Thanks to Bruce Pacht for taking minutes during the meeting.
Upcoming Programs/Speakers
Change in Meeting Times Starting.We will be meeting at 11:55 a.m. on the First and Second Thursdays and we will be meeting at 5:25 p.m. on the Third and Forth Thursdays.
March 18, 5:30 PM: Club Business Meeting.
March 25, 5:30 PM :Caleb Wolfe: International Water Project
History of Easter Seal's (ESs) in New Hampshire and the Connection to Rotary International.
Our speakers today are Christine Pederson, and Michelle Kennedy from ESs New Hampshire. Christine reviewed the history of ESs and it connection to Rotary; and Michelle spoke about the support ESs gives to active military service members and veterans.
From Christine:
Edgar Allen, “father of Easter Seals”, was a Rotarian in Elyria, Ohio, member and friends with Paul Harris. Allen’s son was killed in 1907 streetcar accident when Elyria had no hospital. Allen sold his business and raised money to build the city’s first hospital in 1908. At that hospital, he met a boy named Jimmy with physical disabilities. Allen realized such problems would require specialized care.
Allen next led the charge to build “Gates Hospital for Crippled Children”, first of its kind in the US. “Kids had the opportunity to go outside.”
1919, Ohio Association for Crippled Children was created and began to evolve; 1921, National Society for Crippled Children formed; by 1929, 23 states were members. Rotarians helped organize Crippled Children’s Societies.
1934, stamp-like seals were created to raise money. Michelle said, “ESs is NOT a religious organization. Easter means resurrection and new life and what they were doing for the children was like giving the children a new life.” (Some of us noticed that the first seal showed a child with disabilities superimposed on a background of a large white cross, which some of us do interpret as a religious symbol.)
First Easter Seals
1936, Ezra Jones, NH’s first orthopedic surgeon, joined forces with NH Rotary and formed the NH chapter. ESs NH is now 85 years old.
1944, “and adults” was added to the “National Society for Crippled Children and Handicapped Persons.”
1952, adopted the lily as symbol and took the name “Easter Seals Societies” since everyone called them that already.
2016, ESs changed the logo to the one pictured at the top of this article
Mission of ESs:All people with special needs and disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.
Like Rotary the headquarters for ESs is in Chicago
In New Hampshire, Christine reported that 90 cents of every dollar on programs and services in New Hampshire. Last year, Easterseals NH programs served more than 25,600 children, adults, and seniors, as well as veterans and their families from every county in the Granite State. Many thousands more received Disability Awareness and
Information & Referral Services.
Annual budget = $100 M, one of the largest in the world Easter Seals chapters in the world
Only 10% admin. rate; ESs provides 11 core programs and 80 sub-services
Funding sources for programs comes from:
Government contracts/support
Fee for service
Foundation/grants
Fundraising/community support
From the NH ESs Web Page:
Easterseals NH opened its doors in 1936 as the NH Society for Crippled Children under the leadership of NH’s first orthopedic surgeon Ezra Jones and Crotched Mountain founder Harry Gregg. At that time, the organization provided services to children out of a small office in Nashua, NH.
For more than 83 years, Easterseals NH has provided exceptional services to ensure we change the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day.
Easterseals NH services include : Child Development Centers and Family Resource Center, Early Supports and Services, Autism Services, Residential & Educational Services, Transportation Services, Camps and Recreation, Community Based Services, Workforce Development, Military & Veterans Services, Senior Services, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Oral Health Services.
As a leader in social services for individuals with disabilities and special needs, Easterseals NH employs more than 1,800 individuals who serve more than 28,000 children, adults and seniors with our 12 core programs throughout the sta
ES core programs
To learn more about ESs programs, click the links below.
Michelle Kennedy then provided us a overview of veterans services
Easterseals Military & Veterans Services, in partnership with Veterans Count, goal is to responds rapidly, efficiently and effectively to the unmet needs of service members, veterans and their families to ensure that they can thrive in their communities.
“UV Does Count” – newest chapter; building relationships with Hypertherm and Dartmouth.
“Veterans Count” is the fundraising arm for what ESs does with vets and active service members
Care coordinators work with emergency financial assistance, mental health, anything falling through gaps of what’s provided by other organizations.
In VT, you can get eviction help through the state but only $500 once, and only after eviction. ESs steps in before eviction, not limited. We help with budgeting, help them get work, keep them in their home while being helped. “A hand up, not a hand out.” Committed to holistic model.
UV Veterans Count – working with some law school students to help with paperwork. They have a clinic willing to help.
Michelle pairing with “Quechee Club to do a 5K and a golf tournament this year.
Veterans Count is doing lots of work in northern NE. We’re trying some hikes. One of our leaders works at Hypertherm helping with community support.
