We had a great visit this morning from Dr. Fred Kniffin, the President/CEO of Porter Medical Center.
He told us about the issues and plans for Porter Hospital partnering with the UVM Network and the benefits it will bring to our area.
He says they may loose some autonomy but will have better buying power and receive some investments that make it well worth while. They are currently planning an open house so to speak in the May time frame.
More information can be found at http://www.portermedical.org/

In the pictures above... past Vergennes Rotary President Tony Panella introduces his boss and CEO Dr. Fred Kniffin and current Vergennes Rotary President Susan Burdick presents Dr. Kniffin with a certificate of our club donating to the Rotary's Polio eradication effort of behalf of his speaking to us today.

The Greater Vergennes Rotary supports the VUES Craft Fair. Come and see us there.
We also support the Food Shelf, Homeward Bound, and other charities that assist those (animals and humans) who need help.

Here are some pictures from our latest District Governors visit.
Photos include:
Jay Polimeno, District Governor, Rotary District 7850
Susan Burdick, Club President
Scott Gains, Club Historian and Foundation Chair Person

The picture above is from our 9/20/2016 meeting and President Susan Burdick presented District Governor Jay Polimeno with a club shirt.

The Vergennes Rotary is part of a much larger group international group. See http://Rotary.org for more about Rotary.

District 7850 is our home within Rotary International. Our district started with 26 clubs in 1926 and now has forty (40) clubs with twenty-three clubs in Vermont, eleven in New Hampshire, four in Quebec, one that spans the USA-Canada border, and one that spans the Vermont-New Hampshire border.

Our District Governor Jay Polimeno visited us this week and gave a good presentation of sustainability. That's not an environmental concern but a physical one relating to membership and our future.
See http://www.rotary7850.org/ for more about our district.

Thanks Jay for your hard work and encouragement.

Jay also broke the news here first that the 2019-2020 district governor would be Richard Fox. Congratulations Richard. We look forward to your continued assistance as our assistant governor until then.

We want to than Tim for giving us a great presentation. He had lots of pictures from his recent trip to Alaska where he went to visit his daughter.
He gave us a little history and showed us some beautiful views of the Alaskan country side. Thanks again Tim.

Singer/Songwriter Josh Brooks visited us today and graced us with stories and laughter and music. Seven days called josh the Johnny Cash of Vermont. He has 5 CD's that have been published and has just come back of a year rest due to strained vocal cords.

We had a great time listening to Josh and were sure you will too!

Check him out at https://www.facebook.com/joshbrooksmusic/

Check out his opening song here...

Our speaker today was Kerry Kurt. Kerry owns and runs Sentinel Farm which is where she also runs the Unbound Grace riding academy program for youth. This program is open to all youth not just those with addiction issues or suffering for a difficult personal situation. The program is an arts, agriculture, and equestrian summer camp that gives confidence building through physical activity and helps develop problem solving skills. It is a day camp that allows youth to spend a week on a farm. being responsible for farm duties plus learning to ride a horse. Sentinel Farm also raises and sells grass-fed beef. For more information go to their website www.unboundgrace.org

in the picture above she was sharing an artists rendering of what her completed farm will look like.

Bob Donnis and Jessica Doos visited our club as representatives of Addison County Committee on Opiate Addiction. They also brought Kerry Kurt along with them. She runs the Unbound Grace program that helps our youth who face many challenges due families with addiction problems. Sofie (the labradoodle) also made sure they felt at home.

They brought awareness of the collaborative efforts focused on the problem of addiction in our county. Also sharing a list of items that are common in most homes that can lead to opiate addiction.

See more at http://addictionhelpvt.com/ and also at http://healthvermont.gov/adap/treatment/opioids/