Members (9): Rod, Michelle, Marty, Alan, Ed G., Ed M., Jeff, Sue, John
Guests: Visiting Rotarian Susan Burnett, Ashley Newton, Marion, Pat Ankuda, and Mike Martin (speaker)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• COVER Home Repair & Store is looking for volunteers for an indoor weatherization project in Springfield this Saturday. If you can help, click here.
• Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting is on 1/30. For more info, click here.
• Waterbury VT Rotary's annual "Pie for Breakfast" is on 2/14. For more info, click here.
• The January issue of the Rotary District 7870 newsletter has been posted. Click here to view.
TREX PLASTIC CHALLENGE UPDATE
We have collected 1003 pounds of plastic film towards our goal of 1000 pounds. Therefore, the 15th bench will be ordered and given to Union Street School. We will begin collecting another 1000 pounds of plastic towards our 16th bench which will be donated to the Springfield Lions Club Dog Park. To date, 13,151 pounds of plastic film (over 6-1/2 tons!) have been removed from the waste stream since we started this project 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. Update.... Bench 17 will be given to the Springfield VFW and Bench 18 will be given to Elm Street School. NOTE: We need volunteers to help sort the plastic at the Library. For more info, contact Alan.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
January 27, 2026
NO CLUB MEETING
February 3, 2026
TBA
February 10, 2026
Michael Arace
Springfield Probation and Parole
NOTE: Programs are updated on the club website.
The next board meeting will be at 11 AM on Tuesday, Feb. 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
Club President Sue welcomed all to the Jan. 20, 2026 club meeting held at the Springfield Area Parent Child Training Center. For the thought of the day, she offered this quote attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr., "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
BOWL OF LIFE: (members put three things about themselves on paper and place into a bowl and then we try to identify the member)
This member's clue was: "My first concert that I attended was KISS without makeup"— No one fessed up.
Jeff: Meeting Marion, Ashley's exchange student from South Africa
Ashley: Everyone's healthy at home
Ashley: Her daughter Quinn is preparing for "Windham County's Got Talent"
Ashley: Marion's visit
Ashley: Mike Martin
Susan: Happy to be here
Susan: Received beautiful scarf from friend
Ed G: Grandson attended his first Bruins game
John: Mike Martin
John: Visited with his daughter and her 3rd child.
Marty: A neighbor shoveled his driveway and walkway while he was away.
Marty: Today is his youngest granddaughter's 4th birthday
RAFFLE
The weekly prize of $6 was won by Ed M who gave it back to the club. The big raffle grows to $168.
PROGRAM:
Mike Martin, secretary of the Springfield Vermont Lions Club, delivered an engaging presentation on the creation and community impact of the Springfield Lions Club Dog Park located on the playgrounds behind the old North School, at 5 School Street in North Springfield.
During the presentation, Martin shared the story behind the dog park’s development, from the initial idea and planning stages to fundraising, partnerships, and construction. He highlighted how the project reflects the Lions Club’s commitment to service while providing a safe, welcoming space for dogs and their owners to gather, exercise, and connect.
“The dog park has become more than just a place for pets,” Martin said. “It’s a community space that brings people together, encourages outdoor activity, and strengthens neighborhood connections. The support from local organizations has been essential to making it a success.”
Rotarians learned about the collaborative efforts that made the park possible, including volunteer labor, community donations, and cooperation with local officials. Martin also discussed ongoing maintenance, future improvements, and opportunities for continued community involvement.
For more information about the Springfield Lions Club Dog Park, send an email to Mike Martin.
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...
