Minutes for the July 3, 2025, Meeting
President Marilyn called the meeting to order—as the year of her reign begins.
Will Koppenheffer led members in the Four-Way Test.
The guests were Peggy O’Neil and Betsy Cole of WISE.
Today was Andy Jones’ birthday. Wedding anniversaries included Bill and Linda Secord, 54 years; Dan and Linda Nash, 49 years.
Brewfest signs were to be assembled immediately after the close of today’s meeting.
Thought of the Day from Francesco Arezzo, the new president of Rotary International: “Create a Shared Dream, Eradicate Polio; Work for Peace.”
SPEAKER:
John Yacavone introduced today’s speaker, Peggy O’Neil, executive director of WISE.
Peggy O’Neil, the executive director of WISE, has been with the organization for twenty-two years. WISE started in 1971 and has grown to include five buildings and four major programs:
- Crisis and Advocacy
- Prevention and education
- MITC (explanation below)
- Legal Services
WISE received 2,400 calls to its service line in 2024. The organization supported 1,335 survivors, 735 of whom were new to WISE. Facilities for crisis housing include one single-household, three-adult capacity house and a four-apartment building—both located on Bank Street. WISE personnel have made 264 presentations in area middle and high schools and Dartmouth College. The organization has more than fifty-five active volunteers.
WITC stands for Multidisciplinary Interview and Training Center. This program trains volunteers and law enforcement officers to do forensic interviews and to recruit expert witnesses. For legal services, WISE partners with New Hampshire Legal Assistance and has engaged a full-time Vermont attorney.
WISE has a $2.2 million budget—50% grants and 50% community support. It works with anyone who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence. Ten to fifteen percent of its clients are men.
The book donated to the children's section of the Kilton Public Library in recognition of today's speaker is Shhh! The Baby's Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Elissaambura.
Celebrate the silliness that comes with a big family in this playful read aloud about a big brother, a sleeping baby, and a very noisy family.
Baby is finally asleep. But everyone is much too loud! Can Mom, Daddy, Grammy, Pop Pop, Shae, Dante, Rover the dog, and even the neighbor keep quiet?
Just when they think they can rest—oh no. The baby's awake. One savvy little narrator knows just the way to make his baby sister fall back asleep: by reading her a good book!
A hilarious cast of characters will keep readers laughing throughout this amusing celebration of early literacy and intergenerational family relationships.
Club Business
- Tim Guaraldi announced that REVO Casino has picked us as one of the non-profits to receive proceeds for a ten-day revenue period in October.
- This year’s President’s Picnic will be held on August 21 at the Guaraldi Compound in Newport.
- The Brewfest committee will meet Tuesday, July 8, at Service Credit Union.
Brags
- Will Koppenheffer noted that it was forty-two years to the minute that he and Ellen got married in Rollins Chapel.
- Ron Bedell announced that he and Marilyn had a great time at the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada—despite the cold weather.
- George Wenz went to the Wenz family reunion in Andover, Vermont (and couldn’t resist telling an off-color joke to our sedate club).
- Bruce Pacht reminded us of Hanover’s Fourth of July celebration—to include performances by the Hanover Barbershop Harmony Society.
- Marilyn Bedell noted that her sister, even though she is not a Rotary member, has had the pleasure of meeting two Rotary International past presidents. As usual, Marilyn met interesting people at the annual convention.
Raffle
Bruce Pacht drew the Jack of Hearts—so near yet so far.
Bill Secord won the car wash at Jake’s in Enfield.
FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS
July 10: Joe Clifford, Executive Director Lebanon Opera House
July 17: BOD and Charities Reports and Classification talk
July 24: Nathan Reichert, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Lebanon and Cathryn Hembree, Member, Housing Task Force for the City of Lebanon
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, Aug, Sept), Steve Grant (Oct, Nov, Dec), Hank Clark (Jan, Feb, March) and Dave Crandall (April, May, Jun).
One Profits Most Who Serves Best
