Granite Chips (Oct 22, 2025)

HISTORY OF THE ROTARY BREAKFAST by DOC PARNIGONI - 1968-2017

Posted by Karl A. Rinker on Jul 09, 2026

The idea of holding an outdoor breakfast dates back to the late ‘60s. The first breakfast was held at Barre City Park with one small grill that belonged to Roy Turner. It rained that day, and the breakfast was moved into the Universal Church basement. From then on, the breakfast was held at different locations, such as in front of The Elks Lodge on Jefferson Street, at an empty lot on Merchant Street where the courthouse now is, and then at the Metro Parking lot by the train station.

In 1983, Dick Parnigoni made a deal with Ernie Drown, the librarian at The Aldrich Library, that if The Rotary Club could use the front lawn, we would donate the profits to the library. At all of our previous locations, we always had a problem getting enough electric power to run our toasters. This problem was somewhat solved when we started to tie into the main panel of the library. We needed a 50-amp circuit. At that time, the library added the new addition, and the contractor put a special outdoor, 50-amp electrical box just for the Rotary Breakfast. Now, we use power from The Library , and we also have an electrical box and cable coming out of the Barre Housing building next door (the old Hotel Barre). These electrical connections were made possible by Floyd LeRoy and Peter Gagne. For a few years, the National Guard provided us with the use of their field outdoor cookers. The Guard would arrive at 5:30 am on Saturday, set up the grills, and then take them down after the breakfast. When we could no longer use the National Guard grills, we acquired used grills from Soups & Greens Restaurant, The Legion, Bob Bergeron, Jockey Hollow Restaurant, and a couple of burners from the Masonic Temple. Then we bought a new grill. All heavy grills were put into metal frames, and wheels were attached.

Now the Rotary Breakfast has turned into big business, with the addition of tent coverage, plastic tablecloths on the forty-plus tables, paper placemats, and two serving lines with heated food containers. The Breakfast serves between 1,200 to 1,400 people each year, with the record 1500 + served during the bicentennial. We use the help of 50 people, mostly friends and family of the Rotarians. The Boy Scouts help out with setting up and taking down the tables and chairs, which all come from the Barre Auditorium.

In the past, the Rotary Club has been donating $5000 a year to the library, with the last six years donating in excess of $10,000, and in the year of 2016, over $14,000. Over the years, the Barre Rotary Club has contributed a quarter of a million dollars to the Aldrich Public Library.

To feed a group of 1300, we need to crack over 3200 eggs, have 100 lbs. of sausages, 117 lbs. of ham, 118 giant loaves of bread, 280 lbs. of bananas, 1000 pts of milk, 32 gals of orange juice, 15 lbs. of coffee, and 150 lbs. of Vermont Maple Syrup.

The Rotary Breakfast is now served on the last weekend of July and has been on the library lawn for 33 years…….. a pretty good record. For the past 6 years, the breakfast has been chaired by Rotarian Ron Parnigoni and, before that, by his brother Rotarian Dick Parnigoni.

DiDomenico becomes 102nd President of the Barre Club!

From left, Nicole DiDomenico, Emily Stephens, and Tony Campos

On a warm night on June 30, 2026, at the Mutua Soccorso in Barre, Vermont, outgoing co-presidents Emily Stephens and Tony Campos passed the gavel to the new 2026/2027 president, Nicole DiDomenico.

DiDomenico said that she was honored to be the new president and that she would keep the club running on the same course as it has been for the last 102 years.

On the same night, past president and past PDG Caroline Earle presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to member Brenda Waterhouse for all her good work in our community.

This is what Earle had to say:

In 1905, a practicing attorney named Paul Harris, who had previously lived in Wallingford and Burlington, Vermont, but was then living in Chicago, Illinois, decided to form a Club. He gathered together a number of his business associates, other businessmen and professionals, to meet weekly. The stated purpose of the Club was to foster goodwill and fellowship. Shortly after forming and because it was 1905 in Chicago, they decided to focus their efforts on improving the lives of those in their Chicago community who needed help. And there were a lot of folks who needed help in Chicago in 1905. The Club adopted the mission of “Service Above Self,” creating the first Service Club in the United States and indeed, in the world.

The Club would meet each week at a member’s offices; that is, they would rotate each week from one office to another. For that reason, the Club adopted the name Rotary, to reflect the rotation of its meetings. And so Rotary was born. Soon, other Rotary Clubs were established throughout the United States and then, eventually, in other countries.

Some years later, Rotary adopted four guiding principles for its members, to be applied to the actions of each member, both personally & professionally. Those guiding principles are reflected on our Rotary Club banner. They are: First, is it the truth? Second, it is fair to all concerned? Third, will it build goodwill and better friendships? And fourth, will it be beneficial to all concerned? The Rotary Four Way Test was born and continues to guide the actions of every member of our Club and the actions of all Rotarians around the world.

Eventually Rotary International – because Rotary was by now international, now with over 1.4 million members in countries all around the world – decided to create an award named after Paul Harris. The Paul Harris Award (or Paul Harris Fellow) is given to a member of our community who has shown a deep commitment to improving the lives of those in our community and whose actions have reflected the Rotary Four Way Test. It is the highest award that can be given by a Rotary Club to a member of its community.

