Our Speaker was Bob Lyons, PhD. Click on Read More... below to read his short biography.
Bob Lyons
Lyon's first slide showed us the chemical structure of the Caraboid that gets you high when marijuana is ingested or smoked.
He then reviewed some basic information about marijuana plant:
Marijuana is a plant containing ~ 100 cannabinoids
Delta 9 THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid
Marijuana use for thousands of years: “recreation/medical”
Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 Drug at Federal level; this complicates how the plant is managed within states. Many banks do not want to do business with cannabis retailers. Businesses not eligible to small business federal loans.
It isn’t clear what the exact properties of the remaining cannabinoids is. There is no incentives for drug companies to investigate this plant moro thoroughly.
Recreational Marijuana Legal in 24 States + DC
Medical Marijuana Legal in 39 States + DC
Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut: Legal
In NH it is only approved for Medical uses.
Marijuana is classified as Schedule 1 Drug at Federal Level
New Hampshire “Approved” Uses: Stand Alone and Qualifying
Stand-Alone Conditions: Autism, Anxiety, PTSD, Chronic Pain, Severe Pain, Opioid Use Disorder
There is one FDA approved use for THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is approved for emesis and appetite stimulation, by prescription only. It is called Marinol and Epidiolex
Marijuana has become more potent over the years. If you consumed marijuana back in the 70s and 80s, beware that marijuana is much stronger…so beware if you want to try it again now.
Ron Bedell led us in reciting The4-Way Test of the Things We Think Say or Do.
President Ernst accompanied us on piano for the Rotary Welcome Song and Moonlight Bay
We welcomed visiting Rotarian, John Stalvey from Anchorage, AK; Jim Carroll, prospective member; and we welcomed our speaker Bob Lyon
Birthdays — Dean Cashman, May 5th
Rotary Anniversaries — Cal Wolfe, 3 years
Thought of the Day: Ernst Oidtmann provided a history lesson.
The Nuremberg Trial were held from November 1945 to 1946. About 20 of the most notorious members of the Nazi government were tried. A few were acquitted, some were sentenced to jail and 10-11 were hanged among them was the SS governor of the Netherlands, Arthur Seys-Inquart. The bodies were cremated, and the ashes were taken to the former Gestapo headquarters in Solln, a suburb of Munich. Ernst indicated that at the time it was used by American Military Police. There the ashes were kept for a few months and then dropped in a neighboring creek which washed all of ashes into the Isar River, which then followed into the Donau. Ernst then shared that his son and family are now living in the one of the villas that was part of the headquarters for the Gestapo. Max’s daughter, Margaret, learned this when she looked up the history of their home.
Addendum, Holland, as far as Ernst knew, was the only country that was ruled by the SS (he described them as being incredibly cruel). The head of the SS was Hans Rauter. Shortly after the war he was arrested by the English in Germany and extradited to Holland. He was then tried by the father of one of his uncles, P van Meeuwen, chief of the Extraordinary Court for War Criminals at the Hague. Rauter was executed by a firing squad.
It was time for our luncheon buffet.
See information about our speaker above.
Bill Secord presented the children's book being sent to the Kilton Library in honor of our speaker:
Smiling Eyes
by Linda Sue Park (Author), Lenny Wen (Illustrator)
From Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Linda Sue Park comes a joyous and inclusive celebration of eyes—showcasing the variety of Asian eye shapes and hues—in lively rhyming text ideal for sharing with any child.
For an enthusiastic little boy, an ordinary day is filled with the joys and surprises of seeing and being seen. All around him, people are using their eyes: big eyes, small eyes, eyes that are open wide, or shut tight, or even winking! With irresistible rhymes and warm, inviting art, this ode to eyes by Linda Sue Park and Lenny Wen will delight the youngest of readers.
After our speaker, Ernst turned the meeting over to our Trustee's Charities Chair to ask if anyone had questions about the funding requests that were distributed by email and presented at last week’s meeting. Voting on both items was open until the end of the meeting today, May 1, 2025.
Motion #1 (Made by Marilyn Bedell and seconded by John Yacavone: To appropriate $5,000.00 to be split equally between the Whaleback Mountain and Lebanon Outing Club Storrs Hill ski areas.
According to a request from Lebanon Outing Club, Storrs Hill must update its snow-making pump, purchase a new snow gun, and provide replace tracks and perform other service to their groomers.
Also, Whaleback Mountain is embarking on a 2–3-year $250,000 fundraising effort (they have raised $80,000 to date) to replace their chairlift. In the interim, they must repair the current chairlift or they will not be able to open for skiing.