John Yacavone: I grew up in CT. I remember March of Dimes and Help the Kids Around the Corner. I thought these evolved into Easter Seals
Christine: “I cannot answer that. I will try to find our and send answer to you via Jane Mason” March is about birth defects; we work with children after birth.
Bruce: How do you relate to the NH developmental disabilities area system in general, and to Pathways of the Upper Valley in particular?
Christine: We have advocates who engage in planning processes. Our COO Nancy Rollins works with area agencies on expanding services.
Hank: Are you working with American Legion, VFW, DAV, others?
Michelle: With covid, connections have been a little slower, but I’ve been attending Zoom meetings and starting to work my way around the organizations. Have made some contact with American Legion in Barre (where Michelle works) has helped get me with the VT American Legion.
Christine: We did a big mailing to all civic groups in January seeking speaking opportunities to keep us in the public eye now that our events have slowed down.
BILL SECORD presented a book in honor of our speakers that goes to the Children's collection at the Kilton Library: A Trapezoid is not a Dinosaur
Bill Shared:
The book for Christine Pederson and Michelle Kennedy is A Trapezoid Is Not a Dinosaur!
Easter Seals supports giving opportunities to everyone, no matter any disability. This children's book focuses on "fitting in".
In this wildly amusing, unconventional shape concept book, Trapezoid is here to declare that he's a shape, too. He's NOT a type of dinosaur!
Shape up, shapes! Triangle is hosting auditions for all the best shapes to be in his play. Circle, Square, and Star each get a part. But Trapezoid just doesn't "fit in." Is he even a shape? The others think he sounds like a type of dinosaur . Determined to show off his usefulness, Trapezoid tries to act like the other shapes, to no avail. Eventually, though, Trapezoid celebrates his own distinct shape properties in order to become part of the performance.
Your editor missed all the pre-meeting banter as she had difficulty signing in to the Zoom meeting. After about 10 attempts, she realized she was using the incorrect link...sigh. Good thing President Ron knew what he was doing and successfully hosted the meeting.
12:02 – President Ron Bedell rang the pretend bell to bring the meeting to order.
Dan Affeldt recited the 4-Way Test
Jane Mason then introduced our two speakers from Easterseals NH.
Following the speakers we moved on to club business.
Club business
Visiting Rotarian, Dick Podolec, provided an overview of a Hanover Rotaract project. Rotarian/Rotaractor Parnterships
Background:
Rotaract has been established at Dartmouth College, receiving its charter in January, 2020. Michelle Sun, whose father was a district governor in California, was involved in Interact and Youth Exchange. Now she is at Dartmouth and wanted to reestablish the Rotaract Club at Dartmouth.
She will attend Northeast Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (NEPETS) as a Rotaract president-elect, although she’s served as president since chartering. Dick is the advisor. Fifteen (15 )students started originally, then all went home because of Covid. The College recently recognized Rotarian Casey Aldrich (Global Studies Program Manager at the Dickey Center) as the club’s faculty advisor for winter term and they got 30 students to sign up.
Dick has been talking to Casey about “partnerships” between Rotarians and Rotaractors to help students during their years at Dartmouth. Objectives:
Help students learn more about Rotary; and you will learn more about Rotaract
Provide career advise and potentially mentor the student as they progress through their education at Dartmouth;
Be a resource to them as the learn about the Upper Valley and what our region has to offer; and you may learn more about what is offered at Dartmouth.
Provide an opportunity for your to learn more about youth perspectives.
Permit Rotarians and Rotaractors to work on each others club projects.
Pilot was begun with 7 students, but it’s difficult with all students now studying remotely and not knowing when physical meetings could occur. Eleven (11) of the 30 new members want to participate with Rotary partners. Contacts are possible now by Zoom or telephone. Real question is whether Rotarians want to become involved. Dick is asking us to volunteer to be partnered with a Rotaractor at Dartmouth. Dick would be happy to be the contact. Let Ron Bedell know if you want to participate, and he will get you connected to Dick Podolec.
Dick believes some Rotaractors will help with the Boston Lot project; Ernst mentioned that a team of Hanover Rotarians also is being organized for that project.
Dick suggested that Rotaractors may be used as advisors to your Interact clubs.
MEMBER ACTION: IF YOU WANT TO PARTNER WITH A ROTARACTOR AT DARTMOUTH, LET RON BEDELL KNOW AND HE WILL CONNECT YOU WITH DICK PODOLEC TO LEARN MORE.
A story about Ernst Oidtmann’s father which really turned out to be the story of a ship
About a year ago, Ernst began translating his father’s war diary. His father's diaries begin NY Eve December 1944 and goes all the way until Canadian soldiers liberated Holland in 1945.
