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 25, 5:30 PM :Caleb Wolfe: International Water Project, Emma's Garden in Kenya
April 1, 11:55 AM: Dan Affeldt, Classification Talk
April 8, 11:55 AM:
April 15, 5:25 PM
April 22, 525 PM:
April 29, Time 3 PM: No Zoom meeting today, instead we will do our RIVERSIDE PARK CLEAN-UP [THINK SPRING]
Bring park clean-up supplies e.g. gloves, rakes, tarps, leaf blowers (these always make the job easier), etc.
Moorings
Prior to the start of the meeting, Dan Affeldt shared stories of radio DJing in Minnesota. We digressed as we talked about Ed Friedman's virtual screen of Honolulu and Diamond Head. The question was raised is how can Hawaii have interstate highways? Hummm. Jimmy Brock then gave us the Bermuda weather report of 70+ degrees with sunshine...great weather for golf, but he was homebound today doing chores.
The meeting was called to order by President Ron Bedell at 5:33 PM. Dave Crandall led us in the reciting for the 4-Way Test.
CLUB budget for the Rotary year 2021-2022:
Steve Whitman presented on behalf of the club finance committee (members also include treasurer Angela Nelson and Bruce Bergeron). The Club Board of Directors has approved this budget.
The budget with a narrative from Steve had been distributed with the meeting agenda.
Steve asked if members had any questions, members present at the meeting indicated they had the information they needed to be able to vote on the budget.
There will be a $3/month increase in dues as of July 1, 2021, to $30/month in order to provide an increased marketing budget with the goal of attracting more members which, in turn would help the budget.
A motion was made by Garlan Hoskins, and was seconded by Hank Clarke to adopt the proposed 2021/2022 Club operating budget which included a $3.00/month dues increase. The vote was unanimous in the affirmative to accept the budget as presented to the club by the Club's Finance Committee.
Ron then proceeded to ask for updates from Club Committees:
Jane Mason reported that the speaker at our March 25th meeting (5:30) will be Caleb Wolfe who will be talking about a water project in Kenya. He’s also been nominated by Bill Secord to become a member of Lebanon Rotary.
April 29, 2021 is a 5th Friday meeting for our Club. The Zoom meeting will be cancelled. Instead we will gather at the Riverside Park at 3 PM to do our spring clean-up.
Golf: Ed Friedman is the chair of the golf Committee. First meeting was held with good attendance. Next meeting in 2 weeks. Additional committee members are welcomed to join this fun group! Brochure has been distributed to team leaders. We have two teams signed up already. There will be tee times, as opposed to a shotgun start, in order to minimize crowding on the course as a Covid preventative. We hope all club members will participate by playing, soliciting donations, and volunteering on the day of the event.
Set up should begin around 9, with registration beginning at 10.
Charities: Bruce Pacht will present the CHARITIES budget on May 6 or 20 for the Rotary year 2021-2022 for you to approve. Charities is considering several requests for the current year.
Centennial Committee: Last chance to share your ideas for our 100th Anniversary with Dave Crandall or Marion Steiner! The Committee will turn the page on gathering input from members, so this is the last call. The committee will meet next week to focus on the top 3 choices, then begin gathering information on feasibility. Dave indicated that they won’t focus on the celebration or the book until the project is identified and initial planning for it is complete.
JoAnn talked about a flag project that might be a fund raiser for the club to help with Centennial cost. It would be a project of putting up USA flags about 5 times a year in front of homes on more public roads in Lebanon and West Lebanon. We would charge to have the flag placed over holiday weekends. This project would require a lot of Club member manpower and we would need a good place to store flags to keep them protected. JoAnn encouraged to share her idea with the Community Service Committee.
Several members discussed if there were opportunities to do projects at Twin River Park or behind Timken.
Steve Whitman shared that we came very close about 10 years ago to doing something on the land down behind Timken. Timken was willing to consider a park project along the river but crossing the RR tracks became a major barrier. The Timken land is between Lebanon and West Lebanon and looks like a great location for expansion.
Ernst pointed out that the easement at Twin Rivers is held by the UV Land Trust; he thinks it will be very hard to get 3 fields, there but they may agree to allow one sports field.
Cindy Jerome suggested that the 100th project should be something that younger adults would want to work on, see the results of, and benefit from. She likes the idea of a community gathering to celebrate our 100th. Let’s choose a project to commemorate our anniversary and organize a community celebration and workday at the same time to eat and work; have attractions for kids. Work, play, eat – a combination event to draw a lot of people.
Membership: Rich Wallace talked about plans for using the funds requested by our Membership Committee for 2021/2022 Rotary year. He stated we have to figure out how to drive people to the new web site so they can learn more about Rotary: advertisements, emails, etc. If we spend a little money on “a group that’s so dynamic” that a younger generation would become interested in what they can do by joining, it may pay off. We simply cannot expect younger folks to be attracted by the offer of sitting down to 4 meetings at specific times each month with a group of folks a generation older than they. We have to SHOW them that Rotary is a vehicle for them to achieve their service desires locally, regionally and around the world, and that it’s not just for senior citizens. Hank Clarke shared that this is what he is hearing during his President-elect Training.
