Change Over 2022 was held in the Dwinell Room at Harvest Hill. As more people arrived, the hum of conversation grew and grew. It is nice to be back in the company of our Rotary friends in person.
Hank rang the bell to begin the festivities. We started with the induction of our newest member, Ryan Tremblay. Steve Whitman helped Hank welcome Ryan to the club, and presented him with his Rotary pin. Steve then shared that based on his 50 years in Rotary what has always resonated with him, is the First Object of Rotary, "The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service." He hoped that Ryan will work to get to know everyone in the club, and participate in all of the opportunities we have to service our community here at home and around the globe.
Steve Whitman presenting Ryan with our Rotary International pin.
Steve sharing his Rotary knowledge with Ryan.
Hank then introduced Ron Bedell to share information about the Rotary Foundation.
Ron Bedell, Rotary Foundation Chair
Ron shared that during the past Rotary year, we donated in total $10,828.58 to the Rotary Foundation or $257.78/member on average. This put us in 4th place for giving in total and per capita in the District 7850. He distributed a sheet that provided an overview of our giving. We are still waiting to hear who will be the recipient of the Club's honorary Paul Harris Fellowship this year. Bruce Bergeron's committee will meet to make this decision.
Marilyn Bedell then had the honor of presenting a Level Two Major Donor pin to Jackie Bruleigh, Susan Donnelly Daughter.
Marilyn Bedell and Jackie Bruleigh, Sue Donnelly's daughter
Marilyn shared the following about Sue's estate gift to the Rotary Foundation:
It is my honor once again have an opportunity to reflect on the life of our fellow Rotarian, Susan Donnelly. Susan died in January of 2019. A very sad day for all who knew her. Sue and I worked together at DHMC, and I got to introduce Sue to Rotary International. She took a risk and joined the Rotary Club of Lebanon-Riverside. As Sue did with many volunteer organizations, such as Girl Scouts and SPARK, she dived in the deep end of the pool and became a very active member. She even helped start Interact, our high school based Rotary Club at Lebanon High School…And the kids loved and respected her. The students established an outdoor food pantry in Sue’s memory at Listen. (Donations are still always welcomed by Listen)
Sue easily made Rotary connections beyond the Upper Valley. As her daughter Jackie wrote in Sue’s obituary, Rotary let Sue indulge in travel. Though Rotary Friendship exchanges she was able to make friends around the globe.
Sue strongly supported Rotary’s mission which states, “We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders”. And she lived the Vision statement. “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”
Susan knew that by making donations to the Rotary Foundation, the funds raised would be used to “Do Good In the World”. Susan gave generously throughout her lifetime, and as part of her estate, she left a significant gift to the Rotary Foundation which now acknowledges she is a Level 2 Major Donor. The interest from her endowment, will be used to help support grants that will touch the Rotary Foundation’s 7 area of focus:
- Promoting peace. ...
- Fighting disease. ...
- Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. ...
- Saving mothers and children. ...
- Supporting education. ...
- Growing local economies...
- Protecting the environment.
Today, on behalf of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation, it is my honor to recognize Susan Donnelly contributions to the Rotary Foundation by presenting her daughter Jackie with this Major Donor level 2 Pin. Jackie, as you look at this pin, I hope it will remind you that your mom was a great humanitarian in so many ways.
Hank then shared his reflection of Rotary 2021/2011.
Hank Clarke and Ed Friedman
Hank talked about the challenge of Covid, our meeting via Zoom, then a mix of in person and Zoom meetings, then quickly going back to Zoom, until we could return to our mix of in person and Zoom meeting. He looks forward to the day when the hybrid meeting technology equipment is installed in the Dwinell room so we can finally do hybrid meetings. He shared that despite all of this we had three successful fundraisers, Brew Fest 2021, the Bedell Classic 2021 and our easy but successful fundraiser, the Casino Room in Lebanon netting us over $10,000. We have money to "do good" in Lebanon and beyond Lebanon. He is proud of all that we accomplished this year.
This is not a complete list of volunteer hours, but it is the list of what Marilyn Bedell was able to quantify during the year.
Hank then asked if anyone wanted to add anything.
Bill Secord wanted to thank both Hank and Ron for helping us to navigate through two years of Covid. You both helped keep the club active and viable.
Ellen Hubbell, Sue Donnelly's friend, shared she was delighted that we took time to reflect on Sue Donnelly service to our club and her humanitarian spirit.
Hank then invited Ed Friedman to come forward for the exchange of the gavel.
The official exchange of the gavel between Hank and Ed
Ed Friedman's first official use of the gavel in the spirit of having fun! 
Ed Friedman began by presenting a gift to Hank Clarke to thank him for his service to the club. It was a Rotary light weight jacket. He thanked Hank for his dedication to the club; and his ability to help us navigate through change and the impact of Covid.
Ed shared that for our club to be even more successful, we need to embrace new members, find ways to keep our current members engaged, and it is time to have us focus on having a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive club. It is time to educate ourselves about diversity, equity and inclusion, a priority for all Rotary Clubs in Rotary International. We can do some of this by engaging with the broader community in Lebanon. It will be his goal to make sure we listen and learn from diverse opinions. He wants our voices to be heard.
Ed shared how our service projects have helped him learn more about the importance of Rotary in our Community. That we need to look for ways to solve problems here at home and around the globe in Rotary's 7 Areas of Focus.
He hopes we will be able to meet more frequently in person, as this help us build friendships, and this then leads to better service projects too. He hopes we might consider some club field trips during his years. This might be going to a baseball game, or going the the flower show in Boston.
Ed then went on to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to be at Change Over. In particular he thank the following people. First, Paul Tierney who took him to Starbucks for coffee, and convinced him he should accept the invitation to be vice president in the club, and then move on to be the president of the club. He said this made him eager to become more involved in the club. He thanked his daughter, Taylor who has tried to learn more about Rotary, and understand his Rotary meeting schedule. Finally, he thanked is wife, Shelly for all of her support and willingness to let him become more engaged in Rotary. Even it it meant more evening meetings, more Saturdays filled with Rotary activities, and other Rotary commitments.
He reminded us that he hopes that we will find ways to have fun as we serve the club and our community.
Once Ed completed his remarks we enjoyed a meatball buffet (three types), chopped salad, cheese and crackers, cookies and brownies, and a variety on soda and coffee.
At 6:30 PM, the meeting was closed by Ed ringing the Rotary bell for the first time as president.
Ed Friedman ringing our Rotary bell