Posted by Nancy Danforth on Jul 20, 2022
Our guest speaker this morning was Vermont Senator Tom Chittenden, who gave an overview of transportation issues.
We are pleased to welcome our newest member, Amanda Vincent, to the club. Amanda resides in Hinesburg and is a yearbook sales representative.
 
 

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Tom Chittenden is a Vermont Senator speaking to us today about transportation in Vermont. Tom is a member of the South Burlington Rotary Club.

Our special guest is Erik Kolomaznik, a 2-term Club President who has been missing in action.

There is a board meeting tomorrow morning at 7:30 at the town hall.

COTS back pack drive: August 12 & 13 they will be packing up the packs. A show of hands revealed several members who are willing to donate their time for that project. 

Shelburne Farmer’s Market is seeking volunteers to assist setting up and taking down. This begins at 7:30, take down at 1:00,  in addition to our own tent, about fifteen minutes.  Our club’s tent set up is 8:00.  

Casino Night: Carrie and a few others met at The Old Lantern yesterday.  Club volunteers ought to be there at 4:00 that day.  The casino vendor will train any dealers.  There is now a link to our account but advertised as pay at the door.  

The Golf Ball Drop is at 4% of our goal for sales.  We are selling them at the farmer’s market.  We can always sell at the Hinesburg and Shelburne grocery stores.  

Non Car Raffle: We are sharing the companies we solicit to for door prizes.  The letters will go out soon.

There is a RaceVT race on August 6. Please let Chris know if you can work this event.

Bill Fraser Harris, Charlotte, sent a letter to Linda Gilbert about two pending projects.  The rink hut in Charlotte is seeking some assistance. 

Ric inducted Amanda Vincent into our Club today!!  Amanda sells yearbooks and is jumping right in by going to Honduras!

Denis collected the happy fines. 

Denis introduced Tom as a speaker to us wearing his Transportation Committee member hat as a State Senator as it pertains to our work with climate change.  A736 is the bill he works on relevant to transportation. 

One goal is to provide monies for additional chargers so that electric vehicles will be more attractive to Vermonters.  Subsidizing for more efficient vehicles.  “Drive Electric Vermont” campaign is a great website.  Money also needs to be spent on level two chargers which are more expensive than level one chargers.  Another grant intersects with the work of Green Mountain Transit and mass transportation.  Evaluation of ridership finds two kinds of riders, choice and dependent.  State dollars are also mandated for fare free riding.  This is key to increasing ridership.

Tom believes energy is directly related to climate change and transportation.  We need to promote train travel as well.  

He also spoke to microtransit, which is on demand larger group transportation.  This is gaining traction in Montpelier.  

Tom opened up the rest of the session to questions and answers.  

Jim Donovan presented a book to Tom, “Inside Electric Cars”by Christina Eschbach whichwill be donated to The Charlotte Library.  

Carrie adjourned the meeting at 8:30.