He began his talk having asking us reflect back to the Democrat Convention in 1968. At that time, many had concerns that the process of selecting the democrat candidate for president. Many thought the process wasn’t transparent and many deemed it unacceptable. This then led to changes in primary elections and the primary system we have today.
Today, we talk about having two-parties, republican and democrat, but republicans registered voters are only 27% of registered voters, the same is true of democrats (27%) with 43% declaring they are independents and the gap keeps growing.
He reviewed a variety of states that have some portion of their elections done by rank choice voting. The most recent was in California for the senate primary. Other states the use some form of RCV include Nevada, Maine, Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Illinois, New York, Virginia, Delaware, Massachusetts and Washington.
SO WHAT IS RANK CHOICE VOTING?
RCV describes voting systems that allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, and then uses those rankings to elect candidates who best represent their constituents.
Our president, David Crandall called the meeting to order at noon.
Rich Wallace led us in reciting the 4-Way Test.
Ernst Oidtmann played the piano and led us in singing our Rotary welcome song. He then had a belief that we could sign a Gilbert and Sullivan song, The Policeman's Lot Is Not a Happy One. We tried...but can't say we were up to the challenge.
David welcomed our guests, who are listed below.
Birthdays: Bill Secord, and John Yacavone brought his b-day check for charities for $87. His b-day was a couple of weeks ago.
Anniversary: Ernst and Linda have been married for 51 years!
Riddle of the Day — How did the Man in the Moon get a haircut...he ecliped it...sigh
Then it was on to our buffet lunch.
After lunch, Bruce Garland talked to us about Rank Choice Voting...see story above.
Bill Secord presented the book for the Kilton Public Library's Children's Collection being given in honor of Bruce Garland:
Hippos Remain Calm,
By Sandra Boynton (Author, Illustrator)
Hippos have a reputation for wild parties that go on till dawn. People have even gone so far as to say that partying hippos “go berserk.” Nobody knows how these rumors got started.
But even if it’s true (it is), it’s not the whole story. Given the deep appreciation that hippos have for water, it’s no wonder that your average hippopotamus seeks, finds, and offers a state of flow, no matter the situation.
We have much to learn from their example. Accordingly, this helpful book follows two typical hippos as they calmly and mindfully go about their ordinary hippo day.
“O, flare thy wild nostrils,
And welcome the day!
Onward! And upward!
Come what will,
come what may.”
Winner Riley Naylor from LHS will compete at Lake Morey Resort 4/20/24
Subcommittee Updates:
Round 4 during the District Conference, April 19-21 at Lake Morey Resort.
Contest Topic is: How can we increase hope for our schools?
District Spring Assembly is March 16 and Conference is April 19-21, which makes
Interact Clubs:
LHS continues to collect non-perishable food for the Listen Pocket Food Pantry with monthly donations. Focus for the last collection was 4/05/24.
Ledyard Charter School has an event planning class that schedules a variety of activities for Ledyard. This could be a possible connection and maybe have someone participate. Fundraisers, in store thrift stores, field trips, planning a prom, end of year events. Executive Director: Wendy Koza
MVRHS: Curtis Paine/ Lindsay Coolidge advisor and continue to support various school organizations.
Scholarships:
Ledyard Charter School: Bruce
LHS: Joy
MVRHS: Bruce
Styrofoam Collection, From Phil Bush
120 cars came through which is about half of our usual (not surprising with only a week of advertising in advance, being at a new facility, not great weather, maybe because of there being more regional collections happening),
We filled 39 bags and kept a bunch of foam out of the landfill. And it probably worked out better that way in the end since we only had 1 empty bag left! There’s a chaotic process for having enough of the big bags we fill with foam that involves finding out where there are bags among us, the other sites that recycle, and the Gilford landfill. This time it wasn’t until the day before the event that bags were picked up in Gilford. We wanted 55 but only got 40, so we would have been short bags if we got the usual number of
Donations were, not surprisingly, down considerably at $665. For the first time we had a small loss by an as-yet-unknown amount. The 2 UHauls and gas cost $631. I don’t have the brochure printing cost, but that will be more than $33. We have made enough in the past, much of which is still in the bank, so that’s okay.
