Currents for October 12, 2023 (Oct 13, 2023)

Program for October 12, 2023 – Advance Transit Update

Speaker Adams Carroll

Adams Carroll began his talk by talking about the rich history of Advance Transit under the leadership of Van Chesnut who retired in 2022. Under Van’s leadership, Advance Transit has thrived. Advance Transit is coming up on its 40th anniversary.

He described the organization as Mission Driven.

Advance Transit (AT) is a not-for-profit charitable organization providing fare-free transit in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Their mission is to assure the continued livability and accessibility of Upper Valley communities by providing safe, effective, and friendly public transportation services.

They are committed to the following goals:

Increase access to jobs and housing.
Connect people to healthcare, shopping, schools, and other community resources.
Expand mobility for people with disabilities.
Help senior citizens participate fully in their communities.
Provide an appealing alternative to driving.
Reduce traffic congestion.
Manage parking demand.
Operate a sustainable service.

From Wikipedia:

Advance Transit is the main public transportation provider for eastern Windsor County and southwestern Grafton County in southeastern Vermont and western New Hampshire, respectively. Local bus routes are provided between the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth College, the city of Lebanon, New Hampshire, and the towns of Hanover, New Hampshire, and Hartford, Vermont, including the unincorporated village of White River Junction.

Advance Transit was created in 1981 following the failure of the for-profit Tri-Town Bus Company. In 1977 the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Council (now the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission) completed a Transit Development Plan for a non-profit public transportation system covering a larger service area. The Plan was endorsed by the State of New Hampshire, and Advance Transit was then formed as a program of the Upper Valley Senior Citizens Council. In 1984 Advance Transit incorporated as a separate non-profit entity.

All routes have been fare free since 2003. Service is provided on all routes on weekdays, and the Blue, Red, Orange, and Green routes operate on Saturdays. Trip planning via Advance Transit is available on Google Maps.^[2]

Advance Transit works to make travel across state line seamless. Many who ride the bus see the buses as another form community…like a town square.

They have 40 bus drivers on staff and a highly skilled maintenance team. Their garage is located in Wilder near the Hartford/WRJ town line. Near Dothan Brook School.

Carroll reports that the expansion of hours into the evening and on Saturdays is going well, and appreciated by our community members, especially those who do not have easy access to other forms of transportation.

Carroll reviewed their fare-free model, and how it makes the system work more efficiently. From a PowerPoint slide he presented:

Why fare-free? This free service is part of a broader effort to:

Give broader access to transit for the community.
Decrease traffic congestion.
Reduce local and regional air pollution.
Reduce parking demand.
Create a more efficient and timely boarding process.

In addition to Federal and minimal state funding, Carroll let us know that our Upper Valley towns, Dartmouth College, and the Dartmouth Health Medical Center contribute significantly to keep this service funded.

Advance Transit has been recognized as having one of the most innovative and diversified funding packages to support its operations.

What’s ahead for Advance Transit?

Two more electric buses will be added to the fleet in the spring.
Garage facilities upgrades are underway to make addition electric buses possible.
They are beginning to offer repairs-for-hire services for other vehicles at their garage. They are proud of their skilled maintenance staff.

Carroll talked about advertising opportunities. From the Advance Transit Web Page:

Advance Transit (AT) offers companies the capability to communicate services, news, and exciting opportunities through signs on the exterior and interior of buses.

Advance Transit’s sponsorship and advertising program is managed by ATA Outdoor Media. For more information or to be join the program, please contact:

Shelli Wildes
swildes@ataoutdoormedia.com
603-436-0008

We discussed that we may think about using this form of advertising for our fundraisers.

Short Bio

Adams Carroll is from Nashville Tennessee. His undergraduate degree is in Russian Language and Literature. Even while doing his undergraduate work at Reed College, he had an interest in transportation and wrote a paper on the Symbology of the Streetcar in 20th Century Russian Literature. He continued his education and earned a Master of Education degree in Community Development and action from Vanderbilt, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He came to the Upper Valley in 2022 to be a part of Advance Transit, and became the Executive Director when Van Chesnut retired in October of 2022.

