Speaker: Cliff Below, City of Lebanon Assistant Mayor and member of the City Council for Ward 3
Assistant Mayor Below spoke about the newLebanon Community Power Grant.
Cliff Below
Counselor Below described in great detail the potential benefits of using this grant to establish Lebanon Community Power.
"The following is the information about the grant that can be found on the City of Lebanon Energy and Facilities web page:
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On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) awarded the City of Lebanon a $75,000 tax credit grant to aid in the development and launch of Lebanon Community Power, a municipal aggregation program being created by the Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee (LEAC) under the direction of the City Council.
The Lebanon Community Power program aims to be an innovative, forward-looking program that will provide a substantial positive opportunity for meaningful and effective local and community engagement on critical energy issues and the development of innovative programs, products, and services.
Assistant Mayor and LEAC Chair Clifton Below received the grant on behalf of the City, stating:
This is an exciting opportunity for Lebanon to lead the way in developing a municipal aggregation program. Lebanon Community Power can help the City accelerate progress towards its energy goals of transitioning to sustainable and renewable energy in a cost-effective manner.
Municipal aggregation has been successful in many other communities but not yet New Hampshire, though pending legislation may change that. With the City’s support, the NH House and Senate have passed Senate Bill 286 that updates and improves NH’s municipal aggregation statute.
The City will be partnering with businesses that have NH business profits tax liability to purchase the tax credits that will be awarded through the grant."
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Cliff introduced us to Tad Montgomery, the Energy and Facilities Manager for the City of Lebanon who will work with the Counsel to implement the grant, and continue to advise the city about ways to conserve energy and meet peak demands for power. Tad over sees the Energy Master Plan.
If you have questions about this program, your editor suggests you e-mail or call Assistant Mayor Below or Tad Montgomery. More information about this project will be mailed to everyone in Lebanon
Assistant Mayor Below is the son of a Navy Chaplain and public school teacher who grew up in Mainr. Below has lived in Lebanon since 1977 when he was still a Dartmouth student. After Graduation he went on to earn a Master's of Science degree in Community and Economic Development. He has worked on revitalizing downtown Lebanon since the mid-1980s.
In 1991, Below was a member of our District's Group Study Exchange to Finland. He has been a state representative, served in the State Senate, and Public Utilities Commissioner for 6 years.
Below is now in his third term as City Councilor and his first as Assistant Mayor.
Book given to the children's collection at the Kilton Library in honor of our speaker, City Councilor Cliff Below is Hey Water by Antoinette Portis
New Member Induction
We welcomed Peggy O'Neil to our membership. Peggy is the Executive Director of Wise. Co-President Melissa Mooney did the induction and her sponsor was Suellen Griffin.
Peggy and Melissa
Suellen and Peggy
Announcements
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 (12 noon) Club Meeting at Jessie's
If you haven't RSVP'ed please make your reservation or regrets on the link to the doddle poll byCLICKING HERENOTE: No meeting in the Dwinell Room on October 17, 2019. The meeting on October 16, 2019 is will with the Friendship Exchange Team from Alberta, Canada and the Hanover Rotary Club.
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI)at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center on October 12, 2019, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Registration Closes on 10/2/19
Sign up now!
PART I, II, III and Graduate Courses
RLI seeks to provide quality education on Rotary topics. This educational experience will benefit club members who are new to Rotary, and experienced members who want to enhance their knowledge about Rotary. The goal is to heighten your ability to contribute to ideals of Rotary service.
Although the cost of the course is $90, the fee will be covered by our Rotary District.
Register at: https://rlinea.org/ Do not pay, indicate you will bring check. Our District's site chair will bring a check to cover all registrations for District 7850
Friendship Exchange: President Melissa reminded everyone to complete the Doodle Poll for the combined meeting with the Hanover club on Wednesday, October 16. We will be hosting the friendship exchange folks from Canada.
Paul Tierney provided details for the planned Veterans Appreciation Dinner to be held Sunday, October 20. The Listen dining space holds about 130 people, and Paul is approaching service organizations such as the VA, APD, the American Legion, and Listen to extend invitations to area vets. The dinner is being designed as a relaxed social occasion allowing for our mingling with the veterans and getting to know them. Paul passed around a sign-up sheet for various tasks—setting up, greeting, photography, etc.
