New Rotary Theme for 2020-2021 Announced in San Diego at
The Rotary International Assembly
January 30, 2020
Editor Marilyn Bedell
Next Week's Program
February 6, 2020 at Noon
Dan Weeks, Solar Energy
Today's Program, 30 January 2020
Speaker - Our Own Bob Gasser. He shared his experience being an Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Hong Kong
Bob Gasser
In 1959, Bob Gasser graduated from Rutgers University with plan to enter Columbia Law School in the fall. His neighbor, Bob, a Rotarian told him about the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Program. At first Bob didn't think he should apply to be a scholar but was convinced by his neighbor that this would be great experience, and would strengthen his application for Columbia. He remembers going to the interview at Princeton for the scholarship and came home and told his mother that he was one of 16 very qualified applicants and didn't expect to be selected, but he was.
Bob learned he would be going to Hong Kong. He was encouraged to use this as an opportunity to go around the world. In addition to his time in Hong Kong, he visited San Francisco, Hawaii, Philippines, Formosa, Vietnam (at the beginning of the conflict), Cambodia, Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), India, Pakistan, Iran, India and Paris. Along the way he met many Rotarians who where happy to host him.
He shared a story of a Rotary District Governor putting him on a train. He was told he should get off in two hours. He could not read signs, wasn't sure where he was going, but at the end of a two hour train ride, he got off the train and was greeted by a group of six Rotarians. He then was taken to a variety of Rotary clubs meetings.
Your newsletter editor cannot do justice to the many stories Bob shared of his studies in Hong Kong. Here's hoping these snippets will give you a sense of his adventure, but will never capture Bob's ability to tell stories that were peppered with humor. Bob is a trueraconteur!
He was assigned to University Hall that was like a Castle. [According to Wikipedia, University Hall was built in 1861. It became a part of the University of Hong Kong in 1954. At this point it was was officially named as the University Hall and opened as a male residential hall in 1956.]
We learned that when he arrived at the school he was asked where his bed was. Stunned that he needed a bed, he contacted his Rotarian sponsor, and a bed was delivered to him on the top of a VW.
He had dysentery and lost 20 pounds. This seemed to be related to eating Conjee. From Google: Congee is essentially a rice porridge made by boiling rice in a great deal of water until it breaks down into a pudding-like consistency. It can be made sweet or savory.
He is a chop stick expert.
There were rats in his dorm.
He had a servant. He never had to do his own laundry. (Sounds like a college student's dream.)
He talked about high table dinners where he was required to wear a gown.
He joined the debate team and track team.
He wasn't permitted to date Chinese students but did date students from Israel and Japan.
His Rotarian sponsor showed him many aspects of Chinese life.
He was often called a white devil. Many did not trust or like people from the USA.
He developed many strong friendships. He still hears from many of them, and one sends him Christmas gifts each year. Bob shared it is often had to find small gifts to send to her, and many inexpensive trinkets come from China.
When it was time to leave Hong Kong, he was very sad to leave. He continues to be impressed with the dedication of Rotarians.
He ended his talk by sharing a story of taking his entire family to Asia for 6 months. They traveled by train and ship. The trip by ship took 69 days. They visited Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, New Guinea, and of course Hong Kong. They started the trip with 13 suitcases and ended the trip with 23 suitcases.
If you weren't at the meeting find some time to chat with him about this Rotary adventure.
Background Information about Bob Gasser:
Bob Gasser
Bob Gasser was invited to join the Rotary Club of Lebanon-Riverside by Bill Sahlman who now lives in Maine. He joined the Rotary Club of Lebanon-Riverside on March 27, 2007. Bill Sahlman and Bob have a passion for finding ways to help individuals who have addictions to alcohol and drugs. When Bill discovered the work Bob had done in New Jersey to establish a diversion program…Bill wanted him to do the same thing in Grafton County. So Bob’s retirement as a New Jersey Prosecutor was short lived. As he became the father of the Drug Court program in Grafton County and first statewide coordinator of that program in NH.
