Template_Summer (Jun. 06, 2026)

Meeting Date: June 5th, 2026

Presiding: President Dick Swett

Greeter: David Farr

President Dick opened the meeting at 07:30 and David shared some inspiration.

Attendance:

28	Live
3	Zoom
0	Visiting Rotarians
2	Guests
1	Guest Speakers
34	Total

Guest Names: Wendy Gazaway, Stacey McDowell

Announcements:

Chris Parkinson – Last Saturday’s Conference went well. Thank you to the Bow Club for support. 12 -14 participants from our club. 4 Way test speech contest was extraordinary. Several family members of speech contest participants came unexpectedly.
Mike Gula – Awards night; auditorium was packed. Presented 9 students with $24K in scholarships.
Matt Gatzke – Membership committee zoom meeting Monday Looking at next Family and Friends get together at the new Hoptimystic on South St across from the Hampton Inn. Date is yet tbd.
Dick Swett - Stacey McDowell visiting the Club for a second time.
Bill Ames - Rule 85 sign-up sheets are available. To qualify, one’s age plus years of service must equal 85 years or greater.
Things to come
- Goffstown car show is on 6 June
- Awards & Recognition night 11 June, 6pm at the Baker Free Library. Over 30 nominations this year. No alcohol this year at the event.
- No Rotary Club meeting on 12 June
- Summer Concert Series – Flyers created and will be placed around the area and passed out at each concert. Donations of note ($2K from Grappone, $500 from Delta Dental and $300 from Jerry Kingwill). Mike Gula noted that the Henniker Summer Concerts bring in bigger acts on a Tuesday night.
- Next Bow Rotary Club Board meeting 15 June, 6:30, on zoom.

Sergeant at Arms: Dave Farr

Birthdays: Mike Gula - Shared story about mountain climbing and that his boot that came apart during the hike.

Fines: none noted

Happy Bucks:

Dick Swett – Spent a week in Oslo at the Freedom Forum (18^th year) 2,000 participants, 3 days. Focus is on dismantling dictatorship in the world. Carried his wife’s bag because she was a presenter.
Chris Parkinson – Middle granddaughter got her driver’s License, Oldest granddaughter graduated from Beford HS
Gerry Carrier – For Ken Moulton (who is not with us) Both men are celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary.
Tanya Frost – Happy Friday
Ryan Anastasi – Loved the Conference, 1 Week until the wedding. Thank you to David Farr for being the officiant.
Linda Bliss – Son came up to the area and visited her. Linda is going to North Carolina on the 14^th.
Tamar Roberts Sergeant at Arms have met its budgetary goal. Several funerals to attend. Had a free day on Monday.
David Farr - Rob Werner was in the paper with no pin.

Program: Aimee Landry – City Hope NH

“Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up” Environmental Educator, David Orr

Mainly run on volunteers (2,036 hours).

Host a bi-monthly food pantry with a devotion (not just transactional).

Provide financial assistance and management.

Help with getting IDs for the homeless.

Hope Overflowing – once a month Relationships and Community activity (like a family Sunday dinner).

Getting Ahead Program

Runs 18 weeks, 8-10 participants, 3 hours per week

Equips participants with the ability to determine how to improve their lives.

Collaborates with several organizations across the community to look at various issues

10 modules used for development, poverty is studied “The healthier you are psychologically, or the less you may seem to need change, the more you can change.”

Help participants make plans to change their current situation

Dick Swett had the presenter sign a book that will be donated to the Baker Free Library

President Dick closed the meeting with a toast to Rotary the world over.

Respectfully Submitted,
Mike Ard