A Rotarians Recollection of Club Projects

April 1, 2019

My time in Benngton Rotary started in the late 1960s and proceeded throughthe 1970s. In this periof of time many noteworthy projects were accomplished. The ski tow at Mount Anthony Country Club was operational and this was the first project I recall that I helped run. A short time later this project became too time consuming for the club and with the theory being to start and finish a project in one year, the club decided to turn the tow over to the town. Soon the project was terminated completely.

One of the most significant projects had to be the push needed to start the development of Willow Park. Many project committees had tried to promote interest from club members in this direction but the formula didn't seem to as yet be right.

Bob Harrington who was the second president to take office during my early years with the club appointed me chairman of community projects. I accepted on the basis that Dick Jolivette would work with me as co-chairman. Dick, who was always a willing and hard worker, jumped in. It was that year that the ground work was laid for what is now existing at Willow Park.

Since the job could not be accomplished in one year, John Rothrock, now our president, decided to continue with the park project and Dick and I got the job for another year and Dan Cadiz was added to our committee. That summer in July we rented a small circus tent and erected it on the site where the shelter building now sets. This was done so the committee could move the entire club up to the site for a Friday luncheon.

As we sat there under the tent looking out at the beautiful views all around and the Bennington Battle Monument standing stately as always, the inspiration ran throughour club members and enthusiasm began to surface. On that sunny day we voted to each donate $500 times about 90 members to build a shelter building for the community.The committee did not exactly receive the 80 percent support we had hoped for but the enthusiasm remained if a better way could be found to raise the needed funds.

The committee again met and Dan Cadiz offered that we should broaden our financial base by applying to BOR or the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation for participating funds. In order to do this, we needed the town's blessing because the funds could only come through the municipality.

Our plans were made with the help of our club architect, Richard Diamond. The town fathers gave us their approval and were off the ground with a shelter building, tennis courts, roads, parking lots and a project cost of over $100,000.

Now we needed in addition to the leadership and the $10,000 Rotary was able to put up, an appropriation from the towns people to complete the town's financial obligation. This prompted our first winter carnival at the Willow park site where snowmobile rides, ski competitions and the like were organized. The turnout was so good and the townspeople so interested that a vote at the March town meetig provided the needed local funds to complete the project. Ed Lamb was then the town manager and also a Rotarian so he coordinated the project to its completion. Truly one of Bennington Rotary's finest hours.

Rotary's interest continued at Willow Park and the club provided funds and manual labor to construct swing sets, slides and play equipment.

Author: Gerald Butler
Sally Sugarman (Club Member & Windmill Editor)