President Kevin opened the meeting with the pledge at 7:05

Richard led us in prayer. 

 

Business:

Fred announced that there will be a Derby Committee meeting on September 2^nd.  The Derby Brochure is coming along.  He is open to suggestions.  Heidi has spoken to the event judges.  There is agreement on a 4 PM shutdown each day.

Concerns were expressed over how we might function in light of Covid-19.  Many functions take place in Derby Headquarters with limited space for social distancing.  Limiting the number of people in the trailer at any given time seemed to be the place to start.  Moving some functions to a heated tent was suggested.  Kevin insured all that sufficient masks will be available for workers.  Heidi felt masks should be required at fish weigh-in.  John King expressed concern over ventilation.

 

Erin introduced the continuation of “Classification” presentations.

 

Tiffany took the ‘spotlight’ first.  A fairly new member to Meredith Rotary, Tiffany is a Director of Granite State United Way.  Her sector of responsibility covers 80% of the state.  She is a native daughter of the Lakes Region having graduated from Interlakes High School.  Her college major was writing which included courses in public speaking; group presentations and relationship building.  She interacts regularly with business, industry, and community leaders in quest of grants and donations to fund the vast array of projects and programs serviced by the United Way in our state.  Tiffany is passionate about building TRUST in community relationships.  The result of that ‘TRUST BUILDING’ is seen initially in the monies raised each year from the business/industry sector and private donors as this is the United Way’s ONLY source of revenue!  To that extent every $ that comes in goes to Granite State United Ways programs and direct support for thousands of needy families in New Hampshire.  Tiffany takes as much satisfaction in seeing the donations roll in as she does seeing those who need it most benefit from it.  She is proud of the United Way organization’s “on-going ethics checks’ likening them to Rotary’s Four Way Test. Tiffany loves her job!

 

John King originally hailed from the “Nutmeg State”!  He first arrived in New Hampshire in 1991, retiring here in 2018.  He thanks Chuck for introducing him to and sponsoring him to be a Rotarian.

 

John graduated from Georgetown University with a major in Foreign Service.  He earned his law degree at the Georgetown Law Center.  John is very grateful for all the encouragement he received as he pursued his education.  He was the first in his family to graduate from high school let alone from college and law school.

 

John is a Past-President of the Hartford County Bar Association, the oldest association of its type in the country.  He was a Board Member of the Hospital for Special Care and Chairman of the New Britain Housing Board before his retirement.  John was brave enough to reveal his political party affiliation and that he had been a leader of same.

John is an active parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Meredith where he is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.  He is married and the proud father of five children and foster children now spread across the country.  One can only guess just how many grandchildren also benefit from his love.

 

Merron is an Assistant Vice President of the Loan/Mortgage Division of Northway Bank.  She reports working some 14 hour days to keep up with the currently thriving real estate business in the Lakes Region.  Historically low interest rates, Covid-19 and the draw of this area have stimulated much new construction and for us older folks the opportunity to refinance our homes.

 

Merron was not always a banker!  She spent several years in philanthropy in Ethiopia collecting data on affordability.  She worked with a start-up non-profit that endeavored to provide electrical capability to remote areas of some fifteen countries on the African Continent.  The goal was to understand what the people of these areas could afford to pay for electricity and how that might be deliverable in the future.  Eventually, the company, Solar Kiosk, became a for-profit business leading to Merron’s departure.

 

Gary reported on the success of our Global Grant.  While the money is yet to be received he assures all that it is coming.  Along with our contribution of $9.000, we are receiving enough to fund personal safety equipment for our four local fire departments i.e. Meredith, Center Harbor, Sandwich and Moultonborough.  President Kevin suggested that this will certainly lend itself to a “four-town” photo opportunity with Rotarians and the respective town Fire Chiefs.

 

Richard gave a brief progress report on Carol’s recovery.  She is improving every day and “rearing to go”. 

 

Erin, once again, acknowledged the many private donations, the significant Rotary donations and the hard work of Master Fundraiser Jim Mcfarlin all for the renovation and enlargement of the Meredith Library.  She welcomes us all to come by, look through the fence and see it rise up from the ground!