Charlotte Shelburne Rotary
Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 7:15 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room

Welcome

President Adam Bartsch opened the meeting with the Pledge and called on Kris Engstrom to give the devotional.

Announcements

Upcoming:

  • November 17: Charlotte Central School Garden Shed Project
  • November 21: No meeting – Thanksgiving Eve
  • November 28: Bill Howland, Champlain Basin Program
  • December 5: Issa Sawabini, Fuse Marketing
  • June 6:  District Governor Change of Guard at Shelburne Farms Coach Barn. (Our club will play a key role in this event.)

Thank You Letters received from Puppets in Education and Shelburne Parks and Recreation Department.

Shelburne Players

Linda Gilbert repeated the announcement that this year’s Shelburne Players’ play will be performed on the 16, 17, & 18th of November as well as the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving.  The play is “The Butler Did It”.

Charlotte Central School Garden Shed

Michael Clapp discussed the Charlotte Central School project to build a garden shed.  The date will be 9AM on November 17 behind the school.  The teachers are organizing a number of parent volunteers to help and coffee and food will be served.  Michael, two neighbors, and Trafton Crandall have assembled the roofs, walls and trusses ready for construction. Lots of publicity is expected.

Jim Spad’s Humor

  • A man got in a taxi which happened to come along just when he needed it.  When the passenger got in, he said, “Wow.  That was lucky.  Perfect timing.  You came along just when I needed you.”
  • The cabbie replied, “Oh, that’s just like what always happened to Frank Feldman”
  • He continued, “Yup, Frank Feldman did everything right, sang like an opera singer, danced like a Broadway star, knew all the right things to say and do, he was a terrific athlete, 
  • … He never made a mistake, his clothing was always immaculate, and he knew how to make a women feel good, he would never answer her back.  …… Most guys have some sort of a cloud over there head, not Frank Feldman. He was just an amazing kind o’ guy.”
  • The passenger, “How did you meet him?”
  • The driver, “Oh, I never actually met Frank, he died when I married his wife.”

Sergeant at Arms

Richard Fox began by saying that in the spirit of Thanksgiving all persons leaving town owed a fine.

  • Gary Marcotte – Almost ready for winter.
  • Denny Bowen – Wonderful to have lunch with his granddaughter in Manchester, NH and for missing the meeting last week.
  • Kris Engstrom – Happy birthday to Max and Brita in her family
  • Fritz Horton – Granddaughter just christened in the same church in which he was married as where all his children.
  • Michael Clapp – Thankful for his friends and Trafton for their work.
  • Russ Blodgett – Just happy.
  • John Dupee – Leaving town. 
  • Dave Jonah –Son, Will, received his first college acceptance – Indiana University.
  • Terry Kennaugh – Happy his cold is getting better.
  • Ric Flood – Leaving town and thankful that the law hasn’t prohibited us from saying grace at the beginning of our meetings.
  • Howard Seaver – Happy Birthday to Colleen.
  • Linda Gilbert –Scoot fine and had a wonderful two-day conference on Honduras at the Honduran Embassy in Washington. Will be here making sweet potato rolls and cranberry sherbet.
  • Colleen Haag – Reported ninety-one percent voting participation in Shelburne and thankful for Terry, Bill and Denny’s help with the voting.
  • Steve Dates – Happy Birthday to Colleen.
  • Tom Glaser – Family coming for Thanksgiving.
  • Bob Sanders – Was happy to have been playing golf during the nice weather and shot his first, ever birdie.
  • Terrill Titus – Scoot.

Apologies to those who were missed. Of the fifteen noted above , only five were kind enough to write their fines in the Foxy books.

Adam drew his own ticket which was the subject of much speculation because the number was ripped.  Calls of “hanging chad” were heard in the hall.  All the attorneys in the room immediately woke up and were as alert as never before.  After much palaver on the part of Richard, Adam recused himself and turned down the chance to proceed by drawing the playing card, so a second was drawn. Ric Flood was the lucky one and drew the five of hearts.  Rollover the $150+ pot.

Speaker – Club Assembly

Sam Feitelberg spoke as a member of the Rotary Foundation committee on polio in Vermont and his experiences here.

He celebrates his 60th year in the physical therapy profession this year.  He began back in New York, but spent time all over, ending up in the Northeast Kingdom.

Polio has three stages:

  • Acute - painful, spasmodic, tenderness, fevered. Debilitating. Not much to offer early on – heat, comforting care.
  • Convalescent – This is where the patients are evaluated for what motor capabilities they have retained. Work begins with damaged muscles.
  • Chronic – Ambulation of the survivors with braces, devices and crutches.  In the old days these braces were made of steel and could weigh as much as 70 lbs.  After WWII, they were changed to aluminum and the weights came down to about 20-30 lbs.  They were only workable in two dimensions until later developments allowed for rotary movements into three dimensions.  These were primarily for the survivors with paralysis from the waist down.

History:

  • Polio first appeared in 1350 BC in Egypt and Central/South America
  • 1887 – Epidemic in Sweden. 
  • 1894 - Epidemic in Vermont – 138 cases in Rutland – caring services at home. Beginning of public health.
  • 1928 – Iron lungs were invented.
  • 1948 – The USAF developed high altitude pressure suits which were adapted to help the patients’ breath.
  • Late 1940s- early 1950s – The introduction of Sabine and Salk vaccines.  Salk turned out easier to administer, while Sabine was more efficacious.
  • 1979 – Last recorded case in the US.
  • 1880-1890s there were camps for patients.  The Degostian Center in Burlington was a primary center from 1950-1990.
  • Franklin Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, were key proponents of polio care. March of Dimes
  • Lots of public health programs were provided in Vermont to help with the workers of the state particularly on the farms.  Many farms adapted machinery to help their workers with the farm chores.

Committee List

President Bartsch handed out a list of members of committees and asked members to review them. See Below.  He asked that persons wishing to join any one of the committees should contact the committee chairs.

  • Public Relations: John Hammer
  • Membership: Ric Flood
  • Administration: David Rose
  • Projects: Michael Clapp
  • Foundation: Pat Sokolowski

Hurricane Sandy Assistance

District Governor Sonny Holt sent an Email asking Rotarians to consider assisting persons in hurricane-ravaged New York and New Jersey. There are three efforts underway in the district:

  • Food, clothing and other supplies dropped off in Burlington where a truck is being planned. Needed are bottled water, non-perishable food, baby diapers, baby food, pet food, batteries, flashlights, new coats and blankets, new hats and scarves, new linens, and pillows, new bedding.  They cannot accept old or used clothing or bedding.
  • Cash/Gift Cards for supply stores such as Home Depot, Target, Lowes, Walmart. Donations can be made through Rotary District 7490 Walter D. Head Foundations, a 501 © (3) organization, c/o Calisto Bertin, Bertin Engineering, 66 Glen Avenue, Glen Rock, NJ  07452.
  • Volunteers – sorters and disbursers of food and supplies, and rebuilders. 

Rotarian Kim Wichart of the Burlington Club s coordinating the Burlington area clubs.  His Email is: swichert@countrybusiness.net.