February 28th, 5:30 PM — Tentative Plan - Ariel Horowitz talking to us about his Rotary trip to Tanzania
Change in Meeting Times Starting on March 2, 2021
in March 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. This will be an opportunity to participate for those nine members that have not been able to come to the weekly 5:30 p.m. meetings.
Speaker Kyle Fisher- Executive Director, LISTEN Community Services
Kyle Fisher
Listen Community Services
Kyle Fisher gave us a broad overview of all the services provided by Listen. He started his talk thanking us for all the support we have given Listen, for example the $5,000 gift we recently gave to the Ray Pecor Fund. This fund was established by Listen Dinner Chef Ray Pecor who established this fund as a crisis fund for those dealing with extreme poverty. The fund helps support individuals who present at dinners with a variety of issues, that need immediate funds to deal with a personal issue, such as food insecurity, housing, etc. Ray had a major motorcycle accident that led to him taking early retirement. It is hoped that this fund can be maintained, and that it will grow to continue to support those in need. [Aside- Many of us have worked on community dinner under Ray’s watchful eye.]
From Listen's Annual Report:
This past year has been like no other. For our clients across the region who were already at risk for financial hardship, the pandemic has pushed them to a new level of stress. For those who have found themselves unexpectedly without and facing crisis for the First time, LISTEN provided a caring space to problem solve with access to vital assistance.
The outpouring of generosity from across the Upper Valley has been a tremendous boost to LISTEN’s impact during this past year, as we partner together to keep our community safe during the COVID-19 crisis.
The level of need among underserved individuals and families across the Upper Valley has continued to rise steadily over the last several years. The good news is that LISTEN is here to help—because of the generosity of people like you
Fisher then went on to talk about all the services offered by Listen.
This is screen shot from the Listen Web Page, and show numbers from 2020.
Of note:
Community Dinners – It is now projected that Listen will provide 60,966 meals in 2021. Listen has expanded to provide lunch service (currently serving 25 lunches/day) in addition to dinners. Fisher hopes they can permit the 45 cook teams to return sometime this year. Prior to COVID, 225 people volunteered each month. In 2020, they provided 700 Christmas day dinners.
Holiday Basket Helpers – Listen helped 517 in 2020 compared to 489 in 2019. This year Listen could not accept donation. Instead requests when out for monetary donation. Gift cards were given to the CoOp and Hulberts.
Food Pantry – Listen provided food to 1778 individuals in 2020, and are projected to provide 3696 individuals with meals in 2021. Prior to COVID, our community provided 95% of the food needed, but now Listen is needing to augment donations with purchased food. Volunteers are needed to help in the Food Pantry. Go to the Listen web site to sign-up.
Housing Helpers – Listen is able to provide one time grants for $500 to help individuals with houses expense help. Often the grant helps cover security deposits. Last year they helped 207 households or 407 people.
Heating Assistance – Listen is projecting a rise in individuals needing help to heat their homes. Donations given for heat are being matched by a generous donor.
Camp Scholarships – Due to COVID-19 many kids could not go the camp this past summer, but they are hoping this will change in 2021. In the past they help 275 kids to have a camp experience. Check out their summer camp video at LISTEN Summer Camp Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO9Ep8S6Lw
Kyle Fisher is the Executive Director of LISTEN Community Services in Lebanon, NH and has served with the agency for eight (8) years. Serving both Vermont and New Hampshire, LISTEN’s mission is to meet the essential needs of Upper Valley individuals and families.
Mr. Fisher previously worked in the buying office for Costco Wholesale and brings experience in both non-profit and corporate finance.
He holds a MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Michigan - Dearborn. Mr. Fisher is a Trustee at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, a Board member at APD Lifecare (Woodlands and Harvest Hill), and also sits on Dartmouth’s Community Engagement Advisory Board at the Geisel School of Medicine. He moved to the Upper Valley in 2013, began his work immediately thereafter as a volunteer at LISTEN, and became Executive Director in 2016.
During Kyle’s four (4) years as LISTEN’s ED, he has orchestrated the purchase and renovation of the Bridgman’s furniture store, turning that historic store into LISTEN’s flagship thrift store. LISTEN has also doubled the number of clients it sees, tripled its annual fundraising, hired 38 additional Upper Valley residents to work in its stores, and nearly doubled its retail revenues.
Kyle lives in Grantham, NH with his wife Becky, a Sr. Financial Analyst at DHMC, and their sons Bennett (5) and Henry (3).
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The speaker book for Kyle Fisher is The Society of Distinguished Lemmings written and illustrated by Julie Colombet.
In a society of lemmings, can a bear ever belong?
The Society of Distinguished Lemmings aims to be distinguished in absolutely everything. It takes an awful lot of rules to be so distinguished, including: no rolling around, no climbing about, and certainly no splashing in the mud! But Bertie has had quite enough of the society and all its rules. After venturing outside, Bertie discovers a bear, who is very unlike a lemming. With the bear’s help, Bertie learns that prancing about in the wild is quite a lot of fun! But when the other lemmings find out about the bear, they decide everything about him will have to change if he's ever to fit in. Will the Society ever accept Bertie's new friend, or is the bear simply too big and clumsy of a creature to be distinguished?
