September 11, 2024 Breakfast Meeting Notes
The 50/50 was won by Lora,, who donated it to Tom’s tip.
The card game draw was won by Beth, who pulled the 2 of clubs. The game continues.
Announcements:
We still need someone to fill Peggy’s seat on the board.
Next Friday the 20th is NH Day of Giving. There will be volunteer opportunities in both the morning (at Circle) and afternoon (at Pemi Youth Center).
Sept 22, there will be an event at Twin Barns called Pints for a Purpose to benefit Circle and Mayhew programs.
Sharon spoke about the Penny Sale. She brought the perforated sheets today to be attached to prizes. Use one sheet per item and do not tear the perforation before bringing prizes to the high school. Setup will be October 16.
Cash donations for the event can be emailed to Alicia, who will record them and turn them over to Steve. Mike talked to Maureen Polimeno over the weekend and she will send $100.
We are still looking for one major event sponsor.
Bill will send out info and a signup sheet for ticket sales. He will need an updated email list of current members.
On Wednesday Sept 25 we will have the district governor speaking to us and this will be our entire program. She will stay late if people want to meet with her.
Steve spoke about the latest trip to Ukraine. Former governor John Lynch and his wife went along on this trip. They went far into the country, to Kherson region. They visited some small villages that had previously been occupied. The normal population is gone, leaving the old and infirm and some children behind. The area is far from the center of Ukraine and it is hard to get services there, so the people are particularly desperate.They saw lots of damaged buildings, defensive trenches and concrete barriers. They also visited two of the children who had attended the our trauma retreat. The children stay in touch with each other and the the experience was clearly a high point of their lives.
This week Susan is going to NYC for a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative to be on a panel to talk about childhood trauma and welfare.
The Polish Rotarians held a fundraising concert in August with a philharmonic orchestra and Claire McCann, a Plymouth mezzo soprano, as well as the children from the trauma center. The concert marked the 30th anniversary of the independence of Poland, as well as the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Crimea.
Will Hanna and his wife have had their baby.
Bill noted that the Styrofoam container at the Plymouth recycling center needs a sign to tell people where it is, as people who don’t know its location tend to just throw their styrofoam in the trash.
Alicia asked if we have a plan for the nursing home birthday cards. Beth will bring them in next Wednesday for us all to sign.
Mike showed a 10 minute video of Stephanie Urchick, the new Rotary International president. She wants to make every Rotary club irresistible. Belonging is the magic of Rotary; she challenged us to change aspects of the club to make more people feel like they belong. Is the club meeting members’ needs? We should ask prospective members what they are looking for. The Rotary Action Plan has the structure to help create the change that is needed, and this will foster a sense of belonging.
Respectfully submitted,
Lora Miller, secretary