Berkshire County Sheriff Tom Bowler was our guest speaker at last weeks luncheon. After a rousing introduction by Jeff Whitehouse, Sheriff Bowler detailed several new initiatives his department is conducting.  Berkshire County jail is the only correctional facility in the north-east to have its own hydroponic greenhouse, producing five different types of lettuce. Fertilized by fish that live in the gardens water, this program has produced over 200,000 heads of lettuce, some is used at the prison while most of the produce is delivered to the Berkshire community. The facility cost roughly $600K to build; inmates receive STEM credit for working at the greenhouse. 

The department has partnered with Fallon Community Health and CHP to help provide nutritious meals prepared by inmates and developed by dieticians to some 260 local residents in need. These medically tailored meals are provided in tandem with a wellness program. Funded through grants this program has provided over 6,000 meals. 

Sheriff Bowler introduced a third new program entitled 2nd Street 2nd chance. This program was created to help inmates released back into society to begin their new lives away from the regiment of prison. The program assists with legal, housing and employment challenges faced by newly released inmates. The program aims to greatly reduce the rate of recidivism. Sheriff Bowler invited Club members to tour the facilities if we have an interest. 

An important Club initiative going forward is membership enhancement. To that end, the Club is still entertaining the membership challenge proposed last year where any Club member that brings a prospective member to a luncheon meeting will have that guest's meal paid for by Eric Schaffer, and when/if that guest attends a second meeting, the meal will be covered by the Club. Can you think of someone to bring to Rotary?

John O'Brien 6/2

Donna Palma 6/9

Ben Parhizgar 06/16

John Perreault 06/23

Janet Brennan 07/07

Eric Schaffer 07/14

Somber Start: President Elect Alex Reczkowski opened the meeting by reading the names of those lost in the recent Uvalde, TX school shooting, followed by a moment of silence for the victims. 

 

Guest of Honor: Randy Johnson was accompanied by his significant other, Jackie.

 

Literal Revolution?: Dave Hall, perhaps jacked up by his new found fortune, proposed a hostile takeover of the Richmond Library by the Berkshire Athenaeum; director Reczkowski was rather noncommittal concerning the proposal. As of press time, we haven't learned of new developments in this potential power grab by Pittsfield.

 

New Marketing Slogan: Dery Funeral Homes went all out with their new marketing slogan we are told, expect to see, "When you're dead, better call Fred" billboards plastered throughout the region.

Two birthdays this week, happy happy to Joel Greenberg (May 31) & Randy Johnson (June 02)

 

No club anniversaries this week

Well, it happened again! We wasted another perfectly good deck with an instant win, two in a row. Adding intrigue to latest contest, the lucky winner was once again a Sergeant At Arms. This time the massive $23 haul was brought in by Dave Hall. Dave will chose the target card this week. Should we assume Messrs. O'Brien and Latham are next in line? Good luck all.