Newsletter for Meeting of August 20, 2014
August 20, 2014 Newsletter 
By John Hammer
Charlotte Shelburne Rotary
Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 7:15 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room
Welcome
Incoming President Richard Fox opened the meeting with the Pledge. Kris Engstrom gave the invocation.
Guests: None
Upcoming:
August 20 – Budget discussion plus a surprise presentation
August 22 – Volunteer support to the Charlotte Senior Center Annual BBQ
August 27 – RYLA Candidates
September 3 – Frank Bryan – Great opportunity to invite a potential new guest to visit the club.
September 5 – Latin Dance Party 7-10
September 10 – Club Assembly
September 17 – Visit by District Governor, Bruce Pacht.
September 24 – Humane Society of Chittenden County
District 7850 Calendar: Hot Link http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Events/EventsCalendar.aspx?accountid=50051
Announcements
Shelburne Veterans’ Memorial – Sam Feitelberg reported that they have raised $75,000. Bricks are on sale at the Farmers’ Market.
Projects – Michael Clapp reported that the Hinesburg Shed project at the Hinesburg Community School is well underway and that the team of builders would be happy to welcome Rotary volunteers this Saturday. The Rotary team will work on the project Saturday, August 30th beginning at 9:30AM. A Sign-up sheet will be circulated next week.
Charlotte Senior Center BBQ – A list was circulated for the forthcoming Charlotte Senior Center BBQ at 5 PM next Friday, August 22.
Club Membership – Ric Flood outlined the process for proposing a new member. Members should fill out a Proposed New Member Form (See below) which can be obtained from the Club website. This form should be forwarded to the Membership Committee Chair, Ric Flood. The committee, after approval, will forward it to the board and following that the name of the proposed new member will be published in the newsletter for two weeks. If no one comes forward with any objections, the new member will be accepted. The Membership Committee is challenging all members to invite a new member before next Thanksgiving.
Club Budget – Russ Blodgett presented the Club budget for this Rotary year. It will be posted on the website. This past year was an apparently breakeven year. We are about breaking even with our breakfast costs though we need 31 diners to break even. If there are not enough, funds are taken from the happy fines. This is not altogether good because the happy fines are also used to bankroll the changing of the guard party. It costs $90 per meeting to rent the hall. And then there is a per-person breakfast charge. There were changes to the line items with the addition of lines for Camp TakumTa and the Boy Scout activities in order to make these long-standing items more visible. The 204-15 budget is a deficit budget in order to spend down the large cushion that the club carries forward each year.
Paul Harris Fellowship – Ric Flood in his role as presenter presented a third Paul Harris Fellowship pin to Bob Sanders. This is a sapphire pin.
Sergeant at Arms – Sergeant at Arms Pro Tem today is Adam Bartsch who challenged all members who had not laughed at Richard’s jokes to pay a dollar fine.
Terrill Titus- To Russ Blodgett in recognition of his entering his seventh decade of life tomorrow.
Russ Blodgett – A dollar for each decade of his life. He has remembered events for every major decadal birthday year except for his twentieth.
Lind Barker – For her trip out to California where she enjoyed her granddaughter’s first birthday.
Joan Lennes – In honor of Senator Jim
Jeffords’s life (He died in the past week) and for Shelburne’s wonderful Farmers’ Market. And a great Shelburne Day.
Kris Engstrom – Had a great weekend last week.
Linda Gilbert – Thanks for everyone who participated in Shelburne Day and the booth. It was truly a show of what it means to say “Service Above Self.”
President Richard – For Josephine’s first haircut (1/8”) and for a first class seminar at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum on the War of 1812 and all the wrecks on the bottom of the lake.
Dennis Webster – Warned Russ not to act 60.
Fritz Horton – For the indispensible help of Russ Blodgett in an appearance before the IRS yesterday while he went up in a glider with Maryanne for her first time.
Ed Cafferty – Exhorted everyone to vote next Tuesday on Election Day.
Dennis Delaney – Son Luke becomes a Commander in the U.S. Navy on Sept 2.
Michael Clapp – Expects Russ to explain his 20th birthday this afternoon on a boat.
Lara Keenan – For the fantastic burger and corn she had at the booth n the Shelburne Day.
John Dupee won the draw and picked the wrong card to roll over the $157.50 pot.
Today’s Surprise Speaker. Originally scheduled was an airing of a Community TV show featuring Kay Ryder’s interview with Linda Gilbert and Sam Feitelberg on their work with Hands to Honduras – Tela and the associated Rehabilitation Center in Tela. When the audio portion of the screening did not come through, Linda and Sam stepped forward and briefed the club on current progress on their areas of interest – Linda on Hands to Honduras and Sam on the Rehab Center. Linda invited all members to the Latin Dance Party from 7-10 on Friday, September 5th at the Shelburne Farms Coach Barn. It promises to be a fantastic evening with a high-class salsa band from Rhode Island. $30.