Sometimes this award is given to a community member who is identified by a Rotary Club, and sometimes, when we’re really lucky, the Award is given to someone who not only has improved the lives of those in our community but is also a member of our very own Rotary Club.

I am tickled pink to present this award today not only to a member of our community who has focused their efforts on enriching the educational experiences of so many of our community members for decades, but who is also a member of our very own Club and has benefited the community additionally through so many of our service projects. I also find it funny that this person is an educator since Paul Harris himself was kicked out of UVM for being a prankster – let’s just say that Paul Harris’s own educational experience here in Vermont was not terribly successful.

Our honoree today has focused their efforts on enriching our children’s educational opportunities through their actions as an educator, but also benefiting parents and our community as an administrator in our schools. The impacts of her actions and service have been profound and lasting over generations. Please join me in congratulating Brenda Waterhouse as we present to her the Paul Harris Award in appreciation of her extraordinary service in promoting the well-being of our community and all those around the world.

Pictured below Waterhouse on the left and Earle on the right.

VT Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Posted by Karl A. Rinker

The Rotary Club of Barre stepped outside its comfort zone for a short field trip on October 15, 2025, an experience designed to demonstrate the safety concerns of those who are visually impaired or blind. Led by VABVI ED Dan Norris and volunteers, Rotarians, Lyons Club members, and guests experience first-hand what it feels like to walk our streets without sight. We urge our members to help the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired raise awareness in our community on this issue. We had a quick lunch and then took to the streets for this compelling experience.

Click here to view a video of members walking on Washington Street with goggles that impair their vision.

White Cane Safety Day is a national observance in the United States, observed annually on October 15 since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane.

Bucks for the Coffers-Big & Small

After the rituals had been completed, Caroline was first up with $5 for polio, a HD for Jody Emerson being here and praising her work and that of all educators, noting their important mission and another for her daughter, Lydia, who will be doing her residency, part of her Tufts doctoral program, at the Brattleboro Retreat working with emotionally challenged children.

Eddie was next with HD in hand and spinning a tale of goodwill. On exiting the Ladder One Grill with leftovers and noticing a group of people near People’s Health and Wellness who looked like they might welcome a meal , he offered them the food and he “felt good about it.”

He had another HD in celebration of the return of the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament to the US.

Ted reported on a big bunch of bucks that he had just received; revenue from additional Bob Pope’s ticket sales of $6,400, bringing the total collected to date for the Aldrich to $11,375 and more to come.

Vote on November 4th!

President Tony called on Jody Emerson, Director and Superintendent of Central Vermont Career Center/District.

Jody provided us information on the proposed new CVCC facility. Voters of the eighteen towns and cities served by the Center will be asked to approve a $149 million bond on November 4th.

She began with a little bit of history by telling us that a visioning committee began the work of planning for the future in 2018. Recently that effort was revised and resulted in the decision to build a new facility was needed to meet the increased demand for programs in the skilled trades, especially electrical technology, automotive technology and plumbing. The new facility would meet the need for more classroom, laboratory and studio space. With increased capacity, the Center could accommodate up to 450 students up from the 215 enrolled in programs today. Presently, fifty percent of applicants are rejected and must enroll in an alternative program. After an extensive search for an appropriate site, a 27-acre parcel in Graniteville was selected. Jody and her staff are engaged in an intense informational campaign throughout Central Vermont. We wish them the best of luck.

The Rousse Report

Eddie reported that

Seniors at Spaulding will be volunteering at the BOR Concession Stand this year in partial fulfillment of the public service requirement for graduation. We will again be cooperating with other service organizations.

Since Last We Met

Birthdays: Jeremy Stephens September 24 Ginny Catone September 24

On this day in history: On this day in 1957 racial desegregation took center stage when federal troops were dispatched to Little Rock, Arkansas, to maintain order and enforce the right of black students to attend the local public high school.

On this day in history: In 1968 The prime-time American television news show 60 Minutes debuted; created by Don S. Hewitt and featuring such reporters as Mike Wallace, it became one of the most successful programs in broadcast history.

Rotary Magazine Quiz

What is the name of the Rotarian responsible for this quote, delivered in Calgary: “You don’t go to Rotary like you go to the cinema, where you sit and watch other people doing something. Rotary is something you do.” (Francesco Arezzo)

No one answered the question correctly.

In what city will the 2026 Rotary Convention take place? (Taipei)

Emily Stephens answered correctly and won a gift certificate to the Ladder 1 Grill. Congratulations Emily!

No need for the third question, but here it is anyway.

In the article The Roads to Bastogne, a Rotarian spins a tale of a besieged city and its heroic healing angels. Answer one of the following: his name (John Tompson Prior) or where was he born-city and state (St. Albans, VT) or from which medical school did he graduate (UVM).

Game On ! Start reading the October issue of the Rotary Magazine and be ready for the quiz at our October 29th meeting.

Barre Art Splash--After Action Review (AAR)

Yours truly lead an AAR of the Barre Art Splash. Three questions were asked: What went right? What needs improving? What improvements would you suggest? Caroline recorded the responses on flip chart paper posted in the front of the room. A lively, productive session resulted in kudos for what was well done and thoughtful suggestions for improvement. Caroline completed a report and sent it to the Barre Art Splash Committee for their consideration. Thanks to all for your participation!