Fellow Rotarians, it’s time to kick into high gear. The Golf Committee is hoping everyone, over the next few weeks can spend some time to get commitments for
>teams,
>sponsors, and
>raffle donations.
The brochure for tournament sent to all members. If you can't find it in your email inbox, ask Bruce Bergeron or Marilyn Bedell to resend it to you.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, April 20 to 25, 2025, it is time to express heartfelt gratitude to each of us for our unwavering dedication to service, as we are all volunteers!
Our commitment to making a difference in our city, region and around the world is truly inspiring. Thank you for your time, energy, and passion…and dollars. Your service not only benefits those we help but also strengthens our Rotary family.
Let us continue to embrace the spirit of service above self, making our world a better place, one project at a time.
May we continually strive to Rotary’s vision is to see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, both locally and globally, and within ourselves.
Our speaker today was Andrew Pinard, from the AVA Gallery and Art Center here in Lebanon.
Andrew Pinard
Ava Gallery and Art Center has been in existence since 1973, over 50 years. Andrew titled his talk The Little Engine that Could. He focused on creativity, observation and perspective . Although about 50% of us in the room did not perceive ourselves as being creative, he believes creativity is a quality we all have, and that we often don't see how were are being creative. He encouraged all of us to look at those moments when we are creative, and to look for opportunities to formally embrace creativity. If you want to more formally explore your creativity, consider attending classes at the Gallery as one way to unleash you own hidden creativity.
Andrew then showed us a picture...Is it a horse or a toad? Depending on how you view the picture, you may see one or the other, but not realize that it can be both. He encouraged us to take the time to view all situations from different perspectives. Being quiet and just observing can also broaden our understanding of various situations. By honing our perception skills, we should have a better understanding of most situations. This can then lead to more diversity and empathy.
He spoke about seeing the world as what may be possible, rather than focusing on what it is now.
AVA has a variety of artist studios for adults and children to explore their creativity. Click on Read more... below for some details on the studios.
The Gallery has a variety of community programing, exhibitions and educational session. Andrew encouraged us to get involve by taking classes or volunteering at AVA.
Andrew also dazzled us with a magical card trick, that helped highlight the importance of creativity, perspective and observation. He received a well deserved round of applause from all of us! Andrew is "that little engine that could!"
As he spoke a variety of slides showing the beauty of AVA was scrolling in the background.
Bill Babineau 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 April Showers
We welcomed former members, Jimmy Shibles, Betsey Child and Shaun Mulholland; and our guests from AVA Gallery, Andrew Pinard, Interim Executive Director and Clair Geno (maybe a prospective member too.)
Birthdays: Rotary's Founder, Paul Harris, April 19th
Anniversaries: Ron Michaud married Hillary 50 years ago...sweet memory for Ron.
Thought of the Day: Ernst Oidtmann shared another true life story. As a physicianl Ernst was making a home visit to a very elderly, bedridden gentleman. As he was starting his physical exam, after listening to his heart and lungs, he started to move toward the patient's abdomen. The patient said, "Wait, Doc" and then proceeded to pull a handgun from his pajama bottoms. Very disquieting as the patient didn't have great vision or hearing...Ernst went on to share that he continues to worry about the accessibility of handguns. Handguns are often the means to suicide too. Yikes. After disquieting story...
It was on to our luncheon buffet.
After lunch: Ernst Oidtmann asked Shaun Mulholland to come forward for a presentation. Shaun has been our City Manager. She will be leaving Lebanon to take a city manager position in Londonderry, NH. As a club we wanted to honor him and reflect on his service to the City of Lebanon and our Club. Ernst presented the following resolution:
Resolution Honoring Shaun Mulholland, City Manager of Lebanon, NH
Shaun Mulholland and Ernst Oidtmann
Whereas Shaun Mulholland has served the City of Lebanon with vision, patience, focus, and unwavering commitment; and
Whereas Mulholland, as the administrative head of city government, has successfully managed day-to-day operations, constructed, implemented, and overseen city budgets, and executed city policies under the guidance of the Lebanon City Council; and
Whereas Mulholland has contributed to numerous events sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lebanon, both as a member and as a friend of the club, including the Mascoma River Clean-up; Harmony Park, Riverside Park, and Baker’s Crossing projects; polystyrene (Styrofoam™) collections; Lebanon Library projects; and donations to the Children’s Collection at the Kilton Library in West Lebanon; and
Whereas Mulholland has strongly encouraged the Rotary Club of Lebanon to continue partnering with the city to address unmet needs in our community;
Now, therefore, be it resolved:
That the Rotary Club of Lebanon expresses profound gratitude for Shaun Mulholland’s support and contributions as both a member of the Rotary Club of Lebanon and as a distinguished city leader.
