Maynes – For his mother’s 94th birthday coming up this weekend.
Russ Blodgett – Happy to be associated with such a great group of people.
Ric Flood – Was in New Hampshire last week and had opportunity to hear Rob O’Neill, CO of SEAL Group Six. He was impressed to hear that, while they had trained for an at-sea mission, they had never done so before the Maersk Alabama Event. It was their first, and it was a success.
Terrill Titus – She and Steve survived being members of the transitional team during the changing of two au pairs for their granddaughter last week.
Carole Obuchowski – Happy for three solid days of great weather.
Denny Bowen – In recognition of Michael Clapp who spent eight hours working the day before preparing the lumber for the bridge project.
Trafton Crandall – Four weeks to the due date for his fourth grandchild.
Tom Glaser – Going to NYC this weekend for a family gathering. Looking forward to seeing his granddaughters.
Dave Webster – For his and Bob Maynes’ birthdays.
Fritz Horton – Has just started going to Shelburne Health and Fitness and both times he’s been there he’s seen Bill Deming working away on the machines.
Richard Fox – For his father-in-law’s birthday and daughter, Josephine, now walking and playing Dr. Destructo at 14 months.
Michael Clapp – In appreciation for Bill Deming and Denny Bowen who are always first to report at a volunteer project.
Steve Dates (District Governor) – Reported that his wife and member, Elaine, was recovering “very well at home” from her operation. She will soon be undergoing chemotherapy that will reduce her opportunities to meet in public for about six months.
Linda Schiavonne won the draw and picked the Joker to win the $76.50 pot.
Today was Committee Meeting Day
Alan Hathaway, chair of the Scholarship Committee reported that this year was probably the toughest year that he has experienced with twenty candidates making application to VSAC. VSAC handles the administration of the applicants and forwards them to the club for final selection. Of the twenty, only eight met the VSAC administrative criteria for consideration and were brought forward. Hathaway said that all eight were extremely hard to sort out, but that four were chosen after much hard work. Members of the committee are Adam Bartsch, Linda Barker, Joan Lennes, Trafton Crandall, and himself. He requested members consider joining the committee next year.
Scholarship winners were:
Nikolas Baya (CVU) from Shelburne going to Brown University.
Annaclare Smith (CVU) from Shelburne going to Middlebury College
Jeannine Bissonette (CVU) from Hinesburg going to UVM
And, Charlotte Rutz (VT Commons) of Shelburne going to Colorado College.
Photo: (Left to Right) Alan Hathaway – Chair Scholarship Committee, Jack and Denise Veleur, Charlotte Rutz, Annaclare Smith, Matt Smith, Jeannine Bissonette, Stephanie Bissonette. Missing-Nikolas Baya.