Motion #2 made by Marilyn Bedell and seconded by Ron Michaud: To appropriate $2,400 to West Central Behavioral Health to replace sports equipment, games and toys lost in this winter’s flooding.
According to WCBH’s request, these items are used by therapists and are also lent to families receiving services at their Lebanon, Newport and Claremont locations. Here are examples of the equipment to be purchased:
Balls (Kick, Soccer, and Basketball)
Sleds
Pool Noodles
Wiffle Ball and Bat
Legos
Board games
Blocks
Skates
Paper Cutter
Storage Containers
Sport Equipment
Art Supplies
Again, the voting period concluded after our regular meeting on Thursday, May 1.
Bruce Pacht, chair
RC Lebanon Charities
Announcements, happy/sad dollars and raffle results below.
Announcements
Social Gathering at Salt Hill: Rotary Club of Lebanon...Social Gathering 3rd Monday of Every Month Next gathering will be May 19, 2025
Keep the Social Gathering on your calendar for the 3rd Monday of each month at Salt Hill Pub in Lebanon.
Not able to make our lunch meetings?
Want to learn more about our club and what we are doing in Lebanon?
Want to visit with friends and colleagues?
Here's an opportunity to join Lebanon Rotary Club members on the 3rd Monday of every month at Salt Hill in Lebanon. We will look forward to seeing you starting April 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
Here is what Ahmad Hadari has arranged with the staff at Salt Hill..."This is to confirm that the Rotary Club of Lebanon will take the room (Galway Room) 3rd Monday of every month starting on April 21 from 5:30-7:30 for beverages, meals, social gathering, meetings, etc. We will have members, and their partners, friends and colleagues drop in and order from the menu and each will pay for their own tab. Let's try this and as the group grows, we will work with you to say a predefined set of appetizers for the group and arrange for the meal orders to be placed with your staff as close together as possible so your team can manage things in a more organized and predictive way. " I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions. Ahmad
Civic Memorial Park Build: Anticipate Grand Opening of the playground by the middle of May.
Dear builder, bolt turner, direction reader, part finder, wheelbarrow pusher, heavy beam lifter, bolt fastener, take it apart and put it together another way laborer, smack it with a hammerer, dig out the hole and fill in the hole shovel worker, playground building volunteer turned professional playground builder …
A major thank you from Leb Rec, Friends of Leb Rec, the Civic Plays team, and on behalf of every child and family that will visit this special park for the next 50 years. You made a difference yesterday.
We are truly amazed at what we all accomplished, together, in one day. I’m not saying all those holes just showed up on their own, but that was basically a bare piece of earth that now has colorful inviting imaginative structures throughout. The next step is for us to pour concrete into those human swallowing holes on Monday, then stone subbase hopefully later in the week, then poured in place rubberized surfacing the week after. We will be announcing a grand opening as soon as we have that rubberized surfacing date determined. We hope you’ll be able to make it.
If you have a couple hours available Monday at 10am to help with concrete, please let me know. We aren’t mixing it but will likely have to push some wheelbarrows to various spots.
Special thanks to Lebanon Rotary and Bruce Bergeron’s team at Jakes for the tasty lunch.
Enjoy your weekend,
Paul
Golf: 32nd Annual Bedell Classic will be on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at Eastman Golf Links in Grantham. 10 AM Shotgun Start. Please start recruiting players and finding sponsors for this important fundraising event. Brochure will be sent to members soon.
Rotary's Epic Day of Service...Clean Up Day in May: Ernst indicated he has suggested May 17, 2025 for this event...so save the date. It will be in the afternoon. Ernst needs some helpers to sign up to help get this task completed.
Club Change Over Celebration: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM SAVE THE DATE. At the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farms. (Dinner to be served at 6 PM), $45/person.
2025 Brew Fest: Planning is underway for Brew Fest! It will be on Saturday, August 30th at Colburn Park in Lebanon. We hope everyone who can will be there to volunteer, and work to find sponsors for the event. Tickets will be available on EventBrite. The Brew Fest Committee walked the park on Friday afternoon. They decided we would not enlarge our footprint in the park. We will continue to use 1/2 of the park.
Happy/Sad Dollars
Bruce Bergeron was happy that they could complete the Civic Memorial Park playground structures in one day. This was a community effort with many 30-year-olds helping. Next week he will talking to us about our upcoming golf tournament.