Garlan Hoskin shared that he watched the RI President speak recently. PDG Sonny Holt (Randolph) contends that as young people become more involved with service activities, they get more involved with Rotary.
Rich: True. We also have to listen to the younger folks taking the lead about where they want to go.
Ron Bedell saw a presentation by RIPE Holger Knaack. As bad as it has been for us to attract members in North America, Holger said that in Europe, the average age of Rotarians is 65 years; Great Britain’s average age is 75+. Lebanon’s average is 55+.
Boston Lot Bridge Build: Ernst Oidtmann reminded us that we will build bridges on the Boston Lot on May 29, 2021 starting at 9 AM. A team from Rotary Club of Hanover will help, along with other community members. An estimate from Wright’s sawmill for the boards = $570.
Mascoma River Clean-up: Ernst Oidtmann reminded us the Mascoma River Clean up will be on September 25th.
Happy thoughts and concerns:
Steve Whitman announced that he is donating $79 to the Mollica Fund for his birthday. His birthday was last week.
Hank Clarke asked the following question: If it goes to Mollica, only the interest can be used, correct?
Steve: Actually, there will be two ways to donate.
Will: It’s always been the option to give to corpus or to be spent.
Hank Clarke will be making a $75 donation for his birthday.
Sad thought: Dave Crandall’s father passed away this past Saturday. Because of Covid, only one person could be in the room. Dave was holding his father’s hand when he passed away, a profound moment in human life.
Our Meeting ended at 6:17 PM with Marilyn Bedell ringing the bell.
They Profit Most Who Serve the Best
Announcements and Updates:
Riverside Park Clean-Up April 28, 2021, Time to be determined.
Bring park clean-up supplies e.g. gloves, rakes, tarps, leaf blowers (these always make the job easier), etc.
Bedell Golf Classic 2021 at Eastman Golf Links — May 27, 2021
Save the Date & Plan to Volunteer Before or at the events.
The golf committee up and running. Team leaders have been identified and will be reaching out to you with more detailed information and provide a brochure to be used for recruit golfers, sponsors and raffle prizes. If you want to help, let Ed Friedman, Golf Chair know. Everyone needs to begin recruiting golfers, reach out to find sponsors and raffle prizes. Raffle prizes don't need to be big ticket items, often we can group some smaller items and make it one prize. Once again, tee times will be used instead of a shot gun start. More details will be shared as the committee get rolling.
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
Marilyn Bedell
Ron Bedell
Paul Boucher
Hank Clarke
Dave Crandall
Ed Friedman
Garlan Hoskins
Will Koppenheffer
Cindy Jerome
Will Koppenheffer
Joanne Lemieux
Jane Mason
Depak Niroula
Ernst Oidtmann
Bruce Pacht
Bill Secord
Rich Wallace
Steve Whitman
John Yacavone
Visiting Rotarian - Jimmy Brock (Hamilton, Bermuda)
What Paul Harris would think of the Rotary of today? Would he smile, or grimace? He probably didn’t imagine how far his little idea would go when he sat down for that first meeting on 23 February a full 116 years ago.
As a fun exercise, I tried to imagine what it might be like if Paul Harris started Rotary today. To do this, I first imagined what a Gen Y Paul might be like.
I decided he’d be a social entrepreneur and blogger. His personal style is a touch metro, add some emo, and just a squeeze of hipster. He lives a healthy lifestyle, eats organic and gluten free. He is warm and welcoming, with a hearty laugh, and certainly doesn’t need a copy of “How to Win Friends & Influence People.” He has 500 plus connections on LinkedIn.
What does his Rotary club look like?
The club is very inclusive with its membership. They work hard to attract individuals of all genders, races, beliefs, and backgrounds. They are very particular about not incorporating any practices that would be offensive to any particular group. They don’t take political stands, but they are eager, collectively, to dive into action to better their community.
The club uses Facebook, LinkedIn, and social media a lot to connect, not only socially but for service projects. They use Kickstarter and GoFundMe to finance projects, and have developed some Rotary-specific tools (like our Rotary Ideas) to also achieve this goal.
Club meetings
The club meets in person and online on a semi rotational basis, usually once or twice a month depending on the needs to be addressed. The club is more about how members can contribute their talents and take part in projects getting their “hands dirty,” than how many times they show up for a meeting.
Members communicate almost daily through Facebook or Snapchat. Word about what they are doing seeps out through their social media network of friends, co-workers, and colleagues, spreading the excitement and attracting interest.
Their physical meeting locations vary, sometimes at a tavern, sometimes a coffee house. They are kept affordable so members can focus their resources and time on service. Meetings tend to be relaxed, and some people connect remotely via web technologies.
Social hour
The club hosts regular social events to build stronger relationships between members. Members frequently invite friends with little pressure on the individual to join. Even service projects involve a good number of people who are not members, but share a common interest.
Although I’ve just been imagining, there are certainly clubs that do some of these things. Do you like my vision of what Paul Harris’ club would look like today? What is yours?
