After our usual rituals, we sat down to lunch on salad, chicken or turkey with gravy and biscuits, and cookies. All was quiet until Ted rose to give a Happy Dollar for the newly placed granite plaque (covering up 12:15 and replacing it with 12:00) on the service club marker at northern entrance to the city. Thanks to Bob Pope, anyone looking for the correct time of our meeting will not be fifteen minutes late. They just won’t know where to find us. Ted’s happiness must have been infectious—Karl threw in another dollar.

 

 

 

               Dick introduced George Weaver from Connecticut who spends his summers in Barre. Karl introduced Scott Funk, HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) Loan Specialist: he has been approved for membership. This is the first announcement of the Board of Directors approval; in two weeks he will become a member of our club. Liane introduced Deborah Kelty, a co-worker, visiting our club as a potential member.

 

 

 

               Karl announced that he had received an invitation to attend the Montpelier Rotary Club meeting next week (Monday at the Capital Plaza at 12:15 p.m. to hear Captain Phillips speak.) He wondered if any of us had received the invitation: None of us had. Evidently when you use Club Runner, you can have members make reservations for lunch/dinner and he will explore that feature further so we could use it in the future.

 

 

Below is the essential information:

 

- See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/1428#sthash.yd3YlnCO.dpuf

 

Rotarians Tom and Carolyn have agreed to compete. Ted said that they are looking for sponsors, six major ones. Someone suggested checking with the other service clubs and other Rotary Clubs in the area to see if they would want to enter a couple in the competition as a way of increasing attendance. And someone suggested Norwich cadets as the wait staff. If you have any ideas, pass them along to Liane or Ted.

 

 

Operation “New Signs” has been completed Karl announced two weeks ago. Here are the pictures of them at the various main entrances to Barre.

                                                     

 

                                 

                                                                             East Montpelier Road--Route 14

                                                         

          Jockey Hollow

                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                 East Barre Road

 

 

 

On September 2, 2015 Karl presented Dick Parnigoni with an Honorary Membership to the Barre Rotary Club. Dick was a member of Rotary for over 50 years and Chair of the Breakfast for some 30 years.  Several Rotarians accompanied Karl for the presentation at Dick’s home.

 

 

                                                                          Karl Congratulates Dick While Several Rotarians Look On

 

After an off-key version of America the Beautiful, we pledged our allegiance, and gave thanks for, among the usual things, the weather on last Saturday, the day of Annual Barre Rotary Club Breakfast. Then we sat down to our usual, soup sandwiches, chips and a cookie. Bertil gave a “Happy Dollar” because he was sure that Joe’s inspiring grace last week resulted in the nice weather that we enjoyed on Saturday. Bob gave an “Admirable Dollar” in honor of Ron’s magnificent job of organizing the breakfast. Ron was then treated to a hearty round of applause. As the only item in the Secretary’s Report, Sue announced that everyone who worked the breakfast would receive a “make-up.” Before the beginning of the Club Assembly, we sang two songs in honor of New York City for no particular reason: The Sidewalks of New York and New York, New York. No competition for Frank Sinatra or Liza Minelli.

 

Karl opened the Club Assembly by reading a letter from Karen Lane, Rotarian and former director of the Aldrich Public Library, thanking us for the $11, 152.11 contribution to the library, proceeds raised from last year’s breakfast. He also read a thank you letter from Green Mountain United Way for the $783. 84 contribution to the heating fund raised by our Give-a-Gallon program which this year was run by Spaulding High School students.

 

Karl next talked about the plans for replacing aging Rotary signs on the major routes entering Barre. New signs have been ordered for: Route 14 at the corner of Merchant Street and Maple Avenue coming from East Montpelier; and Route 302 coming from East Barre. The Board of Directors voted to approve another for Route 14 coming from South Barre to be placed at Jockey Hollow. These three signs will have the rectangle addition to the rotary wheel attached at the bottom with the following information: barrevtrotary. org and Wednesday, Noon.  Bob Pope announced that a plaque is being prepared to be placed over the 12:15 to read 12:00 to accompany the Wednesday on the granite marker near Jones Brothers at the northern entrance to Barre. No sign will be placed on Route 62 because of State regulations.

 

Karl announced that our district governor, Louisa Tripp with be attending the cookout at his home and will present a surprise Paul Harris award. There will be surprise entertainment as well. Starts at 5:00 with a social hour.

 

Ron gave a report on the breakfast. He said it was the smoothest ever. He then reviewed the sequence of events from the tent set-up on Thursday to clean-up on Saturday. Every phase went well. He expressed his appreciation for the help provided by all, and especially noted the work of Sara White and her children and the Boy Scouts. The only problems mentioned were: the Culinary Institute’s use of a grill, not cleaning it and using a substantial amount of gas: and people entering from non-secure entrances without a ticket.  He reported that: 1360 tickets were collected at the gate; 355 tickets were sold at the door; Bob sold 1311, 730 of which were used.  Amounts used included: 160 pounds of syrup (1250 + containers); 900 cartons of milk; 105 pounds of sausage; 120 pounds of ham; and 3000 eggs. Ron also reported that he found two watches and a pair of dentures in a pail of eggs. He expects that we will match or exceed last year’s contribution to the library.

 

                  Serving Up the Food

 

                    Toasting the Bread

 

                      Batter That Matters

 

The final item of the Club Assembly was an announcement by Karl that he is looking for an alternative place to store our grills.

 

On an unrelated matter, The Times Argus reported that Max Barrows, Director of Green Mountain Self-Advocates was honored at the White House on Monday as one of nine “Champions of Change” from around the country. You recall that Max was one of recent programs and was a very inspiring speaker. Congratulations to Max.