Rotary Breakfast Meeting: Featuring Everybody Wins!

The first meeting of 2026 brought the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg (CSH) Rotary Club together on a snowy January morning, with Lori setting the tone through a heartfelt thought: "May this year bring peace in our hearts, strength in our steps, wisdom in our choices, love in our actions, and hope to every heart that needs it." Despite the weather making roads treacherous, members meandered in steadily, a testament to the fellowship that keeps this club strong.

 

 

The morning began with well-deserved thank yous. Nancy was recognized for coordinating our Toys for Kids efforts, serving as the point person for barrel pickups and donations that brought joy to many local families. Chris earned appreciation for permanently installing the placards on our bike stations - secured, he believes, in such a way that only a force of nature could remove them. A welcome relief after past challenges.

 

Looking ahead, the club has several dates to mark: the Speech Contest is set for February 18. The Shelburne Winter Carnival on January 31 will see Rotarians leading a Valentine-making activity for kids, with the handmade cards destined for senior living facilities or transitional housing residents.

 

 

The conversation then turned to our flagship spring fundraiser, Pies for Breakfast, scheduled for March 14 - Pi Day, of course. Jessica and Amanda provided an energizing update from the planning committee. Last year's event raised $11,000 in sponsorships, $2,500 in ticket sales, and $550 from the silent raffle. This year, the team is pushing for $15,000 in sponsorships and increased attendance.

 

Several strategic changes are underway. The event will now begin at 8:30 AM rather than 8:00, addressing the slow early-morning foot traffic observed last year. Sponsor packages have been enhanced: all sponsors will receive a window cling showing their support, tiered sponsors will get posters to display in their businesses, and gold-level sponsors ($1,000) now have the option to host a table at the event. The committee is also exploring a radio station partnership for a potential live broadcast or interview segment.

 

Amanda Wenzel has already begun reaching out to last year's sponsors, and members are encouraged to reconnect with their contacts. A gentle reminder was offered: when approaching potential sponsors, lead with the full sponsorship opportunity before mentioning the silent auction - people tend to take the easiest option presented first. The committee is also putting out a call for homemade pies, as ingredient costs continue to rise and every donated pie directly increases our fundraising impact.

 

The planning team meets on the first and third Tuesdays through March, with a debrief session scheduled after the event. All are welcome to join.

 

 

The Happy Fines session was brimming with good news. The room erupted in celebration when one member shared that her son proposed to his girlfriend of five years on the ice at Craftsbury Lake over the holidays - and she said yes! Jessica announced the arrival of a new granddaughter, Lucia. 

 

Matthew Wier marked a meaningful milestone: exactly one year ago, the first meeting of 2025 was their first Rotary meeting, and they're still here - clearly, we didn't scare them off. Brandon returned refreshed from three days at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. Others shared stories of grandchildren visiting, exchange students adding international flavor to the holidays, and the simple joy of a white Christmas with a toddler.

 

Nancy reminded members that Kevin Chu of the Vermont Futures Project, who spoke to our club a few months ago, will be the guest at Colchester Milton Rotary next Thursday for anyone interested in hearing more. And yes - it's Girl Scout Cookie season, with sign-up sheets circulating for those ready to stock up.

 

 

The centerpiece of the morning was a presentation by Sarah Wannop, site coordinator at Shelburne Community School, and Edorah Frazer, program manager for the western region of Everybody Wins Vermont, a literacy-based mentoring program operating in 18 schools across the state, including both Shelburne and Hinesburg.

 

Edorah opened with a sobering reality: approximately 52,000 adults in Vermont struggle to read, and 70% of the state's prison population is functionally illiterate. The pipeline from childhood reading struggles to adult hardship—unemployment, homelessness, mental health challenges, incarceration—is well documented. But Everybody Wins offers a simple, powerful intervention: adult volunteers who show up once a week to read with elementary students during lunch and recess.

 

The model is intentionally not tutoring. Mentors read to children rather than asking them to read aloud, creating the warm, pressure-free experience of a bedtime story rather than another academic demand. "We're trying to create that good feeling around books," Edorah explained. The results speak for themselves: data shows that student attendance improves on the days their mentors visit. For some children, knowing their special person is coming is enough to get them out of bed and through the school doors.

 

Sarah described what a typical session looks like at Shelburne Community School. Mentors arrive on Tuesdays or Wednesdays around 11:30, meet their mentee in the lobby, and spend the hour reading together in a small gathering space called the Kiva. Her book cart offers everything from picture books to Harry Potter to Dog Man. Games like Battleship, Connect Four, and Uno are also available—moments where personalities emerge and bonds deepen.

 

Currently, Sarah has 13 reading pairs and is looking to double that number. A wait list of children is ready and eager for mentors. The commitment is one year, October through May, with the understanding that occasional absences for illness or vacation are normal. The application process includes a background check (no fingerprinting required), a conversation with Sarah about interests and preferences, and an orientation session.

 

As members passed around classic children's books—Peter Rabbit, Charlotte's Web—smiles and memories surfaced around the room. That, Edorah noted, is exactly the point: those positive associations with books and the people who shared them with us are what Everybody Wins aims to create for a new generation.

 

In closing, Sarah asked members to think of one person in their lives who loves reading, loves kids, and might have an hour a week to give. Information and applications are available at the Everybody Wins website, with a QR code on the handouts distributed at the meeting.

 

In appreciation of their visit, the club will donate a copy of "Reading for Our Lives" by Maya Payne Smart to a local library in their names.

 

 

The CSH Rotary Club meets again next Friday. Members are encouraged to continue spreading the word about Pies for Breakfast sponsorships, consider the Everybody Wins mentoring opportunity, and—for those who haven't already—get their Girl Scout Cookie orders in.