Katie Boardman, owner of Katie's Cookies on the Mall in Lebanon, shared the history of her sweet business.
Katie Boardman
Katie grew up in Canada. Her father was a Rotarian. She said it was easy to think of him being a one of our tables enjoying all the conversations that happens over meal.
She went to the University of Utah. She has 6 children. She moved with her family to the Upper Valley from Fort Bragg in North Carolina. She grew up in a family of bakers, but as a child she envied kids who had oreo cookies and white bread in their lunch bags.
She indicated that her kitchen skills were never the best, but once married she learned the art of baking...no margarine or cake mixes for her. She developed a passion for making cookies, and she was noted for the cookies she would share with others at schools and other events. This lead to a dream of opening her own cookie shop. Here dream was on hold until her last child went to school. Though she did begin collecting family recipes from her aunts, and converted some into cookie recipes. She has a book filled with family recipes.
In 2020, COVID put her cookie dreams on hold, but in 2022, she got a booth at the Lebanon Farmers Market and started selling her cookies, successfully. She then shared that one day her husband came home from running and announced that there was an open store front on the Mall in Lebanon, next to Salt Hill Pub. He asked, "Are you ready?" Though hesitate, the dream of the shop has become a reality.
Her educational background was in therapeutic recreation, and she took no business courses. She had stayed home for 21 years raising her children, but her own personal "board of directors" had faith in her, and believed she could do this. They are the people who provide support, help generated ideas, and provide motivation. She shared she cried as she headed to the meeting with her landlord to sign the lease, but took a risk and rented the space. Her husband help build the bakery with her, and the grand opening was in March of 2023.
In the beginning she was putting in 12-16 hour days and not sleeping well. She shared a letter one of her daughters wrote her requesting "more hugs". She was missing other important family events. She learned she had to hire people she could trust to bake at least 90% to the standard she had for herself. She learned how to supervise staff, and let staff go that did not meet the standard she needed for the shop. She now is working between 4-6 hours each day.
Bruce Bergeron led us in reciting The4-Way Test of the Things We Think Say or Do.
President Ernst accompanied us on piano for the Rotary Welcome Song and The Good Old Summer Time
We welcomed our speaker Katie Boardman and her husband, Casey Boardman
Birthdays — Ron Michaud...his 90th birthday. He was serenaded by a "Mozart" take on Happy Birthday to You, played by Ernst Oidtmann.
Thought of the Day from Ernst Oidtmann: Overuse of antibiotic. Acute Bronchitis is a common cause of cough in the absence of chronic lung disease. In otherwise healthy patients without rapid heartbeat, or rapid breathing, no fever and normal chest exam, pneumonia is highly unlikely. The duration of symptom is often 2-3 weeks. Treatment with over the counter cough medicine may decrease the amount of coughing. Antibiotics are not indicated, but despite the lack of evidence, 70% of patients are prescribed antibiotics. This runs counter to good antibiotic stewardship. Antibiotics are associated with increased side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and delayed serve bowel issues, C diff and other colitis even years later. It is well known that prescribers over prescribe antibiotics. It feels good to do something and shortens consultation time. But beware, it is wiser to forgo antibiotics whenever possible.
Then it was on to our lunch buffet.
After lunch, President Ernst inducted Andy Jones into membership in our club.
Ernst and Andy
David Crandall then introduced Katie Boardman, from Katie's Cookies. See story above.
Bill Secord presented the book going to the Children's Collection at the Kilton Library in honor of Katie Boardman.
Maya's Holi
By Thrity Umrigar (Author), Kamala Nair (Illustrator)
Celebrate Holi, the festival of colors, sharing, and love with Maya as she visits her grandparents in India for the spring jubilee.
Maya loves visiting her grandparents in India, and this year is extra special because she is celebrating Holi with them. Maya and her family start the magical day by eating a special breakfast, including rasgulla dumplings and glasses of mango lassi. They put on colorful clothing and join the celebration out in the streets. The air fills with joyful songs and clouds of blue, red, and purple powder. On this special vacation, Maya can feel the magic of Holi.
