Meeting Date: November 21, 2025
Presiding: President Dick Swett
Greeter: Judy Goodnow
President Dick opened the meeting at 07:30 and greeter Judy shared some inspiration.
Attendance:
|
26
|
Live
|
|
6
|
Zoom
|
|
1
|
Visiting Rotarians
|
|
0
|
Guests
|
|
1
|
Guest Speakers
|
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34
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Total
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Visiting Rotarian’s Names: PDG Bill Stevens, Bellows Falls, VT
Announcements:
- Potpourri Auction for EarlyAct: first win was for Tanya ($20), second was Dave Farr ($15), third was Dave Gazaway ($10), fourth was Cheryl Lindner ($20). Dave and Cheryl paid right away.
- Corn Hole Tournament: some dispute was had about how to characterize our Fourth Place finish (fewest points, but most fun!).
- NO MEETING NEXT WEEK!
- Trees: unpacking Saturday after Thanksgiving, probably around 1 pm. Bob Couch will let people know. Sign-up link is available from Bob if you have misplaced it; posters were passed out for publicity.
- Girl Scouts of Green and White Mountains: does not fit our grant request requirements.
- PDG Bill Stevens announced with great fanfare that BOW has received the CLUB EXCELLENCE AWARD for 2024-2025 from the District. As President, Gerry Carrier established goals and met them for that Club year. Congratulations! Bill also mentioned our help with nourishing the Hooksett Club, which received its charter last week.
- Club Assembly: Lightning Round
- Bill Ames: Attendance was 83.2%, 45 Active members, 3 Honorary members
- Carol Niegisch: the Club will be giving $1200 to Amigos
- Ryan Anastasi: New Generations: Interact is conducting a winter gear drive. They need coats, scarves, hats and gloves, all of which should be new or gently used, and definitely clean. Peter noted that the sales of the potpourri sacks raised $300 which the EarlyAct will be sending toward Carribean Relief after the storms in that area.
- Matt Gatzke: Membership: a banner is coming soon. Planning a member game night in January. Note that the Skit is scheduled for December 12, which might be a good morning to bring a guest.
- Vanessa Palange: Publicity: asked Dave Farr to send her the photo of Gerry and Bill, and info on the cornhole event so she can write them up.
- DG Donna’s Rotary Conference is scheduled for May 30, 2026 in Keene.
- The Club will be purchasing a bell for the Hooksett Club.
Sergeant at Arms: David Farr
Birthdays:
Lucky Bill Ames’ birthday IS TODAY! The Club didn’t do too badly singing Happy Birthday. While it has been a tough year since he was sick, he did have a great trip and is ready to let this year go.
Fines: None noted, but Brad Able asked what the fine would be for members who earned points for the opposing team?
Happy Bucks
Matt Gatzke: happy to have played Security Detail for DG Donna at the Veteran’s Event in Boscawen. Had fun at the Hooksett Chartering Celebration and visited the MFA in honor of daughter Sarah’s birthday.
Chris Parkenson: embarrassment buck for the corn hole event.
Carol Niegisch: happy for the Auction Team, and the honorary members: Linda Bliss and Matt Gatzke.
Durwood Sargent: happy his grandson made the cut for the Wheaton College ski team.
Dave Farr: happy to have his daughter Lexi returning from her first semester at college.
Linda Bliss: sad to report that PDG Richard Berryman’s daughter died. He is a long-term member of the Concord Rotary Club and Past District Governor.
Gerry Carrier: commitment buck. He will work on improving the sticking power of the corn hole boards.
President Dick noted that the Scooting fee is $2, not $1.
Program:
Bob Couch introduced Kate Saunders, Executive Director of the League of NH Craftsmen.
There are over 700 juried craftsmen in New Hampshire. Over 25,000 people attended this year’s League Fair in August. For many craftspeople, the Fair represents a good portion of their annual income.
Crafts can be an important environment for young people; away from technology and into using their hands productively and creatively. The League has partnerships with the Guilds in New Hampshire (pottery, weaving, furniture, etc) to mentor youth and develop relationships with schools.
The Fair has a significant economic impact on NH; $3 million in sales, but take into account meals, hotels, etc., for those who attend from out of state.
Funding changes have inspired new relationships. Craft breweries, for example, will be hosting summer ales with a signature drink to celebrate craftsmen.
Fair is always the first full week of August, beginning the first Saturday in August, and is located at Mount Sunapee. There are six satellite League stores in NH.
Each craftsman must go through a rigorous jury process; submitting several pieces of work which are judged by experts in that media; NH has the “Ivy League” level of craftsmen at the Fair.
Considering some traveling or “pop up” shops to spread the awareness, along with demonstrations of craftsmen at work.
President Dick closed the meeting with a toast to Rotary the world over.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Goodnow
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