Today’s Greeter: Dave Scanlan (pinch hitting for Noreen Christensen) offered some words of wisdom as he welcomed members to our virtual world.
Attendance:
- 28 Bow Rotarians (at the time of the pledge)
- 1 Guest speaker(s)
Total of 29
Announcements:
- Matt Gatzke updated club members with the outcome from the recent Bow Rotary 50th Anniversary Committee meeting. The committee is still looking for opportunities in which the club can host a ‘live’ event before the summer’s end.
- The slate of new executives and directors was announced. They are:
- President: Matt Gatzke
- Vice President: Ben Kiniry
- President Elect: Michelle Fortin
- Secretary: Betsey Patten
- Treasurer: Paul Mercier
- Past President: Dave Scanlan
- Directors: Gerry Carrier, Michelle Olivier, Linda Lorden, Jeannie Richards, Matt Dodge, Tom Ives, and Joya Dennehy as Sergeant at Arms.
- Dave Gazaway was awarded with a Paul Harris Fellow award. Congratulations Dave!
Sergeant at Arms: Matt Dodge
Birthdays: Mike Gula recently celebrated a birthday. Many virtual fist bumps and elbow touches to Mike!
Happy Bucks:
- Donna Deos offered a happy $10 for the safe return home of her daughter Starsea from Minneapolis, MN.
- Tamar Roberts was happy that her dog is doing well in obedience school and for the fact that the scholarship award letters were delivered to BHS.
- Dave Gazaway gave a happy $5 as he recently ran into Dave Christie, who himself is doing well and practicing the golf game.
- Rick Minard was happy that his son Alden made President’s list. Congratulations to him and the family!
- Dick Swett was happy to announce that his youngest is heading to Hawaii, as she will be involved with “Teach For America Corp”.
- Gerry Carrier gave a happy $10 in recognition of his 49th wedding anniversary!
- Chris Parkinson is happy that he will be able to open his resort soon.
- Gale Kenison commented on the great job with the 1st grade books in Dunbarton.
Program:
Clement Kigugu – executive director of Overcomers Refugee Services of Concord, & Rick Minard – executive director of Building Community in New Hampshire (BCNH), presented the program entitled “Building a Multi-Ethnic Community in NH”.
Clement Kigugu – executive director of Overcomers Refugee Services of Concord, & Rick Minard – executive director of Building Community in New Hampshire (BCNH), presented the program entitled “Building a Multi-Ethnic Community in NH”.
Clement touched upon the mission of Overcomers Refugee Services, which is to Educate, Empower, and Engage. Some of the services provided include cultural engagement, employment assistance, social services, and youth & women’s groups. Refugees in NH represent 18 different countries (2013-2019), and many are suffering past traumas as they work to make NH their home.
Rick spoke on behalf of BCNH, as they continue to demonstrate strong vision and leadership – first on behalf of the NH Bhutanese community – and now as an organization with a broader focus on all newly arrived populations.
In answer to the question ‘What can you do?’, some options include:
- Hiring refugees
- Appointing a refugee to the Board of Directors
- Volunteer
- Visit NHGives.org
A question and answer period followed.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Louf