With rituals complete, eleven Rotarians helped themselves to a buffet of spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread and butter, and cookies and cannoli (none for Tony). President Eddie was first up with a Happy Dollar because Karl helped him take down a tree on the property that Karl had sold to him. A discussion of the need to follow procedures for requests for donation of funds, including the history of such, ensued for several minutes. President Eddie announced that clarification of the sponsorship of the New Year’s event was needed and that the wine pairing event would probably take place closer to St. Valentine’s Day instead of in October. Kristin gave a Sad Dollar for not attending meetings lately, but happy to be back, and another in announcing that she is leaving her position at Community National Bank. Tony proposed a fine of one-and-nine on John and President Eddie because he had to ring the bell. President Eddie did not ring the bell on time and President-Elect John did not step up to fill the leadership void. John’s feeble rendition of Donna Summer’s Ring My Bell did not help in the defense. Fine passed. Bob rose to propose a fine of one-and-nine on Tony for taking liberties in ringing President Eddie’s bell (a Liberty Bell in Barre like the one in Philadelphia?). Tony defended himself by claiming that he was supporting the leaders of our Club by using the bell to quell the conversation and gain the attention of those in the right corner of the seating square. Fine passed.

 

 

John explained in detail why he wasn’t at a meeting of the Barre Area Development Corporation (BADC) on Tuesday night and Bob opined that he had been much more succinct to him in his explanation “last night.” President Eddie is now a member of the BADC and reported on the presentation of its website to Barre Town Selectboard members and Barre City Council members. Bob provided a colorful critique of the presentation and questions poised during the meeting. Various Barre Rotary Club members expressed their opinions on a number of issues raised during the discussion including leaves, the homeless, crosswalks and the road painting machine. For those interested in the website developed by the BADC, the link is: www.imaginebarre.com