Rotary Club of Essex, Vermont

01/12/2026

Thank you Essex Westford School District for highlighting the Rotary Speech contest. Essex High School students are encouraged to participate. Please give it your best - and learn about Rotary International in the process.

EHS students in grades 9-12 are eligible to compete for cash prizes in the annual Rotary Club speech contest. This year's prompt is: How can we be instruments of peace? Prepare and deliver a five-minute speech that relates this topic to your life, school, neighbors, and Rotary values. See Mrs. Frisbie for more information by January 23. The first round is February 4.

12/19/2025

What a treat - the Essex High School Chorus joined us for lunch and welcomed members by “singing us into our meeting” with holiday music. And to make the gathering even more special, Essex Westford School District Superintendent Mark Holodick reminded us the importance and vitality of the District’s art and music programs as introduced the 20 chorus members, their Director Alexis Koch and EHS Principal Don Van Nostrand.

12/15/2025

Wednesday was cold and snowy, but Essex area seniors were not deterred. After a bit of a late start, the space in the Miller Building filled up showing that a little winter weather will not keep us apart.

About 170 community members shared the turkey lunch - again this year. The effort was led by Rotary member Bob Mulcahy from Jericho. Essex Rotary President Lois Parmelee welcomed our guests and invited community members seeking to make a difference in 2026 to consider joining us. See her comments in the attached article from the The Essex Reporter.

Special thanks to Champlain Valley Fair / Expo and Gen. Mgr. and Essex Rotary member Tim Shea for enabling us to host this event; to Green Meadows Catering (of Essex); and the ADL Chorus for making the great space, wonderful Turkey dinner and terrific holiday music. And, a special thanks to volunteers from the Essex Junction Lions Club for your service and volunteer energy. The ADL Middle School's chorus was particularly enjoyable as the 25 plus students moved from table to table to bring their music upfront and personal. Essex Westford School District Rotary District 7850

Essex Rotary hosts senior holiday meal for 150 people at Champlain Valley Expo. Festive gathering helps combat isolation during the holiday season.

12/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BTsNAU2z3/

12/08/2025

Last Friday & Saturday (Dec. 5 & 6) was "bell ringing weekend" for Essex Rotary. For many years, Rotary Club members spend two full days aside the red kettles of the Salvation Army, asking residents to consider donating to help keep our neighbors fed and clothed. Again this year we were stationed at Essex Discount Beverage and Market 32 on Route 15 in Essex Town. We thank the businesses for allowing our access and we want to highlight the generosity and support from shoppers who added to our kettle.

One story - a woman added $10 to the kettle on our way into EDB, only to return a few minutes later with another $10. And, there's more, as she was driving out, she stopped again with a 3rd donation of $10 and thanked us. I need to turn that around and thank our donors again for their generous support.

Some of us worked on Saturday - a 25 degree day. And some stood outside in 0 degree temps on Friday seeking support. They were truly courageous.

12/05/2025

Vermont is gripped by a statewide discussion of the cost of education and property tax rates. This week we were joined by the Essex Westford School District School Board leadership to learn more about their assertive position on several proposals being considered. Thank you to Rob Carpenter (Chair), Marlon Verasamy (Vice-Chair) and Jemima Talbot (Clerk) for their thoughtful explanations. The Club was especially pleased to meet Cyrus Lynch and Emma Capellutti, the two volunteer student reps on the Board who keep a strong student voice in the governance model.

In the far ranging presentation and follow-up discussion, two points were mentioned by the EWSD Board team: the State of Vermont negotiates the annual health insurance rate for all schools, a 2017 initiative of Gov. Scott; and the EWSD Board strongly opposes the idea of a Chittenden County MEGA District that would create a 5-member Board to represent 22,000 students, while the smallest District (Grand Isle) would represent 800 students.

Thanks to all EWSD School Board members - including the two Essex High School students for their commitment to our community and hard work. Rotary District 7850

11/22/2025

Three Essex Rotary stalwarts joined “Rotary Volunteer Day” organized by Wood4Good at their woodlot in Jericho. Club members from around Chittenden County split and prepped for delivery 20 cords to families in need - often to older Vermonters who have split their own for decades. Over the years Rotary Club of Essex, Vermont has donated to help Eric Axelrod and family purchase higher end splitters and conveyors to increase capacity. This year the goal is to deliver over 200 cords to in northwest Vermont. Thanks Donna, Lois and Kurt for your efforts. Rotary District 7850

11/19/2025

Here is terrible news from the Cobb Family. We are so sorry for your loss - Beth was a constant inspiration to us as she navigated so many responsibilities. Beth Ripley Cobb
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DDpoTUU8i/

Share Memories of Beth & Support the Cobb Family

11/13/2025

At our November meeting we delved into “the future”, which is NOW!! Mike Walogorsky, Essex HS science teacher and Director of the STEM Academy, provided insights into Artifical Intelligence and how it is changing how we teach, learn, and do so many things. Thanks to Dr. DUBS for sharing with us and for your inspirational work with our EHS students. We need more of them to embrace science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as they sort out future plans. Glad we may have a chance to work with you to engage your students with our community!! Rotary District 7850 Essex Westford School District Essex High School

11/13/2025

Essex Rotary members welcomed 2,500 trick or treaters who stopped by out canopy at Essex Junction Recreation and Parks’ Pumpkin Palozza and Trick or Treat Trail at Maple Street Park. So much fun and great energy for kids and members alike. One of the clubs favorites. Rotary District 7850

11/13/2025

Several members of Essex Rotary’s Environment Committee volunteered for a 4 hour shift to build interior storm windows, part of non-profit WindowDressers all volunteer effort that will provide high quality windows to keep homes warmer and energy costs down. Over a November weekend, volunteers built over 200 interior storms for over 50 families in Chittenden County. If you would like more information on how to get your home measured for these windows, send us a note.