Currents for August 14, 2025
 
 
Editor: Marilyn Bedell
Scribe: Bruce Pacht
Stories
Program for August 14, 2025, West Central Services
Our speaker today was Lori Shibinette, CEO West Central Behavioral Health (WCBH)
 
Lori Shibinette
Picture from her LinkIn Page
 
John Yacavone introduced Lori who was formerly the head of NH Hospital and also served as Commissioner of NH Dept Health and Human Services. 
 
Lori lives in the Lakes Region from where she commutes every day to the Upper Valley, though winter driving is a little tougher than the summer.  She said it’s been a joy to see the high level of community support for Non Profit Organizations and local services here in the in the UV.
 
Lori’s been at WCBH for about a year.  She is a nurse (R.N) by training.  She worked at Merrimack Nursing home for 30 years and served as NHDHHS commissioner during Covid, which started about 3 weeks after she began work and which required a quick pivot from mental health to managing a pandemic.
 
WCBH and community Mental Health system
 
NH Hospital is the psychiatric hospital on Pleasant Street in Concord, comprising about a dozen buildings.  When Lori arrived in NH from Canada (One can still hear the shadow of an accent in her pronunciation of the syllable “out”.) in 1995, she worked there for her first nursing job.  At the time, about 3,000 persons were living there.  Lori always remembers one woman who, having been admitted for post-partum depression when in her 20s, was still there 70 years later in her 90s.
 
In 1980s/90s the country moved toward creation of a community mental health system.  WCBH is coming up on 50th anniversary in 2027.  The movement began with “deinstitutionalization” – the process of returning individuals from hospitalization to their community of origin. Today, there are only 168 people living at NH Hospital. 
 
West Central’s role is to be the place where persons suffering from mental illness (MI) or suffering a mental health (MH) crisis can get help regardless of ability to pay.  They have offices in Claremont, Newport and Lebanon, and serve persons from infancy through elder care.
 
Main programs
  • Children – middle and high school age.  Hundreds of kids.  Partnerships with most schools.  Family and parent counseling included.  From trauma to identity struggles.
  • Adults – persons with MI, mostly severe and persistent such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other long-term, chronic diseases.
  • Mobile crisis team – If MI crisis at home, call 988 and we dispatch a team to you.  Lori spent a day with the team when they responded to a school.   Also provide service where needed.  “We do a lot of deployments,” Lori said.
  • Substance abuse disorder
  • ACT – Assertive Community Treatment – Deliver meds daily; 60 persons in this program, daily interaction to keep them stable.
 
Other programs:
  • “In-Shape” – focus on nutrition and health.  Many of our folks are socially isolated.   Coach will take person out of the home to connect with others.
  • “Passion Projects” – Focus is on health care.  Many folks with MI may start identifying as their illness rather than who they are.  This program supplies the means for folks to pursue a passion that gives them joy in their life.  We have 10 applications.  One example:  Child asked for a scholarship to take karate, after being subjected to for domestic violence in order to gain a feeling of some control.  Karate Studio reduced price and we paid for 6 months of lessons.
Read more...
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Rotary Club of Lebanon, NH
Meeting notes - Thursday, August 14, 2025
 
Attendance:  Dave Clarenbach, Marilyn Bedell, Ron Bedell, Phil Bush, Ernst Oidtmann, Jim Damren, Steve Whitman, Dan Nash, John Yacavone, Tim Guaraldi, Bruce Pacht, George Wenz, Hank Clarke, Ron Michaud, Steve Grant, Dave Crandall
No one joined by WebEx.

Guests: Our speaker, Lori Shibinette; and Deb Herndon. Director of Development & Community Relations for WCBH
***********************
 
President Marilyn called the meeting to order with a ring of the bell at 12:00 pm or so.
 
We recited Rotary’s 4-Way Test of the Things We Think Say or Do led by George Wenz.
 
PDG Kelly Drew sent Ernst a note congratulating him on the Club’s being recognized by Rotary International with a Club Excellence Award. Kelly plans to come to celebrate this recognition with Ernst and the Clubin October.  
 
Led by Ernst Oidtmann, we sang the Rotary Welcome Song and then Billy Joel’s classic “Piano Man.” 
 
Birthdays:  Phil Bush, 77, August 10
Wedding Anniversaries: Jim and Lisa Damren, 30  years, August 18th.
Lebanon Rotary Anniversaries:  Ahmad Haidari, 4 years; Curtis Payne, 3 years.

 
Speaker’s book – We will send Lori the information.
 
The book being given to the Kilton Public Libraries Children's Collection will be:
 
I’m Like a Tree and a Tree’s Like Me
 
 
By Sylvaine Jaoui (Author), Anne Crahay (Illustrator)
 
The growth of a tree and of a child parallel each other in this exquisitely constructed die-cut picture book about our nestedness in the natural world.
 
I am a seed.
I grow bigger and bigger each day.
I’m starting to become who I am.
 