The high school worked well in terms of open space, but wind is a serious problem there and it's impossible to avoid letting bits escape into the environment. Liane suggests that If we could think of a warehouse type location that would solve the wind issue and keep the bits trapped inside to be able to be vacuumed up, that would be worth checking in to.
As usual traffic cones and safety vests were begged, borrowed or stolen from Lebanon Rec, Dept. of Public Works and who knows where else. Liane actually knows.
News from Liane Avery: I would really prefer NOT to be the lead on the styrofoam collection going forward. I am working on it and making some progress, but my current threshold for managing stress is still quite small and tends to get quickly blown into "the world is ending" type level stress for me. I need to take some time off of being the person responsible for making sure everything happens for at least a little while. I am happy to still play a role of some kind and I have some Google Docs and things to make organizing fairly easy and was even thinking of writing out a checklist/guide so we don't have to re-remember how we invented the wheel every time.
You probably understand, and I know certainly, that we must not ask Liane to be the champion of the next probable collection in October.
I think it's time to get serious about meeting with Erica Douglas at the recycling/landfill center to discuss options. Maybe an initial meeting with Bruce if he can, Cindy, Liane, Jon Chaffee or me and zoom in the Gilford contact? We could fill Erica in with all the data we have from our own and other local recycling events and explore what roles the landfill could take, maybe even getting a densifier.
But before that the Sustainable Lebanon Board will meet to discuss whether the event itself is sustainable. I would like it if it could be a joint meeting with the Sustainable Lebanon Board and the Rotary Board, along with any key players who aren’t on the Board, certainly Cindy Heath.
John Yacavone helped at the 5-College Book Sale set-up.
Hazardous Waste Collection (HWC), from John Yacavone
The 2 or 3 Rotary volunteers needed are for One or all the following dates Sat., May 4 , Fri., 12, and Sat., Sept. 28
Hi John,
We are recruiting volunteers for HHW collections, and I was wondering if the Rotary had any interest in helping out?
Collections are 9-Noon in Lebanon May 4, July 14, and Sept 28. I would need 2-3 people to interview attendees and direct them where to go. Shifts can be the full 3 hours or I can do shorter shifts – as you know, the busiest time is the first hour or so.
I have also reached out to the Upper Valley Young Professionals, and I'll see if they are able to provide any volunteers as well.
Let me know if Rotary is able to help or if you'd like me to speak to them, etc.
Thanks!
Tim Josephson
Upper Valley Music Center, from Bruce Pacht
Upper Valley Music Center Invitation
We received the following invitation from the Upper Valley Music Center. Note that all Lebanon Rotarians may receive free tickets to the concert we are sponsoring on Saturday, April 20 at the Lebanon Opera House by following the instructions below. Unfortunately, I will be out of town that weekend.
Bruce
We are so grateful for the sponsorship the Lebanon Rotary Club has provided for our upcoming Lebanon Opera House Upper Valley Youth Choral Festival! We couldn't pull this event off without your support.
We would like to offer complimentary tickets for your members to attend. The code can be entered on the 3rd page of the ticketing site before checking out and it is NESAcomp
New England School of the Arts invites you to join us for our upcoming Upper Valley Youth Choral Festival! Students from area high schools (Hartford, Hanover, Oxbow) will spend the day rehearsing choral music under the baton of acclaimed Vermont conductor Stefanie Weigand and their hard work will culminate in an hour-long performance beginning at 7:30pm. Other local choirs, Dancer Jada Guess, Tuck's Dojo and NESA's own Triple Threat Troupe will perform as well!
