Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Guests: Michelle Spohnheimer
Liz Marino as President
Birthdays - Max Kraus (Nov 15)
John Metcalfe (Nov 16)
Bill Cunningham (Nov 17)
Heather Foster- Prov (Nov 24)
Anniversary - Jack & Margot Brown (Nov 10th - 58 years!)
Rotary Anniversary - None to Report
Announcements:
HOPE Food bags for local schools - November 20th, please let Geoff Conrad know if you are interested.
NOVEMBER 24: HOPE Thanksgiving food box packing.
Fines.
Late - Rebecca H, Fran F, Liz S
Ben F, Heather FP and Nancy F for being in the paper.
Eric - no name tags or bell.
Happy dollars.
Eric was happy about the Paul Harris Dinner and the wonderful presenters as well as MUHS Tigers Football and Volleyball for winning state championships!
Rebecca is happy that she is finally over pneumonia!
John B is happy that he is flying to Tucsan to visit his grandbaby for 10 days!
Jack B gave a shoutout to Bill Cunningham for working the wet rainy football game.
Liz S was happy for a wonderful Paul Harris Dinner and is thankful for her community during this holiday season!
Mike K is happy that his bathroom renovation is just about complete.
Spence P thanked Liz for switching holiday packing times with him!
Jack B was also happy that a friend was able to have a successful hunting season!
Liz M was happy about the Paul Harris Dinner and that she is also thankful for our community.
Speaker: Eric Denu
The meeting reinforced Rotary’s long-term commitments:
recognizing Paul Harris Fellows, expanding donor participation
(including Rotary Direct), and continuing robust PolioPlus
fundraising with strong global support and matching funds.
• Three new Paul Harris Fellows recognized last week: John Zahn
(GM of the Middlebury Inn), Kathy Mackey, and Kati (presented
by Jason).
• Club metrics: 32 Paul Harris Fellows in the club; membership about
48; 2 benefactors; 2 Bequest Society members; 4 major donors; 5
Rotary Direct users; all-time Rotary Foundation giving of $506,000.
• Rotary Direct explanation: monthly donations via My Rotary with
credit card on file; minimums around $10/month; alternative onetime
donations available; reporting accessible to the club’s
foundation chair (as the club's foundation chair, Eric can pull reports).
• Polio Plus fundraising: recent polio walk raised about $2,160 with
16 more participants than the previous year; Gates Foundation
matches contributions 2-to-1 up to US$50,000,000.
• Global polio context: only two endemic countries remain—
Afghanistan and Pakistan—with a small number of wild poliovirus
cases (39 so far this year; 30 in Pakistan, 9 in Afghanistan); ongoing
vaccination and health-worker safety efforts.
• Inspirational materials: videos and remarks from Ramesh Farris, a
polio survivor and district governor, and remarks from other Rotary
figures about the importance of eradication, partnership, and
recognizing healthcare workers who have given their lives in the
effort.
• Broader Rotary impact: acknowledgment of millions displaced
globally and millions without safe water and sanitation; examples
from India (safe water and sanitation in schools) and Haiti
(community-led projects); global grants and district grants funded
by the Foundation (the year’s total includes substantial worldwide
support, with the Foundation raising more than $569,000,000).
The session ends with a call to action for deeper member
involvement, strategic planning for district and centennial projects,
and ongoing reflection on how best to allocate resources to
maximize both local benefits and global impact.
Thank you Eric!
Cow Tag: Liz Smith #74