Rotary Club Meeting Recap
The meeting opened with the Pledge and a round of opening words - Bob quoting Andrew Jackson and Yogi Berra. The Four-Way Test followed, and the room had its usual Wednesday morning energy: familiar faces, a little banter, and people making sure their health check forms were handed in (reminders will go out again next week for those still sitting on them).
Club Business & Announcements
- The Halloween Parade is coming together, with about 14 floats and groups registered. Richard is still looking for more participants - especially walkers for the club’s “walking float,” which will highlight Rotary’s range of projects. Members and family can join in costume; all the details and sign-ups are live.
- Three musical acts are set for the firehouse during the parade, including local musicians and a student ensemble from CVU. The club’s trademark blue truck is out of commission, so lineup adjustments are being made.
- The Membership Committee pulled off a surprisingly funny “Rotary Fashion Show,” modeling club-branded gear. The takeaway: wear your Rotary stuff on Wednesdays and at events. Plenty of hats, aprons, pins, and more are available if you need them.
Community Projects & Service
- Thanksgiving food bags for Hinesburg are a focus this month. Members are asked to bring specific canned and boxed goods; the goal is to sort and deliver everything in time for the holiday.
- Toys for Tots is seeking hands for collection and delivery—volunteers stepped up and will get more details soon.
- The Puddings for Hope project collected 146 items for delivery, with more on the way. Members were encouraged to keep up the good work and share successes on social media.
- Discussion touched on the club’s overall fundraising and service visibility. The walking float and recent Facebook outreach were noted as positive steps.
Social & Internal Updates
- There’s interest in a holiday party; Jim and others will coordinate, and a call for ideas went out.
- Members were reminded to promote club events online; only a couple have been sharing posts regularly.
Happy Dollars
- Members shared everything from family news and travel plans to lighthearted moments from the fashion show. It was a relaxed, upbeat segment.
Speaker: Disaster Response Tech
Dan York, the Vermont State Coordinator for ITDRC, gave an overview of how the nonprofit brings emergency internet and communications to disaster zones across the country. He explained:
Dan York, the Vermont State Coordinator for ITDRC, gave an overview of how the nonprofit brings emergency internet and communications to disaster zones across the country. He explained:
- ITDRC mobilizes volunteers and tech to restore connectivity after floods, fires, or storms—think Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile towers, and support for first responders.
- Deployments happen by request from agencies like FEMA. Dan described how volunteers are vetted, how equipment is staged and moved, and why Vermont’s relatively redundant networks help with resilience.
- The group is recruiting Vermont volunteers and will be at Vermont Tech Jam (October 25). Q&A touched on everything from the state of local fiber and backup generators to international analogues and the perennial debate over buried vs. pole-strung infrastructure.
Closing
- Reminder: Board meeting tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. in Shelburne.
- Members should keep submitting health check forms and start gathering food drive items.
- The meeting wrapped with closing words from Calvin Coolidge and JFK, reminding everyone of citizenship and civic responsibility.