Members in attendance at the Changeover Dinner on June 25
Christina Annas, Bill Babineau, Marilyn Bedell, Ron Bedell, Phil Bush, James Carroll, Dean Cashman, Dave Clarenbach, Hank Clarke, Dave Crandall, Jim Damren, Mila Dela Pena, Steve Grant,Tim Guaraldi, Will Koppenheffer, Dustin Lester (R), Jane Mason (R), Ron Michaud, Angela Nelson, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, Marion Steiner, Rich Wallace, Steve Whitman, Cal wolfe, and John Yacavone.
President Marilyn rang the bell to call her last meeting as Lebanon Rotary’s 2025-26 president to order at 12:00 p.m.
Recitation of the “4-Way Test of the Things We Think Say or Do” was led by Jim Damren.
Songs: Ernst played us through “Rotary Welcome Song” and “Hail to the Chief(s).”
PRESIDENT MARILYN’S THOUGHT OF THE DAY: None today, and no wonder: IT’S HER LAST DAY AS PRESIDENT (this time around)!
WEEKLY STATISTICS:
Visiting Rotarians: Joshua Morgan, a Rotarian originally from Ghana, has been in the in US for four years. He is working as a registered nurse at Dartmouth.
Guests: Rich Wallace invited Jason Massey, Liberty Utilities. Dave Crandall invited Greg Nolet of Grandstand Apparel.
Wedding Anniversaries: Steve and Carolyn Whitman, 62 years, June 27; Phil and Catherine Rentz, 41 years, June 29; Bruce and Holly Bergeron, 39 years, June 27.
Photo right: We were named Club of the Year this year, and the Governor’s cup will reside with us for a year.
PROGRAM—Meredith Melendy, Rotary District 7850 Alonzo Malouin Teacher Scholarship Recipient from Canaan Elementary School
President Marilyn pointed out that District 7850 has carved out $5,000 a year from our returned District Designated Funds (These are 50% of the donations made by Rotarians in our district to The Rotary Foundation annual fund 3 years ago.) to invest in teachers impacting our children’s schooling. We supported a high school teacher in Quebec for studies in architecture and a teacher in the LinWood (Lincoln-Woodstock NH) School District who now spearheads a very large and active Interact high school service club as well as the elementary-age EarlyAct club in that school district. Those of us who knew Alonzo, a Rotarian in the Drummondville, Quebec Club, remember him as a gracious, generous and compassionate leader in our district who went on to serve on Rotary International’s board of directors as our Zone representative (a post now held by Marty Helman, a past district governor from one of our NEPELS partner districts). Alonzo was on the Board of Rotary International when the question of admitting women to Rotary came up—he supported the change. He took Marilyn and Ron on a tour in Drummondville during which they saw ice-out on a lake. Alonzo gave Ron and Marilyn a statue of Abraham Lincoln.
Meredith grew up in Lebanon playing varsity basketball and field hockey at Lebanon High School before attending Bates College; basketball was a big factor in her choosing that school. She started her college career in environmental studies, serving as a tutor. It was her first opportunity to teach peers and teammates about learning strategies, figuring out their strengths and how to use them to prepare for coursework and tests.
During her sophomore year, Meredith stepped away from basketball. As an environmental studies major, she studied abroad in Panama during her first visit out of the country. Covid cut short this experience after two of four months; she finished her studies abroad program remotely.
Meredith graduated in 2021 during Covid, which provided time for significant introspection. She decided she wasn’t impassioned about environmental law. Over the summer, she worked at Lebanon’s Memorial Pool, where she had been passionate at age 15 in her first job. She learned much about herself and her community and loved connecting with local kids and families in her job as front desk attendant.
Her boss at the pool asked employees about their favorite snacks and treats and about how they would best receive feedback to learn. This was Meredith’s “AHA moment,” when she realized that we all learn differently. When later that summer she learned about a para-professional teaching opening at Canaan Elementary School, she dove in. She also coached Lebanon Recreation’s 3rd–6th grade field hockey coach in the fall and discovered that she “really enjoyed working with kids.”
Meredith started as a “general education literacy partner” doing small group instruction supporting general education teachers in their classrooms. About two months into the year, she seized the opportunity to work 1:1 with a student with autism, where she found the student’s progress immensely rewarding.
Her second year at Canaan found Meredith working fulltime as a 1:1 paraprofessional. The more she did, the more she realized her passion for working specifically with children needing special education support.
In her third year, Meredith joined the ARRC program in an Alternative Behavioral Classroom serving children kids with autism or other behavioral challenges. The foundational idea of such a classroom is to create a space where kids can get what they need first in order to access inclusion in a general education classroom. Meredith pointed out, “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” This year, she had ten students in the classroom.
Students come to the room with a 1:1 para-educator trained in various ways. The aim is to help students learn to self-regulate their behavior when with peers. They use lots of cool tools, like the “Calm Cube,” and bean bags. Teaching follows each students Individual Education Plan containing environmental modifications and accommodations for day-to-day learning. Teachers adjust the environment to the student’s needs to access academics.
Over this past year Meredith decided she wanted to further her education to become a certified special education teacher. She was accepted into the New Hampshire Technical Institute’s “teacher education conversion program,” where a teacher with a bachelor’s degree may become certified in special ed. Her Malouin scholarship will help pay courses and enable her to start her new role this fall. The funds also help to replace her recently expired computer (which she’s had since high school!) as well as textbooks.
Meredith left us with this quotation: “Every beginning has an end and every end is a new beginning.” Santosh Kalwar.
QUESTIONS:
Steve Grant—Funding for special education in public schools comes from federal government. How is your program being affected by the current federal secretary of education wanting to shut down that department?
Meredith—We are certainly in tough times, but I’m not an expert on effects at that level. I felt pulled to get into special education to support kids in need, so this will be another challenge to accept and conquer.
Ron Michaud—Tell us about Canaan Elementary School itself.
Meredith—I’ve just finished my fifth year, and I’m still there because of the level of care the community demonstrates for its students. It’s a tight-knit community, and I want to keep coming back to my connections with students and staff. It’s important to have each other’s back.
Angela—The program at New Hampshire Technical Institute? Requirements?
Meredith—It’s not a master’s degree. The “Teacher Education Conversion Program” is a two-year program which allows a teacher with a bachelor’s degree to become a certified special education teacher. Meredith has permission allowing her to start working as a teacher as long as she is working toward certification.
SPEAKER’S BOOK: Bill Secord presented Beach Hair, about the joy of what happens to hair after swimming in salt water.
Beach Hair
by Ashley Woodfolk (Author), Nina Mata (Illustrator)
From two bestselling creators comes a lyrical and heartfelt picture book about a multiracial family’s trip to the beach that’s an ode to family, community, diversity, and—most importantly—fabulous beach hair!
When I wake up with the wildest bed head and Mommy and Daddy do too Mommy says we all have beach hair, so Daddy says, “Guess we should go to the beach.”
At the beach, everyone has beach hair. There’s twisty and twirly hair, flossy and glossy hair, hair that’s barely there, and hair that’s everywhere.
The best part about a beach day is the belonging and joy that everyone feels when they let their hair run as wild and free as the sea.
REPORTS/UPDATES
Local distribution of meals packaged at District 7850’s RYLA weekend. Angela—On Saturday, Angela went with her boyfriend and John Yacavone to Lyndonville where RYLA [Rotary Youth Leadership Academy] participants had packaged meals for distribution to local food shelves. Because the Lebanon Club had provided half the cost of materials, we took 21 boxes (each with 36 packages constituting 216 servings of fortified mac and cheese) to the UV Haven, Listen, UV Senior Center, and Mascoma and Plainfield food pantries.
Charities chair Bruce Pacht reminded attendees of the concurrence voting motion on the table to support the initial year of the proposed “LebMed” program to create Licensed Nursing Assistants at Lebanon High School in cooperation with River Valley Community College and Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital. Voting will close at 5:00 p.m. today. No comments or questions were raised.
2026 Brewfest. Sponsorship deadline is fast approaching. Jim— Everyone should have the solicitation information. Deadline for ad/sponsors July 20 to Jim or Carol to get to graphic designer. Sign updating will occur at the Dwinell Room after the July 2 meeting.
