After an unusually quiet lunch, the silence was broken by Dick’s suggestion that we sing a couple of songs.  Enhanced by the voices of our guests, we actually sounded not half bad as we offered our rendition of Only You and On Top of Old Smokey.

Sue rose to give a Secretary’s Report, but discovered that Tom, wearing her badge, gave the report at the September 2^nd meeting; (Also, reported in Granite Chips.) We sang Happy Birthday again anyway.

Claire rose and asked Sue permission to introduce her team, the Rotary Trash Pickers: Phyllis Rowell; Mary Ann Ritchie; Shirley Clark; Lois Lafreniere. Not present was Ron Parnigoni, and Heather and Kaitlin Duke.  Claire announced that the group has collected over 120 bags of trash this year. On behalf of the Barre Rotary Club, she thanked them for their service for which they received a well-deserved round of applause.

 

                                    Rotary Trash Pickers

 

Sue introduced Scott Funk whose application as member has been approved and announced last week at our meeting and in Granite Chips. He will become a member next week.

Deborah Kelty’s application for membership was approved and will become a member in two weeks. She is a Cancellation/Reinstatement Specialist with the Noyle W. Johnson Insurance Group.

 

 

Karl proposed a fine of “one and nineteen” ($2) on all Rotarians in the room because our singing was better with the guests in the room than it had been without the guests. Liane offered a self-defense by declaring: “I can sing.” Tom asked: “All in favor?”  He was met with silence; when he asked who was opposed, all could hear a resounding “no.”  However, it was declared: “The motion passed.” The basket hadn’t seen that kind of take in ages.

Sue proposed a fine on Karl of “one and nineteen” for not paying his own fine. His defense was practically non-existent. This time there was a resounding “yes” in favor and only one “no.” (Guess who?) Motion passed.

Jack offered a Happy Dollar for a successful walk and meeting some friendly runners while walking his three-legged dog.

Tom proposed a fine on Carolyn for missing last week’s meeting when he challenged her regarding their upcoming competition at Dancing with the Stars: “May the best man win.” Paraphrasing here. Her retort went something like this:  “Last week I was deadly ill; if the best man were competing, then I would agree, but the best man was unavailable.” (Or something like that; you got the drift. A clever retort. ) Tom caved: “I take the fine back.”

 

 

 

 

 

        Karl: 1) thanked today’s guests for all their hard work cleaning up the downtown on Thursday nights and their fearless leader Claire; 2) recognized those members who attended Captain Philips’ talk at the Montpelier Rotary Club on Monday: Sandy, Liane, Ted and George; 3) thanked Ted and Liane for last week’s presentation on the Dancing with the Stars Event. We are still looking for sponsors and for folks to buy tickets to fill a table of 8. To be a sponsor it is $500.00 without a table or $800.00 with a table. Sponsor tables will be in the front.

 

 

Karl introduced Clay Whitney who is on the Board of Directors of the Granite City Grocery, the cooperative food store start-up that recently announced intentions to open in summer 2016 in the current P&S Furniture building or the old Homer Fitts in the center of downtown Barre. Clay works with specialty stores and food co-ops around the country for Cabot Creamery Cooperative and lives in Calais.

 

                                        Clay Whitney

 

He said that the Granite City Grocery would be modeled after Burlington City Market carrying both organic and non-organic grocery items. It will utilize more local suppliers than traditional supermarkets; employ about 90 and paying about $14.00 per hour. He estimates that it will be a ten million dollar operation and pump 1.4 million dollars into the local economy. Members will receive a 10% discount, not only at the store, but also at several local businesses, such as True Value and Hunger Mountain Co-Op in Montpelier. There will also be special food programs for those who qualify. They still need more members, but are moving ahead with the building arrangement while they work toward their goal of a thousand members.