President Marilyn rang the bell and called the meeting to order at ~12:01 p.m.

Recitation of the 4-Way Test of the Things We Think Say or Do was led by Marion Steiner.

No Ernst this week—he and Linda are up in Canada with relatives.

PRESIDENT MARILYN’S THOUGHT OF THE DAY: In recognition of Memorial Day, President Marilyn read the poem “In Flanders Field” (John McRae; “written in 1915 after the death of a friend during the Second Balle of Ypres” [Belgium]—Wikipedia)

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
     The larks, still bravely singing, fly
     Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
     Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
          In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
     The torch; be yours to hold it high.
     If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
          In Flanders fields.

WEEKLY STATISTICS:

Visiting Rotarians: None.
Guests: Hannah Falcone introduced Dawson Bates, a tall summer intern at Leb Rec/Arts/Parks.
Birthdays: Bruce Bergeron, May 25.
Wedding Anniversaries: Hank and Carol Clarke, May 24, 56 years.
Rotary anniversaries: None.

Here are some points that Carol covered:

• Grew up in Wilton, CT, “when it was still affordable.”

• Father ran a successful silk-screening business when such things were made that way. He took over the biz from his father. Carol’s grandmother, mother, and sister worked there some of the time, as did Carol, “for one week,” she said.

  

• Her sister with three kids and their parents now live in Colorado.
• Carol attended Bethany College, studying business for two years, deciding that sales and business were not her thing. She transferred to Boston College where she got her degree in sociology and learned a lot, she said, about our country’s role in the world, African-American images in the media, and other interesting aspects of life in the USA.
• She worked at Fidelity Investments, entering numbers from a form into the computer all day long.
• She moved to the Burlington area with her boyfriend, now husband, where she worked as an administrative assistant for human resources at the Burlington Free Press, becoming director of HR when her boss left. She got to see all sides of people, and they weren’t always pleasant.
• They lived for a while in New Haven, VT, across the way from Misty Knoll Farm, where they could observe rafters of turkeys. (If I caught this correctly, she also worked as customer service manager for the company that manufactures the “DR Mower.”)
• She and her husband started “Green Mountain Window,” where Carol came full circle and began her career in sales. In a factory of some 50,000 square feet, they have 35 employees making custom wood windows for customers in Virginia; Westchester, NY; Nantucket; Fairfield County, CT, and elsewhere.
• Carol’s husband is a great father toward whom people gravitate when he enters a room. He even fixed up an old Land Rover, which they sold to build a new porch. He invents new window designs.
• Carol’s son just graduated as an electrical engineer from the Colorado School of Mines. She said he was “born with a LEGO set” and always wanted complete explanations of everything in life.
• Carol’s daughter is studying social work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; she wants to work with children.

Why did she become a realtor?

At first, Carol didn’t want to, thinking it was like being a cartoonish used-car salesperson. Then she met some realtors she respected and realized it could be a great career helping people. She recently saved a couple lots of money avoiding some pitfalls in their purchase.

Why did she join Rotary?

When she first came to the UV, she created a not-for-profit organization to re-sell furniture and other effects folks who were downsizing were getting rid of. The money she raised was donated to various Upper Valley performing arts efforts. She contacted all local school and has helped the Hanover and Windsor systems, which responded. She raised about $10,000 but began to feel her time might be better spent. She wanted to be involved with something providing more service filling greater needs. She wanted to meet other people, who care about service and improving others’ lives, though she can still help performing arts organizations to apply for a grant from us! She is feeling a sense of connection and service and loves the 4-Way Test.

QUESTIONS:

Q: Do you act as both buyer’s agent and listing agent?

Yes. Carol said she plans to donate money for any referrals that turn out to be sales. She mentioned $100 but said it could be more, maybe a percentage, but it depends on how things work out.

Q: What has been the effect of NH’s new rules on real estate agent commissions.

[This was a bit complicated for your editor to follow.]

Some agents were saying “Our commission was 6%,” without telling customers that some went to the buyer’s agent. NH now requires agents to disclose where the commission goes. Carol pointed out that until a purchase and sale agreement is signed, the agent is not a fiduciary. The agreement should be made before a property is shown since it specifically defines the relationship and the amounts to be given to each agent.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) postings used to state what the cooperative commission was, so buyers agents could go in and cherry-pick properties according to what they would earn. This is not allowed any more.

Still, Carol pointed out, “Everything is negotiable.”

Q: Are you certified somehow, and what study or training is required for that?

Forty hours of lessons and 100 questions on a test from a thick book. Three hundred vocabulary words and lots of math. Carol started in December ’25 [?], then took the National Association of Realtors test in March ’26 [?]. She was licensed in Vermont in May and NH in June. One must be a realtor to get access to the MLS; it costs about $1,000 a year.  One can’t be a real estate agent without being a realtor.

Q: Are corporate entities buying local homes?

Yes, a lot of rentals. The practice has upped the price of new homes, as did Covid. Locally, there’s not enough inventory for prices to come down, though other parts of the country may be dropping. Carol said there’s so much demand here that it is unlikely prices will drop soon.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Hannah Falcone: Lebanon Recreation, Arts, and Parks is planning events on July 2 and July 4 to celebrate 250 years of the United States’ creation.

