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

 

Granite Chips

 

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.

 

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.

Rotarians, friends and family began gathering and drinking around 6:00 PM.  Acting President Sue rang the bell early at 6:45 PM, as she had promised via email yesterday.  She demanded that we take a seat, and then promptly ordered us to rise for the salute to the flag.  After a couple false starts and unsolicited asides from our pianist Dick, we sang “America the Beautiful” in a VERY high pitch, and then Joe Preddy, our resident orator, offered his usual graceful grace.

 

We were ordered to resume our seats and wait for dinner to be served.  As we were digging into our salads, Sue offered perfect attendance records to the following:

 

Salad plates were cleared away and the entrees were served - a choice of salmon or chicken.  There were many compliments on the meal, prepared by the Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen.  The conversation at your scribe’s table ranged across North America from Canada to Indiana, in both French & English, and there was one very funny - though perhaps a bit sacrilegious – joke told by PDG Bill.

 

According to Joe’s iPhone, Sue called us back to order at 7:26 PM and invited the “entertainment” portion of the evening.  After much maneuvering of the keyboard and rearranging of the singers, the Rotabarrians valiantly sang their way through three songs adapted by our beloved maestro Dick:

 

With the entertainment portion mercifully over, Ted, our foundation chair, invited district foundation chair and PDG Marilyn Bedell to say a few words about the Rotary Foundation.  Marilyn said the RF is her charity of choice, and she is impressed by the number of gifts from Barre Rotarians.  The Foundation supports projects locally and internationally, including Polio Plus.

 

Marilyn then spoke of Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, and the history and importance of Paul Harris Fellowships (each one representing donations of $1,000 to the Foundation), Sustaining Members ($100 annual gifts towards a PH Fellowship), and the Paul Harris Society (membership representing annual donations of $1,000 to the Foundation).  She joined Ted in presenting PH Fellowships, multi-fellowship pins and sustaining member pins to the following:

• Bertil Agell
• Kathleen Barnes
• Jack Barnes
• Carol Dawes
• Claire Duke
• Caroline Earle
• Dick Shadroui
• Ted Goulette

 

Claire then made a special presentation of a Paul Harris Fellowship to Barre City Mayor Thom Lauzon in honor of his tireless dedication to improving the community.  In a highly unusual turn of events, Thom was at a loss for words after the presentation.

 

Sue had the privilege of naming the Rotarian of the Year, and I’m sure everybody agreed it was aptly bestowed upon Karl Rinker, who has dedicated the past many months to breathing new life into the club, and has stepped forward to once again serve as president.  The presentation was greeted with an enthusiastic round of applause and a standing ovation.

 

We then introduced and welcomed all our guests:

 

DG Bruce spoke of the Barre Club’s struggles over the past year, and how Karl has helped breathe new life and energy into the club.  DG nominee Jay Polimeno, representing incoming DG Louisa Tripp, presented Karl with his president’s badge.  He said he had one additional presentation directly from incoming DG Louisa – a big hug.

 

President Karl said 39 years ago on this same night, in this same room he became the 59^th president of the Barre Rotary Club, and tonight he becomes the 95^th president.  His paramount goal for the club is to add 10 new members, and he challenged each of us to ask, and ask, and ask.

 

As a parting gift, we all received 10% discount coupons from the Cornerstone – something I’m sure we all look forward to using!

 

Joe finished our evening with a benediction and we went our separate ways into the beautiful June evening.

 

 

Your scribe,

Carol Dawes