Granite Chips – 10/30/24

Reported by Caroline Earle

Double, Double, Toil & Trouble …

Barre Rotarians gathered for a Hallow’s Eve meeting on 10/30/24, complete with spooky decorations and candy-laden tables.  No witches in sight and not much trouble from the group as President Caroline welcomed the 17 assembled Rotarians and our guest speaker, storyteller Willem Lange.  Rotarian Nicole shared that the Interact Club is doing great things, including a recent Good Samaritan Haven service project, which inspired 17 students to volunteer!  The Club is excited to support and collaborate with these mission-driven students.  Rotarians Patrick and Ted presented reports on the Operating and Foundation budgets, including news that Patrick will shift over on a quarterly basis to the Foundation account any funds over a reserve of $10,000 in our operating budget.  That budget currently is balanced at over $24,000.  Our Foundation account also remains robust with a balance of over $84,000, with about $55,000 of that dedicated to service projects and flood relief.  The King of Scots himself would envy our coffers!   

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble…

While enjoying hot and bubbling bowls of chili (no cauldron in sight sadly), President Caroline gave updates from the Board meeting. These included a report back on a successful 10/24/24 World Polio Day event, at which members of Barre Rotary, G4G, and our community corps raised visibility and awareness for the continued fight against Polio and raised $131 in donations for the End Polio Campaign!  Upcoming events include a field trip next week, a November 21st Companion Club organizing event at Tasty Bites from 6-7 pm, and our signature Rotary World Santa Coat Wrap on Saturday December 7th at 10 am at the Vermont Granite Museum.

Rotarians shared some happy dollars and then settled down for the main event.

By the Pricking of My Thumbs, Something Wicked This Way Comes…

Our guest speaker, legendary storyteller, author, and naturalist Willem Lange, took center stage with a bone chilling and at times humorous reading of Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart.  Rotarians were spell-bound by Lange’s animated narrative, ending in a raucous shriek of “Villians….It it the beating of his hideous heart!” 

After the beating of our hearts returned to normal, President Caroline thanked our guest speaker and had him draw the lucky raffle winner, Jan Spargo.  

And now about the cauldron sing, live elves and fairies in a ring…

Until next time....that's all Rotarians.