Stories

The 2nd Annual Spelling Bee 

2022 Spelling Bee
 

Inaugurated in 2019 with the intent of making it an annual event, 2022 marks the return of our Spelling Bee!  

Thanks to Burlington Beer Company for generously donating their space and Hanson and Doremus for underwriting all other event costs- as well as the time and energy of volunteer Rotarians- 100% of donations, team sponsorships, and guest ticket sales will go to providing free books to Burlington kids.

The Rotary Spelling Bee is raising funds for the Imagination Library Program, which fosters early childhood literacy. The Imagination Library, started and sponsored by Dolly Parton and her foundation, sends a free monthly book to Burlington children ages birth through age five. That’s up to 6 years and 72  free books to each enrolled child!  Thanks to the efforts of Dolly's foundation, our cost in 2021 averaged less than $2.50 per book, but demand is high and we'd love to expand to surrounding communities.  

Burlington Sunrise Rotary has funded this program since 2008 and has recently partnered with the Rotary Club of Burlington to expand this already successful program.  To date, we've provided over 30,000 books to Burlington kids!

Event Details:

When: Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 5:30-8:30pm

Where: Burlington Beer Company, 180 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT, 05401 (directions)

What: It's a Spelling Bee!  Our hosts will provide a word and a contextual example or definition to one of our teams of three spellers from local companies and organizations.  They'll have 30 seconds to confer before one team member steps up to the microphone to pronounce, spell, and again pronounce the word.  Levity is appreciated, but doesn't provide bonus points- spellers will have to know their stuff!

To sponsor please visit

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/burlington-sunrise-rotary-club-inc/rotary-spelling-bee

You may also mail a check payable to Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club to PO Box 4328 Burlington Vermont 05406 or text to donate
 
 
 
 The 2nd Annual Spelling Bee Diana Wood 2022-09-17 04:00:00Z 0

Rotary and Food Security

With half of the world's wheat coming from Russia and Ukraine, the risk of hunger is increasing globally, as the cost of even the most basic food items increases.  Internationally, Rotary will be stepping up relief efforts.  Locally, the Sunrise Rotary promotes the Little Free Pantry concept and opened the Little Free Pantry in Hinesburg.  We also hold the annual Trotting of the Turkeys to support Feeding Chittenden, their food shelf, and their other hunger relief projects.  You can support the pantry by texting "LittlePantry" to 44-321.  Above, Alison and Jesse from the club after grilling for the cancer patients staying at the American Cancer Society's Burlington Hope Lodge.
 Rotary and Food Security 2022-06-02 04:00:00Z 0
Virtual meeting info Jesse D Robbins 2020-03-18 04:00:00Z 0

Partners In Adventure

This weekend we brought our friends from Partners In Adventure to the UVM Women's Basketball game. The kids and their families have a great time watching the game, and meeting the athletes. 
 
Our club is happy to support Partners In Adventure - an amazing local organization that provides summer camps and events for teens with and without disabilities and special needs. They bring participants to community settings that are fully accessible, adaptive, and inclusive. 
 
