Granite Chips January 25, 2012

President Karen began the meeting with Song, Allegiance, and Prayer.

Bob Pope immediately gave a happy dollar for a pair of Sweden made boots he just purchased.  Praising the workmanship and qualities stitched into the quality of his boots, he was happy to discover that Bertil wasn't the only example of great products exported from Sweden.

With Sue's Secretary's Report, guest were introduced.  First, Bertil welcomed Al Hall from the Central Vermont Club, and Roy was glad to introduce his friend and former Rotarian, Tommy Semprebon.  Tommy is  civil war buff and joined us for the program and was seen visiting with many old friends.

 Bertil announced that he will be in Honduras for 3 weeks, volunteering for the Hands to Honduras program.

 Karen was pleased to report new chairs and tables are arriving at Labor Hall and the mortgage has been paid off, with a donation from the Semprebon funds.

Bob fined Amber for taking  trip to the kitchen during the announcements to retrieve a "real" cup of coffee. Amber seconded the motion, stating that her steaming cup of java was indeed very good, while  Bob continued drinking his lukewarm, decaffeinated coffee.  The motion passed.

Joe outlined the programs for the next several weeks which are posted on our website at Barrevtrotary.org.

Our guest speaker was Barre native,Whitney Maxfield.  Whit is Camp Commander of the William Scott Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.  

The organization is working on a Veteran' memorial to honor 186 Civil War soldiers native to Barre City and Barre town.  He displayed an artist's rendition of four granite tablets to be placed in Barre city's park near the equestrian watering trough.   Gino Tosi is helping with the design and the cost is estimated at $10,000.  The names of the soldiers will be sandblasted into the monuments.  Plan are being made to commemorate th monument in 2014, th 150th anniversary of the battles of the Wilderness and Pottsville, Pa.

Whit's ancestor, James Bacon, was a soldier in the civil war, enlisting on Dec 29, 1861 and returning home in June of 1865.  Whit, wearing a replica gray uniform explained that Vermont's soldiers wore gray as the war started.  Whit shared excerpts from 122 of Bacon's letters and presented aslide show of whe Bacon lived in Barre and Williamstown.