BETHEL — With the former Grace Note Inn and Spa for sale, Bethel Rotary meetings have returned to their longtime venue, Bethel Resort and Suites, where they had been held for many years.

Meetings take place every Tuesday morning, where Rotarians and their guests gather for breakfast and a chance to connect.

At 7:30 a.m. last Tuesday, President Richard Tummon, of Bethel, rang the Rotary bell, a symbol of order, discipline and time. The group then stood to recite their opening ritual, “In all the things we think, say and do – Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it bring good will and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Afterward, members made their way to the $17 breakfast buffet, returning with hearty plates filled with eggs, sausage, and bacon. As they ate, guest speaker Mia Purcell took the floor to discuss internet connectivity and access in the Bethel area. Purcell, who is the Manager of Economic Development at Community Concepts, shared her work in improving digital access for the local population.

A winning 50/50 ticket was drawn from a wooden bowl, with $153 in the pot, thanks to the 18 members in attendance.

Happy Dollars

As is tradition, members then participated in the “Happy Dollars” part of the meeting, where they each contributed a dollar and shared a positive note with the group.

One Rotarian said, “Sue and I were looking for interesting places to go to lunch … We went to Foggy Goggle yesterday … great food and we got to see the skiers come down the hill … I highly recommend it.”

Anne Carter, who operates Carter’s Cross Country Ski Center, dropped her dollar in the bowl and said, “I’m just happy for the snow!”

A few members gasped when another Rotarian mentioned, “A Rotary Club breakfast I joined in Canada was $40.”

Finally, a Rotarian shared a story about an injury that had kept him sidelined for the past 13 months. “But after a recent spinal shot, I was able to ski a few days,” he said, drawing applause from the group.

Celebrating 51 Years

After the meeting, President Tummon reflected on the longevity of the group: “This crew is a well-oiled machine. There are a lot of people who’ve been here a long time. That could be seen as a negative, but not here. It’s a real strength.”

He added that one of the biggest challenges for the club is staying ahead of the busy year ahead, which includes events like the Rotary Country Breakfast in March, the 5K road race in May at Crescent Park School, and the yard sale in early August.

Tummon noted that the club raises about $10,000 from the 5K race and another approximately $33,000 from the yard sale, all of which is reinvested back into the community.

Fifty-one years ago, the founding members of the Rotary Club also met at the Bethel Inn – though not quite so early. Back then, their meetings were over lunch.