Ernst’s father took an trip to Russia, becoming a passenger on the SS Leersum going to pick up logs. The July trip took 2-3 weeks, sailing all the way around Norway, past Murmansk into the White Sea to Arkhangelsk. The ship was built in 1916, the same year Ernst’s father was born. In 1939, ship was sold to Nazi Germany; Dutch were not yet at war, having signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler. Ship was re-named Henning Holdendorf, after a shipping company; one of the Holdendorf brothers became an SS officer.
Fall of 1939, ship traveled from Spain to Germany. In the Danish Strait, the ship was caught by the English cruiser HMS Columbo and sailed to the Orkneys. English reamed it Empire Industry; it made several trips in convoy assistance.
In March, 1941, the SS Leersum/Empire Industry was part of a convoy caught by two Nazi battleships, one of which was only a little smaller than the Bismarck; it was called Scharenhorst. It’s cannon fire sank the SS Leersum/Empire Industry.
The Scharenhorst was commissioned in 1936. At the end of 1943, it was attacking ships on the Murmansk run when it was sunk by an English battleship in one of the battles. Out of its 1900 sailors, only 30 survived.
Ernst’s father served in the Navy, and was in Rotterdam, when Germans bombed the center of that city flat. He was a POW for some time.
After the war, he as jailed for a time because he wrote a nasty letter to a traitor; he lost about 40 lbs. there. Ernst’s mother also went to jail for listening to the BBC when denounced to the Nazis.
All happened exactly 80 years ago. In the 3rd volume of Churchills’ WWII history, The Grand Alliance, Churchill mentions the final battle of the Scharenhorst as the beginning of the Battle of the Atlantic.
NEPETS – Hank starts his experience as our president-elect this week, doing three evenings of Zoom and another three nights next week.
Just before the end of the meeting, Dan Affeldt asked if anyone could remember the name of a Rotary Luncheon speaker at Salt hill who presented a 10-year history of photos taken of the Arctic Ice Cap. Can anyone remember her name?
Will K thinks “Jennifer Mercer”. Incredible memory! Will served with Jennifer on the Lebanon Zoning Commission.
Dan thanked Will for the information.
Meeting ended by Ron Bedell at 1:00 PM with Marilyn Bedell ringing the real bell.
Announcements and Updates:
Students of the month
Here are the students of the month for February from HACTC. Lebanon Rotary is a participant with other local Rotary clubs in giving recognition to these students for their accomplishments.
Brew Fest 2021
Save the date...Saturday, September 4, Labor Day Weekend
(assuming we can have Colburn Park without any conflicts!)
Boston Lot Service Project — Building Foot Bridges
Save the Date: SATURDAY MORNING MAY 29; START at 9 AM
Nine log bridges need to be built across several water drainages. The trail is the one that circles the pond and the pertinent part is the one from the picnic area clockwise on the North West side. Each bridge consists of 2 four feet long “sleepers” (like cross ties) and 2 six or twelve feet long boards to be nailed down with steel pegs.
The necessary supplies will be brought up 1 or 2 days before the 29th. The gates will be unlocked so we can drive up to the site.
Ideally we need four or five teams of 4 people each and each team should be able to build one or two bridges. The Conservation Commission will and the Hanover Rotary club may send a team.
Supplies needed: saws (chain- or hand-), large hammers, pry bar, shovels, straps, gloves, power drills, band aids, etc.. This is not a complete list.
The Co-vid 19 situation should be much improved, but social distancing and masks will still be recommended.
Rotary Invitation From Northern NH Rotary Clubs to Clean Up the Kancamagus, June 4th & Pinkham Notch, July 24th
Will be formally announced at our March 11th Meeting
To: Service Organization Partners
From: Northern New Hampshire Rotary Clubs
Date: February, 2021 Re: Rotary Community Clean-Up New Hampshire Projects
The Rotary Clubs of Bristol, Lincoln-Woodstock, North Conway, Ossipee, Plymouth, and White Mountains invite you to join with us to brighten up our area’s most scenic highways, byways, and trailheads.
The more volunteers we attract, the more impact we will have. We are looking for support from individuals, other service clubs and organizations, chambers of commerce, school groups, churches, municipalities, area businesses, and anyone who would like to join us as we Clean Up New Hampshire.
If you are unable to commit your body to a day of labor, we are happy to discuss other ways you can support our efforts such as in-kind or monetary donations. Our goal is to make these projects sustainable and far reaching for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, thanks to the support of everyone who cares about our communities! Also, working outdoors, COVID-19 safety protocols will be more easily enforced.