In a Valley New Article several years ago Bob wrote, “I first heard the words “drug court” in the year 2000 when I was an assistant prosecutor in Ocean County, N.J. My then-boss called me into his office and said that state court administrators had ordered implementation of a new program called the drug court. He added, “Don’t worry, it’s probably just another one of those hug-a-thug programs that will disappear in a year.” His boss was so incorrect, and drug courts continue to be an essential part of helping individual find a way to recovery. I am grateful that Bob found a way to establish one in Grafton County.
Bob has a B.A. in English from Rutgers University, a law degree from Columbia Law School, and one-year study at Hong Kong University as Rotary Foundation Fellow.
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Book Given to the Kilton Library Children's Collection in honor of our speakers Bob Gasser was:
Backyard Bears by Amy Cherrix
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Guests - No guests today
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Happy Dollars
January 30 is Marilyn Bedell's birthday. She presented a check for the Lebanon Charities Account in honor of her birthday. She reminded everyone that Rudy Fedrizzi is hoping to find other members to go to the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) in Concord with him. See info below about RLI.
Bob Gasser talked about the boxing program coming to CCBA to support individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Bob has found this program to really help him manage is Parkinson symptoms. CCBA has been able to do this program with help from a grant from the Byrne Foundation. Bob also shared he will be leading a 4 week course at Osher. It will be called, "Duped? Is the American Dream Dead". The course starts April 6. It will be from 9 AM to 11 AM. You can sign up now for the course.
Course Description :
This course will explore the origins and development of our belief in the “American Dream.
From Jefferson and de Tocqueville, through The Great Gatsby and into the age of Trump.
Steve Whitman, Tim Gauraldi and Cindy Jerome all shared that King Lear is at Northern Stage. It sounds like it is a great production of this play by William Shakespeare. Steve gave two tickets to King Lear to Bill Babineau.
Cindy Jerome let us know that the solar array on the roof of the Woodlands goes live soon.
Tim Gauraldi shared he is getting ready for his Lake Havasu trip.
Steve Christy let us know that the Mollical Fund will support a high school art exhibit at the Ava Gallary. Our Club via the Mollica fund gave $500.
Another pitch for Bruce Pacht. He shared that we are just weeks away from Valentines Day. The North Country Chordsmen will be doing singing Valentines again this year. 50% of there Valentine slots have been sold. To learn more click here
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Raffle
Shuan Mulhollan pulled the 4 of clubs. So...the hunt for the queen continues.
Paul Boucher won the car wash.
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Flag Etiquette, from John Yacavone
Mark your calendar with these important American Flag Half-Staff dates for 2020:
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Listen Dinners 2020
Here is the Community Dinner Schedule for 2020
Click Here to Sign-up to Volunteer for one or a few of these dates
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Thank you for your interest in Visions for Creative Housing Solutions,
We hope you can join us if you’re in the area or contact us to learn more:
VISIONS 2020 Green Street Campaign is having a celebration!
Mark your calendars for the public launch of the Visions 2020 Green Street Capital Campaign:
When: Thursday, February 27th from 4 – 6 PM Where: AVA Gallery and Art Center, 11 Bank Street in Lebanon, NH
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) February 29, 2020 in Concord, NH
The Institute is offered in in three full day sessions (Parts I, II and III). Though you do not have to commit to taking all three courses. The goal is for you come back to our club with increased knowledge about Rotary in our region and Rotary International as a whole.
Click here for Registration Information. Our Rotary District will pay for your tuition. Submit a receipt and the club will work with the district to get you a reimbursement check.
Remember...Rudy is hoping to have company for the ride to and from Concord.
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Great American Pie Buffet - Supporting the Eradication of Polio
Posters are now available - Pick some up at our next meeting and get them hung all around the Upper Valley
Planning has started for out Great American Pie Buffet to be held again at Lebanon High School on April 4, 2020. Volunteers needed to help plan the event. Bruce Pacht and Tim Gauraldi are leading this event. Let them know if you can be on the planning team.
Tim will be sending around a sign up sheet each week for members to identify what kind of pies they are making. We are being requested to provide 2 to 3 pies.
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Save these dates!!
