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Charlotte Shelburne Rotary Club
Wednesday, September 24, 3008, 7:30 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room
Welcome
President Steve Dates opened the meeting with a review of the excellent job everyone did to support the best and biggest ever Harvest Festival at Shelburne Farms on Sept. 20. Rosalyn Graham said that the Festival organizers, in their post-festival debrief, praised the hard work and commitment of the Rotarian volunteers who worked throughout the day handling the record crowd.
Steve shared a Rotary Moment from the Rotary about the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program (RPCS) – strengthening the leaders of today for peace.
Mid-career professionals from around the world, representing a wide variety of fields, participate in an intensive three month course at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. RPCS Program alumnus Richelieu Allison, Regional Director of the West African Youth Network, says, “This course has been the missing link in my [ability] to contribute to the resolution of the numerous problems confronting my region. If I had had the knowledge I am gaining now I would have been in a better position to adequately analyze the conflicts, map out the various actors, go the extra mile, and play a major role in helping to restore peace.” This sentiment has stuck with him, as he wrote in a recent email, “The changes [the program] made in my life cannot be overemphasized.” Create awareness. Take action. Make your annual gift today!
Announcements
Oct. 1 meeting – T Tall, District Governor, will be the guest speaker
Oct. 24 – Car Raffle
Oct. 26 – Halloween Parade
Sergeant at Arms
Kris Engstrom assessed anniversary fines for Dave Rice and Joan Lenes, and a pin fine for Joyce Errecart.
Happy fines:
- John Hammer – he visited the Rotary Club in Vancouver, British Columbia and says our club is definitely best
- John Dupee – for the Red Sox successes and for a weekend on Block Island
- Robert Maynes – paid the fine levied on Dennis Delaney for his shirt and tie sartorial elegance
- Jim Spadacinni – for sitting at such a fine table
- Ric Flood – for attending the Red Flood Memorial Golf Tournament – and he’s happy he doesn’t have to park cars too often
- Fritz Horton – in appreciation of all the sentiments expressed for him and his family in the loss of his mother
- George Ewins – announcement: the stock market is about to take off!
- John Hancock – more cheers for the Red Sox
- Joyce Errecart – for the Red Sox and her grandson’s first birthday
- Kris Engstrom – she’s beginning the conditioning program for her trip to Peru
- Linda Gilbert – for the success of the Hands to Honduras Food Booth at the Harvest Festival (sold out by 3 p.m.) – it was a great location and everyone had fun
- Colleen Haag – fun at the Harvest Festival – and reported that Father Leo had a knee replacement
- Tom Glaser – the Cowboys won
- Russ Blodgett – after a month – his kids are still in college
- Alan Hathaway – Bill Root did a good job with the parking – and his daughter is home
- Denny Bowen – his prostate cancer treatment is proceeding smoothly and he is happy to share information about it with anyone interested
- Terry Kennaugh – Father Leo has also been on the radio – Carol Casey of Vermont Council on World Affairs International Visitor program needs homes for visitors from Kazakhstan – Terry is hosting two of the visitors (and has hosted many international visitors in the past) and recommends it as “a good way to have the world come to you.”
- Bill Deming – saw Father Leo at St. Michael’s and reported that he misses Rotary – but he is responsible for several churches and schools and doesn’t have time.
- Anne Pardee – for the Harvest Festival parking adventure
- Linda Barker – for the success of the Harvest Festival – she was at the entrance and at 3 p.m. the crowd was over 5,000.
Lucky draw: Tom Glaser’s ticket was drawn but he chose the wrong card so the pot rolls over.
Annual Car Raffle
What: 31st Annual Rotary Car Raffle
When: Friday October 14, 2008
- Cocktails at 6:00 PM
- Dinner at 7:00 PM
- Drawing from 8:00 to 10:00 PM
Where: Shelburne Farms at the “Coach Barn”
Caterer: Cucina Anitica Restaurant of Shelburne
Why: Major Fundraiser for our Club – $10,000 after expenses
Raffle Details:
- 100 tickets (balls) are sold, each at $250.00 (Includes dinner for two)
- Rotary members, even those without tickets are encouraged to attend – you could be a winner of the car
- Drawing is a process of elimination whereby the last Ball drawn wins the Car
- Door prizes, valued at $200+, are awarded after every 10 Balls drawn
- $750.00 Cash Prizes ($250.00 after the 30th, 60th, and 90th Ball drawn
- Three other Raffles during the event. (ANYONE at the event can purchase a ticket)
- Gift Certificates at Café Shelburne and the Inn at Shelburne Farms - $300 value
- Raffle drawing to win Ball # 25 – ball goes into the final 50 Balls to be drawn
- Raffle drawing to win Ball # 50 – ball goes into the final 10 Balls to be drawn
- Music provided by John Hill Music
Note: If you or if you know someone else who wants to purchase one of the 100 tickets, please call Ric Flood at 658-1511.
Guest Speaker
Steve Dates and Chris Roy
Chris Roy, chair of the financial committee of the Vermont Quadricentennial Commission, brought the club up to date on the plans for a celebration in 2009 of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Samuel de Champlain in the valley.
He said that in 1909, the 300th anniversary, a crowd of about 50,000 attended the celebration on Burlington’s waterfront, including the presidents of the United States and France and the Prime Minister of Canada.
He said that the celebration at that time was nationalistic and lacked historical accuracy. Plans for the 400th anniversary celebration is focusing on the lake, the land and the people, rather than on the arrival of Columbus. Lake Champlain has a unique ecology, history and culture, he said, and the Quadricentennial will celebrate the lake in the broader Vermont community.
He said that events and academic studies will showcase native American and Franco-American history. A curriculum for study of the lake’s science and social history has been developed the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. A lot of research and creativity has gone into the production of a film that shows that the native American tribes were not a cohesive nation, and that Champlain was invited by the Abenaki as an ally.
One-third of Vermonters trace their family roots to Quebec and the Quadricentennial will be an opportunity to celebrate their history and connections. Vermont was very active and visible in the Quebec City Quadricentennial celebration this summer with the Lois McClure, the governor and Senator Leahy attending their event, and the dedication of a monument. It is expected that many Quebecers will come to the lake-focused events in 2009.
The plans include a week of festivities with fireworks and indigenous celebrations in early July, Franco-American celebrations in St. Albans and Vergennes scaled up, many local events being “quadricized” for the year, and many businesses planning to market products with a Quadricentennial theme.
Chris said it is often hard to get people to learn more about history, and this anniversary provides an occasion for a concerted effort to not only have a great celebration but to have visitors and people recognize what a jewel this is. He said it will be important for the public to participate, since state funding won’t be extensive. Donations from businesses and individuals can be made to the Legacy Fund which has been established as a 501c3 nonprofit. Funds are being raised through the sale of a commemorative license plate for the front of cars, and collectible plates.