This Week’s Rotary Chips: November 05, 2012

Posted by Nancy Burzon

Guests:

Chelsea Ingram, Miss Vermont, guest speaker

Peter Tobin, Rotary South

Governor candidate, Randy Brock, guest of Hull Maynard

New Member Candidates:

Charlotte Callahan, potential member from Red Clover Inn

Mary Ann Kennedy, potential member from Women’s Shelter

We Missed You:

Kristin Andrade, Paula Baker, Ron Bower, Miche Chamberlain, Bill Drummond, Maria Fish, Jared Galster, Joyce Hottenstein, Kevin Loso, Terry Moran, Stephanie Osgood, Brian Perkins, Mark Price, Dick Rohe, Win Thomas, Doug Wilson, Wendy Wilton,

Raffle: $33 in small and $711 in large pot. Andrea won the small but not the big pot.

Brags/Fines: Krista

· Christina bragged about seeing all the Rotarians at Halloween Fair and the second for Maureen Principe who says hello to all.

· Andrea bragged that she is on stay-cation.

· Tom will co-host live election results for Rutland County; trying to beat Rutland Herald. Catherine placed a $5 bet that he would not. He also announced that next weeks mixer is hosted by Andrea Coppola, Lake Sunapee Bank.

· Nicole bragged for the really big show. Lots of talent in Rutland. Record attendance.

· Caprice enjoyed two days on beach in Florida before Sandy hit.

· Traci Moore, Really big brag for those who helped with the really big show this year. Nicole, Catherine, Jason, Rich Carlson, Ron Bower were very involved. It is a nice fundraiser for United Way.

· Rich, stretching my dollar bill, like Tom Donahue. His vote went to Nicole. She did great job. Rich also bragged that he is surrounded by two prospective members.

· Barbara Giancola bragged that she has a wild hen turkey running around her lake house. It is becoming domesticated.

· Catherine is also bragging about Saturday’s talent show. Traci Moore so gracious on stage. Also, Catherine had a great time just rubbing Rich’s head on Saturday night.

· Rich boasting again for Rutland Farmer’s market—huge success. Beginning of Rutland renaissance.

· Joan Watson went to Florida for golf tournament with Mom again this year. She won again this year. Took quite a hull of stuff—good prizes. Mom was doing great—one year after surgery.

· Chris noted that the political scene incredible this year. He wondered how competitive is the race that Rich is in. Rich is running for justice of the peace—very competitive race.

· Brian bragged that he spent Friday and Saturday at the Vermont Farm Bureau annual meeting. He is on the Board. Quite exciting organization and he had great time.

· Steve was also in Florida for a weeklong cruise. It was the same one that Jim Cantori said he could not believe that the cruise was going due to Hurricane Sandy. It was rough the first night. After that it was great.

· Lainnie bragged that her brother, who had a lung transplant 12 years ago, just celebrated another year. He is now having some issues but we are hopeful.

· Nicole, last week Miche Chamberlain had her baby. He is beautiful. Nicole has a picture.

Attendance: Nicole checked make-ups from Oct 15.

Announcements:

Lainnie: Sandy Storm Relief. She is now working with other Rotary districts to fill trucks for storm victims in New York and New Jersey, primarily. First, she needs a location where we can drop items and store them for pick up. There will be tractor-trailer size trucks picking up around the state. Looking for similar things as the Cobra list shared at the meeting--especially needed are things to keep people warm, such as coats, blankets, sweat pants and so forth. (Jason has subsequently circulated the list of needs. Check your e-mail for more information.) First truck went to those who lost in the fire. Working with UPS. Trying to move faster.

Elias offered space adjacent to his store, Hannoush, on Woodstock Avenue for the purpose.

Rich: Christmas Tree Sales. Trees are being unloaded and set up on Saturday, November 24. Additional details will be forthcoming, but be prepared to sign up at the next meeting.

Jason: No meeting on November 12 due to Veterans Day holiday.

Guest Speaker: Joan Watson introduced our speaker, Miss Vermont, Chelsea Ingram. Chelsea showed the Miss Vermont crown. She will compete on January 12 in the Miss America program, which is organized by a not for profit organization. (Unlike Miss USA—for profit run by Donald Trump.)

Each point in the Vermont crown represents a special value. Scholarship is the meaning of one the points on the crown. That is why Chelsea can go to postgraduate school. She was born in North Carolina and received a Bachelors degree from NC State in meteorology. She continued her education at Lyndon State College— Lyndon State has wonderful program for her specialty. However, Jim Cantori is the reason she came to Vermont. He helped her land a job with Fox 44. Her interest has grown from an experience with a hurricane in 1996. Former Miss Vermont encouraged her to compete. Service, Style and Success are the other points.

Recently received an email from someone in Hinesburg, which complained that viewers are distracted by your accessories. Your earrings are too big! Chelsea responded to the viewer that the ones I wore were a gift from Mom for my birthday and I had promised that I would wear them on air. Chelsea has developed a confidence from Miss America organization to stay true to myself. Don’t have to bow to others’ needs.

Success—taught me how to be organized, punctual, on and on. It provided me with an avenue to be successful.

Service—the big point in the crown. When she was 11, she saw fire trucks out her bedroom door. With tears in her eyes, she saw her dad taken away. He had a heart attack. Now she knows that there were many things Dad could have done to prevent that. He was overweight, did not eat right. Lacked education about nutrition and heart awareness. He did not exercise. Heart disease takes a toll on families, employers, and friends. He could not participate fully in her youth. He has taken it into his own hands to get in shape and healthy. He wants to walk her down the aisle.

Chelsea has learned that you can take control to make your like different. She personally also lost over 55 lbs. in past 4 years. She is the motivation for him to keep going. You can have a great impact on others by the example you set.

She is promoting heart health during her year as Miss Vermont.

Encourage those who can to participate in the Miss America pageant. They are doing it to pay for education.

Chelsea sings opera and she sang for us. Great. Really. Great!