Stefanie Weigand (she/her) currently serves as the Chair of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Council for Choral Education. In the past, she has served as President and Membership Chair of the VT chapter of ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and as ACDA’s Eastern Region Youth R&R Chair. She enjoys working as a presenter, clinician, and guest conductor across the region and directs the Catamount Singers at the University of Vermont, where she is also on the voice faculty. Stefanie is the Executive Director of Mu-
sic-COMP, a non-profit organization that promotes creativity and teaches composition to both students and teachers. While teaching grade 7-12 music at Harwood Union MS/HS, she was the 2014 recipient of the VMEA’s Outstanding New Music Educator Award and received a Masters of Music Education from Castleton University.
After completing her BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College, Stefanie toured nationally with a Children’s Theatre Company and worked on stage and off as a performer, pit musician, and music director in New York. Since moving to Vermont, she has appeared as a vocalist, pianist, and music director for various organizations including TURNmusic, the Vermont Philharmonic, Stowe Theatre Guild, Lyric Theatre, Apex Ensemble, the Green Mountain Mahler Festival, The Champlain Philharmonic, Burlington Civic Symphony Orchestra, the Green Mountain Opera Festival, and more. Stefanie’s work as a studio vocalist can also be heard on a number of albums released through Lane Gibson studios, Lovetown Recording, and Tank Recording Studio, including the recent release of The Saturn People’s Sound Collective self-titled album. Learn more at: www.linktr.ee/stefanie802
Click Here to see Video of the February Volunteer Trip
February Volunteer Trip
18 volunteers visited San José Villanueva for a fun-filled week in February. Participants represented: Christ the King Church, the Pittsfield, NH school system, Epilogos Board members, and new and long-time friends of Epilogos.
The Epilogos staff and trip leaders provide an experience that immerses volunteers in the community, and allows participants to see the wide-reaching impact of Epilogos in San José Villanueva.
US and Salvadoran volunteers work side by side to improve the lives of families in the community.
From Rotary District 7850 — Just a few days away...consider coming up for Saturday!
District Conference - April 19-21
Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee VT
Please register now Click Here for the District Conference. We will be at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT the weekend of April 19-21, 2024. Friday night is just a gathering, fun night. There is nothing planned except meeting and greeting. Saturday starts with breakfast and a business meeting. We then break into sessions for youth service, membership, and peace centers. These break out groups repeat so you can pick 2.
Happy Dollars
Ernst Oidtmann is celebrating his 51st wedding anniversary!
Tim Guaraldi has a daughter and son-in-law visiting Thailand...they are visiting the elephants. Another daughter is in Costa Rica providing dental care.
Bruce Pacht had his first cataract removed and an new lens implant. Doc says it is OK...Bruce not convinced.
Hank Clarke's 15 year old grandson played in a basketball tournament in Castleton... and won.
Marilyn and Ron each paid a dollar for their trip to Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, IL. Ron got to shake Paul Harris' hand.
Raffles
Queen of Hearts
Rich Wallace pulled the 3 of hearts . The hunt for the queen has begun.
Car Wash
Tim Guaraldi won the carwash.
FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS
April 18: Brian Nolan, NH4Ukraine.
April 25: Kathleen Harvard, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other dementias
May 2: Jim Kenyon, Valley News
May 9: Lynn Goodwin, Lebanon Welfare Department
May 16: Rich Adams, Communications Specialist
May 23: Brooke Finnell, Epilogos Charities
May 29: Invitation to join Hanover at their meeting to hear the President of Dartmouth College, Sian Beilock
May 30: Alex Bortolot, Deputy Director, Hood Museum at Dartmouth College
June 6: Morgana Isenberg, VA Services
June 13: Ed Morris, Enfield Town Manager
June 20: Dianna Hastings, NH Children’s Trust
June 26: Changeover
Attendance
Marilyn Bedell, Ron Bedell, Phil Bush, Dean Cashman, Hank Clarke, Dave Crandall, Ed Friedman, Tim Guaraldi, Ahmad Haidari*, Jane Mason*, Ron Michaud, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, Rich Wallace, Cal Wolfe, John Yacavone
Guests: Joshua Smith* (soon to be member), Chris and Kathleen Davis (Rotarians moving to the Lebanon from Seattle), Bill Black (invite by Bruce Garland to hear his talk on Rank Voting.)
