July 24, 2013 Newsletter

By John Hammer

Charlotte Shelburne Rotary

Wednesday, July 24, 2013, 7:15 a.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room

Welcome

President Dave Jonah opened the meeting with the Pledge. Dave Rice gave an excellent invocation.

Guests: Ed MColin, Executive Director of the Green Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America and member of the Waterbury Rotary Club

 

Quote for the Week: “Did you know that the State of Vermont has the most not-for-profit organizations per capita than any state in the country?” Ed McColin in his presentation.

 

Word for the Day: Look for the * and definition at end.

 

Upcoming:

July 31 – Camp TaKumTa – Serving Breakfast 6-9:30 AM. There will be no meeting that day.

August 7 – Member Chris Davis  - Meach Cove Farm

Announcements

Club Dues Due

Club dues are due by the first of August. $145 for regular members and $137 for those under the 85 Rule.  Please see John Beal at check-in or send a check to the club.

Shelburne’s 250th Anniversary      

Linda Gilbert circulated a sign-up sheet for volunteers to man the Rotary Information Booth at the Shelburne Day on August 17th.  There is also a requirement to grill and sell food for the Hands to Honduras portion of the booth. Roz is producing handout materials for the information booth. The market lasts from 9-3 and sign ups can be for any period during those times.

There will be a sign up sheet being circulating at the next few meetings to help with the community BBQ to be served on the afternoon of Sunday August 18th. Bill Deming will be circulating that list.

Charlotte Senior Center Summer BBQ

Linda Gilbert announced the need for eight to ten volunteers to help prepare, serve and clean up at the Charlotte Senior Center Annual Summer BBQ on August 23rd. This has been a annual requirement and has always resulted in our members having more fun than the attendees. Volunteers also get to eat for free. Times are 5-8 or 8:30. A list was circulated

Rotary T-Shirts

John Hammer was selling the new club T-shirts at this meeting.  They are dark blue with the name of the club encircling the Rotary wheel in gold. They are on sale for $7 and will be sold at the next few meetings including just before the “meeting” at Camp TaKumTa. They come in Ladies Medium, Large, and a few Extra Large.  Men’s sizes come in Large and Extra Large.

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Boston Red Sox Rotary Days

The Boston Red Sox are interested in encouraging Rotarians to participate in more baseball games and have approached Rotary Clubs in the region to get groups together. If twenty tickets are sold, they will give a discount. Next summer they want to hold a Rotary Day. They are offering up two dates this year; September 4 against the Tigers and September 17 against the Orioles. If there is any interest, see Dave Jonah and we will gather names. Prices range from $28-49.

Happy Fines

Richard Fox was absent and Ric Flood very ably took over. Fines were levied on anyone who had not bought a T-Shirt, wasn’t wearing a Rotary pin, who didn’t understand what the Vermont Health Service Plan is all about, but they could waive the last if they fully understood how Washington will pay for Obamacare.

Almost everyone paid a fine for any and all of the above.

Denny Bowen – A glorious family reunion and a birthday

Roz Graham – For a fabulous Burlington Ensemble Concert last night at Shelburne Farms Coach barn and looking forward to more.

Sam Feitelberg – Expecting all his grandchildren next week.

Alan Hathaway – His nephew just made Eagle Scout, apropos* to today’s subject.

Russ Blodgett – Was at an Eagles concert in 96° along with 30,000 other people.

Joan Lennes – Vacation in Maine where the water was 70°.

Tod Whitaker – Is holding a family reunion next week.

Linda Gilbert –Has had masses of houseguests.  Gushed over the four baby piglets of different colors at Shelburne Farms. Mentioned in The Rotarian Magazine (p. 61).

Linda Schiavonne’s number was called and she drew the 8 of Diamonds.  Roll over the pot of $81.

Speakers – Ed McColin, Executive Director of the Green Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America and member of the Waterbury Rotary Club.

 

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Ed McColin has been a career-long executive with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). He began his work in Vermont in August 2010. As Executive Director of the Green Mountain Council, he serves 4,000 scouts and 2,000 volunteer leaders throughout Vermont. They have performed over 50,000 hours of community service. It is for this reason that Rotary Clubs are the largest supporters of scout troops in America.  This includes two camps one each for boy scouts and for cub scouts. There are 285 councils in America.

BSA is a not-for-profit organization.  “Did you know that the State of Vermont has the most not-for-profit organizations per capita than any state in the country?” 81% of Americans like the BSA.  It has been in existence for 103 years.  It is the largest youth service in the country.

He went on to discuss the full history of the gay leadership issue which started in 1998 and ended in May of this year. Essentially there was a Supreme Court decision which decided that the BSA, as a private institution could set their own leadership standards.  This provoked a comprehensive review and study of the problem. The outcome, after intense public participation, was a resolution that accepted gays in scouting under the age of 18 but prohibited openly avowed gays from holding leadership positions after becoming 18. While the Green Mountain Council didn’t agree, the national vote of the BSA supported the above resolution. The Green Mountain Council would rather change the over 18 leadership standards clause to limit these positions to those persons who have not displayed inappropriate behavior. They feel that their mission is to teach values, developing character for young people, outdoors skills, and leadership skills and leave sexual orientation to other organizations.

In closing, he emphasized that the BSA is a leading child protection agency.

For further information visit www.scoutingvermont.org.

Definition – apropos, adj. – appropriate; pertinent.