Opening formalities

• Meeting began at 6:00 PM
• Pledge of Allegiance recited
• Special prayer by Dan Whitney

Guests

• No guests or visiting Rotarians announced

Announcements

• Member Trivia Night: Second member trivia night scheduled for April 29th
  • Jack requesting members provide personal information for trivia questions
  • Popular event returning by demand
  • Even non-attendees encouraged to submit information for future events
• GMP Trivia Fundraiser: May 6th fundraiser in meeting room
  • Teams of 6 people needed
  • $25 per person entry fee
  • Can register individually on GMP website to be placed on team
  • Supporting fellow service organization in Meredith
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Donation: Board approved $2,500 donation
  • Covers one mentor for one year
  • Organization originally requested $5,000 total
  • Board decided to give $2,500 now, consider additional $2,500 next year
• Styrofoam Collection Update (Harry Reichlen): June 27th Saturday collection may be final event
  • Committee developed 3-phase proposal over 18 months to transition to town
    management
  • Goal to transfer program to town by January 1st, 2028
  • Would require “chain gang” of Rotarians with trailer
  • Implementation would start after Labor Day (not during summer)
  • Program has been running for 3.5 years
• Community Engagement Fair (Jack Foster): May 16th Saturday, 1-3 PM at Meredith Community Center
  • Greater Meredith Project sponsored event
  • Nonprofits and volunteer organizations participating
  • Community outreach for people interested in community service
  • Jack as membership chair leading effort
  • Ellen and Brian Harris volunteered to attend
• Meredith Rotary Club Website (Jim McFarlin): Board approved changes to website to attract new members
  • Focus on member communication, meeting schedules, and attracting prospective
    members

Presentations

Interact Club Update

• Gary Dehnel presented
• Interact Derby Shirts: Donated remaining 20 shirts (mostly XXL and XXXL sizes) to Inter-Lakes Middle High School outreach program care closet
• Next Year’s Officers:
  • President: Hayden Hebron (previously spoke on four-way test about social media’s negative impact on kids)
  • Vice President: Echo Weil-Cooley (sister Maya was 2018 short-term youth exchange student)
  • Secretary: Tilly Hebron (Hayden’s younger sister)
  • Treasurer: Sophia Torres (current 8th grader)
• Youth Conference: Saturday event focusing on hunger
  • Morning panels and discussions
  • Afternoon 1 PM: packaging 10,000 meals in high school gymnasium
  • Still need volunteers to reach 50-person goal
• Hands Across the Table: May service activity in Laconia
  • Church-run Wednesday meal program for anyone
  • Interact club volunteering to help serve meals and clean up
  • Previously participated years ago
• End of Year Ceremony: Sunday, June 7th
  • Location: meeting venue
  • 6 PM arrival, 6:30 PM start
  • Rotary club paying for member meals
  • Guests and parents order off menu
• Rwanda Student Samuel: 7th year sponsorship
  • Graduating this year
  • Working with Children Education Foundation for summer visit
  • Mid-summer timing due to July nationwide exams
  • Club donated $200 for visa application
  • High school sponsorship: $975 per year
  • Earlier years: $670 per year
  • Additional support provided for books when needed
• Rotary Youth Leadership Academy: Vermont program - June 19 – 21
  • Friday 8 AM through Sunday lunch
  • Team-building activities not available in high school
  • Three attendees this year:
    • Ivy Dassori-Kay (outbound academic year youth exchange student)
    • Kylee Maltais
    • David Najem
  • Planning presentation possibly in July before Ivy departs early August
     

Happy Dollars

• Janine Neggers - Contract renewal: Job secured for next year at middle school (possibly different elementary school, same district)
• Jim McFarlin - Grandson photo: Drew sent picture of one-year-old Thomas James McFarlin in first life jacket preparing for summer at lake
• Doc Cascadden - Boating season started: Retrieved large float from lake bottom while cross-country skiing
  • Hilton Head trip: 18-foot alligator sighting, pine tree crash on golf course, Savannah visit with beautiful city squares, beach day with live music
  • Son’s visit: House-sat during week away, returned to ice out and spring conditions after leaving in snowstorm
• Kevin Kelly - Dual employment: Two jobs secured - one in Florida, one locally
• Gary Dehnel - New flagpole: 20-foot fiberglass flagpole installed after 12 years of wanting one
  • Lowered to half-staff for brother-in-law (Army 82nd Airborne, two Vietnam tours, died of dementia)
  • Water safety reminder: Coast Guard member emphasized cold water dangers - hands lose function quickly making ladder climbing impossible even while conscious
• Ron Maher - Health: Happy to be alive and well
• Ellen Dearborn - Gratitude: Janine having a job and Bruce for all the help with phones for Keza
   

Winner: Ellen Dearborn won and donated the funds to the Meredith food pantry

Adjournment

• Four-way test recited
• Meeting adjourned around 7:00 PM