NEXT MEETINGS: FEBRUARY 2 - Followed by Board of Director's Meeting 9 - No Meeting 15 - President's Day ~ No Meeting 23 - HAPPY 121st BIRTHDAY DAY ROTARY!!! SAVE THE DATE: 
January 12 Speaker: Colleen Duffy
Presentation by Colleen Duffy on the Special Olympics 2026 in Minneapolis, MN June 20 to 26, 2026.
Colleen provided an excellent overview of the Vermont Special Olympics team going to Minnesota this summer. Colleen is hoping that the Poultney Rotary would be willing to give some financial support for the Vermont Team. There are thirty-one delegates going and she will compete in swimming. Many sports are represented including a full basketball team and Field and Track. Colleen outlined her personal weekly training schedule. She includes not only swimming three times per week, but also working out four times per week, walking back and forth to work daily, and skiing weekly. The various Vermont Special Olympics teams are going to Lake Placid in March for training and education in March. Money donated supports room, board, equipment, transportation and many other things. Other Rotary Clubs help Special Olympics with donations. Members at today’s meeting indicated their support and referred this to the Board in February. Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew
click here January 3, 2026 New York Times article by Paula Span 
Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2025-26. Arezzo will become president on 1 July.
The Board conducted a special session following the unexpected resignation of RI President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo on 8 June. Guided by the RI code and policies, the Board selected the new president-elect from a pool of candidates who were considered by the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in August 2023. The Rotary International presidential message for the 2025-26 year is "Unite for Good". This message emphasizes using human connection to create positive change and encourages Rotary members to be a force for unity in a world often divided by various factors. 
Greetings Rotary Family,
With the month of February here, we have the opportunity to celebrate Rotary’s birthday. It was 121 years ago on February 23rd that our Founder Paul Harris convened the first Rotary meeting in Chicago, Illinois, to unite professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Today our organization includes members dedicated to humanitarian service in over 36,000 clubs and over 200 countries and geographic areas around the world. Together, let’s all invite others to join us in fellowship and service so that we continue to make a difference for many years to come. February is also very special as it is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. Peace is one of our seven areas of focus and as a humanitarian organization peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect. By carrying out service projects and supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, our members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources. |
Paul Harris FellowPresident Joe Duffy presented Bob Isherwood with a multi-year Paul Harris Award and pin at the January 12 membership meeting.
Seasonal mental health support
The holiday season ( New Year) often arrives with joy-and an undercurrent of stress. Crowded schedules, emotional expectations, financial pressures, and constant stimulation can quietly overwhelm the mind and body. In these moments, one of the simplest and most powerful tools available to us is something we do every moment of our lives : breathing. Breathing is an essential, automatic act that usually requires no conscious effort. Yet, when we bring gentle attention to how we breathe, it can significantly influence our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. One such calming practice is the 4-7-8 breathing technique, a slow, rhythmic breathing pattern that helps activate the body’s natural relaxation response. HOW TO PRACTICE 4-7-8 BREATHING: Begin by sitting comfortably or lying down. Close your eyes if you wish. Inhale quietly through your nose for 4 seconds, feeling the air fill your lungs. Hold your breath for 7 seconds, allowing your body to pause and settle. Then exhale slowly through your mouth for 8 seconds, as if you are gently fogging a mirror. This completes one cycle. Repeat this process four times, or more if it feels soothing. This technique helps slow the heart rate, relax tense muscles, and calm racing thoughts. Regular practice can reduce anxiety, ease emotional overload, and support better sleep especially during stressful holiday evenings. Think of 4-7-8 breathing as a small, mindful pause. A few intentional breaths can help you reset, reconnect with the present moment, and move through the season with greater calm and clarity.
ROTARY DISTRICT 7870
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ROTARY ACTION GROUP ON MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
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Connect during the Open Meeting!!
We will start with a brief (5-10 minutes) educational segment to start each meeting and then continue with the open discussion. Members are welcome to share presentation ideas. The conversation begins at 9 AM (New York time) on the second Saturday each month except June, when we meet in person at the Rotary International Convention! Enter Zoom meeting: 834 0892 3476 and Passcode: 394366 or click here |
Dates of our monthly open meetings this Rotary year:
The monthly ‘Open Meetings’ every second Saturday of the month is the place to meet regularly, to hear and share our work, our dreams and our achievements. We look forward to seeing each of you there. The power of the Action Group lies within its members which make it vibrant and thriving. ‘YOU’ are important as you make the difference. ‘Let us Unite for Advancing Mental Health for All’ With affection and warm regards to one and all. Yours in Service, Rita Aggarwal, Chair, RAGMHI. |