Prior to coming to Advance Transit, he was the Director of Operations & Planning Director of Operations & Planning for Pittsburgh Bike Share Pittsburgh. There he designed and launched the country’s first bike share/transit smart card fare integration, resulting in a 10% increase in system ridership. He led the planning, community engagement, permitting, and installation of 125 new bike share stations, doubling our system’s service area while simultaneously increasing our station density.

Kilton Library Children's Collection

The Kid's Guide to Horsemanship and Grooming, by kat Hill and Emma Ford, photo. by Mary Patricia Stone.

A kid-friendly introduction to safe and proper horse care from the best in the business.

Whether taking their first lessons, handling horses when visiting friends, or enjoying the challenges of first-pony ownership, children need to learn more than just “how to ride.” When it comes to horses, the most important lessons begin on the ground, not only to keep all involved safe, but also to ensure the fair and proper care of the horse so that he remains healthy and happy. This highly illustrated, easy-to-use book is the most complete and correct guide available for horse-crazy kids and their families to learn basic horsemanship standards and responsibly apply them in the barn, in the arena, at home, and at competitions.

Professional grooms and authors of the bestsellers World-Class Grooming for Horses and World-Class Braiding-Manes and Tails, Cat Hill and Emma Ford are both lifelong horsewomen who have managed barns and strings of horses for top riders in all disciplines, including Olympians and World Champions. They travel the country teaching clinics in proper horsemanship and grooming to aspiring young riders. Now they have put their wealth of experience in these pages with over 700 professional color photos and clear, numbered steps that teach readers:

Catching, leading, and handling
Daily grooming
Tacking up
Post-riding or lesson care
Tack cleaning
Barn chores
Packing for shows and competitions
Bathing, clipping, and braiding
And more!

With cool tips and tricks they've learned over the years, and an emphasis on safety and detail without detracting from the fun of being around horses, Hill and Ford have created an instant classic—a much-needed resource that will not only encourage young readers to become complete “horse people” as well as “riders,” it will preserve and pass along the management skills honed over a lifetime in barns held to the highest standards. Hands down, this book is the must-have starter kit for every young rider. Ages 8-12.

Meeting Overview

We gathered for conversation and fellowship prior to the official start of the meeting at 12:02 PM.
David rang the bell to call the meeting to order.
We welcomed our guest Adams Carroll.
Ernst Oidtmann played our Rotary Welcome song and Hello Mud-duh, Hello Fah-duh
Cal lead us in the 4-Way Test without the banner...working hard to remember most/some of the words as the banner was back at Bruce Bergeron's office.

John Yacavone provide the jokes of the day that were all bus theme related.
- Being a bus driver isn't fun. The driver felt that people were talking behind his back.
- At work, my friend had always gone the extra mile. This is why he lost his job as a bus driver.
- A friend of mine got a job as a bus driver because he was good at telling people where to get off
- Where do bus drivers get ice cream? At Bus-kin Robbins.
Then it was off to the lunch buffet.
David then introduced our speaker, Adams Carroll. See story above.
Announcements
- Working to improve the WebEx experience. IF YOU JOIN MEETINGS REMOTELY USING WEBEX, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR A FREE WEBEX ACCOUNT. Click here for WebEx. This should get you you in without a waiting room. Just make sure you use the email that Marilyn Bedell uses to send you the agendas and newsletter.
- Listen Dinner miscommunication. Bruce Bergeron said we had 3 volunteers ready to go but they didn’t register on the Listen website, so Listen found some other people. Marilyn said that Larry had told us specifically not to use the web site any more. One way or another, it wasn’t clear to Listen that the dinner was covered.
- President Dave reminded us all that on October 26 we will talk Strategic Planning. One item for discussion is whether we can continue to commit to the Listen dinners and other service projects.
- Ron Michaud thanked everyone who showed up today but highlighted a problem: We have excellent speakers but very little turnout. Please reach out to your fellow Rotarians to encourage them attend. Bring friends who might be interested in the topics you see in advance.
- Saturday, October 28, is another Styrofoam collection behind Jake’s Coffee Shop. We have two 26’ U-Haul trucks but only one driver. We are seeking a second volunteer driver to haul the stuff to Gilford. Contact Phil if you want to drive.
- Ron Bedell – Holiday dinner and Yankee Swap invitations have gone out. Please send your RSVPs to Ron whether you are coming or not.
- Ernst - Lebanon’s Conservation Commission is seeking trails clean-up assistance for brush and invasive species plant removal. Email Ernst if you want to go out on a service trip.
- Marilyn announced that the planned Riverside Park pavilion roof painting is delayed until next spring. Because of all the wet weather, the contractor was unable to fit in our job this season.]
- President Dave reminded us that the membership committee will meet on Zoom at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, when the Tuck students with discuss their marketing plan ideas.

