Image
 
Charlotte Shelburne Rotary Club

Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 7:30 a.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church Community Hall

President Dave Jonah opened the meeting, leading the pledge, and Kris Engstrom gave the devotional.

Dave introduced guest Dave Gladstone of the Burlington Club, and guest speakers from BTV (that’s 

Burlington International Airport’s new “brand”), Gene Richards, Heather Kendrew and Ryan Betcher.

Upcoming meetings:

10/9 – Frank Bryan, retired UVM Political Science professor and great story teller

10/16 – Committee meetings

10/23 – Al Gobeille, Chair of Vermont Care Board

Projects ahead:

Michael Clapp needs some helpers (with chainsaws) for the LaPlatte Nature Trail brush cutting and 

chipping project on Oct. 12. They will meet at 8:30 at the Community Garden at the end of LaPlatte 

Circle and Denny Bowen will lead the hike to the work site. It’s a chance to be a chipper operator!

Also:

There are some tasks left to complete the Charlotte Central School compost shed. Michael will meet 

anyone who can help on Tuesday at the CCS site. 

And:

Hinesburg Community Garden is asking for help to build a compost shed for them. Subject for 

discussion.

John Dupee asked that Rotarians send good wishes to Robert LaClair of South Burlington who has won a 

flight to DC as part of a campaign to send veterans to visit the Veterans’ Memorial. He is scheduled to go 

on Friday, Oct. 4. 

Also:

John gave a happy report on the success of the girl from Grenada who CSR (and John) have helped with 

a scholarship to enable her to attend nursing school. She has graduated at the top of her class and sent a 

letter of appreciation for Rotary’s $500 help.

Dave Rice reported that all is under control for the Halloween Parade (echoes of Irv Rose!). There 

are plenty of jobs to be done and a volunteer sheet was circulated. Everything from serving food to 

blowing up balloons to being a clown. Elaine Dates reported that there is great interest in the floats 

competition, plenty of inquiries coming in.

Ric Flood urged everyone to sell pumpkin raffle tickets and to sign up door prize donors early. Bob 

Maynes seconded the pumpkin raffle ticket sale pitch and said that with about 10 or 12 raffle numbers 

available, there would be good opportunities for pumpkin tickets to win the big prize.

Jim Spadaccini (by letter to Ric) reported in on the Rotary scene in Oklahoma. There are several clubs in 

Norman, OK, and he is testing them all to make a choice – should it be the small nearby dinner club, or 

the big club farther away?

Happy fines:

Richard Fox did his usual jolly round of the room, with $176 in the lucky draw pot.

- Kris Engstrom – a birthday fine – and the early morning view of the new moon

- Linda Gilbert – thankful to live in Vermont

- Steve Dates – happy to be back at the CSR meeting after his round of District Club visits

- Denny Bowen – missed last week because he was having a balloon ride

- Chris Davis – CVU boys winning at football – Meach Cove solar project breaking ground

- Eric Hanley – SCS girls winning

- Joan Lenes – enjoying pictures of Linda _____’s grandchild

- Linda _____ -- enjoying pictures of her grandchild!

- Robert Maynes – attended the premiere of the film about Captain Phillips – attended the 

successful cancer fundraising event 

- Gene Richards – happy to live in a great state with a great airport

- Ric Flood – 5 days in New Orleans – daughter’s surprise visit

- Sam Feitleberg – happy

- Terrell Titus – welcome to Gene – happy

- Dave Rice – an anniversary – visit to South Carolina to see their granddaughter 

- Russ Blodgett – happy that we have Richard as our Sergeant at Arms

- John Dupee – happy

- Michael Clapp – went sailing with his 91-year-old mother – and she wanted to keep sailing

- Pat Sokolowski – happy

- Tod Whitaker – 2 more Farmers Markets

- Linda Schiavone – enjoy the Fox humor

- Dennis Webster – Maple Leafs winning the NHL – after 1 game in season

- Fritz Horton – he has found a speaker for an empty spot

- Dave Gladstone – thanks to Gene for his good work

- Roz Graham – two weeks of showing off Vermont and its foliage to visitors from Ontario (where 

they have foliage too) and Hawaii (where they don’t)

- Richard Fox – for his father who is retiring from his long-time career at Point Bay Marina – and 

for the Red Sox

Lucky draw – Denny’s number was drawn but he chose the wrong card. Roll over.

Guest speaker:

Terrell Titus introduced guest speaker Gene Richards, Director of Aviation at BTV (Burlington 

International Airport, who in turn introduced his colleagues, Heather Kendrew, Director of Maintenance, 

Engineering and Environmental Compliance, and Ryan Betcher Director of Marketing.

Richards explained that he is leader of the team, to which he attributes recent successes. Budgets, 

he said, are the biggest challenge as their success depends on being attractive to the airlines, 

understanding their interests and their business. But the main goal is filling seats on the planes, by 

attracting travelers to use BTV, making it convenient and user-friendly. And that attracts more airlines, 

with better connections and larger, more comfortable planes.

Ryan said a major focus is marketing to Quebec with its potential of four million people. In addition to 

putting passengers on planes (and buying from concessions and eating at Skinny Pancake and filling the 

parking garage) this will be a boost for Vermont tourism and the state economy. They plan to spend a 

large portion of their marketing budget in Quebec.

They are proud of receiving a community air service development grant which helped them to attract 

Delta Airlines to Burlington with a direct flight to Atlanta. 

Gene said they are working with many airlines hoping to get a direct flight to Florida. “We expect that in 

six months we will be able to announce an affordable option,” he said. “We want to give Vermonters an 

option.”