May 6, 2026 Breakfast Meeting Notes
Guests today were Ari Roy, Deb Kirschner, and Kyle Reed (our speaker).
The 50/50 was won by Russ, who donated the money back to the club.
For the card game, Denise selected the queen of hearts.
Rotary weekly highlights: We have 25 Interact students at the high school this year. Last week we had the “5th Wednesday” dinner meeting at Yamas and a good time was had by all! We will continue with 5th Wednesday dinners. Six Burner will be reopening as a Cuban restaurant starting late July or August. Sunset Grill would be another potential location. July 29 is next 5th Wednesday but this is also cruise night so we will need to discuss this further.
The scholarship committee met Monday night. We have our scholarship recipients selected and will make the awards at the end of this month.
Ken and Jennie Evans and Mike Carrier went to the district celebration brunch in Lebanon a couple of weeks ago. Ken received an award for our club for Polio Plus as a result of our Putt Putt for Polio (we raised over $2000).
Bill thanked Mike Carrier and Ken Evans for climbing the light poles on the bridge to remove the Christmas decorations. Tony, Steve and Phil will come up with a time to go through our decorations and throw out the ones that are too worn to reuse.
Tony spoke about our centennial celebration. The Plymouth Historical Society wants to be involved. We have been asked to help them serve ice cream after the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8. The historical society may also come up with a display of 100 years of Rotary in the old town hall.
Steve and Sue are in Poland for the Common Man for Ukraine, meeting with a small delegation from Rotary International.
Service projects: Circle program cleanup will be held on May 16 or 17; there will be lots of things to do. Contact Denise or Beth Dever for info. We have a date for cleaning the Kanc on June 6. There is a registration link on the Clean the Kanc website; please register so that we can determine how much food to provide. Any and all are welcome; this is a great family activity. We will start at Loon Mountain.
Cruise Night will be on July 29 (rain date July 30). We will do something low key; there will be be a 50/50 and we will create our own poster. Parks and Rec asked us not to put anything up on Facebook until they have gotten their information posted. We are thinking of making popcorn at the event.
The Chamber of Commerce is asking members to host their Chamber Coffee Hours. These used to be held at the Enterprise Center but now they want individual members to host it. They usually get 10-12 people to drop in It’s a 2 hour commitment from 7-9 if we want to do it. We would need to come up with a venue as well.
The historical society would like something from us to put in their time capsule…perhaps one of our small flags. Also the town’s 1976 time capsule will be exhumed on May 16.
Changing of the Guard is all set and Ben will send out the email today.
Ken W introduced Kyle Reed, who is in charge of career-technical education (CTE) at the high school. He will speak about their regional advisory committee. There are 7 CTE programs at the high school: automotive, culinary arts, health sciences, drafting and design technology, TV media, outdoor recreation leadership, and marketing/business. The high school has about 650 students in total and 400 students are in the CTE program this year. All of their programs are connected to the community college system here in NH so they can get credentials. Graduates of the health sciences program leave with a LNA degree. The Trade Talk Tuesdays were initiated in the last couple of years and have been very successful. They have had had EMTs, electricians, and all sorts of tradespeople speak to the students. In addition, Kyle is the extended learning opportunity (ELO) coordinator; if students want to go into a field not covered by our CTE program, he can try to match them with a mentor in the community.
There are two oversight committees associated with the CTE program and each meets twice a year at the high school. The Program Advisory Committee looks at the curriculum, how it is connected to industry, and evaluates how it is working.The Regional Advisory Committee looks at all of the region’s programs, considers what new programs might be added (looking at community need and employment opportunities in our area.) Kyle is looking for a couple of Rotarians to help with this Regional Advisory Committee. The Program Advisory Committee would welcome representatives from the various trades.
Kyle noted that there is an incredible need for teachers. They are considering a teacher prep program in the future. There have also been a lot of requests for a building trades program.
If you would like to help or serve on one of these committees, please reach out to Kyle at kreed@pemibaker.org. He is always eager to have members of the community speak to the students as well.
Raisa announced that Hubbard Brook will have Moth Observation Night on May 29 at Pleasant View Farm (25 Dobson Hill Road) in North Woodstock. There will be moth sheets set up in the yard and a Dartmouth College professor will speak at 8:30. Bring your camera, hiking or mud boots, mosquito repellent, long pants and long-sleeved shirt, and your curiosity! The event is informal and there will be Hubbard Brook scientists and students on site at that time. Minimal walking required. Reach out to Raisa for more info (rkochmaruk@hubbardbrookfoundationorg or call or text at 484-951-5559).
Happy dollars were shared by Denise, Mike, Tony, and Russ.
Respectfully submitted,
Lora Miller, secretary