When Maya returns to America, she carries the exhilarating energy of Holi with her. The spirit of the holiday—hope and forgiveness and love—keeps her warm.
Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, Holi took place on March 14, 2025. It offers people the opportunity to begin anew—to have a fresh start. Thrity Umrigar's heartfelt text and Kamala Nair's richly colorful, exuberant illustrations fill the pages with happiness and joy. Informative back matter will teach readers about the history and traditions of Holi.
Announcements
Social Gathering at Salt Hill: Rotary Club of Lebanon...Social Gathering 3rd Monday of Every Month Next gathering will be May 19, 2025
Civic Memorial Park Build: Anticipate Grand Opening of the playground by the middle of May.
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. Bruce handed out information about golf at the end of the meeting and will send it by email to everyone too.
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. Ernst needs some helpers to sign up to help get this task completed.
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. Please let Ron Bedell know if you are or are not coming to the dinner.
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 EventBrite. The Brew Fest Committee walked the park on Friday afternoon. They decided we would not enlarge our footprint in the park. We will continue to use 1/2 of the park. Porta potties have been reserved. We will have two banks for porta potties this year with two handicapped accessible units.
Happy/Sad Dollars
Hank and Carol Clarke a lovely experience at the Mount Washington Hotel. They has a huge room. It was a warm day so they opened the doors to their veranda. Oops...the opened windows that let the biting bugs in. Food was rated as "subpar"...but the price for the stay was reasonable and they had a fun time.
David Crandall announced that Rudy Fedrizzi and Cindy Jerome are getting married this upcoming weekend.
Angela Nelson reported that her 80 year-old mother is doing well post total shoulder replacement.
Ernst Oidtmann share grandchildren stories.
Ron Michaud went out to play a round of golf...describing is play as pitiful...but I would say as great for a 90-year old.
RAFFLES
Tim Guaraldi pulled the l who pulled the Queen of Hearts...winning $250!! Congratulations, Tim!
The Enfield car wash went to Phil Bush.
Attendance:
Rotarians: Marilyn Bedell, Ronald Bedell, Phil Bush, Dave Clarenbach, Dean Cashman, Dave Clarenbach, Hank Clarke, Dave Crandall, Jim Damren, Mila Dela Pina, Tim Guaraldi, Ahmad Haidari, Andy Jones, Max Jovanovich, Jane Mason*, Ron Michaud, Angela Nelson, Sharmila Nirola*, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, Cal Wolfe, John Yacavone
Speaker, Karie Boardman and her husband, Casey Boardman
FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS
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.)
June 5: Mark Harvey talking about National Parks
June 11: CHANGE OVER at Quechee Inn. If you haven't RSVPed already let Ron Bedell know if you are or are not coming.
June 12: no meeting
June 19: Tracy Hutchins, President Upper Valley Business Alliance
June 26: Lynee Turek, Earth Science professor at Dartmouth
Note: David Crandall scheduled programs for May and June 2025
July 3: Peggy O’Neill, Executive Director, WISE
July 10: Joe Clifford, Executive Director Lebanon Opera House
July 17: BOD and Charities Reports and Classification talk
July 24: Rick Kendall, Superintendent, Saint Gaudens National Historical Park
August 7: Brey Adams, Interim Executive Director Upper Valley Humane Society
August 14: Lori Shibinette, CEO West Central Behavioral Health
August 21: Charities Report and Final Plans for Brew Fest
August 28: Tyler Lewis, Head of School, Kimball Union Academy
September 4: Luc Pomerleau, District Governor Visit
September 11: Victor Tom, Topic: “How rocket science made it into major league baseball and strike zone.”
