America marked the 25th anniversary of ths September11 terrorist attacks on September 11, 2026, honoring the victims, first responders, and the families affected.
John Stalvey started his talk about Alaska by telling us that he is not a Cheechako and he didn’t live there long enough to claim the title of Sourdough
Cheechako is a slang term for a greenhorn, tenderfoot, or new arrival. The word comes from the Chinook Jargon trade language, combining chee (new) and chako (come). Historically, it described people arriving during the Klondike Gold Rush who had not yet experienced a northern.
Sourdough is a nickname for an old-timer or veteran local. The name originates from gold rush prospectors who carried pouches of live sourdough bread starter close to their bodies through freezing winters so they could bake basic food when supplies were scarce.
John Stalvey
John shared a picture of the Alaska Flag and told us about the Alaska State Song.
Here are the song’s lyrics. You can listen to her by clicking here.
Eight stars of gold on a field of blue, Alaska's flag, may it mean to you, The blue of the sea, the evening sky, The mountain lakes and the flowers nearby, The gold of the early sourdough's dreams, The precious gold of the hills and streams, The brilliant stars in the northern sky, The "Bear," the "Dipper," and shining high, The great North Star with its steady light, O'er land and sea a beacon bright, Alaska's flag to Alaskans dear, The simple flag of a last frontier.
He was able to share how large Alaska is compared to the rest of the United States with this picture. Alaska is larger than Texas, Montana and California combined. Alaska coastline is 33,904 miles long.
Chrisian McDonald led us in reciting the 4-Way Test
Ernst Oidtmann played the piano as we sang our Rotary Welcome Song and The Good Old Summertime
Jim Damren’s thought of the day came from Eleanor Roosevelt, You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude
Wedding anniversary – Tim and Anna Guaraldi, 19 years.
Rotary Anniversary – Bill Chabot, 1 year
Then on to lunch…
Program: My Alaska Experience – John Stalvey.See story above.
Book Presentation for the Children’s Collection at the Kilton Library
Midnight Motorbike
By Maureen Shay Tajsar (Author), Ishita Jain (Illustrator)
Imagine Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site set in the jungle. On a night too hot to sleep, Amma takes her daughter on a magical, moonlit motorbike ride through South India. In this lush mother-daughter nighttime adventure through the jungles of southern India, debut author Maureen Shay Tajsar enchants the reader with all five senses, offering smells of spicy tea and warm hay, tastes of warm potato dosa, and wind washing over sandaled feet. Debut illustrator Ishita Jain immerses the reader in the deepest blue, the darkest night, and the coziest love, in a book that feels at once like a hug and an adventure. There's no better way to be lulled to sleep than tucked against Amma on her motorbike. Drawing on the childhood memories of both author and illustrator, this sumptuous treasure is sure to be a new family favorite.
Honorary Paul Harris Fellowship
Christian McDonald and Phil Rentz
Phil Rentz, on behalf of our Foundation Committee presented an honorary Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellowship to our own, Chrisitan McDonald, Extended Learning Opportunity Coordinator at Lebanon High School.
We had the honor to recognize Christian as a member of our Club, and as valued member of the Lebanon High School staff. Our Rotarians in Lebanon contributed We recognized her for her service to students in our community. She has an unwavering commitment to youth service and is focused on empowering young people in our high school to grow as leaders, to engage with their community by doing service projects that benefit members of our communities and communities around the world.
Brewfest – How good was that! Over 1,000 people attended Brewfest. Our thanks to everyone who supported Brewfest by being a part of the committee, finding sponsors, working to set up the event, helping during the event, and staying to clean-up.A special thanks to our fearless leader, Hank Clarke.
Community Service and Other Opportunities
Milkweed planting…We made a difference, here’s to a lasting impact.
Riverside Park Walkway Accessibility Project
Tuesday (15th) and if necessary, Wednesday (16th).
Tools will be provided. Tasks to include racking hard pack and lawn area, running compactor, etc.
Dwinell Room Storage Room – Organizing our Stuff
September 19, 2026
8:30 AM to when we are done, or have done as much as we are able to do with the helpers we have. Can you help? Let Marilyn Bedell Know if you can come.
Presidents Picnic
Sunday, September 27th. 11 am to 2 pm
25 Churchill Way, Lebanon
RSVP to Bruce Bergeron or Jim Damren
Family, Kids, Guests welcome
Flu Vaccine Clinics
Help still needed for Enfield.Let Angela know if you can help on Thursday, October 29, 4:00-6:00 p.m, Mascoma Community Health Center, 18 Roberts Road, Canaan, NH
Styrofoam Collection
October 3rd a the Mascoma Bank on Sykes Avenue in White River Junction
8:15 AM to 11:30 AM
Let Angela Nelson or Marion Steiner know if you can volunteer.
Rotary District 7850 Regional Meetings
10/3 North Conway, Gibson Center
10/24 Drummonsville, QC, TBD
11/14 South Burlington, Join Jim Damren, Bruce Bergeron, Phil Rentz and James Carroll at the South Burlington Recreation Center
Listen, Community in Action, Invitation
Dear Lebanon Rotarians
We hope you can be with us for this important gathering.
Join us to learn how LISTEN is responding to growing community needs, celebrate our shared impact, and explore how we can continue building a stronger, more resilient Upper Valley.
Please RSVP through this electronic invitation or by emailing Gina@listencs.org.