Angela Nelson gave a heads-up about our annual Holiday Basket project for Listen. She will need drivers for “meetups” to collect material since she will be sidelined with surgery on her foot.
Mascoma River Cleanup project set for Saturday morning, September 28.
Mascoma River Cleanup
Volunteers Needed
Please join members of the Mascoma River Local Advisory Committee for our very first Mascoma River Cleanup in conjunction with the CT River Conservancy’s Source to Sea Cleanup.
When: 8:oo am to 1:00 pm, Saturday, September 28, 2019
Where: Riverside Park, 103 Glen Road, West Lebanon, NH
Why: Clean up the beautiful Mascoma River
Pastries, coffee, trash bags, and rubber gloves will be provided. Volunteers will be assigned sections of the river to clean up in groups. Canoes or small boats to help remove trash from the river would be greatly appreciated!! Wear shoes for possible wading or walking along the riverbank. The MRLAC will provide pickup and disposal of all trash.
Please email bill.chabot@gmail.com if you have any questions.
See who can find the craziest, most unusual piece of trash? We hope to see you there!
Rotary Make-Up Dinners
When: 2nd Tuesday of Every Month
Time:5:30 PM/after work
Where: Salt Hill Pub, Lebanon
Next Dinner - Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Mark your calendars for the dinners on:
Tuesday, November 12, 2019, and
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Next Board of Directors Meeting
October 22, 2019 at 5:30 PM (17h30)
Whitman Building
10 Water Street
Lebanon, NH
Listen Community Dinners
The Next dinner will be October 8th staring meal prep at 3:30 PM. Members signed-up for this dinner include: Marion Steiner, JoAnn Lemieux, Ron Bedell, Don MacMeekin, Marilyn Bedell, Shaun Mulholland, Hank Clarke and Paul Tierney
Rotary Foundation Presentation
Ron Bedell presented Dan Nash with his Paul Harris +2.
Dan Nash and Ron Bedell
The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for Rotary’s founder, a Chicago lawyer, who started our organization with three business associates in 1905.
Donations to The Rotary Foundation permits us to carry out an array of programs that achieve beneficial changes in our world: Improved living conditions, increased food production, better education, wider availability of treatment and rehabilitation for the sick and disabled, new channels for the flow of international understanding, and brighter hopes for peace.
Happy Dollars
Tim Gauraldi reflected on the President's Picnic held at his home. A good time was had by all. He just wished more members could have joined the event. He is still selling left over beer from Beer Fest.
Suellen Griffin is happy that Peggy O'Neil is officially joining our club this morning.
Hank Clarke is in the thick of football with his grandsons. He share that watching 5 year old playing football is a joy. Dartmouth College football season begins Friday night under the lights.
Bruce Pacht invited all to come to the North Country Cordsman Concert on Saturday, September 28 at 7:30
PM.
Angela Nelson shared a very sad dollar as it was her friends who where hit by a drunk driver while riding their motorcycles. They are in for a very long rehab. Please keep them in your thoughts as they work to get better.
Marilyn Bedell shared that it was befitting that the Rotary Zone Institute was held in Niagara Falls this past weekend, as 45 years ago, she and Ron spent one night of their honeymoon near Niagara Falls at one of the worst hotels she has ever stayed in. The good news is that they made up for this by being at a hotel that overlooked the falls. From their room they could watch fireworks over the falls on Friday evening.
Steve Whitman shared that he spent last evening at Northern Stage seeing A Doll's House Part 2. It was a very good production.
Bruce shared that he and 4 other Rotarians spent the United Way Day of Caring cleaning out a very dusty, dirty basement at the AVA Gallary.
Card and Car Wash
Paul Boucher had the winning raffle ticket, but not the Queen of Hearts. He pulled the 3 of spades;
Ernst Oidtmann won the car wash.
Rotary International News
Rotary Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator for 12th consecutive year
By Rotary International
For the 12th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
The Foundation earned the recognition for demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Only one percent of the organizations Charity Navigator evaluates have received 12 consecutive 4-star evaluations.
"Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that The Rotary Foundation exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work", says Michael Thatcher, president and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator. "This exceptional designation sets the Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness."
The rating reflects Charity Navigator's assessment of how the Foundation uses donations, sustains its programs and services, and practices good governance and openness.
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