September 18: BOD, Charities Report and Classification talk
September 25: Rob Stenger, one of the owners of Simple Energy
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: Hank Clarke
A piece of Lebanon Rotary History, The Landmark, January 6, 1926
From Bruce Pacht's history files
The image was too blurry to insert, but this is the text Bruce sent to me:
The regular and annual New Year's Banquet of the Lebanon Rotary Club were held Thursday evening, at the Hotel Rogers, opening at 8:30 o'clock. The president, Clarence E Clough was toastmaster and speakers included Thomas P. Waterman, one of Lebanon's oldest citizens who gave a talk about the changes in Lebanon during his lifetime, Willam English, Superintendent for schools here, James Daley, President of the White River Junction Rotary Club, brought greeting from that organization, as did Leonard R. McWhood of the department of music at Dartmouth College, who brought greetings of the Hanover Rotary of which he is president. Mr McWhood also led the music and Rotary songs. A group of first class entertainers from Boston gave musical and dancing sketches and the school mandolin clubs, led by Mrs. Doris Mollica furnished music during the evening. There were about 175 members and guests present and just before midnight Leslie Barry dressed as Old Father Time strolled in and as the clock struck twelve an automobile horn was heard in the lobby and in dashed the little New Year impersonated by Master Kenneth Smith attired mostly in a tall hat and mask and driving a little red buick toy motor. He fired his pistol and chased the old yearout and in came little Miss Lucile Jones as the spirit of the New Year, who executed a solo dance in at pierrette costume after which the Little New Year raised the American Flag and the company all joined in signing The Star Spangled Banner.
Rotary News
From hope to history: how we defeated polio in the Western Pacific
Editor’s Note: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the World Health Organization’s certification of the Western Pacific Region as polio-free. To commemorate this anniversary, we invited Dr. Shigeru Omi, who led the WHO’s polio eradication efforts in the region from start to finish, to reflect on the story behind that victory.
D
Dr. Shigeru Omi speaks at a Rotary district conference
By Dr. Shigeru Omi
I still remember the book that changed everything. It was a quiet afternoon in Shibuya, sometime in the early 1970s. I was a restless university student, unsure of my path, wandering the aisles of Tokyo’s largest bookstore. A slim volume caught my eye – a personal account written by a psychiatrist. As soon as I opened it, the idea of medicine, the calling of a doctor, and the dignity it held hit me all at once. That night, I made up my mind. I would become a doctor.
Years later, after a decade of practice in rural clinics, hospitals, and sleepless shifts, I found myself searching for something more – work that was not only rewarding, but broadly impactful. I applied for a position at the World Health Organization (WHO). At the time, two posts were available: one, a high-ranking assistant to the regional director; the other, a lower-paid technical officer for polio eradication. I chose the latter. That’s how I began my journey to help lead the charge against polio across the vast and complex Western Pacific region.
The Polio Frontline of 1990
When I started in 1990, most people thought the goal was impossible. The virus was still endemic in large parts of Asia. There was no money. No roadmap. Just a ticking clock and a resolution passed by WHO: to eradicate polio by the year 2000. It was, in a word, chaos.
The first thing I noticed was the absence of basic surveillance systems. Cases of acute flaccid paralysis – a category of disease polio belongs to – went undetected, unreported, and not tested to be diagnosed. Official records showed only 6,000 cases per year. But we all knew that number was wrong. The virus wasn’t hiding. We were simply blind to it.
Of course, there were more. In Cambodia and Vietnam, families lived on boats, drifting along rivers – unreachable, undocumented, and highly vulnerable to disease. In places like Mindanao in the Philippines, conflict made access nearly impossible. In China, children born outside the “one child” policy were often not registered at all. No documents meant no health services – and no vaccines. These unregistered children were the ones polio found first.
And one of the greatest challenges was funding. Even purchasing enough vaccine required millions of dollars – not to mention the operational cost, resources needed to build infrastructure, train health workers, and reach remote communities. I organized a major technical meeting in Tokyo in 1991, bringing together every expert in the region working on polio, hoping that some organizations, or some countries would decide to give us money. We followed up with another meeting in the Philippines. But no one offered money. Not a single pledge.
The wise men from Rotary
It was October 1992. I had organized yet another technical meeting – this time in Beijing. And this time, something different happened.
Just hours before the meeting, three men visited me – Rotarians from Japan, India, and the United States. They weren’t strangers. They had attended previous meetings and understood the technical details. They came with an offer: “If you agree to lower the target age for vaccination from under five to under four,” they said, “we will donate US$1.5 million immediately.”
