Greetings fellow Rotarians! We started our meeting by inducting Evan Teich as the newest member of our Club.  If you haven’t done so already, please take the opportunity to introduce yourselves to Evan and make him feel welcome.  Following Evan’s induction, Max Levy provided us with an overview of the proposed municipal budget for Essex. The 2020 budget as currently warned is 2.58% higher than the 2019 fiscal year budget. Salaries make up the largest percentage of the budget increase with stormwater and highway expenses also contributing.  Although the budget has increased, Max pointed out that the annual percentage increases have stabilized over the past few years.  He partially attributes this to the money saved each year through the consolidation of services between the Town and the Village.  For more details about the budget, please visit www.essex.org, click on “Notices”, then “Town Meeting Information” and then “Municipal Budget”.  We concluded the meeting by hearing reports from each of the charitable committees on how they have allocated their funds this year and what plans they have for the remainder of the Rotary year.

            If you are a newer member who is looking to join a charitable committee, or if you are an established member who is looking to join a new committee, then you should consider joining the International Committee.  This committee is looking to add some new members who are interested in finding ways to support charitable projects across the globe.  Please contact Committee Chair, Tim Shea at TShea@cvexpo.org if you would like to be a part of this committee!

            The Public Relations committee is looking for a shutterbug who would be willing to assist with taking pictures at our meetings and events.  If you are good with a camera and would like to help out with this job, please contact Pat Spielman at pspielman5465@gmail.com

            There are still plenty of volunteer slots available for the Rotary Hockey Classic on Saturday, March 23^rd.  If you aren’t able to help out on game day, you can still contribute by signing up to provide baked goods to sell at the event’s concession stand.  If you have any questions about this event, or if you would like to help out, please contact Jeff Cabanaw at tarrisonus@comcast.net

            We are looking for volunteers to help staff the Heavenly Pantry Food Shelf on the following dates: Thursday, February 28^th (3:30pm); Monday, March 11^th (3:30pm); and Thursday, March 28^th (3:30pm). Please contact Sharon Dettenrieder at sharon.dettenrieder@gmail.com if you are able to fill any of these shifts.

 

Upcoming Meeting Schedule:  Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – Next week’s program is to be determined.

 

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 follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EssexVermontRotary , on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/essexvermontrotary/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/essex_rotary

 

 

       Yours in Rotary,

 

Jason Ruwet