Meredith Rotary Club
                                        Meeting Minutes-- June 14, 2023

 

President Heidi opened the meeting at 6:04 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Dan asked that we reflect on the good things we do with thanksgiving for the ability to do
them as we move forward in Rotary. Heidi made some connections between skincare and
arsenic. (Heaven help us!) She also presented the sequel to the story of Johnny
Appleseed. Did you know the nursery rhyme ended with ‘hard cider”?

Announcements:
There will be a Board of Directors Meeting next week. Heidi noted our $5,000
donation to commemorate the 10 th Anniversary of the Meredith Sculpture Walk with a
mural. Next’s week program will be a presentation by the Sculpture Walk Committee.
Reminder: Annual cookout hosted by Mike and Betsey on Livingston Road is scheduled
for June 28th.
We welcomed three new prospective members. Membership will vote on their
admittance next week:
Joia Brancato recently moved to Laconia from Rhode Island. She is a graduate
of URI with a major in Industrial Engineering. She is in real estate and
other gigs, including waitressing at Church Landing.
Clara Parker, who spent her youth in Maryland, recently arrived with Jeff
becoming permanent residents. She recalled many summers in the Lakes Region with
her children. Her career has been in the financial world, most recently in senior living
situations.
Jeff Parker was raised in Nashua and graduated from UNH. Over his career, he
found himself in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. He was with WR Grace for
many years, moving rail cars! From the Canadian border to our southern states, under his
watchful eyes, chemicals made there across the rails. Jeff

worked in logistics for the American Red Cross in the non-profit sector. In the public sector, he most recently worked for the Baltimore City School District, serving over 800,000 students. His son is a Lt. Col. in the Marine Corps.

Program:
Heidi distributes copies of our Rotary By-Laws, noting the need for revisions. The
following items were raised for consideration by the By-Law Committee:
1. Inclusion of three membership categories
2. Revision of attendance regulation recently relaxed
3. Requirement from the national for an annual business meeting in January each year
4. Quorum requirement for votes… consideration of 70% of members present
5. Number/frequency of meetings
6. Scheduling of committee meetings
7. etc.

Dan distributed a Summary of Attendance at meetings for our information.

Jim McFarlin informed us that he and Craig successfully spearheaded an initiative by the
Interlakes School Board to install ‘Narcon wall units’ throughout district buildings. Each
unit will include a lifesaving spray and will be alarmed to bring emergency help. Jim

noted that distributors are now cutting vapes with fentanyl. He praised the School Board
members for their actions.

Happy Dollars:
Carl: recognition of ILHS Track Team success in New England Championships. A 9 th
grader placed 9th in his event!
Ray and Jim: a welcome of Joia, Clara, and Jeff
Rick Goodby celebrating his daughter with enough energy remaining to support a fellow
competitor to make it the last 100 yards.
John King: celebrated his 50 th Anniversary at the Bar and 55th reunion at Georgetown
_______
50/50 Winner was Jeff Parker.