News

Rotary Club Organizes Financial Reality Fair

The Financial Reality Fair organized by the Rotary Club of St. Albans and the Business Professional Women/VT, sponsored by Peoples Trust Company, was a significant event for high school students from BFA St. Albans and Missisquoi Valley Union High School.

Various classes participated, including Business, Math, and Personal Finance, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of financial literacy. Students were divided into groups and had the chance to engage with different topics, each led by businesses and community leaders who generously volunteered their time.

St. Albans Museum Provides New Children’s Exhibit

Press Release - Riley Gamache

The St. Albans Rotary Club recently made a generous donation of $2,000 to the newest children’s exhibit at the Saint Albans Museum (SAM). The exhibit will be known as the CREATE Kids’ Cove, and it will be themed around Saint Albans Bay. The space will provide young museumgoers with the opportunity to learn about ecological conservation, the Bay's native species, and the Bay's impact on St. Albans history from its first inhabitants, the indigenous Abenaki people, to the modern day.

Cate Bennett's dedication to her community is truly inspiring. Despite her young age, she has shown remarkable initiative in identifying and addressing the needs of her community. The establishment of a dog park not only provides a safe environment for dogs to play but also promotes community bonding among residents who share a love for animals.

Additionally, Cate's advocacy for a crosswalk to access a nature path and reading trail demonstrates her commitment to ensuring the safety and accessibility of community resources for all residents. Her efforts highlight the importance of addressing community needs and working towards solutions that benefit everyone.

Media Contact: Leon Berthiaume

802-309-0693

Since its inception in 1924, the Rotary Club of St. Albans has been an integral part of a global phenomenon, the Rotary International. Back then, as the club members gathered, little did they know the immense growth and international footprint that Rotary would achieve.

Today, Rotary International boasts a presence in over two hundred countries and geographical areas, reaching even the most remote corners of the world. With over 1.2 million members worldwide, Rotary International is dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing challenges, whether local or global in scope.

NEW THING- “A Response of the Heart for Belarus”

New Thing is a nonprofit organization established by Doug and Kristina Brendel in 2002 to help people in need in the Republic of Belarus, in the former USSR. The Soviet republic of Belarus is between Russia, and Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine.

Dragonheart Vermont

Deb Loughlin and Patti Bauer presented about DragonHeart Vermont, it is mission and impact as well as the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival, its annual donation partnership with a local non-profit. and what to expect on race day.

Update on the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

Today's speakers provided an update on the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) that was done on behalf of the St. Albans Health Service Area and NMC in 2022. They stated, “ NMC is required to conduct a CHNA every 3 years by law since 2009 with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.”

Rotary Club welcoms Jacqueline Kelley with the Vermont Department of Health

The St. Albans Local Health Office is trained and ready to respond to public health emergencies so that people in our community can stay healthy and safe. We work with local, state, and federal partners to make sure we are prepared to distribute medicine, supplies and information to residents of Franklin and Grand Isle counties in a health emergency.

PHOTOS: 30th St. Albans Rotary Home & Recreation Expo draws thousands

ST. ALBANS — Almost everywhere you looked at the Rotary Home & Recreation Expo this weekend, a happy customer was carrying a yellow broom.

At the far corner of the Collins Perley tennis courts, John Holt captivated crowds with his charisma and demonstration of Sweepa rubber brooms.

“It’s the last broom you’ll ever buy,” he touted, showing how the rubber bristles easily clean hardwood, carpet, tile and concrete. On Saturday, he sold approximately 400 brooms to convinced expo-goers. On Sunday, he was on track to hit a similar number.

“It even cleans in between the grout,” one customer excitedly told a friend.

Rotary Club of St. Albans, Vermont Celebrates 100 Years

Media Contact: Leon Berthiaume

802-309-0693

Chartered on October 8, 1924, the Rotary Club of St. Albans, Vermont is proud to be located in a very picturesque and rural part of the US. Our Club has been a dominate force in the area meeting challenges with enthusiasm, creativity, fun and energy. Our Rotary roots run deep with Paul Harris forging his connection with Vermont at age of three. He grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents in Wallingford, VT. He attended the University of Vermont before further pursuing his education at Princeton and the University of Iowa.

Rotary Home & Recreation Expo celebrates 30 years this weekend

ST. ALBANS — This weekend, the 30th Rotary Home and Recreation Expo will kick-off spring in Franklin County.

The popular two-day event, set for March 16-17, will bring more than 100 vendors to Collins Perley Sports Complex for family fun and small business browsing. Admission to the expo is free thanks to handycars.com.

“For me, the home show means spring,” said general manager Rob Coburn. “It’s like tulips popping out of the ground. I think the Home Show brings that kind of happiness to the community.”

The first Home and Recreation Expo was held in 1992. It is organized by and is the biggest fundraiser for the St. Albans Rotary Club, which itself is celebrating 100 years in 2024. Proceeds from the expo are donated by the club to various community initiatives.

District Governor Speaks at the Rotary Club of St. Albans

Susan A. Cherry, District 7850

St. Johnsbury Rotary Club

Our Club welcomed DG Susan Cherry to our meeting on February 6, 2024. The District Governor has been visiting all the member clubs. She noted that our Rotary District is one of the few international Rotary Districts. We comprise twenty-five clubs in Vermont, eleven in New Hampshire and four in Quebec and two that span the US and Canada Border. Every Club is unique as to when meetings are held, how they fund raise and activities they sponsor. She encouraged as many members as possible to attend the district conference in April to meet and have conversations with other Rotarians.

Rotary Club of St. Albans Hold its First Annual Speech Contest

Media Contact: Leon Berthiaume

802-309-0693

The Rotary Club of St. Albans held it first Speech Contest, open to area high school students on February 7^th. This was the first round of the annual Rotary District Speech Contest. We had three participants in our contest that included Aydin Naylor and Kyrell Anderson from BFA Fairfax and Rachel Ledoux from BFA St. Albans.

The Speech Contest Topic was "How can we increase hope for our schools?” Students were asked to prepare and deliver a five-minute speech which relates this topic to their life, school, and Rotary values.

Blueberry Plant Sale

Please support The BFA Interact Club’s first Blueberry Plant Sale as we raise funds to further our work in the community.

We are selling four types of 2-year-old blueberry plants in one-gallon pots.

Each lovely blueberry plant is priced at only $15.

To Purchase please visit: https://givebutter.com/c/6LVyYj/auction

Questions: Email us at BFAinteract@gmail.com

The Rotary Club of St. Albans Announces Speech Contest.

For Immediate Release Media Contact: Leon Berthiaume

802-309-0693

As part of The Rotary Club of Saint Albans 100 Year Celebration, we are participating in a district wide speech contest! This great opportunity allows for Franklin County High School students to show off their presentation skills and compete for prizes.

Tuesday Outing: CVOEO

Tuesday, January 9^th, Rotary members had a chance to learn more about CVOEO and the services it provides in our region. Jess Graff the Director of the CVOEO program Franklin Grand Isle Community Action, and our Rotary member provided a tour of the operations they house on site.