• July 2 – farmer’s market, family friendly entertainment, front porch and a Novo Nordisk-funded fireworks show;
• July 4 – Special parade this year. Invitation to community organization—classic cars, 11:30. BBQ free in Colburn Park. Lions will do some food. Leb Women’s Club – baked goods.
• John Yacavone is willing to donate his Uncle Sam costume to Leb R/A/P. He thinks Hannah’s guest, Dawson, is tall enough to carry the one-size-fits-all costume in Independence Day parade.
• When Dan Nash asked about a funding shortfall, Hannah mentioned that help with the barbeque (already budgeted at $5,000) would be helpful to expand it to include all the expected attendees. Salt hill is the food contractor. It was suggested that Hannah apply to Charities.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

• Listen is seeking persons to pick up perishables from Price Choppers every Monday and Thursday for redistribution. Reach out to Listen if interested.
• Alora Vestal (?) is organizing a group to support Dartmouth veterans by planting hundreds of American flags in front of Dartmouth Row on Memorial Day. Flag set-up is 7:00-9:00 a.m.; ceremony 9:00–10:00 am; dinner at Ramunto’s to follow. Just show up, or Marilyn can send you a form.

NEWS

• Our District Matching Grant request for Epilogos was approved for $3,000.00 to match the Club’s own allocation.
• Meredith Melendy, our candidate for a District Scholarship program, was approved for $3,500.00. She works with neurodivergent students in Canaan and will now be able to further her education in that field.
• First Grade Readers have arrived. New members are encouraged to carve out an hour to be part of one of our most heart-warming opportunities. Dawson told us that his parents still have the book he received as a Lebanon first-grader years ago.

CLUB BOARD MEETING

• 2026-27 Club operating budget should probably be available for review in early June.
• Lunch: We will have a price increase on the $10 we have been charged for at least 30 years.
• Because of growth in Club membership, we may not experience a dues increase.
• Our ClubRunner webpage has been updated to the Nova program as of this morning by Bill Secord, making it much easier to produce a newsletter.
• Note that the June meeting will be President Marilyn’s last as Club president.
• Lebanon Rotary will be sending five students to the District 7850 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy weekend in June.

FOUNDATION:

• If you haven’t yet, please make your annual donation to The Rotary Foundation no later than June 30. Marilyn suggests a minimum of $26.50, which would match the inaugural gift to the Foundation at its inception.

GOLF—June 3 is less than 2 weeks away!

• 32 Teams now, probably need to cap entries.
• $6,500 in sponsors; deadline for sponsorships is May 29.
• We have 45 Raffle donations. We can accept items right up until June 2. Look at what new things you have lying around. Several small items can be lumped together to make a raffle item.
• 40% of Club members have either obtained sponsors or donated raffle items. The committee would like to see 60% participation.
• 22 members of club haven’t yet RSVP’d re: volunteering on the day of the event.
• Eastman Golf is short 3 carts; high school teams will walk.

• Next Golf committee meeting is Wednesday, 5/27, 4:00 p.m., at Bruce B’s office to put everything together.

CLUB SOCIAL EVENTS COMING UP SOON!

• Lebanon Club Changeover, June 18, 5:30 p.m., Dwinell Room at Harvest Hill (No meeting that day at noon). Sign up with Ron Bedell—only $20.00 for hearty hors d’oeuvres.

ROTARY DISTRICT 7850 COMING EVENTS:

• June 12-14, 2026, Friday-Sunday: District 7850 Conference at Hotel Estrimont, Magog, Quebec. Widen and deepen your Rotary friendships and network! Lebanon Rotary Club will provide stipends up to$400 to attend; actual amount to be determined based on the number of members who want to attend. 

CLUB FUNDRAISERS—ALL HANDS ON DECK NEEDED TO MAKE THESE SUPER SUCCESSFUL!

• June 3, Wednesday: Bedell Classic Golf Tournament. It’s time to make your approach to potential sponsors or donations of raffle prizes. Also, there are volunteer opportunities galore, starting with possible setup assistance the afternoon of June 2, Tuesday. We can also use your donated raffle items—new, unused things you may have at home!
• September 5, Saturday of Labor Day Weekend: 2026 Brew Fest.

HAPPY DOLLARS:

• Tim Guaraldi: With Carol Keeffe’s help, Tim and Anna purchased a camp in Maine. They recently welcomed a new grandson named Tyler, their 8^th grandchild.
• Carol: Everyone in Rotary has been super-friendly for which she is grateful.
• Ron Michaud generously announced that as an incentive to those who haven’t yet made their Foundation contributions, he would match every Rotary Foundation gift anyone makes.
• Bruce Pacht said he was very happy to see the Club’s growth in younger members. We must offer them leadership opportunities.

CARD AND CAR WASH RAFFLE:

• Mila Dela Pena's’s ticket was drawn and Phil Bush drew the 10 of Clubs for her.
• Rob Taylor won this week’s free Enfield Car Wash, courtesy of Bruce Bergeron.

President Marilyn rang the Rotary bell at 1:20-ish and we ended the meeting with a recitation of RI’s motto: