Well, hello again!

It’s been a while since we’ve had a fresh edition of Granite Chips. I took a bit of an unplanned leave of absence this spring and summer as soccer, work, family, being Rotary president, and the general chaos of life took over. But I think it’s time we get back into the Chips! I’m dusting off the keyboard and looking forward to getting our Rotary news flowing again.

With a new Rotary Year beginning the first of July, Rotarians, friends and family celebrated changeover at the Mutuo and welcomed Nicole into the President's chair. We also thanked Tony, myself and our Board of Directors for their service and leadership over the last year. We're looking forward to a new Rotary year under President Nicole's leadership and we're already off and running!

At our most recent meeting we got to catch up with everyone in attendance and hear from the students Barre and Montpelier Rotary Clubs sponsored to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards). 

This week was also the first evening meeting of our new schedule. This year we will be meeting the second Tuesday evening each month from 5:30 - 6:30 and also the 4th Wednesday each month from 12 - 1, meetings are still held in the Milne Room at the Library. 

Once everyone was settled President Nicole started the meeting. 

GUESTS

We had many guests this week!

Karl introduced Matt Denton, Karl shared that Matt has a small mural near the Rotary mural on Summer Street and that he was interested in becoming a Rotary member. 

Caroline introduced both Bill and Kim members of the Montpelier Rotary club. The Montpelier Rotary Club agreed to sponsor one of the three Spaulding students that were sent to RYLA this summer. The Montpelier Rotary club meets at Capitol Plaza two Mondays a month for the lunch hour. 

Nicole introduced her partner, Corey, who's helped with various Rotary service projects and who also has interest in becoming a member as well. 

I introduced both Lena & Riley, my daughters, who often attend meetings when they aren't in school. 

And last but not least Nicole asked our RYLA guests to introduce themselves. Lindsey, Hayden & Lexi all Spaulding HS students going into their Junior year. 

HAPPY $$

There was much to celebrate this week! 

Both Tony and Karl celebrated their wedding anniversaries. Tony and Cindy celebrated their 40th anniversary on the 9th. Karl and Charlene celebrated their 57th anniversary on the same day. Bob Pope had a birthday within the last week, and we had several club anniversaries since our last meeting. 

Caroline celebrated seeing so many new faces at this weeks meeting. 

Nicole also celebrated all of our guests and also for getting to spend a week in Nova Scotia with her partner Corey, his family and her daughter Ellie. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tony shared that the coin drop has been rescheduled to October 24th. We will be looking for volunteers to help man that fundraising event, so mark your calendars now. 

Nicole shared a thank you card the club received from our new District Governor Ariel Mondlak who joined us at a meeting on July 15th. She was able to share some of her vision with us and also shared milkweed seeds with everyone to be able to plant the only food source for the Monarch butterfly caterpillar. 

Caroline shared that in partnership with the Montpelier Rotary Club, we are sponsoring a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Current Montpelier Rotary Club President Zach Watson and his wife will be housing the youth exchange student who will be attending Spaulding High School this year from Spain. 

Eddie shared with us that there will be an outdoor movie at the Barre City Pool on the 15th of August. This will be the last day the pool is open for the summer and they will be showing The Little Mermaid, doors open at 8PM movie starts at 8:30PM.

Nicole shared with everyone that Bob Pope stepped up into the current Vice President role. Thanks Bob for stepping up for the club!

MEMBERSHIP

The club recently received an application for a new member, Felicia Allard. Her application had been presented to the membership twice, tonight the members in attendance voted to approve her application. Welcome to the Barre Rotary family Felicia!

On a side note if there's anyone interested in Chairing the Membership Committee, the position is available. 

SPEAKERS

This week we heard from the Spaulding students that were sent to RYLA, a leadership seminar held at Lyndon Institute where students going into their Junior year of high school from Vermont, New Hampshire and Canada come together to work on team building, communication and problem solving skills. 

Lindsey, Lexi & Hayden each took turns sharing a bit about what the RYLA experience meant to them and what some of their favorite activities were that they participated in. Each noting that they particularly enjoyed the service project where they packaged 11,000 meal boxes for those in need. They also all enjoyed meeting new people, and working on different projects together. One thing they got to participate in while at RYLA was a talent show, where the three of them put on a magic show. Lexi did a card trick, we were treated to this during the meeting. Lindsey read people's minds and Hayden was the assistant, and where Lexi & Lindsey made her disappear from stage. 

Each of them took something slightly different away from the experience but had a great time and might even be interested in going back next year as a volunteer. 

Lindsey, Lexi & Hayden were each given their awards for attending RYLA and Tony also presented each of them with a Rotary Coin.