Charlie called the meeting to order, John T lead us in the Pledge, Rennie lead us in the Reflection and Dean collected the happy and sad fines.
Christine had the 50/50 raffle ticket, no winner.
The calendar raffle winners were Depte Bakta (Victor) and Bob Novak (Frank).
Our speakers were Marieke Cormier, owner of Roots Natural Foods, and Katherine Leary from the Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Jai Fields, application pending, was a guest of Julie.
No meeting Labor Day, 9/2/19.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES
Jai Fields and Joseph are still waiting for final approval of their applications.
Please continue to bring guests - see how happy it will make you!
GENERAL TOPICS
Rye and Thyme is currently looking for a new manager, and our lunch menu may change once they have someone in place.
Rotary needs to find a new DG, since the current DG elect has to step down due to health reasons.
The Guatemala trip will be approximately $1500 per person, and Johnny Ahern is very interested in participating. We will consider a fund raiser.
The Johnny Appleseed Festival is paid for, stay tuned for more details.
Our off-site meeting at AIS is set for 9/16. A head count will be needed by our next meeting in 2 weeks. Lunch will be buffet style. We will hold a brief 15-minute meeting, then take a tour of the facilities.
Ruby has stepped up to chair the calendar project.
Rennie has been taking flower box pictures and will use them to create personalized Thank You cards for the sponsors, so each will have a picture of their own box. All the boxes are full with sponsor signs.
There was a preliminary meeting regarding Breakfast for the Bands, no further updates yet.
Charlie will initiate an annual By-Law review to ensure we are up to code and current.
Guest Speaker
Kathrine Leary - Walk to End Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer's Association focuses on care & support, research, advocacy, and awareness of the disease. Unlike other illnesses, there is no routine preventative care for Alzheimer's. A startling statistic is that Alzheimer's has risen over 16%, while other health concerns such as heart disease, have decreased by 9%.
Interestingly, we should be proud to be part of Leominster, which is an Alzheimer's-friendly community, the first in the state.
Also notable, Rotary is also involved with the fight against Alzheimer's. To learn more, go to www.alz.org/rotarianactiongroup
The Walk will be held on Sept 15 at the Hanover Insurance Office Park in Worcester. Consider getting involved. You can participate in the Walk to show your support, with no fundraising minimum.
Marieke is the 2nd generation owner of Roots Natural Foods, located on Crawford St in Leominster. Marieke was born here in Leominster, left to travel extensively to Alaska and other exotic areas, and returned to be involved in her family business. Her focus is to provide a healing and comfortable environment for all, no matter their dietary requirements, including vegetarians, vegans and the wider population.
When her mom contracted pancreatic cancer, Marieke plied her with healthy and nutrient-rich juices. Her mom lived 9 months after her diagnosis, which is rare for this type of cancer. Marieke knows it was due to the nutritious smoothies she prepared.
Marieke's success as she grew from the original 9 to her current 34 employees, is due to her controlled risk-taking approach. She expanded to the space next door to her store when it became available. She then hired her chef, who later became her partner-in-life. Her employees are very happy, and many have been with Roots for a very long time.
Roots is a community-oriented local spot. Their big annual event is coming up on Sept 7th from 10 am - 3 pm, and will feature live music, free food, and a cash bar with beer and wine. Maybe we'll see you there!
FUN FACT - What Exactly are Compostable Plastics?
Compostable plastics are typically made from some type of renewable raw material. Corn starch is one of the most common materials, but there are many other options. Regardless of what compostable plastic is made from, it’s transformed into a polymer that looks and feels like traditional plastic.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has published specific guidelines that must be met for a material to be labeled as commercially compostable. In broad terms, those guidelines are:
It must able to be broken down by biological treatment at a commercial or industrial composting facility
Decomposition of the plastic must occur at a rate similar to the other elements of the material being composted (within 6 months)
Leave no toxic residue that would adversely impact the ability of the finished compost to support plant growth
Can I Put Compostable Plastics in a Backyard Compost Bin?
Unfortunately, most backyard compost piles don’t get nearly hot enough to compost these plastics. Not only do they require high heat, but they also need that heat for a sustained period of time. In many cases, even some industrial or commercial compost facilities don’t stay hot for a long enough period of time to fully degrade the plastic.
