Greetings fellow Rotarians!  We started today’s meeting with the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellowship to Jim Bessette in recognition of his donation of $1,000.00 to the Rotary Foundation.  Thank you to Jim for your generous support of the financial arm of Rotary International!  Our speaker was fundraising consultant, Caisil Weldon. Caisil pointed out that we are all fundraisers based on the work we do for our Club at public events.  She provided guidance on ways we can each be more effective fundraisers and for making the process of asking sponsors for donations much easier.  She then had us break out into brainstorming sessions and report back what we had all learned from that.  Overall, it was a very timely and helpful presentation.

 

 

            Speaking of fundraising opportunities, 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 in securing sponsors and to volunteer on game day.  Please contact Jeff Cabanaw with any questions about the event itself, or if you are interested in serving on the Hockey Committee.  We would also ask that you please encourage people to buy tickets online at the following link:

 

 

 

            Our Club will be holding its annual Service Above Self dinner on the evening of Wednesday, February 15^th.  At this dinner we will be honoring Greg Morgan as this year’s recipient of the Club’s Service Above Self award.  We will also be recognizing selected members of the public safety community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.  Tickets to this event are $35.00 per person and we ask that you please RSVP by a date no later than February 6^th.  You may also register and purchase your tickets by clicking on the following link:

 

 

 

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

 

Upcoming Meeting Schedule:  February 8, 2017 – Our speaker will be Diane Nancekivell, President of Kids4Peace International.  We will also be hosting the first leg of the annual Rotary Speech Contest which will feature students from Mount Mansfield Union High School, Essex High School and the Center for Technology.

 

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