So begins this story, which is also how a child’s life begins… and so too does a tree’s. With an affirming, poetic text and gorgeous, delicate art as revealed through die-cuts on almost every spread, I’m Like a Tree and a Tree’s Like Me is a beautiful picture book about how we begin, how we grow, how we’re nourished, and how we live. By drawing parallels between a growing child and a growing tree, author Sylvaine Jaoui and illustrator Anne Crahay remind us of the myriad ways that humans and plants are connected as living beings.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Social Gathering at Salt Hill, Monday, August 18th at 5:30 PM – 3 Rotarians said they’d be willing to attend.  Marilyn and Ron will be watching the Pittsburgh Pirates from the owner’s box with Past Rotary International President Stephanie Urchik.  Marilyn thanked the members who plan to attend.  Marilyn continues to hope that some friends of the club will join the gathering.  She know that Ahmad will be happy to know that members will gather at Salt Hill.
  • Brew Fest (August 30th, Saturday)
    • Hank Clarke: We have our liquor license.  Hank passed the liquor license exam to help make this possible!
    • There are boxes are in the hallway:  All the coozies and cups need a place to be stored. 
    • Jim Damren:  We set a new record this year $18,450 worth of sponsorships and ads to the Brew Fest.  If we sell 1,200 tickets, this year will be a huge success. 
    • We have our NH liquor license and are cleared with the City. 
    • Hank thanked his excellent committee and a smooth process.  We are still short of volunteers. 
    • Marilyn:  Ads in Valley News and social media have started and being coordinated by Rich Wallace. 
 
  • DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FOR COMING MEETINGS:  Let Marilyn know if you plan to attend as she will need a count for ordering lunches at each of these meetings.
  • August 28: Meriden Library, 22 Bean Road, Meriden
  • September 4, 2025:  Service Credit Union, 225 Mechanic Street, Lebanon.  NO WEBEX OR ZOOM
Official Visitation of District 7850 Governor Luc Pomerleau
Arrive after 11:30; sign in and sign out at teller window; take elevator to level 2.
Help is needed for set-up before and clean-up after the meeting.
We must be our of the room by 1:30 pm.
  • September 11, 2025: Osher, One Court Street Level 3
  • September 18, 2025:  Salt hill, On the Mall, Lebanon.  Club assembly, committee reports. Members can order the food they want from the menu.
  • September 25, 2025: Service Credit Union, 225 Mechanic Street, Lebanon NO WEBEX OR ZOOM
  • October 2, 2025...yet to be confirmed.
SAME PROCESS AS FOR SEPTEMBER 4 MEETING
  • October 4, 2025 - Location to be announced
 
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
  • Dental Clinic, request from Rudy Fedrizzi for Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 8:00am-4:00pm at Cornerstone Community Center, 14 Elk St, Hartford, VT 05047.  Ron Michaud said he would do a 4-hour shift. Let Marilyn know if you would be willing to help.
  • Styrofoam Recycling Collection, Saturday, October 4. Volunteers needed 8:15-11:30 am.  Mascoma Bank parking lot, 243 Sykes Avenue, uptown White River Junction, VT.  Jobs for both able-bodied persons and persons with limited mobility. Donations of cash or refreshments also appreciated.  Sign up with Jennifer Durgin <jendurgin3@gmail.com>.
  • REVO Casino:  Dates September 7-17 will be our week for charitable gaming. 
 
HAPPY DOLLARS
  • Ernst Oidtmann:  Birthday donation to the principal of the Mollica Fund - $300.
  • Hank Clarke:  Missed a couple of weeks being in Maine having a great time.
  • Phil Bush:  (1) Jess Turner story – Was a great boss but after he hired me and before I started work, his admin asst told me there’s a dress code.  Jess insisted coat and tie for all on the admin team.  Now, I’m trying to start a new fashion trend:  Wrangler jeans and a white t-shirt.  (2) I recently collected anemia among other diagnoses.  I let Marilyn know and she has become part of my personal care team.
  • Ron Michaud:  My grandson did the Appalachian Trail non-stop.  His father now is doing it but on and off and hopes to complete it while going home for weddings and other events.  He should be with Ron on Monday and Ron will take him to Killington so he can follow the trail back to Norwich.  Ron said that during his 90s and 100s, he plans to hike the Appalachian Trail . . .
  • Marilyn:  (1) A sad dollar:  Her Aunt Priscilla, her mother’s youngest sister and a near-sister to Marilyn, passed away this morning.  (2) Legacy gifts to TRF – Tim has information.  Can make an outright gift to become a benefactor.
 
QUEEN OF HEARTS RAFFLE:  #315 is Hank’s ticket – he draws the Ace of Spades.
 
ENFIELD CAR WASH RAFFLE:  #330 – Dave Clarenbach wins but he gave the ticket to our speaker.
 
President Marilyn closed the meeting with a ring of the bell at 1:Something  pm.  Too much was happening for me to pay attention, but it was around 1:15 pm.
 
 
 
Announcements
  1. Brew Fest (August 30th, Saturday)
 
Now is the time to sign up to volunteer.  We still need about 15.  If you can’t come, think of friends and others who might enjoy volunteering for a free lunch and some beer at the close of the event.
 
 
One profits most who serves best.
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