This hilarious tale features valuable themes of finding new friends, challenging peers, and questioning the rules. Readers will return to the story again and again to discover the quirks of every distinguished lemming while also learning about the importance of staying true to yourself amidst pressure to conform.
Before the meeting started there was conversation about COVID-19 vaccines. Sharing who and who had not been scheduled for vaccinations. Jimmy reported the temperature in Bermuda was between the high 60s to low 70s...perfect for golf. JoAnn talked about loading a truck, which brought of memories from John's youth of substituting for and ex-convict one day making truck deliveries. It took him half a day...when he returned to the business, his co-workers shared that he shouldn't have come back so quickly as the fellow he was covering took all day to do the deliveries.
Announcements and Updates:
Service Project at the Community Ice Rink
Below are pictures from flooding the ice rinks in Lebanon. Way to go team Rotary!
Our Volunteers: Bruce Bergeron, Tim Guaraldi, Ed Freidman...with Lebanon Recreation Director, Paul Coates.
Skating under the lights! Bruce Bergeron reported that the two rinks are in use until 10 PM almost every night. We will be called upon to help flood the rink throughout the skating season.
HACTC Rotary Students of the Month
Photos of the HACTC student recognition program we co-sponsor with other R-clubs in the area
Dave Crandall and Marion Steiner will be chairing our 100th Anniversary Committee. Our Club was chartered on May 11, 1923. Dave gave a brief overview of planning done to-date.
The following members have already agreed to serve on the 100th Anniversary Committee with Co-Chairs Dave Crandall and Marion Steiner: Cindy Jerome, Bruce Pacht, Jim Damren, Bill Secord and Ernst Oidtmann. Still looking to grow the committee. They would love to have some newer members join the planning team.
There will be three components:
A significant community project
A celebration
A History Book
General Timing (approximate)
January 31 form committee
***February 16 first online meeting at 4 PM. Let Dave Crandall know if you want to attend so he can send you the Zoom Link.***
March 15 present initial ideas to membership
June 30 decide on framework of 100th celebration
Marion and Dave are gathering community project ideas. Ideas so far have included:
Playground at Twin Pines in West Leb. Possibly a “music playground”. Twin Pines would own it, but Rotary would have naming rights. Rotary could maintain it annually. West Lebanon currently doesn’t have anything like it.
Teen Room at Lebanon Library
New Lebanon Community Center – possible naming opportunity
Fixing up other town parks.
Adding a water feature at a park
Update the outdoor skating park off of Bank Street Extension.
Funding the project
It is hoped that we will pick a project that has community interest, and will garner financial support from members of our community. We have $50,000 in our Charities fund that can be used for a project. For the right project it could be a larger sum of money.
First Grade Reading Books — From last week..Bruce Bergeron reminded us of our first grade reader program, where first graders receive a personalized book called, “When I grow up.” Bruce has received all the books 120+!) and they are ready for distribution in May.
www.rotary.org - My Rotary member portalOnly 62% of our members have set up My Rotary accounts. Ron encourages all members to do this.
Is you Newsletter ending up in SPAM? From ClubRunner
Marilyn Bedell reported that her Newsletter has been ending up in her spam folder. She checked with Clubrunner and got this advice:
Your Email Client Identifies ClubRunner Mail as Spam
Most email inboxes feature a Spam or Junk mail folder. These are used to hold messages the email system identifies as unwanted ads. If your ClubRunner messages are being identified as spam, you will most likely be able to find them within the Spam or Junk mail folder. Your email client may have automatically identified ClubRunner mail as spam. It is also possible that you may have inadvertently identified a ClubRunner mail as spam, causing all future ClubRunner emails to be sent to the spam folder.
In order to fix this, you will need to add mailservice@clubrunner.ca and @clubrunner.email to your email’s safe sender or contact list. Once this is done, emails and bulletins should be received properly. The procedure varies according to the email client you are using. Please consult your email provider’s documentation or support staff if you need more help.
Dan Affeldt
Bill Babineau
Marilyn Bedell
Ron Bedell
Bruce Bergeron
Hank Clarke
Karen Clements
Dave Crandall
Rudy Fedrizzi
Tim Guaraldi
Garland Hoskins
Cindy Jerome
Will Koppenheffer
Joanne Lemieux
Jane Mason
Ernst Oidtmann
Bill Secord
Paul Tierney
John Yacavone
Visiting Rotarian - Jimmy Brock
Guest Speaker - Kyle Fisher
The closing bell was run at 6:30 PM.
They Profit Most Who Serve the Best
Happy Thoughts/Concerns
Ron Bedell is happy to have his first COVID-19 vaccine, and he mailed his 2020 taxes to the IRS.
Jane Mason is happy for the health of her family.
Rudy Fedrizzi is happy for his dancer daughter, Ellie who is front and center in the ad for her dance recital.