That he will always be warmly welcomed as a guest at the Rotary Club of Lebanon whenever his travels bring him back to Lebanon, NH.
We are delighted to honor Shaun Mulholland’s exceptional "Service Above Self" to the City of Lebanon and the Rotary Club of Lebanon by awarding him the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship. This recognition celebrates Mulholland’s personal giving to the Rotary Foundation, as well as additional contributions made by the Rotary Club of Lebanon to achieve the fellowship.
On this day, April 17, 2025, we present Shaun Mulholland with a certificate, pin and pin in acknowledgment of his dedication to advancing the Rotary Foundation's goals of goodwill, world peace, and fostering understanding at local, regional, national, and international levels.
President Ernst Oidtmann Trustee Chair Bruce Pacht
Rotary Club of Lebanon, Inc. Rotary Club of Lebanon Charities, Inc.
Our program today was about the AVA Art Gallery. See story above.
Announcements, happy/sad dollars and raffle results below.
Announcements
Ahmad remined us that the Social Gathering at Salt Hill: Rotary Club of Lebanon...Social Gathering 3rd Monday of Every Month begins on April 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
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: Building the new playground at the park will happen on Thursday, 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! It's not to late to sign up to help.
From Phil Bush: Upper Valley Earth Week Open House
April 26 and Sunday, April 27
10 a.m. to 2 p.m
Come visit your neighbors at 24 homes (one home is Phil Bushes home in West Lebanon), 1 school, and 1 church in the Upper Valley Earth Week Open House to see and discuss the earth-friendly strategies they're using to do less harm to their families, their communities, and the planet.
Visitors will be welcomed both Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Register to attend before 9 p.m. on April 25 to receive an email giving access to the pdf guide to the Open House sites. The guide will be emailed once per week on Thursday or Friday to all registered attendees. There is no fee to register, but you must be registered to get information about the various locations you can visit.
During the Open House, ask your questions about solar power, electric vehicles, heat pumps for heating and cooling, insulation, induction stoves, water heaters, electric bikes and lawn care tools, earth-friendly gardens, and much more!
Epilogos Charities
Hi Bruce and Marilyn,
I want to share the 2024 Annual Report from Epilogos Charities, Inc with specific information about the generous support we have received from the Rotary - please share this with the members. As you know our program for students with special needs has been very successful and we rely on partners like Rotary to help us fund the scholarships. We are in the process of assigning students and sponsors for 2025 so I will share the photos soon.
On behalf of the Epilogos staff and Board of Directors, thank you!
Sincerely,
Brooke Finnell
Styrofoam Summary: Four truck loads of Styrofoam were collected and moved the Gilford Landfill after our collection with Sustainable Lebanon on April 12. Since then, we received a note from Gilford's Landfield team...If you are interested...reach out the the folks at the Gilford Landfill:
Good afternoon FOAM RECYCLING SUPPORTERS! We need your help in recruiting some volunteers to help process foam!
GILFORD is in need of volunteers on Wednesdays to help with the REGIONAL FOAM RECYCLING PROGRAM which currently includes 25 communities and is growing every month! Volunteers can sign up for one or more 2 hour time slots any week that works for them. This is a one time commitment unless a volunteer wants to come on a regular basis.
Please consider sharing one of these graphics regarding FOAM VOLUNTEERING on your local social media groups OR by emailing it to your local Rotary Club, Lions Club or Enviro/Sustainable Group or Committees and members! THANK YOU!!
Online signup link: www.tinyurl.com/recyclefoam and the QR code to this link is attached if you want to make your own custom graphic!
The list below is the communities currently involved in the Gilford Regional Foam Recycling Program through either regular collections at their transfer stations or special collection events. If I am missing your community or you are incorrectly listed, please let me know! Here is a map of the communities as well! Contact me with ANY questions and THANK YOU for supporting and promoting this very important program!
Alton
Ashland
Campton
Canterbury
Cornish
Exeter
Gilford
Hanover
Harrisville
Hartford VT - Upper Valley
Holderness
Laconia - Church
Lebanon
Meredith
Moultonborough
Nashua
New London
North Hampton
Northfield
Peterborough
Plymouth
Sandwich
Tamworth
Thetford VT - Upper Valley
Thorton
Meghan Theriault, P.E.
Director of Public Works
Gilford Public Works / 55 Cherry Valley Road / Gilford, NH 03249
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.
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.
From Epilogos Charities:
Hi Bruce and Marilyn,
I want to share the 2024 Annual Report from Epilogos Charities, Inc with specific information about the generous support we have received from the Rotary - please share this with the members. As you know our program for students with special needs has been very successful and we rely on partners like Rotary to help us fund the scholarships. We are in the process of assigning students and sponsors for 2025 so I will share the photos soon.
On behalf of the Epilogos staff and Board of Directors, thank you!
Sincerely,
Brooke Finnell
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.
Happy/Sad Dollars
Jimmy Shibles thanked our members who have helped Past President and former member, Jon Blodgett move to his new home.
Ron Michaud thanks Dave Crandall for all the interesting programs he has arranged, especially the program today about AVA Gallery,
George Wenz was happy that Betsey Child and Jimmy Shibles accepted his invitation to come to our meeting today.
Hank shared that he had fun with grandkids over their school spring break. One went with them to the Montshire, and the other to inside golf.
Marilyn Bedell encouraged our member to consider joining AARP if they haven't done so already. She is now on an executive advisory committee. AAPR is non-partisan organization. Currently they are very focused on the fate of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, cost of prescription medication and family caregiving, to name a few. For example of AARP's advocacy work regarding Social Security: "AARP advocates for more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, has adopted an “all-hands-on-deck approach,” Hishta says. We are engaging with SSA leadership and lawmakers, educating decision-makers and the public on the importance of Social Security to older Americans and the toll customer-service cuts could have, and encouraging our members to join our fight. AARP activists have sent more than a million emails and calls to Congress in the past few weeks, voicing their concerns about recent SSA changes." Read more by clicking here.
RAFFLES
Ahmad Haidari who pulled the Ace of Hearts.
The Enfield car wash went to Ron Bedell
At 1:24 pm, the Rotary bell was rung and we closed with our motto:
One Profits Most Who Serves Best
Attendance:
Rotarians in attendance:
Bill Babineau,Marilyn Bedell, Ronald Bedell, Bruce Bergeron, Phil Bush, Dean Cashman, Hank Clarke, Dave Crandall, Mila Dela Pina, Steve Grant, Tim Guaraldi, Ahmad Haidari, Will Koppenheffer, Jane Mason*, Angela Nelson, Ron Michaud, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Rich Wallace, Richard Wallace, George Wenz, Steve Whitman, Cal Wolfe, John Yacavone
Guests: Former members, Jimmy Shibles, Betsey Child and Shaun Mulholland; From the AVA Gallery Claire Geno, Andrew Pinard
FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS
Apr 24:Open Democracy: Strengthening Voter Participation — Olivia Zink has been the Executive Director of Open Democracy since 2016 and served as the Program Director for Open Democracy since 2009. She has worked on a broad range of campaigns. Olivia also spent a year in Bolivia working with the Democracy Center. In 2008, she was named one of New Hampshire’s “40 under 40,” by the NH Union Leader. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Sustainable Living, and a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a master’s degree in Community Economic Development
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 January through June 2025
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: Marilyn Bedell
Rotary News
Council on Legislation approves dues increase
Rotarians from all over the world met in Chicago, Illinois, USA 13-17 April to vote on the rules governing Rotary clubs. Representatives considered more than 75 proposals. The Council approved an increase in the dues that all members pay to Rotary International each year through 2028-29. The Board argued the increases were needed to keep providing valuable programs and services to members.The Council also approved allowing clubs to charter with as few as 15 members instead of 20.Read a summary of the proposals and see preliminary vote totals.
