Speakers

Selling Corn at the Fair is one of the three important fund raisers of Essex Rotary. 

Essex's own Dave Cobb is the Executive Director of Green Mountain Boys' State, a program of the Vermont American Legion.  Dave, of course, is the "other half" to Essex Rotary member and Essex-Westford School District Superintendent Beth Cobb.  Dave will update us on this years Boys' State that was held in mid-June at Lyndon campus of Northern Vermont University (formerly known as Lyndon State).  

Below is a description of Boys' State from the Legion Website.  

Green Mountain Boys’ State is a leadership development program for rising high school senior boys. The focus of the program is Vermont town, county, and state government. Delegates are elected and appointed to offices within the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches of government. 

Dates & Times: Sunday, June 16, 2019

Location: Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont.      Cost: $275 per delegate 

Throughout the week, many of Vermont’s elected and appointed officials supplement the members of the staff. These professionals include town government officials, law enforcement officers, local development authorities, staff from the Vermont League of Cities & Towns, representatives from the Vermont School Boards Association, members of the Vermont House of Representatives, The Vermont Senate, the Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, and Auditor of Accounts. 

 

Dr. Carmelle Terbough is the 2019 President of Essex Lions Club.  She will give Essex Rotary members a summary of the work of Essex Lions.  You can follow the Essex Junction Lions Club here on Facebook

Part of the motivation for connecting with Carmelle and the Essex Junction Lions comes from our new District Governor.  In his introductory statement, he challenged Rotary Clubs to seek collaboration with others in our community who place service above self.  

Carmelle is also a geographer who works out of her home for ESRI, the company that leads the world in the use of GIS in mapping and digital platforms.  

District Governor, Richard Fox, will join Essex Rotary for lunch and discussion of the District and our focus for 2019-2020. 

Jesse Bell leads the Bellcate School, a growing school in the Saxon Hill area of Essex that serves students with a range of disabling conditions.  Located on Corporate Drive, Bellcate just built a new gym just down the street from their classrooms.  The description below is from the Bellcate website:  

Bellcate School, working with local school districts, enrolls a maximum of 30 students, ages 11-22. Since 2004, Bellcate has been an approved special education school that exists to serve students on IEP and 504 plans for the following disability categories:

• Emotional Disturbance
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Developmental Delay
• Specific Learning Disability
• Other Health Impairment
• Intellectual Disability
• Speech or Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Bellcate School utilizes a three-stage therapeutic model to support exploration, understanding and positive action. Our educational model provides best practices for achieving grade level proficiencies.

Essex Rotary is exploring a new meeting format - holding an evening meeting at a local venue.  The venue, location, and meeting times will be posted here when determined.  This change is designed to provide variety - and perhaps a way to give members the opportunity to socialize in a new way.  The Club hopes those who may have difficulty attending a noon lunch will find this option workable.  

Essex Rotary is honored to host Michael McGovern, the Chair of International PolioPlus Committee at Rotary International.  Michael resides in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  His impressive bio can be found here.   Dave Johnson, the Chair of Essex Rotary's Rotary Foundation efforts, hopes Michael's appearance and insights will inspire Essex Rotary to share talent, treasure and time with Rotary's international programs.  

For over 25 years, Essex Rotary has collaborated with the Knights of Columbus to host a holiday meal for over 200 senior citizens at the Champlain Valley Exposition.  Club members serve lunch and create gift bags for attendees.