Moorings
The parking lot was almost full when the first two club members pulled into Harvest Hill at 11:30. We couldn’t find out why—maybe it was the attraction of the brand-new blacktop that APD has installed in the driveways and parking areas. Early table conversation referenced the internecine warfare that sometimes takes place in otherwise benign groups such as Rotary, churches, and college faculties. Luckily, the Lebanon Rotary Club is free of politics! President Steve tried to call the meeting to order; but after announcing the date to be August 20, he became flummoxed, realized that Dr. Ernst was not in attendance to lead the "Welcome Song," and skipped over the saying of the Pledge. Steve meekly discharged us to the buffet table, and our table conversations happily resumed. He later noted that his last meeting as president didn’t go any more smoothly than his first.
Conversation seemed more random than usual—ranging from great bogs of the northeast (particularly in Enfield) and the wonders of Lady Slipper Bog in Hartland (officially known as Eshqua Bog Natural Area). From there some members discussed how to teach sixteen-year-olds how to drive, particularly when the high school doesn’t offer a driving class (as in Claremont). The consensus on the best method is to put the teenager in a rear-wheel-drive stick-shift car during a snowstorm in a mall parking lot.
More serious conversation focused on the importance of more "respite" housing in the Upper Valley, such as the respite support facilities being facilitated by the organization Visions for Creative Housing Solutions (
www.visionnh.org). Our Soon-to-be Co-president Marion would like to see the club investigate possible support for that organization. Visions defines its mission as the provision of “residential options, services and support designed to meet the needs of adults with developmental disabilities and similar disabling condition.” Not all table conversation before our club’s official business begins is trivial!
The meeting officially began at 12:25 with Will Koppenheffer’s last report as club secretary—and the end of our extended tutorial on the National Parks of the United States. The last park to be dangled before us was established in 1914 by Secretary of the Interior Stephen Maverick, who went on to become the first commissioner of the National Park Service and who held that position until 1930. Maverick became wealthy mining borax out of what was to become the national park. His company manufactured “Twenty Mule Team Borax,” the sponsoring product of the radio and TV program “Death Valley Days.” Several old timers immediately identified Death Valley National Park as the last of the national parks to be introduced to us. The park is located in California and a small section of Nevada.
Suellen Griffin introduced her guest, Peggy O’Neil, the executive director of WISE. The board of directors has recommended Peggy to become a club member. Her application and background will be soon sent out to club members for approval.
Roland Swasey had the winning raffle ticket but did not draw the Queen of Hearts. John Yacavone had the winning ticket for Jake’s Car Wash. The number of cards left in the deck is down to twelve! Members are reminded that they can purchase extra raffle tickets before the meeting at one dollar apiece.
Brags
- Cindy Jerome paid for three brags: one, for the new paving in the parking lots and driveways around APD; two, for the beautiful gardens being groomed by the residents of the Woodlands and Harvest Hill; and three, for the fun her family had attending a Red Sox ballgame where the team just escaped being swept.
- Willy Koppenheffer did not attend his Dartmouth reunion for the first time, as his wife convinced him that it would be better to attend his mother-in-law’s ninety-fifth birthday in North Carolina.
- Angela Nelson is about to fly off to a vacation in Jamaica.
- Tim Guaraldi recently visited the Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show with his grandkids and heartedly recommends making the trip to Gilsum. Next week Tim travels a little further to the Montreal Jazz Fest.
Business
Suellen encouraged members to sign up as pourers for the Beer Fest. Extra available pourers would give us more flexibility.
Steve Whitman handed out copies of the completed brochure to be used to recruit sponsors for the Beer Fest. Sponsors will be credited in radio and newspaper advertising and will get free tickets to the Beer Fest. Businesses can also take out ads in the Beer Fest program. This process is the way organizations in Brattleboro and Claremont have raised money through their beer fests. As we develop a plan to raise money through sponsors, club volunteers will be meeting twice—once in the middle of July and once at the end.
Tom Yacavone presented the report of the fundraising committee, which was formed in January. A working premise of the committee is that there are fewer and fewer locally owned businesses available to be solicited for donations, so different approaches are called for. The full report of the committee will be distributed after July 11 after presentations at both the morning and noontime club meetings. The following four approaches were unanimously supported by the committee and were presented to the board of directors:
- The Poker Room. The Poker Room (Charitable Gaming) operates in the Lebanon Mall in the same building as the Village Pizza. Run according to the laws of New Hampshire, the Poker Room gives 35% of each evening’s “house winnings” to bona fide charities. The Lebanon Rotary Club can meet the state’s restrictions and can earn from $8,000 to $12,000 a year as a participant.
- Colonial Flag Company. This organization provides American flags, flag poles, and robust installation rods that the club can install on the lawns of donors on the patriotic holidays of Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. Homeowners would donate $50 for the yearlong service of flying 3’ by 5’ flags for several days on each holiday; and residents of several communities such as Claremont, Enfield, and the City of Lebanon could be asked to participate.
- Rotary Yard Sale. This fundraiser could be held at either Colburn Park or Riverside Park from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with items donated by club members.
- First Responders Recognition Dinner. Structured as a way to honor Lebanon’s police, fire, and EMT personnel, supporters would donate $50 to attend. This proposal is still in the initial stages of development.
Fundraising committee members are John Yacavone, chairperson; Steve Christy; Michelle Buck; Marion Steiner; Melissa Mooney; Tim Guaraldi; Bruce Bergeron; Suellen Griffin, and Steve Whitman.
Board of Directors meeting
Marion Steiner reported on actions taken by the board of directors at its July 18 meeting.
The slate of officers proposed for 2019-20 is:
- Co-presidents Marion Steiner and Liss Mooney;
- Co-presidents-elect Paul Tierney and Melissa Golightly;
- Vice President Hank Clarke;
- Secretary TBD;
- Treasurer Bill Babineau;
- Assistant Treasurer Angela Nelson.
Suellen Griffin moved to approve the slate of officers; John Yacavone seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.
Marion also presented the working charities budget:
- Romano Circle grant, $3,000;
- Paul Harris award, $1,000;
- Kilton Library children’s books, $400;
- First-grade readers, $1,100;
- Speech contest, $100;
- RYLA, $1,500;
- Interact symposium, $1,800;
- Listen dinners, $150;
- Taxes, $625.
Marion reported that the operating budget for 2020 was also approved at the board of directors meeting. The dues will remain at $50 per member.
President Steve announced the formation of a 100th Year Anniversary Committee to plan for our club’s upcoming anniversary four years from now. Present members are John Yacavone, Bruce Pacht, Ron Bedell, Cindy Jerome, and Marion Steiner. Steve would like to see a mixture of new members and long-timers on the committee.
Rich Wallace reminded members that traditionally the monies raised by events such as the golf tournament in one year are applied to the next year’s charity budget.
JoAnn Lemieux announced that an opening for two slots has appeared for the Friendship Exchange to New Zealand from February 2 to 17 in 2020.
John Yacavone has taken on the role of program organizer for next year. He requests suggestions from club members for interesting speakers.
Bruce Pacht announced that the Pie Fest event raised $322 for our Interact Clubs’ projects and $2,900 for Polio Plus. The event has been scheduled for April 4 next year.
Hank Clarke noted that the “back-room clean-up” group discovered 135 club banners that we have accumulated from visiting Rotarians. Massachusetts and California have the highest number of clubs represented nationally; France, internationally. Hank asked for suggestions for the future location/use of the banners.
Forrest Cole ended the meeting with a very impressive recitation of the Longfellow poem, “The Village Blacksmith”—entirely from memory! He claims he recites poems to himself as he drives around the state.