 
 Partners In Adventure Diana 2020-02-12 05:00:00Z 0
Hope Lodge - August 2019 Elisabeth Ford 2019-08-05 04:00:00Z 0 Hope Lodge
The First Annual Spelling Bee Diana Wood 2019-04-24 04:00:00Z 0
Bowling for Big Brothers Big Sisters of VT Diana Wood 2018-10-13 04:00:00Z 0 big brother big sister VT
Light The Night 2018 A Big Success! Laura Bowe 2018-09-28 04:00:00Z 0 Light The Night
Let's Rally for Light The Night 2018! Ken Crites & Laura Bowe 2018-08-28 04:00:00Z 0 Light The Night
Nikki Raising Funds for Walk to End Alzheimer's Ken Crites 2018-08-27 04:00:00Z 0 Alzheimer's Association
Visitors from the Pan-African Youth Leadership Program Jesse Robbins & Andy Duback 2018-08-10 04:00:00Z 0 Pan-African Youth Leadership
Dragon Boat Festival 2018: Assisting Boaters, Selling Food & Raising Funds for Rotary Charities Ken Crites 2018-08-05 04:00:00Z 1 Dragon Boat Festival
District Governor Larry Vars Visits Ken Crites 2018-08-03 04:00:00Z 0
Speaker News: Linda Patterson, Land Use Planning and Water Quality Educator  Ken Crites 2018-07-27 04:00:00Z 0
Bookfair for Imagination Library Alison Davis & Ken Crites 2018-07-21 04:00:00Z 0 Barnes & Noble,Bookfair,Imagination Library
Lake Monsters Fund Raiser Game Todd Stoilov & Ken Crites 2018-07-08 04:00:00Z 0 Lake Monsters
Transition Party 2018 Todd Stoilov & Ken Crites 2018-06-28 04:00:00Z 0 eric hanson,todd stoilov,transition party
Speaker News: Erin Alamed & Terry Pomerleau from the Humane Society of Chittenden County Ken Crites 2018-05-25 04:00:00Z 0
Volunteering at Salvation Farm's Processing Facility Ken Crites 2018-05-05 04:00:00Z 0 salvation farms
Our first Little Free Pantry is LIVE! Phillip Bosen & Ken Crites 2018-05-04 04:00:00Z 0 Andy Duback,Little Free Pantry,Phillip Bosen
New Member: Bobby Ibarra Brendan Walsh 2018-04-20 04:00:00Z 0 New Members
Speaker News: John Thomas from VT Assoc. for the Blind & Visually Impaired Ken Crites 2018-03-30 04:00:00Z 0 John Thomas,VABVI
Speaker News: Chris Powell of Aspenti Health Ken Crites 2018-03-16 04:00:00Z 0
Speaker News: Beth Sightler of Champlain Community Services Ken Crites 2018-03-09 05:00:00Z 0
Speaker News: Sue Minter & Deb Lamden From Partners in Adventure Ken Crites 2018-02-09 05:00:00Z 0 Partners in Adventure
UVM Hoops with Partners In Adventure Ken Crites 2018-02-03 05:00:00Z 0 Partners in Adventure,UVM Basketball
New Members: Welcome Julie, Alex and Gordon! Ken 2018-02-02 05:00:00Z 0 New Members
Speaker News: Julia Scheier from Salvation Farms Ken Crites 2018-01-19 05:00:00Z 0 gleaning,julia scheier,salvation farms
Speaker News: Update from Kimberley Diemond of VT Big Brothers Big Sisters Ken Crites 2018-01-12 05:00:00Z 0 big brother big sister VT,kimberley diemond
My Wet Shoes Program at Champlain Elementary School Todd Stoilov 2017-12-13 05:00:00Z 0 My Wet Shoes
Trotting of the Turkeys 2017: Another Rousing Success! Ken Crites 2017-11-04 04:00:00Z 0 steven gentile,trotting of the turkeys
Trotting of the Turkeys is Almost Here! Ken Crites 2017-10-24 04:00:00Z 0 trotting of the turkeys
Speaker News: Dr. Naiim Ali from Imaging the World Alison Davis 2017-10-13 04:00:00Z 0 Imaging the World,Naiim Ali
Light The Night 2017: Another Wonderful Night Ken Crites 2017-09-22 04:00:00Z 0 Light The Night
Speaker News: Miss Vermont Erin Connor Ken Crites 2017-08-25 04:00:00Z 0 Miss Vermont

New DG Eric Denu Visits Burlington Sunrise

Posted by Ken Crites on Aug 18, 2017
 New 2017-2018 District 7850 Governor Eric Denu visited our chapter this Friday.  Eric shared his family's history with Rotary, discussed the importance of teamwork, announced the upcoming Rotary 5-District Summit and presented us with a nice gift.  
 
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New DG Eric Denu Visits Burlington Sunrise Ken Crites 2017-08-18 04:00:00Z 0
Three Club Meeting in Williston Nikki Rivolta 2017-08-10 04:00:00Z 0 Joe Flynn,Williston

Dragon Boat Festival 2017: Good Times Raising Funds & Assisting Boaters

Posted by Ken Crites on Aug 06, 2017
It was a beautiful morning out on the lake front today as Burlington Sunrise Rotary helped support the 2017 Dragon Boat Festival for the 12th year in row. The club was split into two teams: one that worked the docks, helping teams in and out of boats.  Thanks to Steve Gentile for leading the dock effort, in some cases for all three days of the festival.  The second squad worked the food table on Sunday, selling bagels, donuts, hot coffee and fruit for Rotary charities.  Thank you Eric Lafayette for leading the food table.
 
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Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival 2017: Good Times Raising Funds & Assisting Boaters Ken Crites 2017-08-06 04:00:00Z 0 Dragon Boat Festival
Good Times at Changeover Party Ken Crites 2017-08-05 04:00:00Z 0 todd stoilov,transition party

Speaker News: Jake Elliott from SunCommon Discusses Going Solar

Posted by Ken Crites on Aug 02, 2017
Jake Elliott from SunCommon spoke with us Friday about the advantages of going solar.  In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, Solar energy can be a positive investment, saving you money on you monthly electric bills while also adding significant value to your home. Their local financing allows Vermonters to go solar with no up front cost making it easy and affordable for everyone.
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SunCommon
Speaker News: Jake Elliott from SunCommon Discusses Going Solar Ken Crites 2017-08-02 04:00:00Z 0 SunCommon
Speaker News: Kyle Dodson of the YMCA Dan Van Der Vliet 2017-07-21 04:00:00Z 0
Speaker News: Kimberley Diemond from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont Ken Crites 2017-07-14 04:00:00Z 0 big brother big sister VT,kimberley diemond

New Member: Gail Deuso

Posted by Ken Crites on Jun 16, 2017
The Burlington Sunrise Club is proud to welcome new member Gail Deuso!  Welcome Gail!  That's Gail on the right in the picture above, with her sponsor Laura Bowe and President Elect Todd Stoilov.
 
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New Members
New Member: Gail Deuso Ken Crites 2017-06-16 04:00:00Z 0 New Members

Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo Discusses Nation's Opiate Crisis

Posted by Ken Crites on Jun 16, 2017
 
"65,000 Americans died from Opiate use this past year" stated Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo.
 
Our club was honored to host Chief del Pozo on Friday, June 16th. The Chief took time out of a very busy day to discuss the current Opiate Crisis here in Vermont and across the country. He added that we as a country must go back to Word War II to find that type of annual American death toll from one source.
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Brandon del Pozo Burlington Police
Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo Discusses Nation's Opiate Crisis Ken Crites 2017-06-16 04:00:00Z 0 Brandon del Pozo,Burlington Police
Girls on the Run VT 5K: Volunteering Fun Ken Crites 2017-06-03 04:00:00Z 0 Girls On The Run
Speaker News: Kyle Bostwick, VP of the Vermont Lake Monsters Ken Crites 2017-06-02 04:00:00Z 0 Kyle Bostwick,Lake Monsters

New Member: Ryan Layman

Posted by Ken Crites on Jun 02, 2017
 
The Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club is proud to announce that Ryan Layman has officially joined the club!  Welcome Ryan!  That's Ryan above with Club President Julie Kelley (left) and his club sponsor, Laura Bowe (right).
 
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New Members
New Member: Ryan Layman Ken Crites 2017-06-02 04:00:00Z 0 New Members
Planting Trees with Burlington Parks & Rec Ken Crites 2017-05-23 04:00:00Z 0 Burlington Parks and Rec
New Member: Jesse Robbins Ken Crites 2017-05-05 04:00:00Z 0 New Members
Speaker News: Jane Mitchell from Alzheimer's Association Ken Crites 2017-05-05 04:00:00Z 0 Alzheimer's Association,Jane Mitchell

Kenya Safe Water: Two More Visits to Kisumu

Posted by Ken Crites on Apr 19, 2017
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Over the past seven months, Rotarians Ken Puzey, Nicola Elkins and Phillip Bosen traveled to Kisumu Kenya to further advance efforts to deliver safe drinking water to the people of Kenya.

In November of 2016, Ken and Phil visited Kisumu to kick off the purchasing of raw materials for additional solar boiler panel construction.  The Safe Water Project was able to buy materials due to a very generous donation from the Canadian Rotary District 7040, which Nicola helped lead. The generous donation will lead to the production of 260 solar water biolers at a cost of $77 each.  

(From left to right: Ken Puzey of Burlington Sunrise RC,  Allen Abol the President of the Maseno, Kenya RC, and Phillip Bosen of Burlington Sunrise RC)

 

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Kenya Safe Water: Two More Visits to Kisumu Ken Crites 2017-04-19 04:00:00Z 0 Kenya Safe Water
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New Members: Eric and Diana! Ken Crites 2017-04-15 04:00:00Z 0 New Members

Speaker News: Dan Cahill from Burlington Parks and Rec

Posted by Ken Crites on Mar 31, 2017
Today we had the pleasure of hosting Dan Cahill from Burlington's Parks and Recreation department.  Per Dan's presentation and the Parks & Rec web site, "The Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront oversees all of Burlington’s 35+ Parks, 550+ Acres of Open Space, 4 Public Beaches, Street Trees & Greenways, Community Gardens, 3 Cemeteries, Miller Recreation Center, Leddy Ice Arena, Champlain Senior Center, North Beach Campground, Community Boathouse Marina and all Recreation Programs."  They manage an impressive portfolio, a vast array of assets that needs help from Burlington's residents.
 
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Burlington Parks and Rec
Speaker News: Dan Cahill from Burlington Parks and Rec Ken Crites 2017-03-31 04:00:00Z 0 Burlington Parks and Rec

Award: LLS Light The Night Fundraising

Posted by Ken Crites on Mar 10, 2017
Steve Gentile Laura Bowe
Today we were presented an award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Gail Deuso (Vermont Coordinator), Maureen O'Brien Thornton (Executive Director), and Jen S. McGarry (Director, Patient Access Volunteer Development) from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter graciously delivered our "Top Corporate Fund Raising" award for raising funds for the past fall's "Light the Night Walk".  In addition to the top team award, Laura Bowe also won the award for "Top Individual Fund Raiser".
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Light The Night
Award: LLS Light The Night Fundraising Ken Crites 2017-03-10 05:00:00Z 0 Light The Night
Speaker News: Intervale Center - Helping Vermont's Farms Al Getler 2017-03-03 05:00:00Z 0 Chelsea Frisbee,Intervale

Speaker News: Age Well VT

Posted by Ken Crites on Feb 24, 2017
 
Rachel Cummings (Chief Operating Officer) and Erica Marks (Director of Volunteer Services) today shared with us the mission of Age Well VT.  Rachel is a former Rotarian and Erica is currently a Rotary member at a neighboring chapter.  Age Well is known for their tremendous "Meals on Wheels" work, but officially Age Well carries out "programs authorized by the Older Americans Act - federal legislation that calls for local organizations to take the lead in creating a coordinated system of services for older persons across the country," per the Age Well website.
Read more...
Age Well Erica Marks Rachel Cummings
Speaker News: Age Well VT Ken Crites 2017-02-24 05:00:00Z 0 Age Well,Erica Marks,Rachel Cummings

Speaker News: Salvation Farms

Posted by Al Getler on Feb 17, 2017
 
Theresa Snow of Salvation Farms, spoke to the Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club on February 17, 2017. The club learned about Vermont's farm gleaning effort. Salvation Farm is not a physical farm, but a group that gleans food from farms unused harvest. Some 14.3 million pounds of food is either not harvested or is placed in storage and spoils.
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Speaker News: Salvation Farms Al Getler 2017-02-17 05:00:00Z 0
New Member: Ken Crites Al Getler 2017-02-10 05:00:00Z 0 New Members

Gear Swap: A Yearly Rotary Event

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Each year, the Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club holds its yearly Gear Swap at the West Monitor Barn in Richmond.
 
Here are some of the sites. Watch for the next Swap. Better yet, join the Rotary Club and take part in the fun!
 
 
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Gear Exchange
Gear Swap: A Yearly Rotary Event Al Getler 2017-02-09 05:00:00Z 0 Gear Exchange

Hope Lodge - Rotarians In Service

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The members of the Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club regularly serve a meal to the guests at the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Burlington. 
 
Join us in service as we serve, dine with and have plenty of laughs the guests at Hope Lodge.
 
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Hope Lodge
Hope Lodge - Rotarians In Service Al Getler 2017-02-09 05:00:00Z 0 Hope Lodge
Kenya Safe Water: Rotary Chapters from VT, NY & Canada Contribute Ken Crites 2016-11-29 05:00:00Z 0 Kenya Safe Water,ken puzey
Trotting of the Turkeys 2016: Fun Pictures Ken Crites 2016-11-12 05:00:00Z 0 trotting of the turkeys
Kenya Safe Water: NBC Channel 5 Broadcasts Ken Puzey's Safe Water Solar Solution Ken Crites 2016-05-13 04:00:00Z 0 Kenya Safe Water,ken puzey

Kenya Safe Water: How Ken's Solar Water Boilers Save Lives & Improve the Environment 

Posted on Aug 19, 2015

Boiling drinking water saves lives

1.1 Billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.  In Kenya, 1.3% of the population dies each year from drinking unsafe water.  The under 5 mortality rate is 22%, with water borne illness as the leading cause of death.
 
3 Billion people in the world cook with wood or charcoal.  3.5 Billion tons of wood are burned every year, forcing 111,600 square miles of forest to be cut down every year (larger than state of Nevada).  In Africa today, wood is consumed at twice a rate as tree growth, producing 6.79 Gigatons of carbon dioxide produced each year.
 
The objective of the Kisumu Kenya Safe Water Project is to provide a sustainable method of creating safe drinking water, to save lives and reduce dependency on wood burning fuel.
 
 
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Kenya Safe Water ken puzey
Kenya Safe Water: How Ken's Solar Water Boilers Save Lives & Improve the Environment Ken Crites 2015-08-19 04:00:00Z 0 Kenya Safe Water,ken puzey

Kenya Safe Water: USA Today Recognizes Ken Puzey's Safe Water Work in Kenya

Posted on May 05, 2014
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Rotarian Ken Puzey just had his hard work for safe drinking water in Kenya recognized by the USA Today!  USA Today and Burlington Free Press writer Dan D’Ambrosio beautifully articulates how Ken's solar powered water boiling system can help thousands of Kenyans avoid unsafe drinking water.  1.1 billion people around the globe do not have access to safe drinking water. This lack of access results in a large disease burden with 1.7 billion cases of diarrhea annually.
 
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Kenya Kenya Safe Water clean water ken puzey kisumu kenya solar power clean water usa today
Kenya Safe Water: USA Today Recognizes Ken Puzey's Safe Water Work in Kenya Ken Crites 2014-05-05 04:00:00Z 0 Kenya,Kenya Safe Water,clean water,ken puzey,kisumu kenya,solar power clean water,usa today

Fostering literacy in the local community remains one of our most important missions!

Posted by Rachel Zellem on Jan 20, 2014

This year was the 10th year that the Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club donated dictionaries to the 3rd grade class and thesauri to the 4th grade class at Christ the King. Alison, Steve, and Todd visited the school this year, and they had a great time meeting the kids, telling them about Rotary, and why our club has chosen literacy as an area of focus.

 

The kids LOVE getting their own dictionary. Steve (pictured, right) gives the kids three simple rules: 

#1 - Write your name on the inside cover under the Rotary sticker. 

#2 - Highlight words you don’t know when you look them up. 

#3 - Always say “thank you!"

 

Image

 

 

Since Todd became involved with the project three years ago, the kids have also gotten a bonus geography lesson when their Rotarian friends come to visit. Todd was born in Bulgaria, and he always challenges the children to find his birthplace on the map! 

 

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Fostering literacy in the local community remains one of our most important missions! Rachel Zellem 2014-01-20 05:00:00Z 0
UVM Women's Basketball Game with Partners In Adventure Rachel Zellem 2014-01-18 05:00:00Z 0 Partners in Adventure,UVM Basketball
VT Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott Drops By Rachel Zellem 2013-12-13 05:00:00Z 0 Phil Scott,VT Lieutenant Governor
Kenya Safe Water: Ken Puzey Launches Foundation Ken Crites 2013-07-26 04:00:00Z 0 Kenya Safe Water,ken puzey
These Rotarians are Serving Up Something Good! Rachel Zellem 2013-07-11 04:00:00Z 0 Burlington Parks and Rec
Burlington Wine & Food Festival Rachel Zellem 2013-06-22 04:00:00Z 0 Wine and Food Festival

Carving Pumpkins!

Posted by Rachel Zellem on Mar 27, 2013
The Sunrise Club gathered at the Winooski Senior Center on October 27th to help carve the 800 pumpkins that will be on display in downtown Winooski next week in celebration of Halloween. It would seem that there's something about giant orange squash that really gets our creative juices flowing!pumpkin carving 10.27.13
 Carving Pumpkins! Rachel Zellem 2013-03-27 04:00:00Z 0
Burlington Sunrise - New Member Induction Damon Dubuque 2011-01-27 05:00:00Z 0 New Members

The Sunrise Rotary Club

Posted by David Carleton
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A group of 25 community minded individuals make up the Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club. Since it's inception in March of 2002 this group of members listen to, act on, and work to the betterment of inhabitants within and beyond where they live.
The Sunrise Rotary Club David Carleton 0
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