Think Spring, Think Golf, Think Teams, Think Sponsors
Think Raffle Prizes
June 3, 2026,
33rd Bedell Classic Golf Tournament
President Marilyn rang the bell and called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.
Recitation of the “4-Way Test of the Things We Think Say or Do” was led by Jim Damren. Pianist Ernst led us in singing the “Rotary Welcome Song" and “Flowers That Bloom in the Spring“ from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.”
PRESIDENT MARILYN’S THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Susan Mathewson of Common Man for Ukraine: Ukraine has decided what peace looks like: a child doing homework, building a classroom three stories underground, a child and mom entering trauma counseling—this is a country betting everything on its next generations.
WEEKLY STATISTICS:
Guests: Bobby Oakes, Oakes & Son
Visiting Rotarians: Jimmy Brock, Bermuda (remote)
Birthdays: Linda Oidtmann, April 16
PROGRAM:
Diana Griffin, AARP
“AARP is thriving in New Hampshire with more than 215,000 members. AARP serves as a one-stop resource for Granite Staters 50-plus. We provide information about local offerings, community engagement, educational presentations, volunteer opportunities, advocacy, and fun events. We are focused on advancing age-friendly communities, supporting fraud prevention, celebrating family caregivers, protecting financial security and making your voice heard.”
Diana was born in Ireland, coming to the US in 1983. She taught for 49 years both physical education and adaptive phys ed. She retired in 2019. She is involved in several professional organizations as well as the Peterborough Lions, the Park Theatre in Jaffrey, and the Peterborough Players.
AARP—The idea began when founder Dr. Ethel Percy Anderus in 1947 found a retired teacher living in a chicken coop. The organization was created in 1958. There are now about 215,000 members in NH, with five staff in Concord, and three “community presence sites” in Manchester, Concord, and the Seacoast region. The organization also has key members in Lebanon (Marilyn Bedell) and Whitefield.
AARP’s executive council of 8-12 people from all walks of life including Marilyn (health care) and Diana (education) and several other talented members.
AARP’s advocacy work: We are fiercely non-partisan. We are all about issues affecting the 50+ population. We fight for issues at the State House and in Washington DC: Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs, and caregiving.
The issue of fraud as it affects seniors is especially important now. Retired John Brodsky, former police chief, on the AARP board has been testifying about this issue and partnering with police. Crypto machines—as in Hannaford—are new opportunities for being scammed. Too many older persons are afraid to admit they’ve been scammed. “If you are scammed, you are victim, not an idiot.” Advice: Go to police and tell them. There’s a bill in the house about regulating crypto machines.
Community Outreach: Diana enjoys this. Ashley Davis organizes various blueberry picking, paper shredding, movies for grownups. Virtual events: Paint & Sip, coffee and conversations, Red Cross emergency preparedness, social security, yoga classes.
Community Education: Pam Dube does outreach and PR. Speaker’s Bureau offers many different presentations and would love to go to your book clubs, etc.
OATS: Older Adults Technology Services.
Senior Planet from AARP.
Tech hotline: 888-713-3495.
Driver Safety: Presented “We Need to talk” recently at the Upper Valley Senior Center, a program on how to approach sensitively folks who should no longer be driving a car.
AARP offers free tax aid in filing, doesn’t require AARP membership, although it cannot help folks with complicated returns (such as owning multiple properties). 258 people came to AARP for tax help in April. It serves all ages.
AARP NH Social Media:
X@aarpnh; facebook.com/aarpnh, YouTube.
Capital City Tax Force: all about advocacy; crypto bill and electricity are the focus now.
Human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live.
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
- Ron Michaud: One problem older persons have is seemingly well-meaning persons trying to run our lives, impose their attitude and solutions on us.
Diana: There’s a flood of commercials during the day focusing on prescription drugs. I would say that if you are concerned to ask a doc or prof in that particular field. Just tell people to mind their own business.
- Steve Grant: SS Trust Fund will exhaust in 6 years.
Diana: I don’t have the answer. There’s talk about it. Benefits may be cut to 80%.
- Christina: Do you teach older folks to invest?
Diana: There is a presentation about that, under finance on our website.
- Ron Michaud: Any competition for AARP?
Diana: I’m not aware of any.
- Marilyn: Is it difficult to find folks willing to share stories about caregiving and fraud.
Diana: Pam Dube is our PR person. If you know of anyone struggling with caregiving, respite care, let Marilyn know and we’ll pass those on to the executive director. Any stories about fraud would be helpful for AARP to have actual people when we are talking with legislators.
Crypto machines—The bill is trying to delay the transaction for 90 days so people can see their statement and reverse the action if they have second thoughts. We have lots of support from police.
Marilyn: Any caller who tells you must act right away should be cut off. Let people leave a message. With email, never open any links or attachments. Check the purported web site if you must.
- Jane: Another tip: Scammers often ask, “Is this so-and-so?” Then they record your voice saying “Yes” and use it as assent to charge you.
