Meeting Called to Order by Ernst Oidtmann:
- President Ernst rang the bell at 12:01 pm to call the meeting to order
- Marilyn Bedell led us in a recitation of the 4-Way Test of the Things We Think Say or Do.
- President Ernst accompanied us on piano for the Rotary Welcome Song and Home on the Range
- We welcomed prospective members, Andy Jones, Valley Vision; and Jim Carroll, Upper Valley Senior Center, and former Rotarian.
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Birthdays: Happy birthday Bill Secord. We hope you were off partying today.
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Anniversaries: Ernst and Linda Oidtmann, 51 years!
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Thought of the Day: Ernst Oidtmann shared a "real" ghost story. Shortly after his black lab died, he took a hike on Smart Mountain. He got to the top later than he expected, and after climbing the fire tower, the hatch to the ladder was hard to get open. Ernst started down the mountain as it was getting dark. He did have is regular glasses, just sunglasses so it was hard to follow the trail. As he "stumbled" along, he heard a dog barking, and he followed the bark to get down the trail. He never did see the dog, but is believes it was the ghost of his black lab
- Then it was on to our luncheon buffet.
- After lunch: Marilyn Bedell had the honor of presenting Mila Dela Pena her Paul Harris Fellowship. Marilyn shared the following about Paul Harris Fellowships:
Paul Harris Presentation
I am delighted to have the honor of presenting a first time Paul Harris Fellowships today.
As you as members know, we make voluntary contributions to Our Rotary Foundation to help provide the funds to support humanitarian, vocational and educational/cultural exchanges that impact disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, water and sanitation, peace and conflict resolution and the environment.
Projects supported by the Rotary Foundation are saving and changing lives in many parts of the world.
The Paul Harris Fellowship is named after Paul Harris, who founded Rotary 120 years ago.
The Fellowship was established in his honor at the time of his death in 1957 to express appreciation for Paul Harris’s service; and recognize a contribution of US $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Every Paul Harris Fellow receives a pin, medallion and a certificate when he or she becomes a Fellow. This identifies the Paul Harris Fellow as an advocate of the Foundation's goals of goodwill, world peace and international understanding.
Today we, the Rotary Club of Lebanon, have the honor to recognize a member of our club, who shared with us her passion for Rotary when she did her classification talk last week…Mila Dela Pena!
With the utmost of respect, I am delighted to be the Rotarian who has the honor of presenting Mila with her Paul Harris Fellowship. I know how much this recognition means to Mila.
Mila you stand with notables such as Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Jonas Salk, Prince Charles, Indira Gandhi, King Hussein of Jordan and Pope John Paul II, all who have been named Paul Harris Fellows. Congratulations!
It was time for Committee Reports:
- Membership — Ahmad Hadari
Ahmad began by acknowledging that we have a group of committed members who are willing to participate in club projects and fundraisers. Though he believes we can still make our membership experience even better, and that we could become a simply irresistible club.
We are pursuing 8 more prospective members.
He thanks the members of the membership committee, Ron Michaud, Ron Bedell, Jim Damren, John Yacavone and Hank Clarke.
Additional members are always welcome to join the group that meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Damren Room at the Lebanon Public Library at 3:30 PM. If you can't come in person, you can join the meeting via Zoom.
Our Membership Committee is organizing a social gathering at Salt Hill, Lebanon on the third Monday of the month at 5:30 PM. Please consider coming. You can order off the bar and food menus...dutch treat.
Ahmad encouraged everyone to think of 3 to 5 people who you know that could share why Rotary is important to you, and why it might be of interest to them. Ask them to come to a meeting or to Salt Hill.
- Public Relations — Rich Wallace
Rich Wallace shared a lot of data that indicated our reach via social media continues to grow. He outlined how funds have been used to support our public image efforts. We now need to think about how we can continue to support enhanced PR efforts moving forward.
Year-to-date we have donated $10,000 to the Rotary Foundation. 70% of our members have made contributions to the Rotary Foundation this year. The deadline for donations to count for 2025-2026 is 30 June 2025.
- International Service — No report.
- Youth Service — Christian McDonald
We have 5 LHS going to RYLA. Two and new participants, and 3 returning as junior and senior counselors.
Take Flight is taking flight. It has been so successful that a second plane to build is coming to Lebanon. If you want to see the plane under construction, reach out to Christian to arrange a tour. The take flight students have done some major presentations about their project in NH and for a group that included participants from all over New England.
Bruce shared an excel spreadsheet that provided members an overview of donations we have made so far in 2025/2026. I will share the excel spreadsheet with members via email.
Overview: 9% of our donations have gone to international project; 30% have been directed to community projects; and 61% have gone to youth programs. Total spending year to day is $32,892. We still have the capacity to make more donations in before 30 June 2026.
Bruce reminded all members that all of us should be considering projects and entities to support, and propose ideas to the charities trustees.
- Administration — Ernst Oidtmann
Ernst shared that he believes we are continuing to evolve and doing more impactful projects and fundraisers. He thanks Bruce Bergeron and Jim Damren for agreeing to be co-presidents in 2026/2027.
- 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.
- Styrofoam April 12: See pictures above!
- District 7850 Team Training Seminar: April 12th at Northern Vermont State College, Lyndon. While many were getting cold at the Styrofoam collection, Marilyn and Ron Bedell were dry and warm and having fun by attending the District 7850 Assembly at Vermont University, Lyndon Campus.
- Civic Memorial Park Build: Building the new park will happen on April 24, 2025. Bruce encouraged everyone to consider signing up to help. We are looking for members to volunteer in 4-hour blocks of time. Our club will be providing food for the event. Come help install our Alpine Slide element in the park!
- Social Gathering at Salt Hill: Rotary Club of Lebanon...Social Gathering 3rd Monday of Every Month
- 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
- 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.
- Club Change Over Celebration: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM SAVE THE DATE. Location being worked on. Stay tuned for details.
- 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 Event Brite.
- Ron Michaud happily reported that is annuity payment was established prior to the fall of the stock market and will be $20 more this year!
- Mila Dela Pena was celebrating her Paul Harris Fellowship.
- Tim Guaraldi announced grandchild #7 is on the way.
Christian McDonald who pulled the 8 of diamonds.
The Enfield car wash went to Ernst Oidtmann
- At 1:19 pm, the Rotary bell was rung and we closed with our motto:
One Profits Most Who Serves Best
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