Their reasoning was practical. WHO’s global policy was to vaccinate all children under five. But only in China, nearly all polio cases occurred in children under four. Reducing the target age would make the campaign more focused and efficient. They wanted their contribution to have the greatest possible impact.
I was thrilled. Electrified. The logic was clear, and the funds could kick-start what had felt like a stalled campaign. But WHO headquarters in Geneva pushed back. They didn’t want to change policy to match a donor’s condition. I understood the concern, and yet, I also knew what US$1.5 million could do. It was a catalyst.
You’re the Perfect Messenger
Climate communicator and RI convention speaker Katharine Hayhoe wants us to speak to the heart
Katharine Hayhoe crunches the data. She analyzes the models. Then she explains it all, in terms the rest of us can understand — the enormity of our climate crisis, how it magnifies virtually every other serious challenge, and how all hope is not lost. Not by a long shot.
Hope remains as long as there are people who care enough to have a conversation, which, it turns out, is most people. In a 2023 survey, 63 percent of Americans reported they were somewhat or very worried about climate change. In Canada, that figure was 71 percent. In some of the countries with the largest numbers of Rotary members, places like Brazil and India, it was over 80 percent.
“Those are the most important people to have conversations with, and most of those people are our friends, neighbors, and family,” says Hayhoe, an atmospheric scientist (and that’s just the start of her mind-bending resume). “It’s not about arguing with people. It’s not about going out and looking for that relative or neighbor or colleague who’s just obsessed with the idea that climate change isn’t real.”
Hayhoe is a specialist in finding common ground when talking about climate change, a skill she’ll demonstrate at the Rotary International Convention in Calgary in June. A Canadian living in Texas who is married to an evangelical pastor, she will talk on the subject to anyone who will listen, from Rotary clubs to churches to moms groups to the 4 million-plus people who have viewed her TED Talk. “Each of us is the perfect person to have a conversation with people who share our values, interests, and priorities in life,” she says. If you’re a dog person, talk to another dog person about climate change; if you play golf, talk to another golfer; if you are in Rotary, well, you guessed it.
Chief scientist for the Nature Conservancy and a professor at Texas Tech University, Hayhoe helps people understand the effects of climate change at a local level. She’s worked with civil engineers and water managers to assess the impact of climate change on their infrastructure and with cities and states to evaluate how they could be affected.
Hayhoe has won many awards and been named to lists including Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. The author of the best-selling book Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, she writes a weekly newsletter highlighting good news, not-so-good news, and actions you can take.
In advance of the convention, Hayhoe spoke with Rotary magazine senior writer Diana Schoberg about the history of climate science, what steps individuals can take, and hope. “The number one answer that most people gave for why they cared about climate change was love, especially love for the next generation, for our children,” she says. “Climate change is what stands between them and a better future.”
Women approaching midlife may benefit from hormone replacement therapy
By Lawrence M. Nelson, MD, MBA
Have you ever wondered how a woman's reproductive cycle keeps to a 28-day clock?
When I was in my first year as a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh, I was honored to learn about women’s reproductive health from a world-renowned scientist, Doctor. Ernst Knobil. His research showed an on-off switch for the cycle in the brain, and the 28-day clock was in the ovaries. His groundbreaking work forms the basis of modern reproductive endocrinology and inspired me to train as a physician and a scientist in women's healthcare and research.
After a 30-year career in the U.S. Public Health Service, I have come to believe we should do away with the term menopause. It’s not a physiological term, and changing the name could help reduce the stigma associated with it. I’m on a mission to rebrand it as hormone imbalance because that’s what it is.
Our bodies constantly communicate with us, often in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. A hot flash is a profound yet underappreciated form of this communication. While it's frequently dismissed as an unpleasant symptom of women in midlife, the hot flash is, in fact, a vitally powerful message from the body. It offers a unique insight into the intricate mechanisms of a woman's endocrine system and the crucial role of hormones in maintaining overall health and staying well.
D
.png)
