Morrisville Rotary Club

Present: Mary Metcalf, Sharon Menard, Bruce Shields, Marc Sinow, Tim Sargent, Phil Chiaravalle, Susan Bartlett, Jim Mahoney, Davis Koier, Ted Lambert, Deanna Wood, Gary Nolan, Linda Martin, Patti Coultas, and Marcia Marble

Guests: Stephanie Lockhart (Guest Speaker) and Chuck Hogan (Cambridge Rotary)

Happy dollars: Sharon $5; Gary, Davis, Susan $5, Jim,

Fines: Jason (to be paid when he returns). Chuck, for attempting to levy a fine against Jim for not wearing his name tag (it was on his jacket, which he removed to eat). The fine was voted down, Chuck paid $1.

Linda explained that Marci Henderson’s mom died Wednesday and Saturday evening Marci was taken to the hospital where she remains in intensive care. A card was passed around for her.

Susan showed the members a sampling of books brought over by Mary West to show how the Rotary grant was spent on children’s books. Each book has a note in the front saying it was purchased with a grant from Rotary.

Tim updated folks on the Polar Plunge, and Friday night registration event. Please park at the Elmore Methodist Church to be out of the way for plungers. Peter Wilder will take photos for us. Marcia suggested folks wear their Rotary Jackets over their winter coats. Deanna suggested folks raise $125 to not jump. Tim still needs judges and someone to keep folks in order. Susan and Mary Metcalf volunteered. Patti showed off the T-shirts and suggested everyone buy one to wear. Tim said he went to the Cambridge and Stowe Rotaries to invite them to participate. Chuck said it is the same day as the district meeting so cannot attend.

Tim said that when he was in Cambridge he thought that a breakfast meeting might also work better for more folks to join. He suggested we think about moving our meetings to before work. Susan said it would be on a future agenda.

Dr. Phil introduced Stephanie Lockhart from the Center for Colonial Spanish Horse Preservation. Stephanie explained how she got involved with these horses, which are the original horses that were brought to North America by the Spanish. She said that the history is rich as they changed Native American culture, and were the horses that were used by the cowboys, ranchers, and even the pony express. There are around 3000 in the world now and there are only about 120 good quality studs. She is working on becoming a non-profit so she can apply for grants. Right now the horses (she has about 25) are housed on Route 15 but she is looking into a piece of property in Johnson. She is busy with education, therapeutic sessions, and traveling to events to promote the center and the horses. It costs a lot to keep horses and has about depleted her current resources.

Submitted by Patti Coultas