Newsletter June 22, 2011
Welcome
President Linda Gilbert opened the meeting leading the Pledge, and Kris Engstrom gave the devotional. Linda introduced guest speaker Larry Crist, director of the Vermont Red Cross Disaster Services.
Rotary Moment
Linda read former president Anne Pardee’s reflection on Rotary – and you can read it in the official program history of the club, year by year, at the 40th anniversary celebration.
Announcements
- 6/28 – 40th Anniversary Party, Shelburne Vineyard, 5:30 p.m.
- 6/29 – No meeting
- 7/6 – Rotary meeting, 7:30 a.m.
- 7/6 – After Dark at Cucina Antica, 5 – 7
Terrell Titus invited anyone interested in playing on a second team representing Charlotte Shelburne Rotary at the Make A Wish Golf Tournament at Barre Country Club to contact her.
Adam Bartsch circulated the signup sheet for the 40th anniversary party – also reminded the set-up crew to be at Shelburne Vineyard at 3
Presentations
Linda presented a check for $500 to Tod Whitaker on behalf of the club as sponsors of the annual Shelburne Day on Aug. 20 at the Parade Ground.
She also presented a check to Susan McLellan to underwrite the expenses for our RYLA students at Lyndonville next weekend.
Sergeant at Arms
Don Condon led his usual entertaining Happy Fines, with Pat Sokolowski as collector:
- John Hammer – for a great year with Linda as President
- Bob Sanders – a fun evening at the Michael Buble show
- David Rice – back in town
- Chris Davis – great weather for the All Star Baseball games
- Terry Kennaugh – happy
- Gary Bergeron – for Don Condon’s year as Sergeant at Arms
- Kris Engstrom – for Linda generously filling in for her on July 6, her first official meeting as resident, while she goes to visit her grandchildren
- Denny Bowen – for making him smile
- Tom Glaser – the water is down and his boat is in
- Bill Deming – celebrating his 60th anniversary
- Alan Hathaway – his birthday and thank you to Linda
- Chuck Dunham – his 50th anniversary
- George Ewins – happy
- John Beal – celebrating their anniversary
- Sam Feitleberg – happy
- Jim Spadaccini – also happy
- Ric Flood – a happy group
- Howard Seaver – going to a seminar
- Terrell Titus – happy to be part of the club – thanks to Linda for a great year
- Michael Lash – celebrated 31st anniversary
- Michele Lash – 32 years ago since they met – and thank you to Linda and Don for great year
- Elaine Dates – thank you for Linda and Don – attended the World Association of Floral Arrangers with 600 exhibitors in Boston – going Thursday to Newport for another floral event
- Steve Dates – congratulations to Linda for a fine year
- Bob Maynes – gave his wife an anniversary card – she forgot
- Sue McLellan – late fine – going to RYLA – pray for sun for the Relay for Life in which she will be participating
- Linda Gilbert – hosting Camp Nana
- Roz Graham – finally got new kitchen garden planted
- Don Condon – a great group
Lucky draw: Steve Dates had the lucky ticket and he drew the right card, winning an impressive $29.50
Larry Crist, Director of Red Cross Disaster Services
Mr. Crist was formerly with the Department of Health, focusing on emergency preparedness. He explained that the Red Cross is the primary provider of emergency mass care and shelter services. In any major disaster, the government may announce the emergency, but only Red Cross can open shelters, set up, equip or staff them, not the National Guard and not FEMA. They are a non-governmental agency and rely on public support.
The Red Cross does have three totally separate entities: blood services, health and safety, and disaster services.
For events such as house fires, local flooding, etc., they provide services 125 to 130 times a year, entirely staffed by volunteers.
For larger disasters, such as the recent flooding in Vermont, they provide mass shelter, feeding and caring for people affected.
They have a small paid staff of 11.5 people, and depend on volunteers and community partners. They have 250 volunteers in 12 teams trained to act in an emergency. For example in the case of the Brook House fire in Brattleboro, they supported victims by finding them housing with family, friends or in a hotel, or keeping them at a shelter, providing clothing and financial aid. They also feed, hydrate and shelter the firemen. They are typically called in by the fire chief.
They have 22 response trailers equipped for mass care, stationed around the state, and also portable feeding stations.
There are 360 designated shelters in the state from small to large, providing shelter for those who don’t have the means to go to hotels, friends or family. In a mass disaster like this spring’s floods, when many groups and individuals come into the area to help, the Red Cross also provides support for them.
In terms of preparedness, they train for the most serious challenge they could face. This would be an evacuation in the vicinity of Vermont Yankee which would affect 25,000 to 30,000 people in a 10-mile radius, and it is estimated that about 10% would need shelter and care.
One of the challenges they face is the need for trucks capable of hauling their trailers, at short notice, without the cost of owning and maintaining the trucks for long periods of inactivity. Crist invited the Rotary audience to brainstorm solutions. He also welcomed volunteers such as the Rotary to staff shelters, assist in acquiring the needed vehicles, joining their Disaster Action Teams, and helping to raise funds. The current flood has cost about $300,000.