•  Geoff: HOPE Vacation Bags
  • Next pack and distribution will be on April 18th (Save the date)
• Jason L - District Grant
  • Jason and Paul met with MALT about the TAM trail and the application is about 75% complete. 
• Rebecca: Satisfaction Survey
  • Overall, the majority of members are satisfied with the club. About 28 people responded, which is a similar to the average number of folks who attend regular meetings
  • This responses were overall positive, but we were hoping to get more feedback to address the negatives (please provide feedback in open ended sections on the next survey) 
  • Members seem to like the socials to get to know each other better and members who may not be able to make it to morning meetings, can make it to socials. 
  • There were positive responses around service projects, but people are looking for more information about Rotary International and what else is happening
  • There were also positive responses around communication and people seem aware of what is happening 
  • In regards to being a member, the club is very welcoming, but what can we do better?
  • **Please be honest and open with comments in the next survey regarding dues/format/ venue of meetings. 
• Jason S:
  • Regional Training 
  • Mar 23 - 8:30-11 a.m.: Shelburne Town Offices, 5420 Shelburne Rd-
  • Click here to register for the Lake and Northern Vermont Area Training
  •  RYLA 
  • Jason thanked Sarah Soule who has helped identify students to take part in the leadership training this summer (more to come)

Guest Speaker: Tom Hanley

Tom talked about the history of Irish/American and Irish/Canadians. The Irish have been in VT since VT was part of NY. One of the first Irish was John Murry in the 1700s from the northern part of Ireland. Many of the Irish came through Canada because it was UK land and easier to get to and through. They then settled among the St. Lawrence River. John Hanley settled near Rutland and there is a mountain named after him “Hanley Mountain”. 

In the 1820s, the Irish had a vision of gold and left lots of available farmland in Franklin County. They wanted to have their own land because in Ireland, they couldn’t own land. May of the Irish who settled in VT were Presbyterian or Catholic when the famine came along. (Fun fact, the famine did not happen in the UK, because the Irish sent food to the English)

As the Irish were coming over on the ship, many did not make it due to Typhus. Those who made it landed in Canada and then to Burlington if they were healthy. Many ended up in “homeless shelters” where 100s were stuffed in a congregated setting. As there was an industry boom, many worked on the railroads, textiles, and quarries. However, there were some who made it to the VT House of Representatives like Matthew Lions. 

In the 1860s, there was a civil war. The Irish had the great idea of attacking Canada and trading it for Ireland. They formed an army and there were a few groups who invaded Canada, but it never worked out. After a few days, the English army came and told them to go home. The Irish did a few more invasions and even tried from the Nebraska side of things. Unfortunately, they invaded a small town in the US, and never made it to Canada. 

Later on, a key thing the Irish brought was the first union in the US looking for changed hours and better pay. Some even ran for office and were mostly democratic (still mostly democratic). 

Now, you can see Celtic crosses and Irish influences around. In St. Mary’s Catholic Church there is the Irish Harp, Celtic Crosses, and Irish/French Canadian Names. There is a great Irish Population in Middlebury. Some families are still descendants of the famine Irish. Many settled in Starksboro on rocky land. 

Fun fact, the Middlebury Police Logo has Irish wording for “Brothers in Arms”. 

Cow Tag: #6 (No winner…no luck of the Irish on Wednesday) 

MINUTES SUBMITTED BY SYLVIE MORRISON