John Yacavone was happy that Rise Against Hunger was very successful event spearheaded by Lebanon, Mascoma and Windsor Interactors. >10,000 meals prepared, sealed and boxed.
Bill Secord brought new of the upcoming Bel Conto Concert for Spring 2025. May 3, 2025, at 7 PM and May 4, 2025, at 4 PM. First Congregational Church in Lebanon.
He then shared that Open Democracy is holding a Granite State Democracy Tour. It will be help on May 10, 2025, at 11 AM to 1 PM at the Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College. Speakers will be Russell Muirhead, Professor of Government; Charles Wheelan, Founder , United America; and Ever Jacobs-Carnahan, Lawyer and creator of Knit Democracy Together. They will cover the following topic: Can we make the constitution work? How does redistricting affect polarization? How does the structure of primary elections shape the type of candidates we have? In addition to Open Democracy this forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters and New Hampshire Humanities.
Ernst reported that Linda will be spending more time in Munich to take care of the grandkid, as Max’s wife is making an unplanned trip to Vancouver to be with her parents. Her mother is very ill. Ernst hopes that Linda will be able to come home on May 19th .
Dean Cashman was delighted that one of his hockey players was a participant at the Rise Against Hunger event.
RAFFLES
Marilyn Bedell who pulled the King of Hearts...so close...
The Enfield car wash went to James Carroll
The Rotary bell was rung and we closed with our motto:
One Profits Most Who Serves Best
Attendance:
Rotarians: Marilyn Bedell, Ronald Bedell, Phil Bush*, Dave Clarenbach, Dean Cashman, Dave Crandall, Mila Dela Pina, Steve Grant, Tim Guaraldi, Ahmad Haidari, Max Jovanovich, Will Koppenheffer, Jane Mason*, Ron Michaud, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, George Wenz, Cal Wolfe, John Yacavone
Visiting Rotarian, John Stalvey, Anchorage, NY
Prospective Member: James Carroll
Speaker: Bob Lyon
FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS
May 1:Legalized Marijuana: Risks and Benefits – Bob Lyon May 8:The Sweet Story Behind Katie’s Cookies – Katie [Last Name?] May 15:Understanding the Economy – Dartmouth Professor Charlie Wheelan May 22:Infrastructure and Public Works Update – Jay Cairelli, Director of Public Works May 29:Lifelong Learning at Osher – Osher Presentation (Field Trip to Osher offices, organized by Hank, Catered by Jakes.)
Note: David Crandall will be scheduling programs June 2025
July 3: Peggy O’Neill, Executive Director, WISE
July 10: Joe Clifford, Executive Director Lebanon Opera House
July 17: BOD and Charities Reports and Classification talk
July 24: Rick Kendall, Superintendent, Saint Gaudens National Historical Park
August 7: Brey Adams, Interim Executive Director Upper Valley Humane Society
August 14: Lori Shibinette, CEO West Central Behavioral Health
August 21: Charities Report and Final Plans for Brew Fest
August 28: Tyler Lewis, Head of School, Kimball Union Academy
September 4: Luc Pomerleau, District Governor Visit
September 11: Victor Tom, Topic: “How rocket science made it into major league baseball and strike zone.”
September 18: BOD, Charities Report and Classification talk
September 25: Rob Stenger, one of the owners of Simple Energy
Program Team for 2025-2026. John Yacavone (July, Augt, Sept), Steve Grant (Sept, Oct, Nov), Hank Clark (Jan, Feb, March) and Dave Crandall (April, May, Jun)
Standing Meetings
Membership Meetings: Second Tuesday each month at 3:30 PM at Downtown Lebanon Library and via Zoom.
Contact: Ahmad Hadari
Youth Services: Second Wednesday of the month at Noon
Contact: Christian MacDonald
Charities: Third Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Bruce Pacht
Board Meeting: 4th Tuesday of every month at 4:00 PM via Zoom.
Contact: Ernst Oidtmann
Golf: 2025 schedule to be announced
Contact: Bruce Bergeron
Brew Fest: The 2025 Schedule to be announced
Contact: Hank Clarke
Rotary News
Vaccines keep communities healthy
Increasing awareness about the power of immunization could protect millions of people worldwide from vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, according to the World Health Organization. During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, Rotary members promoted the robust polio eradication infrastructure built by Rotary and our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
What is infodemiology and why is it important?
Epidemiology asks us where, when, why, and to whom a disease is spreading, and how it impacts population health. Infodemiology asks those same questions, but about the information that is spreading, and how it impacts population decision-making. Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist, breaks down vaccine misinformation and how to combat it.
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