Eric Anderson – April 16^th: This past year was a great year. But for those who enjoy motor homing it was awful. This year he is looking forward to it being a better year for motor homing. This year he ran for office again this year – 30^th time he has been on the official ballot in the last 40 years. He encourages others to get involved in the community – help make our community better. Married to his wife for over 50 years. This year managed to get perfect attendance again for Rotary – have not missed or made up a meeting since joined Rotary 38 years ago. Annual physical – doctor gave him a clean bill of health.

 

Judy Goodnow – TODAY! April 19^th!  Judy was on Zoom so we sang.  Past year has been a lot of ups and downs. Very funny grandkids – very different to be a grandparent when the parents very rarely say no to the kids. Griff doing well at Pfizer. Brian and boys came for Easter. She is the immediate past president of SPCA. Hoping to spend more time this summer in Booth Bay and Michael can do a lot of fishing. Sent Rotary international $200 - $100 for granddaughter’s birthday and $100 for her birthday. Having Judge Broderick her last week was very personal – struggling with Kevin’s mental illness every day. She loves being in this club.

Dean Cascadden: For the second time this year he is retiring. He is ending his 2 day a week gig in Grantham – they found someone to replace him. He will be full time catching fish and whatever else in retirement. Fun will keep happening. 

 

Ben Kiniry: Son is in navy, just got promoted, got married and they are having a baby boy!  Has received news about a friend from high school who was diagnosed with cancer – reminder about the need to balance (don’t plan everything for tomorrow – don’t know what you will get).

 

Durwood Sargent: Yesterday went to Veteran’s Cemetery, full military service for a fellow church member. It is an impressive place.

 

Linda Bliss: Echo Ben’s sentiment, 2 relatives on hospice and the husband of a friend also on hospice. Good news – her sister had a birthday this week. 

 

Rob Werner: MaryAnne and he were in New York this past weekend, for climate reality training with Al Gore. Opportunity to go to Broadway – saw the Who’s Tommy – and it was fabulous. 

 

Steve DeStefano: Judy Goodnow "allowed him" to join the SPCA board. Tuesday before the meeting they brought in puppies and the adults had a great time playing with the puppies. 

 

Mike Gula: Coming up on Route 293 Northbound, people up on the shoulder, state trooper – saw Carol Niegisch. Sunday went into Boston with wife and daughter – entertaining clients at suite at the Celtics. Went to Boylston St. to check out finish line for the marathon. Jamie Staton standing there waiting for someone from NH who is running the marathon. Paid homage to the 2 memorials. Daughter asked if he thought she could run a marathon someday – he told her of course, she can do anything. He will train with her and run with her.

 

David Farr: Happy son Dexter is here today. His wife and daughter recently went to visit NC for colleges. Saw 6-7 schools and found one she loved - Wake Forest. Exciting to watch your kids grow. Dropped daughter and wife off at airport – they are doing a girls’ trip in Europe together.

Secretaries Report - Bill Ames: Attendance update for March 85.65%; club has 53 members, 46 active, 7 honorary. March attendance lowest for this fiscal year. You have 4 weeks on either side to make up a meeting. Dues and fees today are $0.

 

Treasurer's Report - Tamar Roberts: Club has $13,735.29 in cash. Activity during March was pretty even in and out. Balance of approximately $48k – a lot is spoken for between grants, camperships and scholarships. What is available to be spent at the end of March - $21k. Included in that cash is some car show money that came in during March. We are in good shape.

 

Club Administration - Carol Niegisch: Nothing new to report

 

Club and Vocational Service - Michelle Olivier (absent): First grade reader books reminder; President Matt asked how our 4 way speech winner, Joe McDowell, did at the semi-finals in Henniker. Ben Kiniry reported he heard that he came in 13^th out of a large number.

 

New Generations - Dick Swett & Steve DeStefano: Interact elected new officers for next year, doing the overlap now and that is going smoothy. 2 things left for the school year – special Olympics and something else. Want to share the info on the district grant that can be shared with District Assembly. Group wants to get into White Rock, used to help there before. Did the sleep out on the 30^th and it went well. Did the egg hunt – 1 recommendation have kids wear interact shirts to identify who they are (so they don’t look like intruders).

 

Community Service - Rob Werner: Roadside pickup tomorrow (4/20); car show is in good shape; auction is starting to come alive; concert series is well in hand; too early for Christmas trees. Meting after this meeting on recognition.

 

Car Show - Gerry Carrier and David Gazaway: 46 pre-registered; Still collecting money for trophy sponsors. Sign up list passing around; t-shirts have been ordered – should be in in a week or so; can let Gerry know if you didn’t order and need one reserved; $16 for a shirt

 

Board meeting - Matt Dodge: Question they considered - What are we doing with the new member committee group? It is on the radar for the Board to figure out (expectations – how long are people on it, budget, etc.)

 

Global Grant - Ben Kiniry: Great way to take an amount of raised funds, go to district say we did a project and the district will sometimes match at 100%; go to Global Rotary International – they will match as well – pot grows again; This is a great way to do a grant where you can raise money quickly; Need to follow a lot of rules so the money is not wasted. Group in the states (ex.  Bow Rotary), find a club somewhere else in the world (ex. Uganda Africa) to work with – this grant is around young women in that part of the world that can’t afford feminine hygiene products (women have lower status and even lower if you can’t afford feminine hygiene items). Child Voice – do amazing work in Uganda. Met with them about the project – take the girls, have a class every 2 years, mental & physical health care, food, teach them a trade so they can have employment. Idea is the Thrive pad – can wash by hand – lasts 5-8 years. Designed so it will grow with the girls. Thought is to have a multi-prong effort. Teach a trade (sewing), make this product that is in high demand – give some away and sell some. The hope is the money made from selling them can go to the program. 3 impacts: Give girls a job, girls get the pads, environmental impact (reduce disposable pads). Been working on this for years – Memorandum Of Agreement for our org and our partner org. Once the MOA is signed – will do a community needs assessment, make sure the community needs this. Then will look at the budget.

Jon Ruggles asked – After money increases, who controls it? Ben shared that it depends on the type of grant – but in this instance the club on the ground controls with district oversight. Rotary Foundation requires reporting – lots of oversight. 

 

Dunbarton Update - Gerry Carrier: Attended selectmen’s meeting in Dunbarton. We have been expanding our area into Dunbarton. Goffstown released Dunbarton so it can be incorporated into our area. Explained at the meeting what we did – received a warm reception. Wanted to understand their rules for signage – receptive – will share info on where we can put the signs. 8 people in meeting besides the selectmen. The parent of a student who received one of our scholarships was there and spoke up. Another person in attendance had received a Rotary scholarship in NJ when he was in college. 

 

Bill Ames – When he went to Dunbarton Elementary to find out what books they wanted, a woman there shared her son had received a Rotary scholarship. 

 

Chris Parkinson: Set dates for Amigos 2025 (Jan 25 – Feb 1); The decision hasn’t been made to go yet – that decision will be made in August. Have good doctor participation so far. Dental side is where they need help.

 

Karen Wadsworth – Asked if in Old Town Hall we can have the Rotary flag lower than the American flag. 

 

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