Bulletin for February 24th, 2023 (Feb 24, 2023)

Meeting Date: February 24th, 2023

Presiding: President Michelle Fortin

Greeter: Steve DeStefano

President Michelle opened the meeting at 07:30 and Steve shared some inspiration including a poem about being grateful for what we have.

Attendance:

17	Live
14	Zoom
0	Visiting Rotarians
2	Guest
0	Guest Speakers
33	Total

Guests:
Elliot Berman, Bow Fire Chief was a guest of Eric Anderson. His parents were Rotarians, so Eric suggested he come visit the club and think about joining.

Vanessa Palange – will be inducted as a new member today.

Announcements:

Mike Griffin: Board approved $25,000 for scholarships! Bob Couch has updated the applications and is spreading the word. Mike has contacted Concord High School Vocational program. We are looking for non-traditional applications. In a good place with this project.
Carol Niegisch: Four Way Speech Contest is set for March 8 at 6pm Baker Free Library. Planning in good shape. Dean Cascadden told her currently there are 4 to 5 contestants. Today is deadline for participants to sign up.
Dave Gazaway: Car Show is set for May 20. Sponsors are mainly locked in. Flyer is updated thanks to Bob Couch. Planning for 70-degree weather! Dave Farr asked if cars are needed. Yes, plenty of openings for cars to enter - $15/car registration.
Dick Swett: Malawi boat project update. Boat is being launched this weekend. He is expecting photographs. There will be a formal christening in June when Dick is in Africa. Interact and Early Act have committed to help support project. The first report is on due Feb 28 and last day of month going forward so he will be able to keep us updated. Interact is busy stuffing Easter eggs ($10) to put eggs with candy in your front yard. (Similar to the flamingo project).
Ben Kiniry: update on global grant. Reached out to people in our district to reach out to Uganda district to be firmer on requirements. Dick Swett has other contacts in area so may look to use grant to impact in another way.

Sergeant at Arms: Bryant Stevener

Birthdays: Donna Deos birthday today! It’s been a great year. Everything is fabulous. Grateful to be with us as often as she can. Thanks for making her life great. Happy year!

Fines:

Dean Cascadden: cell phone rang during morning greeting. Then paid fine for whining about lack of cell service in the area. 😊

Melissa Howard: wearing her organization’s logo

Matt Gatzke: also had a logo fine

Mike Griffin: late fine

Happy Bucks:

Tamar Roberts: went to Lebanon for another follow up. Showing good progress and doesn’t have to go back for two months. She is working on building muscle. Hopes to be running and dancing in a couple of months!

Matt Doge: update from his dog’s emergency surgery. He came home and recovering nicely and is getting back to normal.

Judy Goodnow: paying for missing the orientation training for new members this week. She and Gerry were doing the training.

Tanya Frost: thank you to Bryant for helping her. She wishes she was in person (was on Zoom).

Chris Parkinson: In Florida where its 80 degrees. Had great mission trip to Honduras, will report when he returns to town. All went well. Will see us in 2 weeks.

Eric Anderson: The restroom window in the OTH now has a curtain. That’s great!

Sherri Ferns: Floors are finished at her home and can be walked on with socks now!

Dean Cascadden: Went to San Antonio for a conference. It was colder there than here. When back from vacation, there are superintendent interviews. There’s one internal and one external candidate. Public forums will be announced via Parent Square. He’s preparing for school board and annual meeting. There will be bond vote for BES project. Info is on the SAU webpage. Going to Canada to ski with his sons next week. After that will have 67 more student days before retirement. Gave shout out to Matt Dodge for success in New England Masters 18-90 ski competition. Most competitors are 65-70. Matt enjoys competing each January and February.

Gerry Carrier: Went to skiing at Okemo with son and granddaughter. Biggest mountain he has skied on. Had a great day.

Dave Gazaway: Went to Staten Island to go to Wagner College with father-in-law who had high score record for 30 years at the school. Was a great trip. Another buck for son Caleb asking if he can apply for Rotary scholarship.

Dave Farr: Paid fines today, he forgot his book and pin. Travel schedule is busy won’t be here next week. His family along with other families (including Melissa Howard’s) will be traveling to Punta Cana next week.

Bryant Stevener: Back from a week of skiing in Utah. Skied 6 days in a row. Felt great until return trip and was feeling sore – he’s still recovering. He had great time with old friends from Bow.

Program:

Vanessa Palange was inducted as a new member. She is very excited to join our club. Travels to a lot of clubs for her role in emergency management and is glad she’ll now be a Rotarian.

Club Assembly:

Bill Ames: Everyone is doing great on speakers. Publicity for the club has been strong. There was an article in Crier on 4-way speech Contest and Bow Times had an article on scholarships.

Gerry Carrier: January had 91.48% attendance. Make up are helpful to keep our percentage high. We currently have 48 members. 7 are honorary members. Some people still owe for breakfast. Please pay by check soon.

Paul Mercier: Reported that the club has $14,338.72 and Foundation has $54,436.84. Foundation funds are committed for pavilion and other projects. Hope to end the year with $8,000 in Foundation account. Contact Paul if there are questions.

Bryant Stevener: On track income wise for Sergeant at Arms goals. Happy bucks and fines are helping. For community work, all set on car show. Eric working on the summer concert series. Board voted on taking auction proceeds to pay for scholarships.

Eric Anderson: Summer Concert Series is 6 weeks starting July 13. Subcommittee meeting next Friday.

Steve DeStefano and Dick Swett: Interact is going well. Working on collection of clothing. Fundraiser is Easter Egg project. Raising money for WayPoint by having a sleepover at the high school. Goal to raise $1000. Group is doing a great job.

Peter Imse: Early Act had a nice visit by official from Linus blanket project. Early Act had put together 10 blankets for this group. They are very motivated to continue this project. Looking at other projects to work on.

Michelle Fortin: Chris Parkinson sent Board information about supporting Rotary in Turkey and Syria in light of recent earthquakes. They are looking for help with containers for “container city” that include shower, kitchen, and 4 bed capacity. There’s a plan to place 120 containers together in semi-permanent area (more permanent than tent cities.). Does Bow Rotary want to support this cause? Group consensus was to find out cost of one container to see how much the club would like to contribute. Dave Gazaway suggested personal donations can be added to a club donation. Michelle will get more info from Chris and continue conversation next week.

President Michelle Closed the meeting with a toast to Rotary the world over.

Respectfully Submitted,

Melissa Howard