Today’s Greeter: Jeff Kipperman welcomed members to Bow Rotary
Attendance:
- 35 Bow Rotarians
- 1 Visiting Rotarian (Tony G)
- 1 Guest: Erin McLaughlin
- 1 Guest speaker(s) (DG Venu Rao)
Total of 38 (information corrected after a failed attempt by Arthur Anderson)
Announcements:
- December 7th and 14th are regular Club meetings; there is no meeting December 21st. Club Assembly is December 28th.
- Bow Welfare will be the beneficiary of a “Pass the Hat” for the next two weeks.
- New Member Event scheduled for January 15th at the Baker Free Library, Lower Level, from 6-7:30 pm. Mark the date in your calendar, and think of someone to invite.
- Christmas Trees: Tom Ives reports that we are quickly disposing of our trees; he needs some gaps filled in the schedule. So far over 100 trees have been sold.
- Thank you letter from Paul Rubenstein, President of Granite State College and a recent speaker at the Club. He has donated a book to match our gift to the Library.
- Dick Swett and Steve DeStefano reported that Interact made some very large pies for the Thanksgiving meal provided at The Windmill Restaurant.
Sergeant at Arms: Ben Kiniry
Logo Fines: Jon Ruggles, a welcome repeat offender.
Happy Bucks:
- Ben Kiniry, for turning 50, and enjoying his family. Challenged all members who are thankful to throw a dollar into the pot.
- Chris Parkinson, for the presence of Venu, our District Governor. Amigos de Honduras now has 20 people who will be going; he needs up to 32 and wants some medical professionals to round out the numbers.
- Venu: happy to be in attendance.
- Fine for Bryant Stevener, who made Linda Lorden president of the WRONG BANK. The proper bank is Merrimack County Savings Bank.
- Dean Cascadden: was thankful for a check payable to the Bow Rotary Club “in recognition for all the good you do” from an anonymous Dunbarton School District member.
- Dave Gazaway: late, happy, and thankful.
- Jerry Kingwill: had a great trip to South Africa.
- Tom Wilson: for continuing success with his liver transplant.
- Judy Goodnow: for spending Thanksgiving with her granddaughter.
- Tony G: for visiting a Club where everybody knows his name!
- Jeannie Richards: for feeling the baby move, and for the over $1,700 collected by EarlyAct for Pennies for Polio campaign.
- Gerry Carrier: not quite out of his sixties, but still happy to be employed.
- Michele Fortin: late, happy and thankful.
- Donna Deos: thankful that Erin has joined us for another visit.
Raffle Winner: Donna Deos, close, (of course) but no joker.
Program:
President Bryant introduced Venu Rao, our District Governor.
Venu thanked Chris P and Tony G for their service as past District Governors. He also thanked Geoff Souther and our very own Donna Deos for their service as Assistant District Governors.
He let us know that despite what people might think, a title alone does not convey wisdom or make you smarter.
He joined the Hollis-Brookline Rotary Club in 2010. When asked to sell tickets for that Club’s signature event, the Super Bowl Brunch, he found that many people he spoke to wondered if Rotary was a cult, or a group of graybeards getting together for a beer. Commenting that “no one in town knows what we do”, he became chair of the Public Relations Committee.
Venu shared several wonderful stories about projects in India; in particular, his first, which involved providing electricity to some remote areas in India. The impetus was to create an opportunity for learning; this led to an award from Green Apple. This award, given because the project “made the most impact for the least expense” allowed help to be provided in many more areas.
He also spoke about the value of Global Grants; how the RI Foundation can match a local Club’s funds, how Clubs can partner with local Clubs for more leverage, and with international Clubs for even more leverage. Although we see what needs are not being met locally, he suggested that we extend our hands beyond our boundaries.
He is concerned about the decline in District club membership. We seem to have little difficulty in recruiting; the issue seems to be retention. He feels we need to vet new members better, induct them better, and particularly, engage them better. We need to look for the passion in our members and nurture it.
He has three primary goals for this year:
1) Increase membership in the District Clubs;
2) Have every Club in the District involved in a Global Grant project, whether it is initiated in the Club, or the Club is contributing to another project. With his budget, he will match, $ for $, up to $1,000, each $ the Club contributes to a Global Grant project.
3) Have every Club member in the District contribute to RI Foundation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Goodnow