Speaker: Bruce Garland
*Joined by WebEx
Standing Meetings
Membership Meetings: Third Tuesday at 3:30 PM
Contact: David Crandall
Youth Services: Second Wednesday of the month at Noon
Contact: Joy Gobin
Charities: Third Wednesday of the month at 1:00 PM
Contact: Bruce Pacht
Board Meeting: 4th Tuesday of every month at 4:00 PM via Zoom
Contact: David Crandall
Golf: Let Ed Friedman know if you want to know when Golf Planning meetings are happening. Dates vary.
Brew Fest: Let Phil Rentz know if you want to know when Brew Fest meetings are happening. Dates Vary.
Next Brewfest Meeting: 2023 Brewfest Meeting Agenda – 4/16/2024 at Noon Service Credit Union on Mechanics St. Sign in on main floor then head to level two conference room
Next Youth Service meeting will be May 8, 2024. join Zoom Meeting
The next Styrofoam Collection will be April 6, 2024
31st Bedell Classic Golf Tournament
Save the Date
Friday, May 17, 2024 at Eastman Golf Links
Changeover 2024
Save the Date:
Changeover 2024 will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Time, place, activity to be announced later.
Brew Fest 2024
Save the date! August 31, 2024
TOP STITCH
Rotary Vests and Jackets
John Yacavone has arranged for members to order light and heavier weight jackets and vest for us to wear when doing service projects...for days when our tees shirts just aren't enough to keep us comfortable and warm.
If you click the link below, Top Stitch has created a special website for Lebanon Rotary Club members to order the following clothing items.
1. Men’s and Women’s light weight jackets
2. Men’s and Women’s fleece vests
3. Men’s and Women’s fleece jackets
All jackets and vests will have Rotary Logo and club name.
Just pick your item and follow the instructions for ordering. If you decide to pick up your item at Top Stitch located at 233 Mascoma Street Lebanon, NH 03766 there will be no charge for shipping, otherwise shipping will be charged. If you have any questions about your order please contact Cody at Top Stitch at 603-448-2931. Turn around time is 3.5 - 4 weeks. Once you place your order your order will be processed no waiting on other orders to be fulfilled.
Rotary News
From Rotary International
Rotary and the United Nations Environment Programme have launched a new strategic partnership to protect, restore, and sustain waterways worldwide. RI President-elect Stephanie A. Urchick, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair-elect Mark Daniel Maloney, and the UNEP’s Rafael Peralta announced the initiative, Community Action for Fresh Water, at Rotary’s International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, in January. This collaboration unites Rotary’s community-based solutions with UNEP’s technical expertise.
Community Action for Fresh Water builds on the success of a pilot program, Adopt a River for Sustainable Development, started in 2020. The new program will draw on Rotary and Rotaract club members’ volunteer power and UNEP’s guidance to create projects with lasting environmental impact. Are you ready to take action? Get involved and help protect our valuable freshwater resources!
World Immunization Week — 24-30 April — is a perfect opportunity for Rotary clubs to share the incredible progress we’ve made toward eradicating polio.
This year features significant anniversaries to celebrate:
10 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region was certified free of polio
30 years since the WHO Americas Region was certified as polio-free
50 years since the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, which ensures equitable access to vaccines (including polio vaccines)
As a Rotary member, you have a critical role in helping us achieve important milestones like these.
We know our work isn’t done until we end polio forever. During World Immunization Week, raise awareness about the fact that vaccines work and give as proof examples of what Rotary and our partners have accomplished in reducing polio cases worldwide. Click here to read more.
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