Chartered 1927
Weekly Club Bulletin

MEETING ATTENDEES

Members (12): Alan, Buddy, Deb, Ed G, Ed M, Emma, Jeff, Mary, Bob, Rod, Sue B, Sue P
Guests PDG Bill Stevens, Visiting WRJ Rotarian Joe Major, Wanda Salter, Beth Gray. Eunice Rapando and Habel Ouma (speakers)
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS 
 
• Polio Awareness Day is October 24.
• Charlestown Penny Sale is Nov. 7
• Springfield Rotary Food Drive is Nov. 21
 
TREX PLASTIC CHALLENGE UPDATE
 
Bench 18 has been assembled and will be given to Elm Hill School.  To date, 16,467 pounds of plastic film (over 8 tons or the equivalent of 12 dairy cows) have been removed from the waste stream since this project started in February of 2023, delivered to Shaw's Supermarket, and heading to Trex Company for recycling. Please continue to bring your plastic film to the Springfield Town Library.
 
NOTE: We need volunteers to help sort the plastic at the Library. For more info, contact Alan.
 
 
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
 
October 27
No regular club meeting
 
NOTE: Programs are updated on the club website.
 
The next board meeting will be at 11 AM on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at Springfield Area Parent Child Training Center. Minutes of the board meetings can be found on the club website. All members are welcome to all board meetings, your input is valued, please come!
 

 

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

President Jeff welcomed all to the October 20, 2026 club meeting held at the Springfield Area Parent Child Training Center. For the thought of the day, he offered this quote attributed to Claire Scovell LaZebnik 'Don't think that there's a different, better child 'hiding' behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage his strengths, celebrate his quirks, and improve his weaknesses, the way you would with any child.'

 

HAPPY EVENTS: 
  • Jeff : Wildly successful Penny Sale
  • Ed M: Good to be back after 4 months
  • Deb: Daughter's health improvement
  • Ed G: Today's presenters
  • Ed G: Granddughter's b'day
  • Emma: Penny Sale Success
  • Mary Springer: Today's presenters
  • Bob: Penny Sale Success
RAFFLE

 The grand prize is now $22 with 48 cards. 

PROGRAM:

 
 
Habel Ouma and Eunice Rapando, co-founders of the Sunrise School for autistic learners in Kenya, shared the school’s mission to expand educational opportunities and improve the lives of autistic children and their families.
 
The founders were joined by Rotary Past District Governor Bill Stevens of Bellows Falls and Wanda Salter, a speech pathologist who has volunteered at the Sunrise School.
 
The school was established to address the educational needs of autistic children in Kenya, where access to specialized instruction and support services can be limited. Its objectives, as outlined by Ouma, are to provide educational opportunities and hope to autistic children, make educational inclusion possible for more learners, and ease the challenges faced by their families and caregivers.
 
During the presentation, Rapando described several challenges facing the school, including limited classroom and administrative space and a spring-fed water system that runs dry for a couple of months each year. To address these needs, Salter presented the Sunrise School Memorial Project, a $200,000 fundraising effort to improve the school’s facilities and provide a more reliable water supply. Donations can be made at thesunriseschool.org by designating contributions to the “Playground/Admin Project.”
 
The presentation highlighted how international partnerships and community support can help expand educational opportunities and improve the lives of autistic children and their families.
 
The Springfield Rotary Club meets Tuesdays at noon at the SAPCC Workforce Development & Training Center. Visitors and prospective members are welcome. For more information, visit springfieldvtrotary.org.
 
 
Photo (l-r): Habel Ouma and Eunice Rapando, co-founders of the Sunrise School for autistic learners in Kenya, giving a traditional Kenyan greeting.
 
THANK YOU
 
 
Rod Arnold for taking notes from today's meeting. 
 

This bulletin attempts to give a gist of the meeting.  However, it is always better to attend.  If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin...

 
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