Guests are welcome. When you RSVP, please let us know the first and last name of your guest(s).
Revo Cassino Gala, Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 6 PM to 9 PM at the Doubletree in Manchester.If you want to go, talk to Tim Guaraldi or Marilyn Bedell. Our official invitation will be coming soon.
Holiday Party and Famous Yankee Sway – Save the Date!
Date: December 9, 2026
Time: TBD
Place: Dwinell Room at Harvest Hill
Menu: TBD
BYOB – Wine or beer or other non-alcoholic beverage of your choice
Lebanon Opera House Tickets
From Bruce Pacht:
Hello Rotarians,
An additional benefit of the Club’s sponsorship of Lebanon Opera House’s 2026-27 season is four (4) tickets to the following presentation:
Pink Martini All-Stars: A Season of Stars
Presented by Lebanon Opera House at the Opera House
Seats are in Row K: 204-207
Saturday, December 12, 7:30 PM
"Thomas Lauderdale’s globe-trotting “little orchestra” is back with a new holiday show that brings triple the joy!
Featuring three of the band’s favorite singers and long-time collaborators, this tour conjures up a mix of old holiday favorites and sweet new treats, wrapped in the band’s signature mix of catchy classic pop, big band energy, and Hollywood glamour.
“Led on stage by NPR’s dashing Ari Shapiro, the soulful Edna Vazquez, and sensational America’s Got Talent finalist Jimmie Herrod, these vibrant voices will deck the halls with a spirited set of songs that celebrate holiday traditions from around the world.”
I think it’s about the 8 little candles of Hanukkah.
If you wish to be included in the lottery for tickets, please e-mail brucepacht67@gmail.com. We will place all names in a hat. The first name drawn will have a choice of one (1) or two (2) tickets, as will the second and third (if the first and second take only 1 ticket each) winner. If there’s a 4th draw, it would be for the remaining single ticket.
I hope to hold the drawing at our Club meeting of September 24, two weeks from tomorrow, so get your request in soon!
Bruce
(I was chair of Charities when we gave to LOH, so the notice of complimentary tickets came to me.)
Happy Dollars:
Tim is celebrating the birth of twins a year ago today.
Steve Grant reflected on 9/11 25th anniversary.
Angela Nelson’s father’s eye surgery is scheduled.No retina repair will be required…just a new lens.
Ernst Oidtmann is off to a family gathering in Mallorca, Spain and then more time with his son and his family in Munich.
Hank Clarke is celebrating a successful Brewfest, and thanked us for our help from beginning of planning to clean-up.
Hank shared a very sad dollar too.A friend he has known for 50+ years has died…making him very sad.He was able to see him on Monday, the day before he died.
Queen of Hearts, Ron Michaud, Ace of Hearts.The hunt for the Queen of Hearts continues.
Car Wash, went to Carol Keefe
September 10, 2026, Attendance
Attendance
Marilyn Bedell, Ron Bedell, Phil Bush, Kegan Carpenter*, Dave Clarenbach, Hank Clarke, Jim Damren, Tim Guaraldi, Tyler Hagan, Carol Keeffe, Dustin Lester*, Christian McDonald, Ron Michaud, Ed Morris, Dan Nash, Angela Nelson, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, John Stalvey, Rich Wallace, Richard Wallace, George Wentz, Steve Whitman, Cal Wolfe, John Yacavone
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
September 17: Raphael Addante Atty Caldwell Law, Estate Planning
September 24: Gabe Zoerheide, Executive Director, Willing Hands
October 1: Jay Cairelli - Classification Talk
October 8: Bise Wood Saint Eugene, Tysea Orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti.
October 15: Peter Wright, MD Polio Update. He is an internationally renowned scientist on the disease.
October 22: Roy Schlieben, Executive Director, MAXT Makerspace
October 29: Jada Lindblom, Ph.D., Extension State Specialist, Economic Development, Associate Extension Professor, Recreation Management and Policy, UNH Durham (Most likely delivered remotely)
Just pick your item and follow the instructions for ordering.
Men’s and Women’s light weight jackets
Men’s and Women’s fleece vests
Men’s and Women’s fleece jackets
Blankets-Fleece 40” x60”
All jackets, vests and blankets will have Rotary logo and club name.
To save on shipping, pick up your item at Top Stitch, 233 Mascoma Street, Lebanon.
Questions? Contact Cody at Top Stitch at 603-448-2931. Turnaround time is 3.5–4 weeks.
Rotary News
Spetember – Basic Education and Literacy Month
From Rotary District 7230's webpage:
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month for Rotary. This is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. We all know how critical reading and writing are for success in life – for gaining information, communicating, making agreements, and so forth.
Enhancing Basic Education skills and Literacy are essential in reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, and promoting peace. Improvements can reduce maternal death, improve childhood survivability, and reduce poverty. They can also enable success in business or a profession.
Projects undertaken by a Rotary Club can address low adult literacy, returning youth to school, enhancing student performance, or supplementing limited school resources. Listed below are examples of a number of projects in which clubs can be engaged in…
RESOURCES
Rotary International provides a variety of resources to assist clubs with projects. For example, Basic Education and Literacy Project Strategies (RI document 618en).
Literacy Rotary Action Group (LITRAG). This is a world-wide network of Rotarians with a special interest in alleviating illiteracy, enhancing literacy teaching and learning globally, and helping to provide materials and equipment for literacy education. Check out their website http://www.litrag.org/
