Bennington Rotary Club

09/03/2026

This Friday, September 4, 2026, the Bennington Rotary Club will have a presentation from the Wing and a Prayer farm in Shaftsbury where breed-specific sheep, among other animals are raised, and outline the process of sheep-to-shawl, so to speak. Included will be a discussion of animal husbandry, gardening, natural dyeing, processing fiber from the flock to the finished good, and the marketing and business-aspects of agriculture for a small farm in Southern Vermont.

Wing & A Prayer Farm in Shaftsbury, VT has ben owned by Tammy White since 2001. Her fiber flock of sheep, goats and alpacas include many rare and heritage breeds. Since 2018 she has been part of a breed-up program for the rare Valais Blacknose sheep. Wing & A Prayer Farm was the first farm in Vermont to have live births of this rare breed in spring of 2019, and one of a few farms that have successfully brought this imported breed to our country via laparoscopic artificial insemination and embryo transplants.

We hope you’ll join us for an engaging afternoon of learning, community, and a closer look at the fascinating world of Vermont agriculture and fiber farming. Everyone is welcome!

Location: Carriage Barn, behind the Elks Club, 125 Washington Avenue, Bennington.

The speaker begins at approximately 12:30. We do request that you arrive by 12:10 at the latest for seating.

08/27/2026

08/23/2026

At a recent meeting, Ron Zimmerman and Kate Czaplinski of the Southern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) provided a presentation about transformational projects underway to enhance patient care and experience. Thanks to Ron and Kate for the great talk!

08/18/2026

Join the Bennington Rotary Club’s free lunchtime speaker series on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month at the Carriage Barn (125 Washington Ave, behind the Elks Club). Lunch begins at 12:00 PM (please arrive by 12:10 PM), and presentations start at 12:30 PM. Bring your own lunch or pre-order a sandwich/salad for $14 by emailing [email protected].

This session on Friday, August 21st features SVMC’s Ron Zimmerman and Kate Czaplinski sharing updates on key hospital investments, including cancer center modernizations, an adolescent behavioral health unit, and a new downtown Family Medicine Residency.

Additional information about our club can be found at: benningtonrotary.com.

05/12/2026

This Friday, May 15, the Bennington Rotary Club is hosting a lunchtime speaker presentation at the Carriage Barn located behind the Elks Lodge at 125 Washington Avenue. The public is invited to attend. You can bring your own lunch, or email our lunch coordinator Natasha at [email protected] to request a menu for a box lunch which will be delivered to the meeting location. Cost for the box lunch is $14. There is NO COST to attend the speaker series.

This Friday, May 1, 2026, our speaker will be Julie Newell of the Bennington Master Gardeners. Julie Newell moved to Bennington in the Summer of 2023, bringing with her a love of native plants and a passion for the difference they can make in local ecosystems.

A native of Boise, Idaho, Julie Newell spent her working career in the University System of Georgia on metro-Atlanta campuses. Julie retired to Bennington in the summer of 2023, bringing with her a love of native plants and a passion for the difference they can make in local ecosystems. She completed the University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener training in the first half of 2024. She has focused her volunteer efforts on producing seed-raised native plants for Bennington EMG plant sales and community garden projects.

The lunch starts at noon and the speaker begins at approximately 12:30. We do request that you arrive by 12:10 at the latest for seating. For more information about Bennington Rotary, and a calendar of upcoming events and dates, please visit benningtonrotary.com.

04/30/2026

The Bennington Rotary Club invites the public to attend a free lunchtime speaker presentation on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Elks Lodge, 125 Washington Avenue. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch. There is no cost to attend.

This week’s program will feature Jonah Spivak, Communications Coordinator for the Town of Bennington, and Shannon Barsotti, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Housing, Community, and Economic Development. They will present and lead discussions on two key topics:

- A draft ordinance addressing vacant properties in the Downtown zoning district, including a proposed escalating fee structure for long-term vacancies

- The concept of a local option tax, including how it works, who pays, and potential uses for generated revenue

Lunch begins at 12:00 p.m., with the presentation starting at approximately 12:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to arrive by 12:10 p.m. for seating.

The Rotary Club will host a second May speaker event on Friday, May 15, featuring the Bennington Master Gardeners.

For more information and a full calendar of events, visit benningtonrotary.com.