Our first undertaking is the Kancamagus Clean-Up Project. The date is Saturday, June 5th, from 9am to 3pm. We will have teams starting at the Kancamagus Highway height of land working their way downhill toward the towns of Lincoln and Conway, picking up trash along the highway in the rest areas, pull offs, and trailheads. We will be organized by teams and given zones within which to work. We will supply all that you need as well as a continental breakfast to get you started and lunch to keep you going. Our goal is to engage up to 150 Kancamagus Clean-Up participants!
Anticipating that our Kancamagus Clean-Up efforts will be successful, we are already planning for a Pinkham Notch Clean-Up Project on July 24, 2021, and at least two more before the snow flies! Please join our Rotary Community Clean-Up project. To participate, contact our Volunteer Coordination Committee Chair: BOB YOUNG YOUNGLAWFIRM@YAHOO.COM Thank you very much for your consideration in joining our efforts. We look forward to working with you as we Clean Up New Hampshire!
Please join our Rotary Community Clean-Up project. To participate, contact our Volunteer Coordination Committee Chair:
BOB YOUNG YOUNGLAWFIRM@YAHOO.COM
Thank you very much for your consideration in joining our efforts. We look forward to working with you as we Clean Up New Hampshire!
Mascoma River Clean-up
Ernst Oidtmann announce that Mascoma River Clean-up will be on September 25 is the date of the biennial Mascoma River Clean-up which will take place in concert with the Connecticut River Clean-up.
Rotaract at Dartmouth
If you want to be partnered with a Dartmouth Rotaract Student, Let Ron Bedell know and he will ask Dick Podolec to work with you to make the connection. Again the objectives for this partnership:
Help students learn more about Rotary; and you will learn more about Rotaract
Provide career advise and potentially mentor the student as they progress through their education at Dartmouth;
Be a resource to them as the learn about the Upper Valley and what our region has to offer; and you may learn more about what is offered at Dartmouth.
Provide an opportunity for your to learn more about youth perspectives.
Permit Rotarians and Rotaractors to work on each others club projects.
Members at the Meeting
Dan Affeldt
Bill Babineau
Marilyn Bedell
Ron Bedell
Bruce Bergeron
Paul Boucher
Hank Clarke
Dave Crandall
Jim Damren
Ed Friedman
Joy Gobin
Will Koppenheffer
Cindy Jerome
Will Koppenheffer
Joanne Lemieux
Jane Mason
Ernst Oidtmann
Bruce Pacht
Phil Renz
Bill Secord
Rich Wallace
John Yacavone
Visiting Rotarian - Jimmy Brock (Hamilton, Bermuda), Dick Podolec (Hanover, NH)
Guest Speakers - From Easter Seals, Michelle Kennedy and Christine Pederson
They Profit Most Who Serve the Best
Happy Thoughts/Concerns
There wasn't enough time for sharing happy thoughts and concerns this week. Here's hoping these can be saved up for next week.
Former Soccer Star Leaves It All on the Field to Improve Education in Tanzania
Ashley Holmer is a member of the Rotary Club of Lewis River (Battle Ground), Washington
Photo by Fritz Liedtke
Here’s how joining a Rotary club helped enhance Ashley Holmer’s work
Looking for a meaningful year-abroad experience, Ashley Holmer decided to teach in Tanzania. The former college soccer star coached and taught English in a Maasai community in 2005.
But Holmer soon became more deeply involved in education in Tanzania. She co-founded the Indigenous Education Foundation of Tanzania (IEFT), which established a school in the village of Orkeeswa in 2008. In 2011, the leaders of Mungere village asked Holmer to help build its first community high school. That was the beginning of the Red Sweater Project, named for the color of the school uniforms. Since then, the Mungere School — and education — has been a central part of Holmer’s life.
The Red Sweater Project focuses on three main areas: quality education, gender equality, and responsible innovation. In Tanzania, many children — especially girls — leave school around age 12, in part because of costs for uniforms, school supplies, meals, and transportation. To keep students in the classroom, the project makes education affordable by reducing those ancillary costs.
In 2013, Holmer, who still spends about half her time in Tanzania, was invited to a meeting of the Lewis River Rotary club. She was struck by the way her values meshed with those of Rotary but was unable to join at the time because of attendance requirements. In January 2017, with those requirements having become more flexible, she became a member.
The club has embraced Holmer’s work and sponsors scholarships for six students each year to attend the Mungere School. “We have students whose parents are illiterate,” Holmer says. “One of my students just finished her teacher training. It’s coming full circle.”
We are meeting via
Zoom!
We will be meeting every
Thursdays
The First and Third Thursday at 12 Noon, and the 3rd and 4th Thursday at 5:30 PM
Please join us if you can!!
Need to learn how to join a Zoom Meeting? Click Here
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