John Yacavone for Bruce Pacht announced the Upper Valley Chordsmen Valentine Fund Raiser.
Dave Crandall was happy to win the Jake's Car wash, and he is enjoying his new job at Twin Pines Housing Trust.
Tim Guaraldi is support the Meredith Fishing Derby, and wonders if we shouldn't establish a derby on Mascoma Lake.
Ernst Oidtmann's son is turning 42 years old; and he was happy to learn his flood insurance for his office is costing less money this year.
Cindy Jerome is happy to have her 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine, and still can report that no resident at Harvest Hill or the Woodlands has been diagnosed with COVID-19d; and she was happy to tell us how much she admires Kyle Fisher.
Will Koppenheffer was happy to report that his dog, Lucy was home from her outing; and noted that John Yacavone had written a letter to Rotary Magazine and it was published. John noted he really likes the new look of the magazine.
John Yacavone shared he left Key Nissan without a car wash but reminded them they owe him one.
Dan Affeldt shared news about the Northeast Presidents-elect Training Seminar plans which will be a virtual event; Dan is exploring cost options for equipment to let us host virtual meeting when we can gather again.
Bill Babineau is happy to have his second COVID-19 vaccine; and he is dreaming of golf in Bermuda and Pebble Beach. Jimmy Brock shared he would be delighted to take him out for a round a golf the next time he is in Bermuda.
Kyle Fisher's son just turned 6 years old; he shared that his son is doing well learning via Zoom.
Jimmy Brock had his second COVID-19 vaccine. His son, Malcom, a physician will be speaking at the Hamilton Rotary Club about the importance of getting vaccinated...especially for the black community.
JoAnn Lemieux is happy to report her son's family has moved into a new home that will work better for all 4 kids. They each will have their own bedrooms.
Bill Secord is looking forward to having his second COVID-19 vaccine on February 27th.
Paul Tierney is happy to see everyone; and he got his first COVID-19 vaccine.
Hank Clarke is also happy to have his first COVID-19 vaccine; He also reported he may be able to starting driving patients for the VAH. He has really missed this volunteer job.
Marilyn Bedell is happy that her cousin Mary, Mary's daughter in-law and granddaughter have all recovered from COVID-19...Her son and grandson did not get infected; She is happy to have her second COVID-19 vaccine onboard too.
RI President-elect announces 2021-22 presidential theme
by Ryan Hyland
Incoming Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta urged members to become more involved in service projects, saying that caring for and serving others is the best way to live because it changes not only other people’s lives, but also our own.Watch the theme address
Mehta, a member of the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar, West Bengal, India, revealed the 2021-22 presidential theme, Serve to Change Lives, to incoming district governors on 1 February during the Rotary International Assembly. The assembly, a yearly training event for district governors-elect, was originally set to take place in Orlando, Florida, USA, but was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mehta spoke about how participating in service projects through Rotary changed him as a person and made him empathize more with the needs of others. Soon after joining his club, he helped carry out projects that benefited rural communities in India.
Some of the poor conditions he saw in those communities strengthened his commitment to service. “I truly understood the plight of my brethren,” he said.
Mehta participated in initiatives that brought artificial limbs to children, clean water and sanitation to homes, and better health care facilities to communities.
“Rotary kindled the spark within me to look beyond myself and embrace humanity,” he said. “Service became a way of life for me and I, like many others, adopted the guiding philosophy that ‘Service is the rent I pay for the space I occupy on this earth, and I want to be a good tenant of this earth.’”
Mehta encouraged district governors-elect to lead by example during their term and inspire Rotary and Rotaract members to participate in projects that have measurable and sustainable impacts. He’s asking each club to conduct a Rotary Day of Service.
“At the end of your term as district governor, you should feel that because of your leadership, because of your inspiration to Rotarians and Rotaractors, the world has changed for the better because of the service done by them during the year,” he said.
Focusing on diversity, membership
For the 2021-22 Rotary year, Mehta wants members to focus their efforts on empowering girls and ensuring their access to education, resources, services, and opportunities so that future generations of women leaders will have the tools they need to succeed. Mehta asked members to use Rotary’s belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion is critical in all we do as a compass to guide this work.
Rotary kindled the spark within me to look beyond myself and embrace humanity.
Shekhar Mehta
Rotary International President-elect
“There are many issues that girls face in different parts of the world, and you as leaders will ensure that we try and mitigate the disadvantage of the girl that they may have,” he said.
To be able to do more through service, Rotary needs to increase membership, Mehta said. Membership has hovered around 1.2 million for the past two decades. He challenged the incoming governors to be catalysts in their districts to help increase membership to 1.3 million by 1 July 2022. Mehta’s Each One, Bring One initiative asks every member to bring one person to join Rotary within the next 17 months.
Increasing membership while also continuing our commitment to eradicating polio, fighting COVID-19, and serving our communities is an ambitious goal. “And that should excite you,” Mehta said. “Rotarians love challenges.”
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