Welcome One and All
President Caroline opened the meeting leading seventeen Barre Rotarians and five guests in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test. She previewed the agenda for today’s Club Assembly and welcomed today’s guests: Avery Roaldi, Angelina’s baby daughter; Riley Stephens, Emily’s daughter; Kristen Baumann, Director of the Aldrich, Louisa Tripp, Assistant Governor; and Kelly Drew, District Governor 2024-25.
Strategic Plan Report
President Caroline reported on the progress of implementing our Strategic Plan 2024-2027. The following goals have been met: a) to review and update our strategic plan regularly; b) to set annual goals and enter (select) them in Rotary Club Central; c) to create a Public Image Committee whose chair and members are dedicated to public image and outreach; and d) to create a Community Service Committee whose chair and members are dedicated to creating and facilitating volunteer projects that are aligned with community and global need. Partial or ongoing work on goals include: a) to ensure continuity that includes identifying future club leaders and preparing them for leadership positions; and b) at least 75% (61% as of July 1st) of our Club members are involved in a hands-on service project, leadership role or other assigned roles.
Committee Reports
Dan, Chair of the Service Projects Committee, started this report with the criteria that the Committee will use to evaluate projects: a) does it align with the mission of Rotary; b) does it fill a community need: c) is it feasible, practical and sustainable; and d) do we have the volunteers to staff it.He also went on to list some actions that the Committee will initiate: a) solicit ideas for service projects from the community; b) conduct periodic reviews of ongoing projects; and c) create a calendar of service projects.
Emily, Co-Chair of the Public Image Committee, reported that the Facebook and Instagram pages have been updated and Karl continues to update our website.
Nicole, Chair of the Youth Committee, reported that she has been in touch with Margo Austin, Interact advisor, regarding attending some of the Interact’s meetings. She also noted that she will be talking to Margo about involving Spaulding students in Rotary activities. Nicole informed us that she is including Gamers 4 Good and Rotaract as “youth.” She announced that our RYLA attendee, Julia Locarno, will be speaking to us on September 18, 2024 .
Patrick distributed an AAR (After Action Review) form for the Aldrich Public Library Rotary Breakfast to be completed by club members.
Members will submit their comments and recommendations directly to Club Runner documents in a designated folder. The Committee Chair will review the AAR inputs and develop an action plan to improve the event. An email will be sent to all who volunteered at the Breakfast. Angelina reported that a social event is being planned for October 3, 2024 with Louisa Tripp, District 7850 Rotary Foundation Chair. The goal of Barre Rotary is to have 100 % of the members contributing to the Rotary International Foundation.
Tony reported that the Membership Committee is planning an event to recruit members for a companion club. Those attending After Dark Bowling were encouraged to bring a friend who might be a potential member. The Committee needs more members and so please consider joining.
Since Last We Met
Birthdays: Robert Pope August 6; Doug Bullett August 15; Garrett Grant August 15; Nicole DiDomenic August 15; Nick Marinell August 21; Nicolas Storellicastro August 21
Club Anniversaries: Garrett Grant August 2, 2023 1 year; Paul Haigh August 2, 2023 1 year; Dan Barlow August 23, 2023 1 year
Anniversaries: Karl & Char Rinker August 9; Tony & Cindy Campos August 9; John Steinman & Lynne Addiego August 14; George & Linda Milne August 22
On this day in history: Protests at the
1968 Democratic National Convention—fueled, in part, by opposition to the
Vietnam War—culminated in the so-called Battle of Michigan Avenue, a violent confrontation between demonstrators and police.
A Very Happy Dollar
Riley Stephens had two Happy Dollars to offer, happy that the caterpillar gathered a few weeks ago had emerged from its chrysalis as a Monarch butterfly. She also provided us with a description of metamorphosis.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Doug reminded us that the 2025 Rotary International Conference will be held in Calgary, Alberta.
No meeting on Wednesday, September 4th--bowling instead on Thursday, a Rotary After Dark event.
Hail Ye! Hail Ye! All Rise
Louisa Tripp, Assistant Governor, introduced Kelly Drew, District Governor 2024-25.
As a third generation Rotarian, Kelly was born with Rotary in her blood. After graduating with a BA in Business Management at New Hampshire College, she began a career in commercial lending at a statewide bank. Kelly joined Rotary the same year that she was promoted to Assistant Vice President. A few years later, she saw a need to help small start-ups and offered assistance in drafting business plans. She then joined her family’s construction company, sliding into the office manager position while working alongside her brothers - one a former
Rotarian.
Kelly is currently a member of the Rotary Club of North Conway in District 7850. She is a three-time Club President and has chaired many
committees in various capacities such as International Service, Fundraising, Community Service and Youth Services to name a few.
Kelly began her presentation with her “Rotary Story,” a nostalgic look back at the roots of becoming a Rotarian. She remembered playing cards with her Rotarian grandfather, her father dressing up to go talk with other men about helping the community and Christmas shopping with her mother to buy gifts for those in need. When she was in her mid-thirties, she was stricken with cancer and found out how kind Rotarians were: babysitting, buying groceries and rides to treatment centers. Kelly considers Rotary her second family.
She continued by telling us about Stephanie Urchick, Rotary International President, whose theme,The Magic of Rotary, offers the following advice for improving the health of local clubs: make your club irresistible-- engage and take care of your members; head for the future and master change; ask members what they want; and tell your Rotary story from the heart and with passion.
Kelly talked about district supported initiatives: grow and create clubs, district money is available; reach out to the younger generations; enhance public image and connect with the district Facebook page.
In her closing remarks, Kelly noted that Barre Rotary is already doing many of the things mentioned in her talk. Kudos for us! After a warm round of applause, President Caroline presented her with a “heavy” gift from the Granite Capital of the World!. Wonder what it could be made of???
Until next time....that's all Rotarians.
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