Greetings Rotarians!  Our special guest President for today’s meeting was Penny Pillsbury!  We started our meeting with a classification talk from new member, Andy Love.  Andy explained that he moved to Vermont from San Antonio, Texas over a year ago to be closer to his grandchildren and that he is looking forward to being an active member of our community.  Please take the opportunity to introduce yourselves to Andy and make him feel welcome.  Our speaker for the day was Don Stevens, Sogomo (Chief) of the Abenaki tribe of Nulhegan-Memphremagog.  Don started the meeting with a traditional Abenaki calling in song that he accompanied with a drum.  After providing a brief history of his people, Don described the long and arduous battle he and his people faced in getting the Abenaki tribe officially recognized in the State of Vermont.  After much work by Don and his people, the Abenaki tribe of Nulhegan-Memprhemagog attained official status in 2011. Don’s tribe currently boasts close to 1,200 people on its rolls.  Since attaining official recognition, they have acquired 68 acres of land that they use as open space and for their maple sugaring business. The syrup they produce is the only syrup marketed and sold by any of the native tribes in the state.  Don’s main goal for the future is to educate the public about his tribe and their customs and to help preserve the culture and traditions of his people. 

 

 

            We are now a mere 7 days from the Golf Tournament!  If you are volunteering to work at the tournament and are not sure where you are supposed to be and at what time you should arrive, please contact Nance Freeze for more information.Thank you to everyone who has helped solicit sponsors for this event. A special thank you goes out to Committee Chair, Dave Johnson and the Golf Committee for their tireless efforts in putting this event together.  This is our Club’s largest fund-raiser and we couldn’t pull it off without the hard work and dedication of this committee.  

 

 

            Please mark your calendars for the evening of Wednesday, June 25^th.  Our Club will be holding its annual Changeover Dinner at The Essex on that date.  This dinner will be held in lieu of our regularly scheduled meeting that day.  Awards will be given out for Rookie of the Year; Rotarian of the Year and the Unsung Hero of the Year. In addition, the Club will also bestow the first ever Service Above and Beyond Awards to deserving Rotarians. 

 

Upcoming Meeting Schedule:  Wednesday, June 11, 2014 –  The Essex Rotary Golf Tournament will be held in lieu of our regularly scheduled meeting.

 

For the complete list of upcoming speakers and general information about the Club, please go to our website at www.essexrotary.org  Be sure to also check out our Club’s Facebook page at:

 

                        https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rotary-Club-of-Essex-Vermont/102267529834020

 

 

       Yours in Rotary,

 

Jason Ruwet