Toastmasters meet May 29 for speechathon
BRATTLEBORO - BrattleMasters, the Brattleboro-based chapter of Toastmasters International, invites all to a special “speechathon” meeting Thursday, May 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St. A speechathon is a stripped-down meeting of the public speaking club in which many members deliver prepared speeches of different times on a variety of subjects.
The club meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the same location. Its next regularly scheduled meeting is Thursday, June 12. Guests are welcome, and refreshments are provided. There is no pressure to speak, and members are working at their own pace and with assigned mentors to help them meet their speaking and leadership goals.
Members also are working to support the National Kidney Foundation in advocating for its volunteer awareness program, “Your Kidneys and You,” as a good thing to do generally and as a great public speaking opportunity specifically. Advocacy, motivation, and inspiration in public relations are just a few of the hundreds of aims to which Toastmaster International members work to improve their public speaking skills.
For more information, visit brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.org.
Garden Club hosts plant sale
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Floral Arts and Garden Club holds its annual spring plant sale on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. The sale will take place in the Green Mountain Chapel parking lot on Western Avenue, next to the Creamery Bridge.
Available for purchase are hardy perennials, herbs, and annuals that are well-suited for spring planting. They are all grown locally by members of the Garden Club and are reasonably priced to support community members who are creating or expanding their gardens.
The event is rain or shine. Come early for the best selection and preview the plants starting at 8:30 a.m. For more information about the event or about the Brattleboro Garden Club, contact Ann Newsmith at 802-257-4710 or ann.newsmith@gmail.com.
Windham Regional Career Center hosts open house
BRATTLEBORO - On May 31, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Windham Regional Career Center hosts an open house at its project house at 10 Wilsons Woods.
Over the last five years, students from the Career Center have been using this home as one of their classrooms, blending instruction and experience into a new three-bedroom, two-bath home. From its initial design in the AutoCAD class to its final trim work, students have been hard at work constructing a home for some lucky homeowner.
Members of the public and students considering taking classes at the Windham Regional Career Center are invited to tour the home. Students and teachers from the classes that helped build this new home are your hosts. The Culinary Arts class provides light refreshments.
The completion of this home is bittersweet, as this marks a transition at the Windham Regional Career Center to building modular-style homes in its facilities and then transporting the components to a building site for assembly and completion. In addition to benefiting the bottom line by avoiding the costs of land purchases, taxes and site work, this change will offer the students the ability to work and learn independent of weather or distance to the home site.
Local unions unite for softball benefit
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Police Union and the Windham Southeast Education Association are joining forces for their first co-ed softball tournament on May 31 and June 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days.
Entry fees are $150 per team. Half the proceeds will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro. A barbecue and bake sale will also take place during the weekend tourney. To register, or for more information, write Rebecca Marrero at rebecca_marrero@state.vt.us.
Newfane Garden Club hosts annual meeting, luncheon
NEWFANE - The Newfane Garden Club holds its Annual Meeting and Luncheon at the Grafton Inn on Thursday, June 5, at noon.
Club members are invited to attend for the installation of club officers and to enjoy the fellowship of all club members. Club members can make reservations by calling Laura Taylor at 802-365-4744 or Hollis Melton at 802-365-7054.
Vernon Historians open museum for season
VERNON - The Vernon Historical Museum on Fort Bridgman Road (Route 142) opens for the season starting Sunday, June 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Tour the one-room schoolhouse and browse the “Wise Old Sayings” booklet while viewing the corresponding artifacts. Visit the annex with its large Civil War display including three wagons. Learn about the construction of Vernon Dam, which stands today. Admission is always free.
As part of the museum's opening day, members will also present their annual plant sale, with hardy local perennials and annuals from Windham Gardens, as well as plants from some local members. They are also looking for local donations. If you are thinning your perennials, donate your extras by calling Peg Frost at 802-254-2263.