Bruce Bergeron lays down the ground rules for the pourers at the 2025 Brewfest.
Minutes for Club Meeting of August 28, 2025
In attendance: Marilyn Bedell, Ron Bedell, Bruce Bergeron, Phil Bush, Dean Cashman, Dave Clarenbach, Hank Clarke, Mila Dela Pena, Nick Gaffney (Zoom), Steve Grant, Tim Guaraldi, Andy Jones, Willy Koppenheffer, Ron Michaud, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, George Wentz, Cal Wolfe, and John Yacavone.
Called to order by President Marilyn at noon. There was no singing, even though Ernst was present! We did not have a piano.
The thought for today was from Rotary International's new president, Francesco Arezzo, who states that Rotary’s strength is its members.
The speaker today is Tyler Lewis, head of school at Kimball Union Academy.
Future meetings:
September 4 at Service Credit Union, no earlier than 11:30.
September 11 at Osher at Dartmouth on One Court St.
September 18 at salt Hill.
September 25 at Service Credit Union.
October 4 at Service Credit Union.
On September 15 there will be a social gathering at Salt hill Pub.
Service projects:
- October 4, from 9 to 11 a.m.— Styrofoam collection needs volunteers.
- September 20—Red Logan Dental Clinic needs volunteers.
- Nick Gaffney will serve as the lead member for AVA galleries corporate membership.
- Brewfest is all set to go
Speaker:
John Yacavone introduced today’s speaker, Tyler Lewis.
Tyler has been the head of school at Kimball Union Academy since 2019. He has 25 years of experience in education. He considers himself small-town Maine folks.
Eighty percent of KUA students live on campus. They’re like a strong family. KUA believes that students should be safe and appreciated for who they are.
KUA employees 154 people. They are an important element of Meriden Village. There are 340+ students from 34 states, and 20% of the students are international.
Recent projects include two new dorms at a cost of $17 million in the last two years in building and renovation. KUA recently added a farm-to-table program with a new greenhouse, and there they have sheep and cows and grow food for KUA. One-third of the food is to feed KOA; one-third is for the food needs of underserved people; and one-third is for profit.
KA pride itself on adopting up-to-date neuroscience for teaching practices, while banning obsolete practices in their teaching philosophy. One of the up-to-date practices they follow is to have frequent assessments. Neuroscience has shown that frequent assessments lead to deeper learning rather than having one midterm and a final.
KUA is very aware of mental health issues affecting today’s students. KUA wants to be more proactive but also recognizes the need for reactive practices in this area as well.
The we are donating to Kilton Library in recognition of today's speaker is
Sakina and the Uninvited Guests by Zahra Marwan. Sakina and the Uninvited Guests is a picture book about the magic power of art to connect us to the past and to each other. When a sandstorm descends upon the city, Sakina and her mama forego their plans to visit the beach and head to the local museum instead. While Sakina yawns and scowls at the boring old relics, her mama's eyes keep filling with tears, moved by the details she recognizes.
But when it's finally time to leave the museum, Sakina returns home with something unexpected . . .Can three uninvited guests help Sakina see the museum through her mama's eyes?
This gorgeous, sweeping picture book illuminates the incredible power of art: it humanizes our ancestors, connects us to the past and to each other, and reflects the essential, universal human need to be understood and remembered.
Happy dollars:
- Bruce Pacht has turned 80, and Laurie held a birthday party with 24 people at Storrs Pond
- Hank Clarke took his two grandkids to Clarke’s Trading Post in Lincoln, New Hampshire.
- Marilyn Bedell thanked Ron for organizing the library. She also thanked Bruce Bergeron for providing food for lunch today
- Ron Michaud noted that he once had teamed up with George Wentz to sing “The Piano Man” together. According to Ron, George has a fine singing voice and should perform at club meetings. George semi-promised to perform at a meeting some day.
The meeting adjourned at 1:15.
PHOTOS FROM THE 2025 BREWFEST:
FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS
- September 4: Luc Pomerleau, District Governor Visit [Service Credit Union]
- September 11: Victor Tom, Topic: “How rocket science made it into major league baseball and strike zone.” [OSHER, 1 Court Street, Level 3 Classroom, Lebanon, NH. We will use a Facebook link for virtual viewing.]
- September 18: BOD, Charities Report and Classification talk [Location to be determined.]
- September 25: Rob Stenger, one of the owners of Simple Energy [Location to be determined.]
- October 2: Aaron Rivkin, Manager of Impact and Community Alliance, Hopkins Center at Dartmouth. [Location to be determined.]
- October 9: Emily Gray, Global Scholar—Policies for Sustainable Food Production in Consumption. [We should be back at the Dwinell Room.]
- October 16: PDG Eric Denu—Polio Awareness Day.
- October 23: BOD/Charities Reports +/- Classification Talk.
- October 30: Matthew Garcia, Windsor County Mentors.
- November 6: Susan Cherry—Rotary Foundation Month—Focus on Middle East Peace Center in Turkey.
- November 13: Roy Schlieben, Executive Director, MAXT Makerspace, Peterborough, NH.
- November 2: BOD/Charities Reports +/- Classification Talk—Announce BOD and Trustee for 2026/2027.
- November 27: NO MEETING—Thanksgiving.
- December 4: TBD.
- December 11: Phil Bush, if no meeting on 18-Dec or another topic/Club Elections.
- December 18: NO MEETING or Phil Bush—Holiday Songs.
- December 25: NO MEETING—Christmas.
