Guests and visiting Rotarians: Our guest was Harry Vogel, our speaker, the Executive Director of the Loon Preservation Committee
The October 19th Meeting was opened by President Heidi followed by the Pledge and Prayer.
Announcements:
- Betsey announced that the 2022 Christmas dinner will be Sunday 12/4 back at the elementary school. Hart’s might need serving help. No problem. Our regular donors – Moulton’s and Annalee are on board. Reservations will be taken from Nov 4; Donna Fodero will coordinate. Raffle items are needed. Drop off either at Teresa’s or Ted’s offices.
- Heidi’s “Need to Know” - The Eiffel Tower was introduced in 1889, the same year as the company that invented Nintendo was founded in Japan.
- Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra has an upcoming concert performance at the Silver Center on November 5th. Tickets are available.
- Thank you from the Ukraine Relief Fund ($1,000) matched by The Common Man and passed through the United Way.
- CASA sent grateful note for the $5,000 donation.
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Gary – socks are coming in great, and he’ll bring the bin back next week. Saturday is the corn maze by our Interact Club at Moulton’s Farm. Come by and support them!
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Jim McFarlin presented a poster that will be around town to make sure all veterans have their names on the Veteran’s monument.
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Bill – Fishing Derby is going along fine. Printing is complete; brochures are hot off the press. Website updated, and online ticket ordering stress test successfully completed.
Presentation: Harry Vogel of the Loon Preservation Committee [LPC]
LPC was created in 1975 to restore and maintain a healthy population of loons throughout New Hampshire and to promote a greater understanding of loons and the larger natural world. There has been a significant expansion of their services, activities, research and facilities. There are 1000 volunteers throughout the state plus small and seasonal staff. The first step is counting loons; LPC has created longest and largest data set of anywhere in the world. This year LPC monitored 358 lakes in the state.
There are three biologists on major lakes – Winnipesaukee, Squam and Umbegog. Research activities include banding loons to determine how long they live, do they mate for life, do the chicks return to their nesting area, where do they migrate. Testing is done for lead, parasites, mercury and general health. They also test unhatched eggs. LPC rescues loons in the late autumn when the loons cannot take flight. Great story about the successful rescue on Winnipesaukee last winter. 32 have been rescued year to date. Not all survive, however the deceased are sent to be analyzed for cause of death which is how lead sinker problems were identified; lead is the largest single cause of loon mortality in NH. Even though lead is outlawed, there is a reservoir of old lead in both tackle boxes and on the bottom of the lake. LPC has instituted a lead buy-back program where they will pay $10 for every lead jig turned into the office or to retailers. The largest haul from a retailer receives $100. Over 32,000 pieces have been collected so far. LPC uses extensive advertising.
Other assistance to loons is nesting rafts; one of every 5 chicks this year were birthed on rafts. Over 130 presentations have been made around the state. Website is found at loon.org. The loon nesting web cam that is “live” during the hatching season is awesome! Third Saturday in July is the formal Loon Count - 547 loons in 2022. Loon Festival not to be forgotten, certainly not by Rotary! Busy and challenging year. This is their 47th year, and since inception the numbers have more than quadrupled. Concern: Known mortality causes – flushing the parent off the nest; predation; flooding; speed or wake boats. Last year the loons had to endure the hottest June on record and the wettest in July. Loons are an indicator of our environmental health. Harry handed out Take Back Lead packets. Carl Johnson presented Harry with his own Rotary apron so that he can work the grill this next summer!
Happy $
Kevin thought it a good idea to put McFarlin’s face on the Uncle Sam Veteran’s poster. Bob K is happy that all his NY Teams are winning, got his shot, can walk the golf course and has upcoming NYC travel plans. Bonnie H plans to donate to the Rotary Foundation on October 24th - World Polio Day. John Columbus was happy to know more about loons. Carl was $20 happy for Harry finding his way here after receiving “directions” from a Rotarian. Lastly, Jim McFarlin was happy for a healthy granddaughter.
Richard Gerken won the drawing.
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