- Bruce Bergeron: We have crypto machines in three of our sites for people who’d rather use crypto than a bank. We’ve tried to intercept folks who seem in trouble. We ask them to hang up, but people say “I can’t.” Bruce’s instructions to his staff are to unplug the machine if they believe there’s fraud, then to call police. Sometimes even the police have come and couldn’t convince the person to stop.
SPEAKER’S BOOK:
Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe (Author, Illustrator)
“This might be a perfect picture book.”—Quill & Quire
Aggie is very excited to live on her own—until she finds out her new house is haunted.
But no fear, the situation is nothing that can’t be fixed with a carefully considered list of rules: No haunting after dark. No stealing socks. No eating all the food.
But the ghost doesn’t like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe—winner gets the house.
MESSAGE FROM BROOKE FINNELL,
National Director of Epilogos—
Hi all,
I'm sending a link to our latest newsletter and our 2025 Annual Report so you can share them with the rest of the Club.
We will have photos of your scholarship students soon, so I'll be in touch then.
Thank you,
Brooke
REPORT ON STYROFOAM COLLECTION ON APRIL 11:
Tim Guaraldi:
- We had about 50 volunteers. 40 towns were represented with about 400 cars and two bicycles. Raised about $2,250 in contributions.
- Steve Grant stepped in to drive one of the three, 26’ trucks along with Bruce Bergeron’s 16-footer. We ended up leaving 80+ construction bagsful at Gilford and had to turn away 50-60 vehicles. Next collection is June 27 in Hanover.
- Phil Bush: Discussions are taking place in Lebanon about getting a densifier for the City. Problems include requiring a building at the landfill, paying for the densifier, and paying for staff. Sustainable Lebanon is trying to get operational budget information from the Gilford facility.
SOCIAL EVENTS COMING UP SOON!
- Monday, April 20, Galloway Room at Salt hill Pub. “Fireside Chat”—Orientation opportunity for new members, refresher for current members. Appetizers provided by the Club; drinks are on you. Bruce Bergeron and Pres. Marilyn will lead. Let Marilyn know if you are coming to adjust food quantities. 25 people signed up so far.
- Lebanon Club Changeover, June 18th 5:30 p.m. Dwinell Room at Harvest Hill (No meeting at noon).
SERVICE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
- April 21, Tuesday, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Set up tables for 5 Colleges Book Sale at Lebanon High School. We have enough volunteers, but others may come.
- April 26, Sunday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Take down tables for 5 Colleges Book Sale at Lebanon Hight School. Can use more help on this day.
- May 1, Friday, 11:00-1:30 p.m. RISE Food Packaging event at Lebanon High School. Sign up here to work with Rotarians, Interactors and students: https://riseagainsthunger.org/register/?id=701Pj00000qIZZJIA4
ROTARY DISTRICT 7850 COMING EVENTS:
- June 12-14, 2026, Friday-Sunday: District 7850 Conference at Hotel Estrimont, Magog, Quebec. Widen and deepen your Rotary friendships and network! Lebanon Rotary Club will provide stipends up to $400 to attend; actual amount to be determined based on the number of members who want to attend.
CLUB FUNDRAISERS—ALL HANDS ON DECK NEEDED TO MAKE THESE SUPER SUCCESSFUL!
- June 3, Wednesday: Bedell Classic Golf Tournament. It’s time to make your approach to potential sponsors or donations of raffle prizes. Also possible setup assistance the afternoon of June 2, Tuesday. Handouts are on the table—unassigned businesses to approach for sponsorships/ads. Raffle items—new, unused things you may have at home!
- September 5, Saturday of Labor Day Weekend: 2026 Brew Fest.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
- Angela: Happy now that 4/15 has passed. 8.5 hours of sleep last night. Will work on some other things this weekend.
- Ron Michaud: Tuesday was Holocaust Remembrance Day: 6½ million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. Ron tries to imagine himself going into the gas chamber and ovens to gain perspective.
- John Yacavone: Granddaughter graduated from Colby Sawyer in graphic design. The school held an event for all art classes; there were 200 exhibits. Each year, the college president selects one item to be kept and displayed. Olivia “Livvie” Taylor’s work was chosen.
- Jane: I am now retired. Nothing has gone as planned. She IS a member of AARP.
- Marion: Daughter Elizabeth is getting her PhD in physical therapy. There’s a CPE test each semester and she passed again.
- Marilyn: My incision (hip surgery) has healed enough to get back into the swimming pool. Hooray!
- Jim: At 4:30 today, I will be officially off to vacation in Florida.
- Ron Michaud: I will make my singing debut here next week singing, “Fly Me To the Moon.”
CARD AND CAR WASH RAFFLE:
- Speaker Diana selected Marion’s number but the SIX of CLUBS was drawn.
- Ron Michaud won a free car raffle at the Enfield Car Wash, thanks to Bruce Begeron.
President Marilyn rang the Rotary bell at 1:21 p.m., and we ended the meeting with a recitation of RI’s motto:
