Marilyn Bedell presented a brief update on the Rotary Foundation's response to COVID-19.
She started by reminding us that we between World Polio Day that happened on October 24, 2020; and Rotary Foundation Month that begins on 1 November.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease which reminds us how small the world is. For years we have been reminded that polio is just a plane ride away. COVID-19 has demonstrated how easily an infectious disease can spread globally.
Our PolioPlus infrastructure has helped Rotary build tools, workforce and extensive surveillance needed to combat COVID.
The polio program's Surveillance/LabNet part of our program is helping communities understand how to cope. At some point, we will have a vaccine and will likely use some polio learnings to get the vaccine out world-wide.
In the past, Rotary’s polio structure has helped control Ebola, yellow fever as well.
Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan polio staff are tracing contacts, combating misinformation and sensitizing health professionals. Nigeria was recently certified polio-free, rendering ALL of Africa off the endemic list.
Some pauses have been placed on polio vaccinations because of COVID. But recent meetings in Pakistan with the Prime Minister and a key General has reengaged them in the importance of getting kids vaccinated.
TRF’s initial response to COVID – almost immediately pushed money out to fight the pandemic. Our Trustees permitted Rotary Districts to to convert unexpended grant funds toward COVID-related release. In addition, in total they transferred USD$3 million from the world fund to the disaster Response Fund to be used for COVID response. This permitted out club to repurpose our grant at Romano Circle. We provided $50 gift card to every family living in Romano Circle.
A variety of other grants that have been approved were summarized.
Ex) Italy – bought many ventilators but also supported China with $21,000 to get protective masks there. Another district supported establishment of a treatment center in Milan. Marilyn showed the huge resources required to care for one affected COVID patient. Another club provided 136 tablet for communication and psychological relief.
In Hong Kong – Rotary clubs have raised funds, packed packages of medical supplies, and distributed masks and disinfectants to people in public housingSri Lanka – thermometers in restrooms
East Africa – established handwashing stations for communities that don’t have easy access to running water..
Finally, here at home in D7850 supported food banks and masks in VT, NH and Quebec. In addition we are working with District 7870 (Southern VT and NH) on additional global grants totaling over $300,000 to support communities with COVID-19 related issues.
Since April, the Rotary Foundation has approved $21.6 MM in global grants; $665k was repurposed to COVID; the foundation has approved disaster response grants for 319 district funded for nearly $8 MM. (District 7850…our District) received funds which were used for food insecurity in NH, VT and Quebec.
Mark Maloney, Immediate Past Rotary International President And Holger Knaak, Rotary International President wrote a joint article. In this article they stated:
We are leaders in our communities, and these times call for leadership. In many ways, this also is our time.
We have proven abilities to reach out and collaborate to offer immediate help to people in need at a rapid pace.
These are precisely the skills needed all over the world today. The global effort against COVID-19 depends on actions taken in every country.
Rotary has the unique ability to help improve those efforts in every community and every country.
Ron welcomed everyone to the meeting. He then introduced Dipak Niroula, Administrative Support to APD Family Care Department and Sharmila Karki Niroula, working as a home care provider through Pathways, and enrolled in LNA training through DHMC. They have a 14 year-old daughter and 12 year old son. They’ve been in Lebanon since 2017. Co-founder of a social organization in Nepal. Dipak and Sharmila have expressed interest in joining us as members of our Club. A third prospective member who wasn't able to join us is Ariel Horowitz, a surgical technician at APD, and would be a transferring member. He was a member of the Rotary Club of East Schenectady, NY.
Jane Mason did an excellent job reciting the Four Way Test
Members present were:
Dan Affeldt, Bill Babineau (welcome back), Ron Bedell, Marilyn Bedell, Paul Boucher, Hank Clarke, David Crandall, Garlan Hoskin, Ed Friedman, Willie Koppenheffer, JoAnn Lemieux, Jane Mason, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, Paul Tierney, Steve Whitman, John Yacavone.
Other guest:
Jimmy Brock from Hamilton, Bermuda
Lebanon Rotary Charities Bylaws...Time to vote...
Bruce Pacht made a motion for the Club to adopt and approve the revised Lebanon Rotary Charities Bylaws (version 9a), the motion was seconded by Hank Clarke. We received 27 votes in the affirmative by e-mail and and additional 5 members voted in the affirmative at the meeting for a total of 31 votes being tallied in favor of adoption of the bylaws. Two-thirds of our membership was required to vote. 31 members voting = 75% of our membership. The Lebanon Rotary Bylaws are now approved.
Our thanks to Bruce Pacht and the other members of the Bylaw Review Committee for getting this work accomplished.
Rotary Foundation Month
Ron announced that November is The Rotary Foundation Month. Members should expect a letter requesting a donation on Friday, October 31, 2020. The letter will come from our club TRF committee (Ron Bedell, Phil Rentz and Garlan Hoskin). Since we can’t have our usual drawing for 20 members to receive 100 recognition points for a $100 donation, anyone who contributes $100 will have their donation matched with recognition points this year.
You can mail donations to Ron Bedell, 35 Lily Ln, West Lebanon, NH 03784; or
Take them to Phil Rentz at the Service Credit Union on Mechanics Street in Lebanon; or
Go to www.rotary.org, sign into MyRotary (must do this to get donation linked to your membership number...Its easy to sign-up if you haven't done this...Its easy to sign-up if you haven't done this...Google My Rotary how do you sign up? to find the link to the instructions. For the donation to be used in our Rotary District, click on Annual Programs Fund/SHARE, then make your donation.
Thank you from Mascoma High School for Masks
Club Updates/Announcements
Celebrating a Major Donor
There are few Rotary opportunities that pleases Marilyn Bedell more than recognizing and saluting a new Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation.
Today, it was her honor to remind the club that Bruce Pacht has reached the status of a Rotary Foundation Major Donor. Marilyn had hoped to recognize Bruce at a face-to-face meeting, but Covid-19 had other ideas…
Marilyn stated, Bruce, on behalf of your fellow Rotarians, I thank you for your confidence and trust in the Rotary. In the Rotary world, you will always be recognized as a Major Donor. This is quite an accomplishment. I know you believe in the work of the Rotary Foundation. Your giving over time demonstrates that you are a part of a dedicated group of humanitarians who have committed funds to help others less fortunate. Again…Thank you!Remembering Travis Roy
Marilyn Bedell learned during our meeting that Travis Roy has died. Travis was the Boston University Hockey player who became a quadriplegic at the 11 second mark of his first shift of his first college hockey game. This tribute to Travis was written by Past District Governor Larry Vars, and sums up his impact on our Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program.
This past week, we lost a treasure of our RYLA program. Travis Roy was our Key speaker at RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award). He would share as a youth his dreams and expectations. His dad supported these aspirations but grounded him to set goals, including ALL steps needed to attain his goal. This list was written and hung by his dresser mirror to constantly remind him and track his progress. His big goal was to play Hockey in a top college. BU had that reputation. He was good enough to play Hockey as a Freshman on the BU team. Eleven seconds after getting the pat to get on the ice in his first game, he was checked and sustained a spinal cord injury, leaving him a quadriplegic.
His goals had to be redefined! He finished his college career and became a motivational speaker. He has raised millions of dollars to study repairing spinal cord injuries. He has inspired over 400 youth and parents during my time at RYLA. He inspired many Rotarians, I being one, to focus on our goals, to list the needed steps, and to track our progress.
One final thought, he talked about returning to BU after his accident. People tended to shy away from being real with people in difficult situations. He sat for many meals alone at a dining room table. Others did not know what to say, so nothing was said. So reach out, socially distant, to those in pain who have lost a love one or physical issues. It is not what you say, but your willingness to be there.
Community Services
Here is run down of the events:
Saturday October 3rdCOMPLETED
8:30 am – 9:30 am. Load clothes we collected 8 weeks ago for Epilogos. We will meet at Jake’s Coffee Shop at 8:30 and then going to Guaraldi Insurance to pick up rest. (6 volunteers)
9:30 am – 1 PM. Deliver clothes to Savers in Manchester NH. (2-3 volunteers)
Saturday October 10thCOMPLETED 8:30 am – 1 pm. Assist with the Drive Thru vaccination event at the Plainfield NH Elementary School. The Public Health Council of UV is coordinating this event. (2-4 volunteers)
Wednesday October 14th COMPLETED
1 pm – 3 pm. Drive Thru Food Drive at La Salette Shrine Parking lot to benefit Enfield food pantry, managed by Friends of Mascoma. This project will be in conjunction with the Drive Thru Vaccination event sponsored by Public Health Council of UV. (6 volunteers)
Wednesday October 14thCOMPLETED
3 pm – 6 pm. Drive Thru Food Drive at La Salette Shrine Parking lot. (6 volunteers)
Saturday October 24th
Boston Lot Trail Maintenance Project. CANCELLED...Will be rescheduled for the Spring
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Flu Shot Clinic in Bradford, VT. COMPLETED
October 31stCompleted
Drive Thru vaccination event at Canaan Elementary
Friday, November 6, 2020 (Since we had to cancel on 10/30/20 due to SNOW...sigh...we set a new date.
Our Annual fall cleanup of the Riverside Park (Glen Road West Lebanon) will take place Friday, November 6, 2020 2 pm - 4pm.
Bring gloves, rake, leaf blowers, etc.
Please also consider joining us for our equally enjoyable tradition of having a pint immediately after the clean up is completed!
Vaccines and the Van — Dan Affeldt
Four Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic are now completed. Dan Affeldt helped in Orford. Ron Bedell, John Yacavone, Dan Affeldt, Angela Nelson and Marilyn Bedell helped at Plainfield. Paul Boucher, Tim Guaraldi, Bruce Bergeron, Cindy Jerome, Ron Bedell, Marilyn Bedell, Dan Affeldt, David Crandall and Bruce Pacht. Dan Affeldt, Bruce Pacht, Ernst Oidtmann (physician in charge), and Rolf Zuk from the Cohase Rotary Club volunteered in Bradford, VT. Canaan volunteers included Dan Affeldt, Bruce Bergeron, Angela Nelson, Rudy Fedrizzi and Hank Clarke. (It was a cold day in Canaan...burrrr)
Plainfield
Enfield
Enfield — Food Drive
We collected 67 lbs of groceries and snacks, AND $306 in cash donations for the Enfield Food Pantry!!
Bradford -
Only have one picture from Bradford
So you get to see Ernst three times in the newsletter.
Ernst reported that he worked with 15 medical students, three other doctors and a lot of support staff (including Rotarians). They had 6 tents set up and gave over 225 vaccines. Job well done.
Youth Services Committee
Steve Whitman announced the next Youth Services Committee meeting will be on November 12, 2020 at 12 noon. Anyone interested in helping with Youth Services is welcome to attend. A lot of projects need to be discussed and organized. Many hands will make light of the work.
District Treasurer
DG Jamie Milne is looking for a Rotarian to take on the position of treasurer for our Rotary district, Rotary District 7850. If you are interested in taking this on, let Marilyn Bedell, Ron Bedell or Bruce Pacht know and they can share you contact information with DG Jamie. We can also give you contact information for our current treasurer, Lynda Carmire, if you want to ask her about the time commitment for this role.
Holiday Party – Ron Bedell
Twenty-two people are indicated that they will go to the holiday party. Ron will be sending out more information about menu choices in November.
Still hoping we can crossover into Vermont for this event. Hope our COVID-19 rates stay low.
Community Service Planned for 2020/2021
Listen Food Drives
This fall we are doing this for the food pantry in Enfield in conjunction with the Flu Shot Clinics. Still trying to find a way to do this for Lebanon.
Tim Guaraldi will organize these events.
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Working with Cover on a Winterizing Project
Winter 2020/2021 - not sure this can happen
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First Grade Reader Distribution
April, May
Bruce Bergeron will organize this event.
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Mascoma River Clean-up &
Rail Trail Clean-up
Summer 2021
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2020 Holiday Service Projects
Listen Holiday Basket Helpers Gift Card Purchases. We can't be on site for basket review this year. Donations will only be gift card this year. We are asking members to donate money to this event so Listen can purchase the gift cards they need from grocery stores and retailers. Send either cash donations of gift card donations to Angela Nelson, C/O Rotary Club of Lebanon, PO BOX 132, Lebanon, NH 03766. Listen is hoping to raise $30,000. Over 200 families are asking for help.
In addition to member donations, we will donate $450 from our Charities funds.
Working with our Interactors 2019 (the good old days)
Community Dinner Set-up on December 24, 2020...though this may not be able to happen.
High-speed internet isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for a 21st-century education
A Rotary club in Denver, Colorado, USA helped expand the information highway to reach all the state’s kids
by Frank Bures
When it comes to global issues, access to high-speed internet might not seem to be a high priority. But when a community lacks internet access, its economy can suffer as residents deal with limited educational and employment opportunities.
In the United States, many people face high internet costs and low, erratic — or nonexistent — bandwidth. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that 18.3 million Americans — 5.6 percent of the population — lack access to high-speed internet. But a study by BroadbandNow Research, which looked at the FCC data in more detail, puts the number closer to 42 million people, or 13 percent of Americans. The issue is especially pronounced in rural areas: According to the FCC, 22 percent of rural Americans lack broadband internet at home, compared with only 1.5 percent of urban Americans.
Internet access is essential for rural communities. In some ways it’s even more important than for cities. The two things that immediately come to mind are education and jobs.
Christopher Mitchell
Director of the Community Broadband Network Initiative
“Internet access is essential for rural communities,” says Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Network Initiative, a program of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a research and advocacy organization. “In some ways it’s even more important than for cities. The two things that immediately come to mind are education and jobs,” he says. Homework options are limited without internet access in the home, he explains, “and employers are looking to put their jobs in places that have good internet access. Towns that have slow internet access are generally shrinking.”
