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Club Information
KEEP CALM, JOIN ROTARY
Barre
We meet Wednesdays at 12:00 PM
QUARRY GRILL AND TAVERN
210 North Main Street
UPSTAIRS
Barre, VT  05641
United States
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District Site
 
VenueMap
Venue Map
Speakers
Feb 03, 2016
 
Feb 10, 2016
 
Feb 17, 2016
 
Feb 24, 2016
 
Mar 02, 2016
 
Mar 09, 2016
 
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President - Board Member
 
President Elect-Board Member
 
Secretary - Board Member
 
Treasurer - Board Member
 
Foundation Chair - Board Member
 
Past President - Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Sargent-At-Arms
 
Chairman Club Administration
 
Chairman Membership
 
Chairman Public Relations
 
Chairman Service Projects
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
Sage
Stories
The Basket Overflows with Another Fine/Happy/Sad Dollar Frieze
 
After a couple of false starts, we managed a passable rendition of America the Beautiful, then the pledge and an eloquent grace by the graceful dancer, Caroline Earle. Everyone but me sat down to lunch on salad and shepherd’s pie. It is a good thing that I wasn’t eating given the flurry of fines and happy/sad dollars that ensued: I was acting president and scribing for this newsletter.
Tony started it off by proposing “one and nine” on Bob for greeting Caroline with: “Hello Loser.” (A reference to the dance contest on Saturday night.) Liane noted that no one lost, Caroline was “runner-up.” Bob’s defense was to look at the “Four-Way Test,” focusing on “Is it the truth?” Caroline pointed out using our banner: “Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?”GOODWILL and Bob’s quick-witted retort: “ Tom is a better friend.”  Elizabeth claimed that Caroline was a winner for entering and participating in the competition. Fine passed.
Claire rose to give three Happy Dollars: one for the calm and love of today’s meeting; a family reunion attended by all; and real estate. Scott offered a sad dollar because he could not attend Dancing with the Stars on Saturday. Dick gave a Happy Dollar to celebrate the elegance of Caroline’s waltz performance and thanked Caroline, Liane and Ted for organizing the event and carrying it off so well. Bertil reminded us that the Barre Rotary Club was the first to admit women (Not sure locally, state, nation or internationally.)  Obliquely referring to the successful event on Saturday and involvement of Liane and Caroline, he offered a Happy Dollar, adding that admitting women was the right decision. Tony again rose to propose “one and nine” on Tom (in absentia) for hip movements replacing real dancing. Liane came to Tom’s defense to explain that the samba is a complicated dance and not just hip movements. (“For Latin Dances the party is down below.”) Despite the defense, the fine passed and will be collected next week if anyone remembers or reads this to do so.
George and Linda had a ball, everyone had a ball. The event was well organized. Result=$5.00 Happy Dollar from George; another five for attending a make-up at Central Vermont Rotary Club with three members in attendance including 92 year-old Rotarian Harley Jordon. Tony asked me to pass the gavel and proposed “one and nine” on me for being biased against his fine. (I said I hoped that no one would second it, whatever it was; something about the absent Ted.) I tried to sing “My Defenses are Down,” but that didn’t help. I paid up.  Jack rose to offer a Happy/Sad Dollar: Happy that he celebrated his 83rd birthday with grandchildren in Connecticut, but sad because he could not attend Dancing with the Stars. Bob offered a Happy Dollar in celebration that Tony will be out of town next week. This has to be some kind of record for fines and Happy and Sad Dollars. Alas, we will never know since no one keeps records of such things.
 
Scott Funk Inducted
 
George conducted an induction ceremony for Scott Funk. Scott is a HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) Loan Specialist. George presented Scott with a membership certificate, a lapel pin and folder of Rotary material. Scott was greeted warmly with a generous round of applause.
 
                    Scott Funk and George Milne
 
Sarah Costa Wows Members with PowerPoint Presentation
 
Caroline introduced our speaker for the day, Sarah Costa, Director of the Aldrich Public Library.
She has a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois and previously served as Director of the Calef Memorial Library in Washington (where she is now a trustee) and on the Executive Board of the Vermont Library Association. Sarah joined the staff of Aldrich in 2012 as the Young Adult Program Manager, became the Young Adult and Social Media Librarian one year later, and started as Director in July 2015.  She is passionate about building strong communities through vibrant library programs and robust information services.  Sarah lives in West Topsham with her husband Gabriel and nine-month-old son Ferran.
 
                                                                      
                                                                                                           Sarah Costa
 
Sarah started off by detailing some of the myriad activities going at the library even before it opens, including knitting lessons. She presented us with some very interesting facts: there are more libraries in the U.S. than McDonald’s; reading for pleasure rates have remained steady through the decades; [last year] 1/3 of computer users at the library were pursing employment and 8% were hired; 94% of Americans say that libraries improve the quality of life; story hour attendance tripled last year. She also reported that there are now author visits at both library locations. Sarah views the Aldrich as the community living room, open to all with books in many forms. The library is developing new partnerships and collaborations and as well new programs such as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) for 4th and 5th graders. Moving forward, she hopes that the Aldrich will have a media center and a teaching space. Sarah’s presentation was well received by the Rotarians and with her enthusiasm and competence, we are sure that the Aldrich under her leadership will enjoy a bright future.
 
 New Member Proposed  
 
We are pleased to announce that our speaker, Sarah Costa, has been proposed for membership to our Club by Caroline Earle.  She will officially become a member in two weeks.