Rotary Log for April 13, 2017

Rotary Log for the meeting of April 13, 2017

By Everett Eaton

Photos by Sara Treacy

President James opened the meeting right at 12:15. John Rice did the song, Cuzin’ the Four-Way test and Lindsey said the Invocation.

There were several guests. Aileen Duggan introduced her daughter Katrina and Brian Bernier.

Ramona Dow announced Jessica Parker (wasn't she in Sex and the City?) and Peter Fraze (he wasn't).

Others (with their Rotarian host in parenthesis) were Bob Marchewka (Neal Ouellett); Brian Carter and Wayne Semprini (Justin Finn). Brian and Wayne are both on seven-day notice.

There were several birthdays including Bob Herold (37 years in Rotary!), Steve Wood (34) and Cuzin Richard (11).

President James observed that Gladys Shaines is still in the directory but hasn't attended a Rotary meeting for more than 10 years. (Glad I'm not in charge of keeping that updated.) Anyway, James called Gladys to learn all this and, by the way, she is just fine.

Also, Chad Chadwick is on seven day notice.

There was no program this week as your scribe's speaker, Dave O'Brien, a baseball announcer with NESN and ESPN, cancelled. O'Brien had to call a Red Sox make-up game scheduled for 2 p.m. at Fenway. President James took his unscheduled opportunity to have a Fellowship Day. He also made numerous announcements and presentations. Here is a recap.

Long time Rotarian Peg Millar has made a sizable donation to a Braintree non- profit and was hoping to get a ride down there to present it. Contact James for details.

James said that the Reverend Gordon Allen Fund was off to a great start with fourteen, $1000 donations.

Last weekend's District Assembly was attended by Steve Wood, Aileen Dugan, Leo Bergeron, James and Dave Underhill, Cleo and Ben Wheeler. There was considerable side talk about who drove whose car and who wouldn’t ride back with whom. But as they say, “What happens at Assembly stays at Assembly.”

James presented Bob Herold, Ted Alex and Leonard Seagren with Polio Watches from India to recognize their International Service.

Mort Schmidt made a short presentation about the Andrew Jarvis fund and its origins some 33 years ago. Andy Jarvis was a former Rotarian and a self- made man. Andy believed the “streets of Portsmouth were lined with gold.” But, he began as a penniless Greek immigrant who didn’t even speak English. He settled in Portsmouth after a brief stint in New Jersey, worked hard and became wildly successful. He was quietly behind many philanthropic endeavors. He eventually became the owner of Jarvis’s restaurant which is now Rudi’s. A short toast was made to celebrate his recent birthday. That was the only string that Andy attached to the money he gave our club years ago. And we have toasted him ever since.

Coming events include;

May 6^th- “Hands on” Kent Lepage project

May 11- a clothing drive for the Eco Thrift shop in Durham

May 18--District Conference will be at the Samoset in Maine. Dave Underhill urged us to make reservations now while discount room rates are available.

Tom Decker attended IMEC in North Andover, Mass. This is a project that some Rotarians have donated $10,000. The monies will go to recalibrate and refurbish medical equipment which will be sent to Africa. Just another example of the good work done by our generous Rotarians every day.

Marie Brownell, Jamie DeStefano and Aileen Dugan were all recognized for donating more that $1000 to Rotary and were given Paul Harris pins.

There were too many happy bucks to be counted. Seems like people just wanted to celebrate the Spring Weather!

Neal Ouellett won the 50/50 raffle worth $70.

Next Week's Program is Tom Gauthier from Dartmouth Hitchcock.

For the first time in recent memory, the meeting adjourned early at 1:05PM.

Respectfully submitted, Everett Eaton, scribe for the week.