Today’s Speaker is Lee Krohn, Town Manager of Shelburne. https://www.shelburnevt.org
Lee started off by emphasizing that this is an unusual and difficult time. The Town got involved early and cancelled all in person meetings. Town offices have created a different staffing schedule- folks with actual offices are in the office, planning and zoning folks are working from home. The goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy while slowly ramping up. Diana is providing services as the town clerk and managing her staff’s health and safety...
May 6, 2020
CSH Rotary via Zoom
Bob Sanders, Jonathan Lowell, Erik Kolomaznik, Linda Gilbert, Dan York, Richard Fox, Adam Bartsch, Charlie Kofman, Rosalyn Graham, Chris Davis, Denis Barton, Keith Walsh, Joan Lenes, John Hammer, Jim Donavon, Tod Whitaker, Terry Kavanaugh, Jessica Brumstead, Diana Vachon, Susan Grimes, Howard Seaver, France LeBlanc, Bill Deming, George and Linda Schiavone, Carrie Fenn
Keith called the meeting to order at 7:30
CSH received a donation from Peter Swift and Diana MacHargo for $500. Keith will send a receipt and a thank you note.
Ella Kenney’s food shelf effort was amazingly successful! The community filled trucks across the CSH service area.
Chris Davis provided an update for officers next year:
Susan Grimes as President Elect
Carrie Fenn as Vice President
Dan York as Secretary
Denis Barton as Chief Ambassador (aka Sergeant At Arms)
Margo Casco as Treasurer
John Hammer would like to step down as at an at large member and would like to offer the seat to someone younger. We typically have 2 at large members, plus chairs of finance, public relations and membership plus officers, and Chief Ambassador is there to keep everyone in line.
Bylaws state we need to have an election and formally vote for new officers and send a report by the Secretary via Club Runner and Rotary.com. President appoints Chief Ambassador and other Board positions.
We have two votes for the District positions. Ballots need to be submitted to Richard by May 15.
4 ballots submitted:
- Accept or reject Carolyn
- Accept or reject audit committee’s findings
- Role of Rotary’s Council on Legislation: four candidates listed on the ballot
- Zone Director legislation committee: 2 spots to be filled as Director and alternate
Chris will send slate to Keith and Bob to navigate the process.
Board Meeting is scheduled for 7:30am Thursday May 14
Green Up Day is postponed to May 30, although the Governor said it was cancelled. Green Up Day organizers clarified that it wasn’t cancelled, just postponed.
Ric Flood has posted Dr. John Pane as a new member. We will vote on his membership next week.
Today’s Speaker is Lee Krohn, Town Manager from Shelburne
Lee started off by emphasizing that this is an unusual and difficult time. The Town got involved early and cancelled all in person meetings. Town offices have created a different staffing schedule- folks with actual offices are in the office, planning and zoning folks are working from home. The goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy while slowly ramping up. Diana is providing services as the town clerk and managing her staff’s health and safety.
Finance committee is deferring expenses this fiscal year to conserve cash. Next year’s budget was already challenged so scouring that budget will be a project. The state is drafting a “skinny budget” and the town will be doing the same.
Tennis courts and parks are open as long as people maintain social distancing. Police are monitoring the parks and have only had to talk to one group. Spring sports are cancelled, and summer activities are being reevaluated.
Town is continuing to work through the necessary site assessments for Healthy Living to make sure the site is able to be developed. There was some petroleum found in the soil. DRB has determined they want to review the applications for the properties surrounding the fire and rescue and Healthy Living sites before they review the former. The town has requested a change in that determination.
Small businesses are making adjustments, offering curbside service. Shelburne Museum will remain closed for the summer and is offering virtual museum tours. Shelburne Farms is keeping their trails are open.
Revenue numbers in Montpelier showed that liquor sales are up.
Shelburne Vineyard is putting together picnic baskets with other Shelburne businesses.
The Shelburne Farmers market has been cancelled. A lot of the farmer vendors have set up CSA’s and have had great success and sold out of memberships soit’s hard to get the vendors to commit. Sophie Conway has been very busy with meetings with NOFA and the Vermont Farmer’s Market Association. As the situation changes, Shelburne Business Association is keeping in close contact with vendors and may have pop up markets during the season.
Linda Gilbert thought it would be nice to make thank you banners to put up thanking front line workers from Rotary.
Shelburne currently does not have a Green Up Day coordinator- perhaps Rotary would be interested in picking that up. We’ll vote on it next week after the board meeting.
Hidden heroes are the people who are keeping facilities clean, police departments, fire and rescue personnel. Not issuing burn permits right now to avoid unnecessary calls. Trash workers deserve some recognition too!
Keith shared an inspirational story about Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in Wilmington, NC.
“Amy married “Mr. Wright” 26 years ago. They’re the proud parents of four children – the two youngest, Bitty & Beau, having Down syndrome – which makes them feel like the luckiest people on the planet. As advocates for the value, inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the Wrights have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place for their children and others living with disabilities. The Wrights opened the original Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, January 2016 in Wilmington, NC. The original Beau’s Coffee opened January 2016 in a 500 square foot space in Wilmington, NC. The original shop was run by 19 employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With over 80% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities unemployed nationwide, Beau’s Coffee created a path for people with disabilities to become more valued, accepted and included in every community. In July 2016, Beau’s Coffee was renamed Bitty & Beau’s Coffee (Beau’s 12th birthday wish was to have his little sister’s name put up in lights, too) and moved to a 5,000 sq/ft building that now serves as both a local coffee house and national headquarters. In February 2018, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee opened a second shop in Charleston, SC and in January 2019, a third shop opened in Savannah, GA. A fourth shop is slated to open in Annapolis, MD fall 2019. Bitty & Beau’s Coffee currently employs 80 people with disabilities and has been featured on The Today Show, Rachael Ray, CNN, Harry, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, HLN, People Magazine and Southern Living Magazine. Founder, Amy Wright, was named 2017 CNN Hero of the Year.”
Have a great week!
Respectfully Submitted,
Carrie Fenn