Chris Parkinson entertained with songs as a fundraiser for Amigos de Honduras – raised 217.00
Jeff Kipperman, Greeter welcomed one and all to Bow Rotary.
President Mike Griffin called the meeting to order at 7:29 am sharp.
Attendance: 37 Bow Rotarians, 1 visiting Rotarian (Tom Ives - Tom is transferring to Bow!) plus 1 speaker for 39
Announcements:
Michelle Fortin – Auction – Date is November 7 at the Bow Community Center. Need to bring in items by Oct 23, need more volunteers for food for 150 people, sell your raffle tickets
Kate Putnam – Young Professionals Network event Wed Oct 21 sponsored by Concord and Bow Rotary Clubs. At Kimball Jenkins 5:30 to 7:30 – you do not have to be young to attend
Fall Rotary Park Cleanup – 9 to 11 on October 24 with Bow Garden Club
Tom Ives – Baker Free Library Wreath Auction Fund Raiser. This is the beginning of the public phase of the Lower Level Fund Raising.
Chris Parkinson – Collection for Amigos de Honduras trip to Honduras in January – raised $217.00
Sargeant at Arms (Bryant):
Fines: Logo Fines for the usual suspects: No one in attendance!
Happy Bucks:
Dave Scanlon saw Harry Judd on television last night
Bill McGonagle – happy that he got back from his trip to Ireland in time to see his mother before she passed away. Also, thanks to the wonderful care of Hospice.
Dave Gazaway – Made his annual trip to Hershey, PA for the big auto show (bigger than Bow Rotary for now)
Donna Deos – happy that she, Alan Kanegsberg and Jeannie Richards took the State Liquor Course to be able to serve wine and beer at the Auction.
Bob Couch – back from Canada. Needs to go back again to close up the house for winter.
Jeannie Gerulskis – happy about a weekend visit from a friend who she has not seen for 40 years.
Raffle: Dave Scanlan had the winning ticket but did not pull the winning card.
Program: Todd Leach, Chancellor of the NH University System
- In office since 2013, prior head of Granite State College, and lives in Bow
- Four institutions – UNH, Plymouth State, Keene State, and Granite State College
- They grant ½ of all undergraduate degrees in the state
- Goal is more STEM graduates
- Funding is 8% from the state, 20% in-state tuition, 24% non-resident tuition and balance from grants and other sources. State funding is last (50th) in the nation. If we double the state funding we will move up to 49th.
- The key is affordability – no funding increase, tuition must go up
- The state has reduced capital investment to almost zero
- The Administrative Expense per student is the lowest in New England
- NH University System has the second highest graduation rate in New England and has only a 4% loan default rate, one of the lowest. The reason is the high graduation rate and the good jobs that graduates get.
- Granite State College is the second largest in the state for online students. SNHU spends over $100 million each year on advertising. GSC spends about $300,000.
- The problem is the aging population. One half of all college bound students leave the state. 70% of those who graduate from in-state schools work here. Only 20% of those that go elsewhere for college return to the state to work.
- It is estimated that the future workforce will require 65% college educated employees
- We need to freeze tuition to attract students. The legislature needs to understand this.
- Vermont’s in-state tuition may be higher, but all others in NE are less than NH
- Todd participated in an effort to encourage a Fortune 500 company to move its headquarters to NH. Their letter turning NH down stated that there is not enough of an educated workforce and we are too dependent on Boston.
After questions, the meeting was adjourned at 8:33.
Respectfully Submitted,
Alan Kanegsberg
