Greetings fellow Rotarians!  We started today’s meeting with a pair of Paul Harris Fellow presentations.  In just a little over 2 years since joining our Club, Sean and Kristin Fitzgerald both attained the status of Paul Harris Fellows by each donating $1,000.00 to the Rotary Foundation.  Thank you to Sean and Kristin for your support of the Foundation!  Our speaker today was Kristine Bickford, Executive Director of the local Ronald McDonald House Charities of Burlington, Vermont. The mission of this organization is to provide emotional support, comfort and temporary lodging to families with children receiving medical treatment at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. It also provides assistance and support through various programs in our region.  Kristine explained that her organization is funded entirely by grants and charitable donations.  She was very excited to announce that the Ronald McDonald House now has a therapy dog as a resident.  “Mike” is an Australian labradoodle with hyper-allergenic fur who provides comfort to the family members staying there. In addition to the lodging house and the Family Room at the hospital, the organization also supports the Care Mobile.  This is a program that provides dental care for underserved or uninsured children in our region.  For more information about this organization, please visit:  https://www.rmhcvt.org/

 

 

            It is with great sadness that we report the passing of longtime Essex Rotarian, Don Messier. Don passed away unexpectedly at his home on March 1st.  As many of you know, Don was very active in his community in Jericho and he will be dearly missed.

 

 

            Just as a reminder, the Vermont Rotary All-Star Hockey Classic will be held on Saturday, March 25^th at the Essex Skating Facility. This is our Club’s second largest fundraiser, so we will need everyone to help by volunteering on game day and by providing donations to the concession stand. You may sign up to volunteer for shifts and concession donations online at:

 

 

 

 

            The next opportunities to volunteer at the Heavenly Food Pantry will be on March 23^rd and April 27th.  Please contact Sharon Dettenrieder if you would like to sign up for shifts.

 

Upcoming Meeting Schedule:  March 15, 2017 – Our speaker will be Danielle Williams, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator for the United Way of Northwestern Vermont.

 

For the complete list of upcoming speakers and information about the Club, please go to our website at www.essexrotary.org   Be sure to also visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EssexVermontRotary

 

       Yours in Rotary,

 

Jason Ruwet