The Rotary bell was rung and our motto recited at 1:16 pm.

One Profits Most Who Serves Best

Holiday Party

Ron Bedell sent out information about our holiday party which will be help at the Quechee Inn on TUESDAY, December 12, 2023 at 5:30 PM with our famous Yankee Swap! Please RSVP, Yes or No to r.j.bedell@comcast.net

Details:

The date for our Annual Christmas Party and Yankee Swap is Tuesday December 12th. The cost will be $60 per person, including tax and gratuities.

The event will take place at the Quechee Inn in Quechee, VT.

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Hors D'oeuvres and Cocktails in the Tavern (Cash Bar)

6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Dinner

8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Yankee Swap

The menu will be:

Chef's Choice of 2 Passed Hors D'oeuvres in the Tavern

Mixed Green Salad & Fresh Baked Rolls

Pre-Selected Entrees: Blackjack Sirloin, Grilled Salmon, Chicken or Vegetarian

Dessert and Coffee Service

One Glass of House Red or White Wine with Dinner

The Yankee Swap will begin right after dinner. Remember to bring a new or used gift valued at $15.00 or less for each person in your party.

Happy Dollars

Happy dollars:

Phil Bush will be asking Adams Carroll to speak at Sustainable Lebanon in January.
Ernst Oidtmann has several happy dollars:

Grandson Henry was an understudy for one of three children’s parts in a production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” in Munich, Germany, where Ernst’s son, Max, and his family are living. As it turns out, the voice of one of the three boys broke into puberty, so Henry got the part!
One of Ernst’s intricate ship models is on display in the main rotunda of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center along with other models.
Ernst served at a flu clinic in Plainfield and another location yesterday afternoon where Suellen Griffin, former Lebanon-Riverside Rotary president and nurse, was at one of the events. She will have lunch with Ron and Ernst who are working hard to bring Suellen back into Rotary.
Vaccination clinics: 350 persons in Plainfield; 150 in Bradford. Bill Secord helped. Medical students provide much of the volunteer effort. The Enfield one coming up is the busiest and can use more volunteers. Ernst will also do the one in Canaan.

Ron Michaud told us he’s had 2 hip replacements. The first, in 2005, dislocated twice. Then, just the other day, he was putting cream on his shin when it went out again! This time, his visit to the hospital netted him an new ball, liner and retainer. He feels fine now!
Bruce Bergeron – As of a few weeks ago, Craven’s Store at D-H Med Center became part of the Jake’s family!
Marilyn Bedell was in Meriden for a reunion of former D-H hematology/oncology workers. She had a great time getting together with everyone.

Queen of Hearts Draw

Bruce Pacht pulled the 2 of Diamonds...We will continue to search for the Queen of

Hearts.

Car Wash

Car Wash won by Joy Gobin

Members at meeting:

Ron Bedell, Marilyn Bedell, Bruce Bergeron, Dave Crandall, Ed Friedman*, Joy Gobin, Ahmad Haidari, Will Koppenheffer, Jane Mason*, Ron Michaud, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, RIch Wallace, Cal Wolfe, John Yacavone

Guest: Adams Carroll, our speaker

Projects and Fundraisers

2023 Flu Shot Clinics - A few more helpers needed - UPDATED SIGN UP SHEET

2023 Public Health Council of the Upper Valley Vaccination Clinic Support

These are all walk-through clinics, so the work is much simpler. Volunteers help pass out clipboards and direct foot traffic through the clinic. Alice Ely alice.ely@uvpublichealth.org would like to have a few folks able to arrive about 45 minutes before the clinics open, but most volunteers would be able to leave by the end time (or earlier). We would need no more than 2 to 4 volunteers for each clinic, and I do have a few other sources for volunteers, so this is not all on you.

