April 8, 2026 Breakfast Meeting Notes

Guests: Deb and Tim Kirschner

Alex won the 50/50.

Sharon drew the 2 of clubs in the card game.

Today’s famous NH Trivia celebrates the life of our late colleague, Omer Ahern. His services will be this Saturday at 11 am at St Matthew’s. The pastor is expecting large numbers of relatives and friends, so he has asked people to consider staying home so as to not exceed the capacity of the church.. 

Beth Dever had planned to come back for today’s meeting, but unfortunately she is ill. We hope to see her next week.

Circle Program work day will be from 10-2 on Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17. Bring what you need, whether a rake, shovel, loppers or other items you will need to do your job. Circle will provide bug spray, lunch, etc.

Mike spoke about Rotary swag. If there is anyone else who would like to order clothing, please fill out the order form for Mike today. 

Mike also shared a Rotary minute, Socrates’ 3 principals asked if it something is true, good, and useful. Rotary has borrowed these principles in the 4 way test. 

Today’s program was given by Alex and Steve, about the Common Man for Ukraine. He gave a brief introduction to how the organization started for the benefit of our guests. Steve showed us the website, where you can order T shirts and other swag from the Common Man for Ukraine. Items are billed and shipped directly to you. 

Steve then showed us a short video recorded by a Polish Rotarian named Cristof. The video illustrated a food convoy delivery in August 2024. They visited one village in the Donbas that had been occupied for a year and no one was allowed to leave; they had no food and water, and the Russians sometimes took people’s houses if they wanted them. All the buildings are pockmarked with bullets, roofs are open and covered by blue tarps. Anyone who wanders into the one mile “contested” zone is at risk of being taken out by drones. Adjacent to that buffer zones, the Ukrainians have put nets over and down the sides of the roads to intercept drones. 

Steve noted that the Common Man needs to be in control of the funds; they can’t be sent right to Ukraine, due to the corruption there. So they send the money to Polish Rotarians, who then  buy the food and supplies and drive to Ukraine to deliver it. It takes two days to get there, two to get back, and 3 days on the ground in Ukraine, so this is a huge time commitment for the Rotarians. (They do 3 trips a year with us and other trips on their own; they use their vacation time to do this.)

Denise said that she has had contacts from several people who would like to speak to us. If you are having trouble finding a speaker, see Denise. 

Happy dollars were shared by Tony, Ken, and Phil, Happy 54th anniversary to Tony and Ann! 

Sharon showed a framed set of pictures, celebrating our club’s 2007-2008 construction of the amphitheater. Rotary International awarded us the significant achievement award at the 2009 Changing of the Guard. Sharon was a brand new Rotarian at that time, and the club wasn’t sure where to put the framed photo. Sharon volunteered to put it up at her office. Now that she is retired we need to find a new place for it. Bill volunteered to put it up at Noyes Insurance; however, Alex felt that it would get better visibility if it were on display right here at the Common Man Inn where we meet.

Respectfully submitted,

Lora Miller, secretary