Newsletter for Meeting of August 21, 2013
August 21, 2013 Newsletter
By John Hammer
Charlotte Shelburne Rotary
Wednesday, August 21, 2013, 7:15 a.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room
Welcome
President Dave Jonah opened the meeting with the Pledge. Kris Engstrom gave her usual thoughtful invocation.
Guests: Ed Finkbeiner, Former member of 7 years and now visiting member of the Cortland (NY) Breakfast Rotary Club
Doug Webster – Speaker
Mikie Marcotte – Grandson and guest of Gary Marcotte
Quote of the Day: “He’s kept us doing what we do best – service projects and gotten us back to our Rotary roots.” Said by Terrill Titus upon presenting Michael Clapp his Paul Harris Award.
Word for the Day: Look for the * and definition at end.
Upcoming:
August 23 – Charlotte Senior Center Summer BBQ
August 29 – Dennis Delaney, Club Member speaking on Ex-convict Mentoring
September 4 – Michael Clouden – Soviet Era Adventures
September 13 - H2H-T Latin Dance Party
September 18 – Burlington Police Chief Michael Shirling.
November 1 – Car Raffle
Announcements
Shelburne’s 250th Anniversary
Linda Gilbert reported that the Rotary and Hands to Honduras-Tela tents did well with gross sales totaling $1,372. Expenses are expected to be around $500, which would result in less than last year’s net of $1,414. This is probably due to the pricing of cheeseburgers this year, but nevertheless was very respectable. She thanked all the volunteers.
Bill Deming reported that volunteers did very well at the BBQ where about 400 were served.
Tod Whitaker reported that this was the best-attended Shelburne Day on record. The Rotary tent was relocated to a much more favorable location. Thanks to all that volunteered.
Roz Graham’s cards were handed out to those interested in attending a Rotary meeting.
Charlotte Senior Center Summer BBQ
Linda Gilbert is set for the BBQ this coming Friday. She solicited and got three members to come at 4PM to help prep.
Bowlathon/Car Raffle
Ric Flood reported that a check just came in raising the total so far to greater than $24,000. Once again he predicted that had everyone sent out letters, it could have been $35-40,000. He also asked members to put November 1 on their calendars for the Car Raffle at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms.
Paul Harris Fellowship Awarded
Citing numerous and almost insurmountable scheduling difficulties, Ric Flood and Terrill Titus finally called Michael Clapp forward to present him with his Paul Harris Fellowship Award. It had been held over since the Changing of the Guard party in June. Michael has been very active in soliciting for and managing numerous community service projects. Terrill noted that there had been more community projects under Michael’s leadership than in any one year that she has been a member. “He’s kept us doing what we do best – service projects and gotten us back to our Rotary roots.”
Rotary T-Shirts
John Hammer is still selling the new club T-shirts for $7. They are dark blue with the name of the club encircling the Rotary wheel in gold. They come in Ladies Medium, Large, and a few Extra Large. Men’s sizes come in Large and Extra Large.
Happy Fines
Sergeant at Arms Richard Fox, in finest form, went on to levy a fine on all who had not handled melons, Winnies (did he mean wieners?) or buns over the past weekend. He got lots of fines for this.
Robert Maynes – for last night’s true Blue Moon*
Terrill Titus – For the two new grandbabies in the Club (Dave Rice and Linda Barker). She also wondered if during America’s Got Talent, last night, did Slackwire Sam of Charlotte win anything.
Linda Gilbert – For all the help last weekend at the Rotary tent and for Richard Fox’s loud sales calls for hamburgers along with Dave Jonah. Also for Amelia, Linda Barker’s new granddaughter.
John Hammer – Today is his 48th wedding anniversary and for Ed’s presence.
Kris Engstrom – For Ed Finkbeiner’s visit and the awesome presence of Rotary at the Shelburne 250th.
Linda Schiavonne – The grandbabies.
Ed Finkbeiner – Good to be back. Suggested that a good springtime project that his club does is to do house maintenance and spring clean up for the senior citizens and those that can’t do it for themselves.
Gary Marcotte – For the return of his repair tools.
Dave Jonah – Taking son to college in Indianapolis tomorrow.
Roz Graham – Amazing Weekend for Shelburne’s 250th.
Richard Fox – For the weekend and suggested that everyone look into the new school district’s Calendar 2.0. Ric Flood pointed out that there were 260 school superintendents in the State of Vermont.
Russ Blodgett – Birthday and the blue moon.
Alan Hathaway – Michael Clapp’s Paul Harris.
Fritz Horton – Great having the kids here.
Trafton Crandall – Great weekend.
Dave Rice – His new grandson.
Denny Bowen – Spent last 6 days in Nantucket.
Linda Barker – For her 22nd anniversary of her being in her job and her new granddaughter in Sonoma, CA.
Joan Lennes’ number was called and she drew the Nine of Hearts. Roll over the pot of $87.50.
There was also a drawing for a ticket to the Hands to Honduras – Tela Latin Dance Party. Sam Feitelberg won this drawing.
Speakers – Doug Webster, Working for the Vermont Agency of Education on career and technical education programs and organizer of the Champlain Makers Faire at Shelburne Farms Coach Barn.
The Maker Faire: Getting to the Zone of Innovation will be held at Shelburne Farms on September 29th. The Makers organization is trying to get our culture comfortable with innovation. They want everyone to begin making things again; to energize communities to innovate. They maintain that if you can think it, you can make it. They want people to go out and create something.
Makers feel that learning is too constrained and they especially want to teach kids to get involved in growing technology. They want them to use their hands and minds, not be limited by the stifled learning in schools. “If you imagine it, you can make it happen.”
This year the Maker Faire at Shelburne Farms will have 60 makers, performing acts doing something with technology and art, and innovative/creative areas where kids and faire-goers can think up and create their own works. Last year they expected 50 attendees and ended up having 1500. They are expecting more this year.
Emerging Maker Initiatives:
· Vermont Makers Network – to encourage innovation in the state
· Community Maker Spaces – Michael Metz of Charlotte is helping put together a 6500 sq. ft. space in Burlington under the Memorial Auditorium where people can do industrial/innovative art.
· School Maker Spaces – space similar to old industrial arts spaces in schools of the past.
· Maker Solutions
· Maker in Residence
· Maker Mentors– Maker mentors who will go into school to help innovate with ideas
· Robotics Education and Competitions
· Micro Maker Faires
The first Maker Faire was held in California seven years ago.
Webster asked Rotarians to be aware, support community businesses, help break down barriers to innovation and be mentors.
He can be contacted at doug@champlainmakerfaire.com. For info: www.champlainmakerfaire or www.Vermontmakers.org.
Definition – Blue Moon, Name. – The fourth full moon occurring within one season. Sometimes, more incorrectly, the second full moon falling within one month.