Let Us Begin With Dollars
With rituals complete, President Tony recognized Caroline who had a Sad Dollar because she noticed that our Rotarian of the Year, Eddie Rousse, was in the hinterland collecting money. He assured her that he was perfectly happy performing his duties as treasurer.
Doug was up next with five Happy Dollars announcing that he did not have to undergo radiation treatment.
Tony rose with a HD in his hand extolling the virtues of public access television and announcing that the Vermont Access Network (VAN) received the Alliance for Community Media's (ACM) 2025 Dirk Koning-George Stoney Award for Humanistic Communication at ACM's Annual Conference in Boston.
Two more dollars from Eddie for winning a golf tournament at the Barre Country Club and announcing that Wimbledon starts this week.
A Perennial Motion
Eddie reported that the Granite City Garden Club would like to plant perennials at the “Reynolds House” gardens and would like us to match their $100 contribution. Caroline moved and Bob Pope second that the Barre Rotary Club contribute $100 to planting effort. Motion carried with an unanimous vote with the stipulation that the plants be purchased locally.
Breakfast and Rock Updates
President Tony reported that: McKenzie has donated 108 lbs. of sausage and bacon for the Breakfast; the grills have been power washed; and distribution of the tickets begins today. Karl added that the stand for the new grill will be retrofitted with his hammer if the need arises.
Karl reported that the granite piece for our Barre Rotary Stone had a crack and a new one had to be procured; one that’s a little larger. He noted that: “You can make a large one smaller, but you can’t make a small one 
bigger.” (We’ll enter that in Yogi Berra’s Quoteable Quotes.)
Since Last We Met
Birthday:Emily Stephens June 20
Club Anniversary: Tony Campos July 1, 1993 32 years
On this day in history: On this day in 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, perhaps the most important U.S. law on civil rights since Reconstruction and a hallmark of the American civil rights movement.
On this day in history: In 1962 American businessman Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas; it was the start of what would become the largest retail sales chain in the United States.
Downstreet in a Nutshell
President Tony introduced today’s speaker, Angie Harbin, Executive Director of Downstreet Housing & Community Development.
Angie brings nearly two decades of varied and extensive senior-level affordable housing experience and a long-standing commitment to affordable housing as a basic right. Since the very beginning of her career, she has demonstrated an energetic commitment to ensuring equity in housing access and social service outcomes. Passionate about housing designed for long-term economic, physical and environmental sustainability, Angie sees affordable housing as a cornerstone of livability for all communities. Her community advocacy efforts have created responsible financial products and targeted financial education for low-income households, increased housing opportunities for people with criminal convictions and increased funding sources for resident services in affordable housing. Angie holds a BS in Anthropology/Sociology from Eastern Oregon University and an MBA from Portland State University. She lives with her husband and dog in Tunbridge.
Angie prefaced her talk by telling us that with so many programs and functions of Downstreet, she would present “Downstreet in a Nutshell.”
Develops and manages seven hundred apartments in Central Vermont.
Manages manufactured home communities renting lots for mobile homes.
Developed and manages the newly constructed Fox Run Apartments located adjacent to the Vermont Marketplace (formerly the Berlin Mall).
Operates the Homeownership Center which provides a range of services to assist during and after the home buying process by directing clients to the programs, services and resources needed to purchase a home.
Administers the Shared Equity Program which provides down payment assistance to income-eligible, qualified buyers.
Administers the Green Mountain Home Repair Program which provides loans for essential repairs, access modifications or weatherization.
Coordinates services: to meet-at-home medical needs (e.g. blood pressure); for transportation needs; and to help older citizens age-in-place.
Downstreet has a budget of 7 million dollars and has fifty-seven employees.
Rotarians were impressed with work that Downstreet is doing; its efforts to provide affordable housing and their commitment to creating vibrant communities. After an appreciative round of applause, President Tony presented the Rotary coin to Angie, noting there is no doubt that she and her organization practice the tenets of the Four Way Test.
NOTE: The “Nutshell” presentation didn’t cover everything and so if you would like more information visit their website:
https://downstreet.org/
