Rotary Log for May 14, 2026
Attendance on this sprinkling, raw Spring Day was like Rotary days of yore. Which is to say
there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Members often turn out for meetings with young people.
Scholarship Day is always a Club favorite. The room was abuzz.
President Ian, a remarkably busy person rumored to be counting down the days until his term
ends, called the meeting to order. Juan Valdez, er’ Senor Juan led the song with splendid
accompaniment from the high school students and their families. May is Mental Health
Awareness Month. Yours truly offered words of wisdom as the inspiration:
 "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." —C.S. Lewis
 "The most wasted of days is one without laughter." —E. E. Cummings
 Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.
 And remember this: Some days you’ll be the pigeon; some days the statue.
There were three quick announcements. Nancy invited members to help landscape around the
new flagpole at New Franklin School on the weekend.
Ian reminded us that next week we are posing for club photos. He thanked all who donated books
for the little free libraries, his presidential project. You can still donate books through the month
of May.
The Golf Tournament is on June 12 from 8-5 at Pease Country Club. Eileen seeks donations of
gift cards to local establishments for a raffle-basket. And as always, more sponsors and golfers
helps the Tournament raise more for charitable contributions.

However, the students and parents were not in the audience for any of that. Rotary scholarships
were front and center on this day. Seventeen to be exact totaling $51,000. Sixteen from the club’s
Scholarship Fund, four from the Joseph J. Shanley Scholarship Fund, and one from the Dr. James
B. Clayburgh Scholarship Fund.

Tristan Shanley kicked off the program and introduced one of the 2025 scholarship recipients,
Eli George. George is Founder of B3 Youth Clinic which raised $110,000 for a basketball court
at Gosling Meadows, PP Midge’s presidential project. Presently a freshman at Fordham
University, George offered sage advice to students heading off to college and university. This is
best embodied by his final recommendation, “Keep your doors open.”

The four members of the Scholarship Committee, Cindi and Tristan Shanley, Caitlin Burke and
President-elect John St. Pierre, took turns introducing a remarkable group of smart, talented, and

contributing members of the class of 2026. Students took the podium to accept checks for $3000
and thank the club for assisting them in their continuing education.

We learned they are headed off to 13 different institutes of higher learning. Boston University,
Colby- Sawyer, Pratt Institute, McGill, Holy Cross, South Florida and Miami to name a few.
Four are staying at our own University of New Hampshire.

One admires their achievements in the classroom, sports and a myriad of other volunteer, social
and vocational activities expressed at every table.

Luis Melchor won the $21 raffle prize. A fitting welcome back for a good person returning after
a long hiatus.

Respectfully Submitted, Neal Ouellett