Rotary honors a teacher and mentor with the 2025 Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award
This Turkish Rotarian has promoted women’s financial literacy, funded scholarships for girls, and provided relief to earthquake victims
By Etelka Lehoczky
The 2025 recipient of Rotary’s Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award combines a longstanding commitment to empowering women with a talent for teaching and mentorship. Ayda Özeren, a member of the Rotary Club of Izmir-Gündogdu, Izmir, Turkey, is an author, mediator, and professional speaker whose work has touched the lives of as many as 11,000 women and girls.
Ayda Özeren , a member of the Rotary Club of Izmir-Gündogdu, Izmir, Turkey, is the 2025 recipient of Rotary’s Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award.
Ayda Özeren
“We have to change the leadership process. We should make more women leaders,” she says.
Özeren has spent years conducting financial literacy workshops for women as well as organizing mentorship opportunities and tutoring programs for girls. She published a book and donated all the proceeds to funding girls’ scholarships. In 2023-24, as governor of Rotary District 2440, she took the lead in relief efforts for victims of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes.
“I find her remarkable and inspiring, because whatever she does, she does it with her heart,” says Yeşim Yöney , a member of the Rotary E-Club of District 2440, who co-nominated Özeren for the award. “She’s a hard worker, a good planner, and she is somebody who is positive, who embraces people. I think that’s a very important thing in a leader.”
Özeren studied political science, international relations, and marketing. While pursuing a career in the banking industry, she learned how to be a teacher. She began conducting financial literacy seminars after her bank developed a program to provide startup funding to female entrepreneurs. Through Rotary, she led similar classes for women in rural areas, factories, and schools. She visited more than 100 factories and small manufacturing companies, educating around 8,000 women about finances and economic empowerment. It was by teaching others, Özeren says, that she learned how to lead.
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul P. Harris.
Paul Harris at age 3, around the time he moved to his grandparents’ home.
Harris was born on 19 April 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA. At age 3, he moved to Wallingford, Vermont, where he grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents. He attended the University of Vermont and Princeton University and received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1891.
In 1896, Harris settled in Chicago and opened a law practice. Four years later, he met fellow attorney Bob Frank for dinner on Chicago’s North Side. They walked around the area, stopping at shops along the way. Harris was impressed that Frank was friendly with many of the shopkeepers. He had not seen this kind of camaraderie among businessmen since moving to Chicago and wondered if there was a way to channel it, because it reminded him of growing up in Wallingford.
“The thought persisted that I was experiencing only what had happened to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others in the great city. ... I was sure that there must be many other young men who had come from farms and small villages to establish themselves in Chicago. ... Why not bring them together? If others were longing for fellowship as I was, something would come of it.”
Jean and Paul Harris board a ship after visiting Rotary members in Bermuda, 1925.
Harris eventually persuaded several business associates to discuss the idea of forming an organization for local professionals. On 23 February 1905, Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in downtown Chicago for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting.
In February 1907, Harris was elected the third president of the Rotary Club of Chicago. Toward the end of his presidency, he worked to expand Rotary beyond the city. Some club members resisted, not wanting to take on the additional financial burden. But Harris persisted, and by 1910, Rotary had expanded to several other major U.S. cities.
Harris recognized the need to form a national association with an executive board of directors. In August 1910, Rotarians held their first national convention in Chicago, where the 16 existing clubs unified as the National Association of Rotary Clubs (now Rotary International). The new association unanimously elected Harris as its president.
At the end of his second term as Rotary president, Harris resigned, citing ill health and the demands of his professional practice and personal life. He was elected president emeritus by convention action, a title he held until his death.
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