ImageJuly 2, 2014 Newsletter      Image

By John Hammer

Charlotte Shelburne Rotary

 

 

Wednesday, July 2, 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:

Bob Hyams – Speaker from Champlain Conservation Commission (CCC).

Marty Illick – Executive Director, Lewis Creek Association.

Upcoming:

July 9 – Carl Bostwick of the Lake Monsters Baseball Team (Potential for free ticket giveaway).

July 16 – Club Assembly

July 17 – Board Meeting (Usually the Board Meeting will be held on the second Thursday of the month.)

July 29 – Camp Ta KumTa Breakfast at 0630.

Week of July 27-Aug 2 – Volunteer at Charlotte Frogbit eradication project.

August 22 – Volunteer support to the Charlotte Senior Center Annual BBQ

District 7850 Calendar: Hot Link http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Events/EventsCalendar.aspx?accountid=50051

Announcements

Changing of the Guard Party – President Richard reported that the Changing of the Guard Party was a rousing success. Dave Jonah and Linda Barker were presented with Paul Harris Fellowships. Roz Graham and Fritz Horton were presented with Paul Harris pins with a sapphire inset. Order of pictures: Richard Fox receiving gavel from Outgoing President, Dave Jonah/Linda Barker receives Paul Harris Fellowship/Dave Jonah receives Paul Harris Fellowship/Roz Graham receives her second Paul Harris Award/Fritz Horton receives his second Paul Harris Award.

 

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ImageText Box: Dave Jonah receives Paul Harris AwardImage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rotary Scholarship Winner Thanks – Jeannine Bissonette sent a thank you note for her $1,500 scholarship.

Shelburne Veterans’ Memorial – Sam Feitelberg reported that they had raised $60,000 so far with another $25,000 to go for the Shelburne Veterans’ Memorial. Construction will start in September. They are selling bricks for $100. Sam will have application forms next week.

Projects – Michael Clapp reported that the Hinesburg garden shed project team has begun work and needed 2-3 volunteers to help on Saturday, August 9th. He circulated a picture of Bill Deming, Denny Bowen and young John Dupee finishing off the second bridge last weekend finishing off the second bridge at the Charlotte Wildlife Refuge and Park.

John Dupee’s Humor – Will he reach the high level of humor introduced by Jim Spadaccini? An Englishman and Aussie were aboard a train on the way to a cricket match. The Aussie started out taking the Brit apart by saying that, ”You Pommie bastards think that you are so special, you’re smug, so class-conscious. I’ve got all sorts of good blood in me, I’ve got English, French, even some aborigine.” To which the Brit replied, “Pretty sporting of your mother, old chap.” 

Sergeant at Arms – Evan Webster took over the post of the Sergeant at Arms. He opened by soliciting stories of Fourths of July in the past. Fines for anyone planning a picnic.

Sam Feitelberg – Hopes all can have a fireproof Fourth of July weekend.

Ric Flood – Had a great weekend cycling in Greensborough with a lot of good friends.

Joan Lennes – Having good luck with her tomatoes this year. Also a notoriety fine for her picture in the paper this morning.

Bob Sanders – Happy to be back after a month in Florida.

Dave Jonah – Happy to now be Past President.

Linda Gilbert – Very happy to have watched the smallest country in the FIFA World Cup, Belgium, do so well. She has a lot of family members from Belgium.

Kris Engstrom – Has high respect for Evan’s taking on the SAA role. She was once SAA. Also made a plug for the Methodist Church BBQ.

President Richard – Birthday fine and thanks for a great Changing of the Guard Party.

John Hammer  - Great week in Chautauqua where he attended 34 lectures, presentations, concerts, classes and events.

Lara Keenan – Going to baptize her grill this coming weekend.

Bob Hyams – Suggested that we all get out on the water and enjoy what the lake has to offer.

Trafton Crandall – Was in Colorado to see his new granddaughter who was born on Friday the thirteenth under a full moon.

Dennis Webster – As a hockey fan, he was interested to see the size difference between the soccer and ice hockey goals.

Fritz Horton – Two weeks ago he added an addition to his house. He was blindsided the morning of the hearing with the Zoning Board when he heard that there was a lawyer coming to contest it, so he invited his two children who are “Philadelphia Lawyers” to attend and they demolished the attorney’s case. Fritz won.

Roz Graham – Had an interesting and fun cruise on the waterways of Ontario.

Alan Hathaway – Happy Birthday.  Happy to have visitors from South Carolina.

Bill Deming – Thanks to Fritz for all his work as Program Chair during the past year.  Happy for his 33rd wedding anniversary.

Tod Whitaker – Watched his son play in the Rotary Make a Wish Hockey Championship at which New Hampshire beat Vermont.

Michael Clapp – Happy for all the crews of his volunteers. Given their average age, they are a “remarkable outfit.”

President Richard won the draw and picked the Queen of Hearts to roll over the $84.50 pot.

Speaker – Bob Hyams – Charlotte Conservation Committee on the Frogbit Program.

Bob runs the Habitat Restoration Solutions Company.  He spoke about the 50-acre wetland in Charlotte at the mouth of Thorpe and Kimball Brooks. This wetland is an ecological gem which rates 10 out of 10 on the Vermont Wetlands Assessment.  He is also marginally involved with the program run by Judy Raven for the LaPlatte estuarine invasive plant program ((Home) 802-985-2247 Mobile: 802-734-0458 and ravenvt@msn.com).

He pointed out that these programs are important to water quality and that we had to get control of them. The frogbit program is important for wildlife diversity with the 41 types of breeding birds, water quality, for children’s’ recreation and the enjoyment of all. European frogbit cannot now be eliminated; it is established and now must be annually controlled so it doesn’t take over. The program includes hand-powered vessels in which volunteers go out and pick or harvest the plants, dump them in a scow that is towed to shore where the plants are composted.

The CCC is beginning to work on the science of control, particularly with the UVM to determine when the seedpods become viable. Harvesting can then be planned to occur before they set. The core actors of the program are Point Bay Marina, the Lewis Creek Association and the CCC. Others presently supporting the program are the Charlotte Land Trust, CVU and the Lake Champlain Basin Program. It will require a continued annual effort.

“Ecology is not rocket science, it’s much more complicated than that.” (From a National Public Radio Interview).

Information can be found at habitatrestorationvt.com or email Robert@gmavt.net.

 

 

Ed Cafferty inducted into Club.

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