Rotary Log for April 23, 2020
Leo called our club’s 6th virtual meeting to order, welcoming Zoom participants from the comfort of the presidential home in Stratham.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Judy Ringer sang the last verse of America the Beautiful. Thankfully, Rotarians stayed on mute, enjoying Judy’s lovely solo. John Rice was next with an invocation urging patience and good humor despite social isolation.
Like many Rotary meetings before it, this session was not without its technical challenges. Or as stated, high tech curve balls. Despite it all, the warmth of Rotary fellowship prevailed. More than 40 guests and visiting Rotarians joined in. Some folks were harder to recognize, sporting longer graying hair and whiskers.
There were clever, what to do during quarantine "ideas” shared. Barbara Miller conducts special meal prep time with her husband. He’s becoming quite the cook. Candlelight, cocktails, dinner and dessert in a different room every night adds more variety. Finally, the phone and TV are shut off from 6-9 p.m.
Larry Murphy has rediscovered cribbage and Yahtzee. Plus, he has survived reading the first 100 pages of the autobiography of Mark Twain.
Deb Rourke is loving Bingo through ZOOM and craft cocktail Friday.
Aileen Dugan offered her free weight workout Discovery. Since gyms are closed, why spend big bucks on buying weights? Just go out in the yard and pick your favorite boulder. Weigh it and then label it in red, i.e., 25/50 pounds, etc. She and Frank can be seen in their yard exercising daily.
Next in the Hollywood Squares of ZOOM Rotary, Ian O’Neal. He shared a Rotary Moment from March 14, 1967. The club was successful then in raising $4,000. We sure have come a long way with disbursements. Cool club then and great now.
James Petersen introduced speaker Deb Anthony, Executive Director of Gather food pantry. Gather, located on West Road in Portsmouth, is committed to ending local hunger.
The impact of COVID-19 on local restaurant and hotel workers has been significant, Deb told us. A 700-person uptick per week is huge for a small organization. Gather welcomes volunteers, Deb says, as well as cash and in-kind donations. She offered an interesting idea. Maybe plant a vegetable garden and donate the harvest? Garden for Gather.
People helping people in need, check out gathernh.org if you can assist.
Leo encourages Rotarians to remain involved with community service during this challenging time. There is so much each of us can do. And with that the meeting came to a close.
Ann Bliss led the 4-Way Test.
Aileen Dugan, who holds custody of the official Rotary bell, rang out the meeting. Nice being together!
Respectfully submitted, Nancy E. Notis
Photos by Don Chick
