December 21 (Middlebury Inn) Holiday Party at 5:30 p.m.
December 21 or 28 - No Meeting (Happy Holidays)
January 4th - (Rosie's)
PRESIDING: Spence Putnam
MINUTES OF December 14th meeting
Guests: Donna Nash
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Wedding Anniversary:
T-tall – 39 years
Group Announcements:
Maureen: Gifts for folks at the Community Supper.
Thank you for the donations. With the club's funds and money donated by members - Maureen will purchase TJMaxx Gift Cards and Middlebury Money for families.
Liz - Warm Clothes for Parent Child Center
Thank you for the member donations and club donation. Liz will provide the warm clothes to families at the Parent Child Center and the remaining funds will go towards their food drive.
Geoff - Reminder - Wednesday, December 21st: packing food bags from HOPE to bring to local schools
Packing will take place at the legion starting at 10 a.m.
Reminder - Geoff is still leading the AgeWell Grab and Go meals. A few other folks are trained and helping with this project. It takes about 45 minutes every Wednesday from 10:50-11:45 (please email Geoff if interested)
Spence - Merry Mulch - Saturday, January 7th
We are partnering again with Casella this year to pick up trees. Please see email from spence! (There will be a light breakfast)
Holiday Party - Middlebury Inn at 6 p.m.
Heavy Hors D'oeuvres and Cash Bar
Please bring a gift valued up to $20 if you would like to participate in the Yankee Swap
All are welcomed - but please RSVP with Spence
Information for Members:
Cow Tags - they cost $1 and help pay for breakfast. It is a 50/50 so if you win - you can keep the pot or donate back to Rotary.
Polio Plus Jar - Rotary has made a commitment to eradicate Polio and we are very close! These funds go directly to support that effort in providing vaccinations.
Club Runner - please update your information (birthdays/anniversaries, address, phone number, but mostly birthdays!)
Username (first name.last name.1488)
Password (if you need a reset - contact Sylvie)
Next Meeting - January 4th at Rosie's
Sargent of Arms:
Fines and Happy Dollars
Fines:
Nancy - Late
Neil - Missing Name Tag
Happy Dollars:
Ben - Happy to have Jason inducted today
Mike - Happy to have long-time neighbors visiting from NC to come skiing
Alex - Happy to see Ann Arbor, MI sweater and his daughter is coming home from Ann Arbor for the holidays
Paul -Happy to have his son from Salt Lake City visiting. Skied there before he left and skiing here when he arrives on snow from the same storm across the country
Spence - Happy to have 4 new members inducted today
John - Use spell check - inducting can autocorrect to indicting..
Eric - Happy to see an increase in membership
David - Went back down to NYC for auditions and ran into Santa Con - streets were filled with Santas.
Maureen - Signed up John Barstow to help with HOPE
Sylvie - Happy to be here after hitting a deer and totaling the vehicle - sorry for no minutes last week
Induction Ceremony:
Eric invited the inductees and sponsors to come up for the ceremony. Each new member poses qualities and exemplifies the spirit of Rotary. Being inducted into the Middlebury Rotary, these new members join the fellowship and connections to thousands of members and clubs worldwide and locally!
Welcome to our New Members!
Alex Wolff - sponsored by Spence
Lives in Cornwall with his wife Vanessa and has two kids in college. His son, Frank is in DC at the American University and his daughter, Clara is at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.
Alex has 36 yrs with Sports Illustrated and is now a freelance writer.
Ellie de Villiers - sponsored by Spence
Born in Middlebury, grew up in New Haven and lived in South Africa for 10 years. Ellie is the Executive Director of Maple Broadband and President of the VT Communiations Union District Association.
She is married to Richard and has young daughter. She loves gardening, hiking, eating, traveling, working out, cooking and reading
Liz Marino - sponsored by John B
Lives in Cornwall with her husband John and they have 3 daughters, Ann, Marley, and Emma. Liz's first home was in a cabin in the woods and a few homes later and many years - she is now helping people fulfil their dreams of home ownership.
Jason Larocque - sponsored by Ben
Lives in East Middlebury with his wife Michelle and two children. Jason is the owner of Otter Creek Engineering where he has worked for 25 yrs.
Jason is the past chair for the Hannaford Career Center and currently serves as the Secretary for the Addison Co. Economic Development Corp. He is also involved in the TAM and has interest in volunteering, tinkering, gardening and golf.
The new members received a pin and certificate of membership.
Guest Speaker: Joshin Byrnes
Joshin was introduced by John Barstow as they were neighbors, and their children grew up together. Joshin served as the CEO of the VT Community Foundation and later studied Zen Buddhism in New Mexico and came back to the area and started the Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community in Cornwall.
Joshin discussed the impacts of Covid-19 on social isolation and loneliness in the community. Joshin has spent a lot of time prior, during, and post pandemic to support folks in marginalized communities. Joshin mentioned that 8% of the total population does not receive social, emotional or spiritual support...those numbers are higher for VT with an aging population and the rural factors and are at higher risk of depression and suicide. And individuals living in poverty are 37% more at risk of suicide and high risk behaviors. Joshin and the Zen Community is interested in providing more low-cost or no-cost events and places for people to go to and be part of the community. Right now, only the library is available and that has limited hours.
Joshin discussed a few projects:
Steet Greens - a free food program that also serves as a community building event
In two weeks, 8,000 meals were served
Transitional Housing - end of life hospice , care, and support (works closely with Charter House and folks transitioning from hotel, shelter, to housing)
"Gather" - Community Living Room
Coming soon to Merchants Row - a space for all to come together and focus on friendships. Programming will be developed based on the needs and wants from the community. There will be a soft opening in the new year.
Hours are still being worked out, but looking at operating from Wednesday - Sunday
This space has capacity for 40-50 people, but will likely have 10-12 at a time with Monastics from the Bread Loaf Community present
Questions:
How is "Gather" funded?
100% from the generosity of folks and the Zen Community is connected with others nationwide who have helped support this as well as the local community.
Joshin mentioned that "Gather" is not there to "serve" people, but rather to be there with others and show up to learn from each other.
Thank you, Joshin!
Cow Tag - 33 (No Winner)
Reminder - Holiday Party at 6 p.m. on December 21st at the Middlebury Inn. There will be a cash bar, heavy hors d'oeuvre and Yankee Swap ($0-$20 item). (Thank you for a fun event!!)
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