Listen Food Drive
March 14, 2020 at the Lebanon Co-op, 10 AM to 1 PM. Sign up doodle poll will be sent out soon.
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On Thursday, May 14, 2020 We will be hosted by Kimball Union Academy in the evening.
The plan:
5 PM - Art Tour
6 PM - Dinner
7 PM - Spring Dance Concert
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2020 Holiday Party and Yankee Swap
It's never to early to plan...Mark you calendars now, our 2020 Holiday Party and Famous Yankee Swap!! it will be on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farms. Cost will be the same as 2019...$40/person.
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Rotary International
From the Rotary Web Site:
Incoming RI president announces 2020-21 presidential theme
By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International President-elect Holger Knaack is encouraging Rotarians to seize the many opportunities Rotary offers to enrich their lives and the communities they serve.
Watch the theme address
Knaack, a member of the Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany, revealed the 2020-21 presidential theme, Rotary Opens Opportunities, to incoming district governors at the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, on 20 January.
Rotary isn’t just a club for people to join, but rather “an invitation to endless opportunities,” said Knaack, who becomes president on 1 July. He emphasized that Rotary creates pathways for members to improve their lives and the lives of those they help through service projects.
“We believe that our acts of service, big and small, create opportunities for people who need our help,” Knaack said. He added that Rotary creates leadership opportunities and gives members the chance to travel the world to put their service ideas into action and make lifelong connections. “Everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere,” said Knaack.
Changing for the future
Knaack also urged members to embrace change so Rotary can expand and thrive. Rather than setting a specific target for increasing the number of members, Knaack said he’s asking clubs and districts to think about how to grow in a sustainable and organic way. He wants clubs to focus on keeping current members engaged and adding new members who are the right fit for their club.
We will capture this moment to grow Rotary, making it stronger, more adaptable, and even more aligned with our core values.
Holger Knaack
Rotary International President-elect
“We need to stop thinking of new members as people we can mark down as statistics and then forget about,” Knaack said. “Every new member changes us a little bit. That person brings a new perspective, new experiences. We need to embrace this constant renewal. We will grow stronger as we learn from new members.”
Knaack pointed to Rotary’s Action Plan as a compass that can guide clubs as they evolve. He recommended that every club have a strategic plan meeting at least once a year. At that meeting, clubs should ask where they want to be in five years and how they can bring more value to their members.
Knaack also wants to see more women in leadership roles and see Rotaractors play an integral role in how new clubs are formed and run. He encouraged district leaders to create new club models and rethink what it means to be in Rotary, and allow young people to be the architects of these new clubs.
“We have to be open to new approaches, and creating unique clubs for younger people is just part of the solution,” said Knaack. “Let Rotaractors decide what kind of Rotary experience works best for them. These young people are bright, energetic, and they get things done.”
In stressing the need for Rotary members to embrace change, Knaack noted that time won’t slow down for Rotary: “We will not let rapid change defeat us. We will capture this moment to grow Rotary, making it stronger, more adaptable, and even more aligned with our core values.”
February 6, Noontime Meeting, Dan Weeks, Solar Energy
February 13, 7 AM Meeting, Hillary, Journey to Recover
February 20, Noontime Meeting, Professor Elizabeth Newton - It wasn't a typical first week at work: meet your colleagues, get settled in, confirm the existence of a new planet about 900 trillion miles from earth. But for physics and astronomy professor Elisabeth Newton, that's exactly how she started her new job at Dartmouth College earlier this year.
February 27, 7 AM Meeting, Rick Dickson, CCBA
March 5, Noontime Meeting, Monica Zulauf, Mayhew Organization
March 12, 7 AM Meeting, Interactor, Jordan Graham, Update on our District Grant...Romano Circle Community Room Renovations
March 19, Noontime Meeting, Round 2 of the District Speech Contest with students from Lebanon and Randolph
March 26, 7 AM Meeting, Teri Eastman, Mentoring 1st. year medical students
April 2, 2020, Noontime, Meeting Bob Sherman - The Radio Industry
April 16, 2020, Noontime, Marcos Stafne, PhD, Montshire Museum
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