LOCATION	2-4 Volunteers Needed
Plainfield and Enfield are completed
Orford Congregational Church 617 NH Route 10, Orford, NH Saturday, October 21, 10 am to 1 pm	Marilyn Bedell m.k.bedell@comcast.net Ron Bedell r.j.bedell@comcast.net Still need help here too.

Mascoma Community Health Center 18 Roberts Road, Canaan, NH Friday, October 27, 4 to 7 pm	Ernst Oidtmann Dan Russell drussell@geokon.com
Windsor Location to be announced Oct 28th, 10 AM to 1 PM	Date sent to Rotary Clubs of Windsor and WRJ.

Next Listen Dinner October 12, 2022, Volunteers needed.

ONLINE SIGN UP HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.

Let Dean Cashman know if you can help and he can email Larry the names of members who will help at the dinner.

We will talk about ongoing support for dinners at our Club Business meeting this month.

Polystyrene Recycling

Sustainable Lebanon is once again partnering with the Lebanon Rotary Club to offer a polystyrene (styrofoam) collection day on Saturday, October 28th, from 9-11am at 227 Mechanic Street in Lebanon (behind Jake’s Coffee). The event will take place rain or shine and is open to all members of the public. Can someone volunteer to drive one of the trucks to Gilford, NH? Let Phil Bush know if you can do this.

We will be collecting CLEAN rigid expanded polystyrene #6 (EPS) and #6 food service foam which will be driven to the Gilford, NH recycling facility. Examples of EPS include rigid packaging foam used for TVs and appliances as well as styrofoam coolers. Examples of food service foam include food containers, trays, cups, and egg cartons. It is IMPORTANT that all tape and labels be removed and all collected foam is clean, dry, and free of food residue or other debris.

For picture examples of accepted and not accepted foam, please view this flyer from the Gilford facility:
www.gilfordnh.org/file/2627/Flyer_-_GSWC_Foam_101.pdf

There is no fee to participate, but donations are welcome to support the costs associated with this and future Sustainable Lebanon events. Donations can be made at the event via cash or check (payable to Sustainable Lebanon), or online via the Sustainable Lebanon Facebook page. Thanks in advance for considering a donation!

If you are finding yourself with too much foam between collections, please note that anyone is allowed to visit the public drop-off bin available at Gilford DPW, 55 Cherry Valley Road.

For more information and to volunteer, please contact Liane Avery: L99Liane@aol.com or call 860-556-3114.

Listen Holiday Baskets

Stay turned for info about Listen Holiday Basket Helper 2023.

As in past years, holiday basket sponsors will purchase gifts for children and seniors. Each sponsor will purchase 3 warm winter clothing items and a $50 grocery gift card. Other items to purchase will be optional . Community members are also invited to donate their time to help assemble and distribute holiday baskets. However we participate, Listen will be grateful for any help we can give them to bring cheer to Upper Valley families this holiday season.

Now on to Golf and Brew Fest 2024

CHEERS!!

Time to order your Rotary Wear for Fall!

Top Stitch Rotary Vests and Jackets

John Yacavone has arranged for members to order light and heavier weight jackets and vest for us to wear when doing service projects...for days when our tees shirts just aren't enough to keep us comfortable and warm.

If you click the link below, Top Stitch has created a special website for Lebanon Rotary Club members to order the following clothing items.

1. Men’s and Women’s light weight jackets

2. Men’s and Women’s fleece vests

3. Men’s and Women’s fleece jackets

All jackets and vests will have Rotary Logo and club name.

Here is the link for the store: https://rotarycluboflebanonapparel2022.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Just pick your item and follow the instructions for ordering. If you decide to pick up your item at Top Stitch located at 233 Mascoma Street Lebanon, NH 03766 there will be no charge for shipping, otherwise shipping will be charged. If you have any questions about your order please contact Cody at Top Stitch at 603-448-2931. Turn around time is 3.5 - 4 weeks. Once you place your order your order will be processed no waiting on other orders to be fulfilled.

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