Pres-Elect Gale Kenison opened the meeting at 7:30, welcomed all, and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rich Faro expressed his thankfulness and then blessed the food…..Amen!
Attendance: Rich Faro reported that there was one visiting Rotarian, Tom Ives of the Concord Club, one guest speaker, Valerie Gentilhomme, Philanthropy and Public Relations Coordinator at Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association, and thirty five Bow Rotarians for a total of thirty seven.
Announcements:
Commenting on the upcoming Rotary Auction Judy Goodnow said that auction items were beginning to come in and then she passed the baton to Michelle Fortin who noted that Matt Gatzke had joined the Committee and would be reminding Rotarians to get their items in. She described the Auction Raffle, which is sponsored by Mason & Rich and Merrimack County Savings Bank, and she explained the first, second and third prizes, all Bose products, valued at $1500, $350, and $200 respectively, and she referred members to the club website for more information. She then proceeded to distribute to each club members his/her ten $5.00 tickets.
Ken Moulton announced the formation of the golf team that would be representing Bow Rotary in the upcoming tournament.
Kate Putnam reminded members of the Concord Young Professionals Network “Chamber Event” to be co-sponsored by the Bow and Concord Rotary Clubs and to be held at the Kimball Jenkins Estate in Concord from 5:30 to 7:30 on October 21. She encouraged attendance and indicated it will be a great opportunity to recruit some younger new members.
Harry Judd said that the roadside cleanup last Saturday was a great success with 19 showing up and 84 bags filled! He also announced that tomorrow is Hazardous Waste Day in Bow.
Eric Anderson reminded all that tomorrow is also Bow Heritage Day, starting at the Bow Center School, with greeters posted at all of the Bow historic sites, the Bow Men’s Club providing lunch, and a wrap up at the Bow Bog Meeting House. He said that the Vault at the old Town Hall would be open for viewing.
Pres-Elect Gale Kenison announced that the Bow Rotary Board would be meeting at Gerry Carrier’s house on Monday. She also noted that a card was being circulated for Tim Neville whose brother recently passed away.
Fines:
Sargeant-At-Arms Bryant Stevener collected the usual missing pin, late arrival, and logo fines and he assessed a cell phone fine….I believe it may have been to Chuck Rheinhardt.
Birthdays:
Peter Imse indicated that in addition to his birthday he was celebrating 38 years at his law firm and that his family, including all three daughters, were all fine. He then told an entertaining story about his four friends in the clergy and their retreat out in the woods….how they shared some wine and with each other they confided in their deepest and darkest secrets….
Jeannie Richards said that despite being a year older she had lately been feeling quite young…but that the feeling had subsided when she spent the morning doing roadside cleanup. Otherwise, though, she was very happy being in Bow and rejoining the Bow Rotary Club.
Happy Bucks:
Ben Kiniry is happy that it finally feels like autumn and that, in fact, it is autumn.
Donna Deos is happy that she donated 25? Boxes of books and got some tickets for her generosity.
Alan Kanegsberg was very pleased that his boat survived the 1.5 foot rise in the Piscataqua River and is safe for the winter after many nautical miles of sailing this summer.
Kate Putnam paid to share her happiness for Bob Couch who was honored as the recipient of the Friends Program’s 8th annual James Doremus Volunteer of the Year Award. (His wife Rosemary was also honored.)
Dean Cascadden paid as he is feeling good to be homeless, explaining that in one single day his house had been totally demolished and removed…..to make room for a new house that would be constructed.
Rob Werner is happy that his wife Marianne is starting a new job at Northern Essex Community College noting that she would be working there three days a week in addition to her work at the college in Keene two days a week.
Dave Gazaway paid several dollars, one for being late, one for missing roadside cleanup, another happy one for seeing a coyote in his yard, and yet another for his regular memories of Leon Kenison who remains a significant influence on his life.
Judy Goodnow for being able to provide some good help to a blind elderly person who had left the security of her assisted living community.
Raffle: Tom Wilson got the chance but he couldn’t find the joker.
Steve Lauwers introduced Valerie Gentilhomme from the CRVNA. She made a very enlightening presentation about CRVNA’s Hospice services dedicated to quality of remaining life and the Lights of Life program. At one point in the program Alan Kanegesberg suggested that, if they hadn’t already, club members should all read the book Being Mortal which was a recent long standing best seller about dealing with end of life. Valerie noted that there is a very good review of the book occurring sometime soon at the Red River Theater….check it out.
President-Elect Gale shared with Valerie that the club was donating the book Mesmerized to the Baker Free Library in her honor of her presentation today. She then closed the meeting and rang the bell in a “Toast to Rotary the World Over”.
Respectfully Submitted,
Paul Rizzi
