Starting With Flannel
While fourteen Rotarians were enjoying a lunch of shepherd’s pie and salad, Caroline rose to propose a fine of one-and-nine on everyone not wearing Vermont Flannel. In defense, the argument was made that if you didn’t have any flannel, how could you wear it--which didn’t garner much support. Cindy said that she has Vermont Flannel, but thought it was not appropriate to wear her pajamas to the meeting. Joe wanted to know if there were any samples. After a little more banter, the vote was taken and President Tony ruled that it didn’t pass.
Joe reported that he has been in contact with Margo Austin, Interact Advisor, and she thinks that there is some interest at Spaulding in entering the Speech Contest.
Ted announced that Mark Baker, our guest speaker, added to our coffers by making a ten dollar contribution today.
Karl, on behalf of the Kiwanis, asked for volunteers to sell tickets at the State Basketball Tournament. He will send out an email with details. For more information or to volunteer, email Paula Dolan at jpdolan23@aol.com,
A Constitutional Moment The question of the day: Does the Constitution specify the number of justices that make up the Supreme Court? The answer is no. Through the years there have been five, seven and nine, the current number since post Civil War.
After the Constitutional Moment, Caroline offered three Happy Dollars: one for all of those who stood when speaking, another for being happy to have Karl presenting next week and the third for ?
Since Last We Met On this day in history: 1887 The first Groundhog Day is established in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
1876 The National League of Baseball is founded.
The History of the Vermont Flannel Company
President Tony introduced our guest speaker, Mark Baker, CIO (Chief Idea Originator) of the Vermont Flannel Company.
Mark grew up on Staten Island. His father was a harbor policeman and his boat was parked next to the infamous Staten Island Ferry. He recalled that he watched the Verrazano Narrows Bridge being built from a vantage point on the water looking up. In 1976 he started selling t-shirts, his first endeavor commemorating the tall ships coming to Boston Harbor. In 1980 he met with Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics to get permission to produce and sell “Do It Again Celtics” t-shirts with a portion of the profits going to Muscular Dystrophy. In 1984 he married, moved to Vermont and sold t-shirts to ski resorts. He and his wife bought a 1792 house in East Barre that needed work and they are still “fixing it up.” He continued to produce and sell t-shirts until after the Desert Storm one was too late to market. He then moved to flannel, first with a t-shirt and then onto a buttoned long-sleeve shirt and flannel pants that could be worn outside. He negotiated a deal with L. L. Bean that included retaining the Vermont Flannel label on its products. Orders went from three to sixty-three in six months. The company has nine retail stores and ships domestically and internationally. Mark’s presentation was lively and full of anecdotes and Rotarians expressed their appreciation with a warm round of applause at its conclusion.