Reminder: club meeting Thursday morning, July 11, 7:00 a.m. John Yacavone will again present overview of fundraising opportunities for the 2019-2020 Rotary year.
Moorings
A lively crowd populated the Changeover meeting at the Marriott Courtyard for our last meeting under the guidance of Co-presidents Michelle and Steve. Marion Steiner and Liss Mooney managed to pull off the friendly coup, as Michelle and Steve recognized the contributions of individual members to the club’s success over the short (as testified to by Michelle) year of their reign. Incoming vice president Hank Clarke claimed that he had forgotten his sports jacket in his car, but the real reason for shirt-clad presence was that he has not worn a tie since his retirement from Mascoma Bank over a year ago. He is planning to replace Favio on the cover of paperback romances.
Co-president Liss spoke for both herself and Marion as she announced their vision for the upcoming year:
“Marion and I became co-presidents purely by chance, but after spending time with her at PETS, the district conference, and several planning lunches, it’s clear that our partnership is going to be strong. We are both passionate about elevating the club in the mind of the community and intend to focus our year on marketing, branding, outreach, and creating a presence. We feel this will be instrumental in recruiting new members, which is another goal of ours. I am excited to be co-president this year and expect to look back fondly on this year as one of personal growth and community service—all thanks to my involvement in Rotary.”
The officers elected for 2019-2020 are:
Co-presidents Marion Steiner and Liss Mooney;
Presidents-elect Paul Tierney and Melissa Golightly;
Vice president Hank Clarke.
Before turning over the bell and gavel to their successors, Michelle and Steve thanked several individuals for the help they had provided over the previous year:
To Jane Mason for her technical help in keeping our website and social media up to date.
To Hank Clarke for standing in the wings to give his classification talk for the past six months. Maybe next year, Hank!
To John Yacavone for his leadership with the fundraising committee, which we expect will lead to new and increased fundraising events during the coming year. And for making a reconnaissance mission to Brattleboro to get ideas from their Brew Fest event.
To Dan Affeldt for his technical support and providing the Rotary polio slide show at our pie event. And for his “behind the scenes” technical work at multi-district “Presidents Elect Training Sessions" (PETS) and the district conferences.
To Liss Mooney and Marion Steiner for agreeing to step up as co-presidents for the upcoming year and making the time to attend the president-elect seminar.
To Paul Tierney for his assistance with our strategic plan, his ongoing role as innovation chair, and his service as a director. Also, and most importantly, continuing his role as the club’s premier curmudgeon.
To Phil Rentz for his continuing work on The Rotary Foundation and Youth Service.
To Bruce Pacht for his work in chairing the strategic planning committee and getting our first ever strategic plan developed and adopted. And for his work on Interact and arranging for our two Interact clubs’ participation in the first ever Interact Symposium at this year’s district conference. And his leadership work on our pie event.
To Marion Steiner and Suellen Griffin for running our third annual Brew Fest. While not as big a success financially as we had hoped, it proved that it can be built upon and developed into a larger event. Marion is chairing the event this year and Suellen is once again deeply immersed in it as well.
To Steve Whitman for chairing the finance committee and structuring our operating and charity budgets. And for his leadership with Youth Service for the past three years as well as developing a sponsorship plan for the upcoming Brew Fest.
To Angela Nelson for helping us better understand our financial picture, both charities and operating. And for her work in helping to clean out and reorganize the back room at the Dwinell Room at APD.
To Bill Secord for his photography at meetings and service projects, his filling in as Currents editor in Marilyn’s absence, his “doodle polls,” and providing the speakers’ books to the Kilton Library children’s section.
To Ernst Oidtmann for his ongoing piano accompaniment to our singing efforts. And for his leadership in park and river clean ups for the club.
To Shaun Mulholland for paving the way with the city for the club to work on our two parks. And for directing serviceable shelving and file cabinets from the city to the club and helping to clean out and reorganize our storage area at Harvest Hill.
To Bill Babineau for serving as treasurer and director.
To Willie Koppenheffer for serving as secretary and for his weekly national park quiz to kick-off our search for the Queen of Hearts.
Phil Rentz announced the five recipients of the Paul Harris awards being presented this year: Michelle Buck and multi-Paul Harris recipients Steve Christy, Dan Nash, Paul Tierney, and Steve Whitman:
Michelle Buck
Steve Christy
Paul Tierney
Steve Whitman
The report of the fundraising committee, which was chaired by John Yacavone, will be presented again at the morning club meeting on July 11. The following is a summary of the committee report. A working premise of the committee is that there are fewer and fewer locally owned businesses available to be solicited for donations, so different approaches are called for. The full report of the committee will be distributed after July 11 after presentations at both the morning and noontime club meetings. The following four approaches were unanimously supported by the committee and were presented to the board of directors:
The Poker Room. The Poker Room (Charitable Gaming) operates in the Lebanon Mall in the same building as the Village Pizza. Run according to the laws of New Hampshire, the Poker Room gives 35% of each evening’s “house winnings” to bona fide charities. The Lebanon Rotary Club can meet the state’s restrictions and can earn from $8,000 to $12,000 a year as a participant.
Colonial Flag Company. This organization provides American flags, flag poles, and robust installation rods that the club can install on the lawns of donors on the patriotic holidays of Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. Homeowners would donate $50 for the yearlong service of flying 3’ by 5’ flags for several days on each holiday; and residents of several communities such as Claremont, Enfield, and the City of Lebanon could be asked to participate.
Rotary Yard Sale. This fundraiser could be held at either Colburn Park or Riverside Park from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with items donated by club members.
First Responders Recognition Dinner. Structured as a way to honor Lebanon’s police, fire, and EMT personnel, supporters would donate $50 to attend. This proposal is still in the initial stages of development.
Fundraising committee members are John Yacavone, chairperson; Steve Christy; Michelle Buck; Marion Steiner; Melissa Mooney; Tim Guaraldi; Bruce Bergeron; Suellen Griffin, and Steve Whitman.
Farmers Market Booth
Every Thursday in Colburn Park
We have a booth at the Farmers Market from now until Brew Fest. It will be an opportunity for us to showcase Rotary in Lebanon and to promote the Brew Fest. Farmers Markets are on Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to approx. 7 p.m. Two to three Rotarians are needed each market. See Don MacMeekin to Sign Up.
Brew Fest
August 24, 2019
Posters and tickets for Brew Fest are available. See Marion or Suellen if you have places you can hang them.
Rotary Friendship Exchange—Team from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
An easy way to experience the internationality of Rotary
Two Requests:
Would you willing to host two members of our Friendship Exchange Team in October? They are coming from Calgary, Alberta Canada. They will be with us from October 14 through 19. The Randolph Rotary Club will be transferring them to us at some point on the 14th, and we will be taking most team members to Dartmouth Coach at the end of their stay. We don't have a set schedule yet, but we would be asking you to provide breakfast most mornings and some dinners. There will be some group meal too. It would be helpful if you could get them to central meeting points on sightseeing days, but we can come up with other plans if needed.
Drivers needed for sightseeing days (October 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18). You can drive one day or multiple days.
If you can participate in this adventure, please let Steve Whitman or Marilyn Bedell know.
