The meeting began at 7:45, with President Donna Deos presiding.

 

Greeter Gale Kenison asked us to join her in welcoming Past District Governor Tony Gilmore from the Capital City Club.
Tony plus 44 Bow Rotarians plus 0 guests and 0 speakers = 45 attendees.
Ira Evans’ cell phone went off during Gale’s greeter moment and a fine ensued.
 

The board meets Monday night at Robert Louf’s house at 3 Wheeler Rd. at 6 p.m.

This Thursday 9/11/14, there’s be a meeting with District Governor Rich Berryman at the Common Man’s Governor Room at 5:30 p.m. Gov. Rich will be our speaker the following  morning.

President Donna asked for Harry Judd’s Roadside pick-up report. Since Harry was not present, the report was inaudible and we’ll have to wait till later to hear about this subject.

Announcements:  Cate DeVasto asked for volunteer counters to help post election Tuesday night with counting votes after the polls close at 7. If you’re volunteering, please get there before 7.

Michelle Fortin asked about the possibility of setting up a Rotary booth at the election – Cate referred her to Peter Imse who said he think it will work. Michelle wanted to sell raffle tickets there and would like volunteers to help.

There is a powerhouse Membership Committee headed up this year by the illustrious Steve Lauwers. Target is nine new members this year. Steve welcomes anyone who wants to help to join this committee. They are looking at thoughtful membership growth, including considering demographics, targeting businesses in Bow and Dunbarton. A suggestion was made to develop professional marketing materials, so that when Bow Rotarians speak to prospective members, they have something tangible to leave behind.  Turns out the Publicity Committee was thinking along the same lines.

Sargent Mark Lavalle started fining infidels: Ira Evans for his cell phone ringing, Dean Cascadden for coming very late and leaving early ($5), the usual folks sporting logos including John Ruggles (R&T Electric) and Linda Lorden (Merrimack County Savings Bank).

Happy Bucks: President Donna loved her vacation and loves being our president.
The golf trophy design used to only hold 20 plaques, now it will hold 44 and (sorry, I forget who was happy about this) the member in charge (Bob) was happy he’d be long gone when it was time to make a new trophy because we’d run out of space for plaques. The golf club itself has been upgraded. Gerry Carrier was happy about being in Concord for 2 years. Dean noted that he hates computers: Opening day at school was great, Bow finally has an uptick in enrollment because of all the new Dunbarton schools – and the server crashed. Paul Rizzi paid a happy $2 because two of his sons are at UNH, just Nick at home now. He’d just finished paying for two kids’ dining dollars, parking fines and $600 worth of books. Ken Moulton went to the U.S. Open, and found a golf club in Erle Pierce’s golf bag (what?! I should have typed up these minutes earlier, I don’t remember how the U.S. Open and Erle fit together in this Moulton story – ed).

Peter Imse reminded everyone to vote at Bow Memorial School, where there’d be plenty of parking, police on hand to help traffic, school in session, and he asked everyone to please be nice. Cate DeVasto noted that she had to notify the State of NH about where voting would be, at a time when the status of the Community Building was uncertain, so she had to take a chance and pick a new voting site.

Turned out Sept. 5 is Karen Wadsworth’s birthday, so we all sang sweet harmonies to Karen, who, at a reasonable age, has decided to retire and have fun with her kids who are moving back east. Jeannie Gerulskis asked if we could please move the recycling bin inside so we can recycle all the plastic cups we use each week. Jeannie and Karen went back and forth on the necessity of washing the cups 1st (Karen would, Jeannie G. wouldn’t, nothing surprising or out of character in this exchange).

Raffle: Steve DeStefano got the ticket, $25, but no joker.

This week’s program = the Auction Committee. Committee members directed everyone’s attention to the sheets on the table, which detail everyone’s prospect list and contact info for auction items. No letters are being mailed out for members, each member can decide to either mail your letters before a visit/call or bring them with you. Bring your items to the meeting each Friday (or to the Bow Police Station, with Gale’s name on the item), Gale will update the list of items secured each week. Bob Couch is updating the website, BowRotaryAuction.com.  Sponsors are in hand with thanks: R&T Electric, Mason & Rich, Merrimack County Savings Bank. Bob Johnson’s daughter has donated $1000 to the scholarship fund in her dad’s name.

The auction location is Grappone Toyota. NOT Grappone Conference Center. Grappone Toyota on Rte. 3-A, downstairs. The Auction Team is looking at just having one food vendor instead of the usual; consequently, we might have to pay for the food. There’ll be a cash bar. Raffle tickets were handed out to members to sell; there’ll be a prize for the most tickets sold. Jeff Kipperman urges team captains to empower their team with passion like Jeff’s passionate table. Cate noted that the first table to bring in an auction item from every single team member gets a prize, a $5 Dunkin Donuts gift certificate. Deadline is 3 weeks (Sept. 26) or no prize, buy your own donut. Promises don’t count, the Auction Committee needs to see the item.

Then President Donna rang the bell and we toasted Rotary the world over.

Jeanne T. Gerulskis, September 2014 Editor