History

History of the Rotary Club of Deerfield Valley

In the fall of 2004, 22 Deerfield Valley residents, under the sponsorship of the Brattleboro "Sunrise" Rotary Club, began the journey of starting a club in the Deerfield Valley. Upon completing the requirements of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Deerfield Valley was chartered on Jan 13, 2005.
 
The Mission is to raise funds thru fun filled events including:Tube-a-Thon *, On-line Raffles, Memorial Day BBQ, Putt & Pour *, Garden and Barn Tours *, Blueberry Festival Pancake Breakfast, Winter Sport Sale * and a Plant Sale/Car Wash - to name a few. * =  (Signature Event)
Deerfield Valley Rotary Charter Members
    •    Shelley Alfieri
    •    Debi Bradshaw
    •    John Conlon
    •    Tom Durkin
    •    Bob Edwards
    •    Robert Fagge
    •    Audrey Haluza
    •    Tina Harris
    •    Cindy Hayford
    •    Ken Lady
    •    Alan MacDougall
    •    Ray Overton
    •    Arlene Palmiter
    •    Phil Parker
    •    Mike Posternak
    •    Sarah Shippee
    •    Frank Squindo
    •    Jeannette Underwood
    •    Dianna Wilson
    •    Peter Wright
    •    Barb Yanke
    •    Don Yanke
The objective of RCDFV is to distribute ALL funds thru...
GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
including (but not limited to):
-Schools (After school projects, Class trips, etc.),
-Towns (Memorial Hall, Beautification, etc.),
-Organizations (Food Pantry, Holiday Baskets - in partnership with the LIONS Club),
-Community Cares (Heating Assistance for those in need) etc.
-Disasters Tropical Storm Irene ravaged the Valley in Aug 2011!
 
In 2012, the Club received $450,000 in donations and distributed ALL to the Valley Businesses to Rebuild!
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
-Bake, package and deliver Valentine Cookies and Candy to elderly and home bound residents.
-Maintain the "Garden of Hope".
-Organize an Annual Memorial Day Service at Memorial Hall.
-Volunteer for Chamber events such as Wine and Harvest Festival, Mt Snow Oktoberfest.
-Halloween Activities for Children.
-Operation Warm- winter coats for children.
-Knit Hats for chemotherapy patients at local hospitals.
-Provide painters for The Gathering Place and OSEC.
-March in the Memorial Day and Fourth of July Parades.
CLUB MEETINGS & WHO'S WHO:  
-Wednesday Morning Meetings to recap recent events and plan future events: celebrate birthdays and anniversaries: Brags and announcements.
-Have member Vocational presentations & invited speakers address the club monthly.
-Have hosted Group Study Exchange Rotarians from Australia, Germany & Pakistan.
-Have hosted an exchange student from France (his Junior HS year).
-Have supported local students travel to South America for 3 month exchange.
-Have supported International schools & "Shelter Boxes".
OUR MEMBERS REPRESENT INDUSTRIES SUCH AS: Ski, Health Care, Hospitality, Auto, Real Estate, Recruitment, Financial Services, State & Local Gov., Education, Insurance, Photography, Aviation, Property Management., Legal Profession, Retail, Librarians, Clergy, Restauranteers, Construction, etc.
The History of Rotary
 
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

 

Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.  Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.

Rotary founder

Our ongoing commitment

That commitment endures today through an organization that remains truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Our members now span the globe, working to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems.

We’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries — down from 125 in 1988.

Still making history

With every project, we’re changing the world for the better. The following stories trace our evolution as an organization through historical documents, artifacts, and images that show the people and events that shaped Rotary.