Spoke 2/19/2015

 

Called to order by: President Garlan Hoskin

 

Opening Song: ROTARY

 

Patriotic Song: America the Beautiful

 

Invocation: Westin Greene

 

Song Leader: Jamie Whyte   Song: Don't Fence me In

 

 

Carla Skindler

 

Raffle: No winner (yet again!)

 

Betsey mentioned planning/prep meeting for District Conference at Bruce Pacht's home on 2/24 (3PM-5PM).

Bruce Pacht indicated that another guest speaker (film documentarian) will run a session at the District Conference (and he urged members to register prior to April 1 to be included in a raffle for a free weekend (post-conference) at the Snow Flake Inn. 

Betsey asked for a volunteer to help pick up Conference related printed materials in Randolph.

Garlan announced that Sue Shaw is the new Asst. District Governor.  He also indicated that Northern Stage plans to initiate various workshops that may be of interest to Rotary members (info. will follow).  Also, SPARK is initiating a Breakfast event to help fund its programs.

 

Rich Wallace indicates that the Valley News is launching a new supplement to the paper called "Enterprise". 

Forrest Cole bragged about his grandson, who recently signed up with the Army National Guard.

Linda Copp announced City Center Ballet's recent receipt of a substantial donation from the Byrne Foundation.

Jim Shibles and Ernst Oidtmann spoke about their recent travels to remote Maine, where they were not only challenged by below zero temperatures (leading to frostbite!) but also by the prospect of the group being visited by a notorious felon and all-around, on-the-loose, bad guy named "Butch".  A brief discussion regarding guns, and the merits of "catapults" ensued.  Jim spoke of the hundreds of deer being fed by the neighbor...all looking so healthy that Jim began to questions his long-term commitment to a vegetarian diet! 

 

 

 

Rotary Minute: Nate Miller spoke about the Rotary custom and practice of using the Rotarians first name, or nick-name during meetings.  Nate's excellent 1-minute presentation had everyone in support of Bill K.'s suggestion that Nate deliver the "Rotary Minute" every week!

 

Speaker: Steve Taylor

Steve is a former newspaper guy, and past NH Commissioner of Agriculture.  He spoke about sustainability in agriculture and changes in agriculture that he's witnessed over the years.  He mentioned that in 1962, there was an abundance in both New Hampshire and Vermont of 'hill farm' agriculture (many local smaller farms).  With the requirement (in the late 1950's) of bulk tanks, many smaller farms were 'sold off' and the prevailing way of life vanished.  This led to farm consolidation (and as many as 2/3rds of the working farms in Vermont).  This has led to the shift to a "sustainable" model, and a rediscovery of the nearby consumer, evolution of farmer's markets, and idea of buying local.

In the 2000's the focus turned to bulk commodity agriculture (dairy) which has aging practitioners and expensive start-up costs; and globalization/concentration within the marketplace.

New agriculture speaks to 'mystique' of local, and sustainability.  Today's practitioners have better marketing skills.  A reliance on science binds the communities (i.e. bulk commodity and globalization) together. 

Steve indicated that sustainability in agriculture is not new.  In 1991, he met with folks from Denmark who visited West Lebanon to learn what sustainability was all about.

The discussion then turned to fertilizer, and the post-WWII use of ammonium nitrate by farmers...and how most farmers have moved away from such methods (opting for manure being generated on the farm to enhance yields of corn).  He also spoke about "dry hay" and how we have adapted technology originally found in Europe in this area.  Steve answered numerous questions related to 'sugaring', energy's role in agriculture, technology that is replacing labor (i.e. robotics used for milking cows), the cost of tractors, etc.