REVO Lebanon Rotary photo of check presentation on June 23. Seneca, REVO’s representative and a Rotarian himself, saw a big crowd! Visions of the Upper Valley was there, as were the UV Senior Center and AVA, each of which received a check from REVO’s proceeds. President Marilyn thanked Tim for completing the paperwork.
The Rotary Foundation. Thanks for considering TRF as a charity of choice. Rotarians may still contribute up to June 30 either through Ron or online.
Nepal—DipakNiroula is expected to return from Nepal on July 8 after the initial mourning period for his father’s passing. He will report to us on the toilet project at that time.
Lebanon Recreation Parks and Park and Arts events on July 2 and July 4 to celebrate 250 years of the United States’ creation.
Thursday, July 2—farmer’s market, family friendly entertainment, front porch and a Novo Nordisk-funded fireworks show.
Thursday, July 4—Special parade this year. Invitation to community organizations, classic cars, 11:30. BBQ free in Colburn Park. Lions will do some food. Leb Women’s Club—baked goods.
Update on Lebanon Interact pocket pantry remembering Lebanon Riverside Rotarian Sue Donnelly—from Listen executive director Kristi Lenart-Rikert.
“I wanted to share this recent Valley News article about the free public phone that was installed at LISTEN’s 60 Hanover Street location: https://vnews.com/2026/06/22/free-public-phones-upper-valley/ We’re really glad to be able to offer another practical resource for people who may need to make a call, connect with services, or reach family, especially when phone access isn’t guaranteed.”
ROTARY DISTRICT 7850 COMING EVENTS
September 3, District Governor Ariel Mondlak visitation—Just before our Brewfest!
CLUB FUNDRAISER
September 5, Saturday of Labor Day Weekend: 2026 Brewfest
(NOTE: This is now the official spelling and capitalization of “Brewfest.” The only exception is ALL CAPS for certain applications such as our road signs:“BREWFEST.” One word, in both cases.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Bruce Pacht—In his 50 years in this club, we’ve been up and down, but we’ve never been more vibrant as a club than we are today. Let’s keep it up!
Steve Whitman—62 years of being married is even better than 52 years in Rotary.
Hank Clarke and Carol spent time in Lake Placid, including a short visit from Bill and Linda Secord, and missed a club meeting.
President Marilyn gave $5 to encourage everyone to support Jim Damren and Bruce Bergeron as presidents as hard as everyone supported her during her presidential year.
Dave Crandall reminded us that he is transferring his Rotary Club membership to New London now that he’s retiring and no longer traveling to White River Junction for work. He said it was “hard to leave tribe,” that he valued his seven years here (he’s a past president of Lebanon and spearheaded the Harmony Park 100th anniversary gift to the city), and that he will continue his connection through the newsletter and perhaps the occasional visit.
Jim Damren said that he’s known Meredith Melendy since her high school days; she is his dog’s best friend. Jim also announced that he’d be moving up to the front table from his treasured seat in the rear, asking others at the table to keep his seat warm for his return.
Photo left: Visiting Rotarian Joshua Morgan gave $20 for being so glad to have found us in his search for re-connecting with Rotary.
CARD AND CAR WASH RAFFLES:
Steve Grant picked his own ticket; he pulled the losing Five of Diamonds.
Phil Rentz, won this week’s free Enfield Car Wash, courtesy of Bruce Bergeron.
President Marilyn rang the Rotary bell at 1:15 p.m. and we ended the meeting with a recitation of RI’s motto:
One profits most who serves best.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
July 2—Club Meeting Classification talk, James Carroll
July 9—Sylvia Dow Executive Director, Non-profit VISION
July 16—Will Towne (New) Executive Director, Upper Valley Haven
July 23—Lynn Howard Executive Director, Cornerstone Chartered School
August 6—Classification Talk, Tyler Hagan
August 13—Gary Summerton, Photographer August 20—Clara Moses, from Hydrate Marketing August 27—Colby Price, Director of Lebanon Adult Education and Literacy Services (SAU 88)
Program coordinator for start of Rotary year 2026-2027:
Photo right: 
