Top of the Week!
April 23, 2019
Presidential Project at the John Paul Jones House
In March President Cleo presented her Presidential Project and with your unanimous support we are now ready to move forward. The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has informed us that they also approved our request and will be sending the funds.
What is next?? We will have an enormous “hands on” project starting Friday, May 3 at the John Paul Jones House. We will also have Saturday May 4, be another day to finish up or as a rain date. This is a day of fellowship and we need your help! We are looking for as many Rotarians as possible to help with clean up, pressure washing, scraping, painting, etc. We will have jobs for everyone! We also need a couple of portable grills so we can have lunch for everyone. For those interested in learning about the history there will also be tours of the John Paul Jones House.
We will need you to bring gloves, rakes, shovels, painting/work clothes, paint brushes and pain scrapers. we will have water and coffee. The project start time is 8:30 am to 4 pm. FELLOWSHIP and jobs for everyone!
We will have teams in different areas and ask you to RSVP so we can plan ahead.
Crutches 4 Africa
There will be a loading party on Saturday, May 11, at 9 AM at the Biddeford site (30 Gooch St. Biddeford, Maine). Anyone available to help load is invited to participate in this fellowship event. In the past there have been about 10 Rotarians helping out, but it would be wonderful if we could get 15+ to participate.
Anyone who wants to chip in should contact Bill Hurley or Leo Gagnon.
Thank you in advance for your involvement.
Save the Date!
Tie on your walking shoes and join the fight to STOP DIABETES at the American Diabetes Association’s inaugural New England Classic Walk.
- July 13, 2019 on the Durham campus of UNH. Walker check-in at 11 am.
- Choice of walk routes from 1 to 5 miles (or more!)
- Information expo and family fun at the finish
- Registration will open soon at www.diabetes.org/newenglandclassic
- In the meantime, more info can be found at www.necwalkatunh.home.blog
Volunteers are needed for advance planning and day-of-event. Contact the walk coordinator, Barbara Sehr, at bsehr@iuk.edu to volunteer or get further information.
Volunteer for Cross Roads
We still need volunteers for Cross Roads for the following dates:
Wednesdays:
Wednesdays:
May 1
June 5
July 3
August 7
June 5
July 3
August 7
Saturdays:
May 25
July 20
Cooks 3-5 pm and Servers 5-7 pm.
If you would like to volunteer please text or call Tiffany at 603-380-5872. That way I will know when we have enough volunteers and can coordinate other dates that need to be filled.
If you would like to volunteer please text or call Tiffany at 603-380-5872. That way I will know when we have enough volunteers and can coordinate other dates that need to be filled.
PHA Volunteer Coordination
Mary Kelliher, Volunteer Coordinator at the Portsmouth Housing Authority forwarded the following:
“I'm reaching out regarding a recurring volunteer opportunity that has sprung at two of our resident building. We now hold a coffee hour at our Margeson building on Mondays at 10am and at Feaster on Thursdays at 10am. These are opportunities for residents to get out of their apartments and spend time in a communal space to have a treat together. We'd love to have volunteers sign up for a particular day or recurring days to bring donuts, pastries, and/or fruit (coffee is provided) if anyone would like to do so! This is an easy opportunity to also chat with our resident population, as well. Each building also has a piano, waiting for anyone with a passion for it to play during coffee hour as well!!
Let Mary know if anyone might be interested.
AmeriCorps Seeks Rotary Volunteers
Mary Kelliher is the Volunteer Coordinator for AmeriCorps working out of Portsmouth Housing's Greenleaf Recreation Center with the Resident Services team which assists low-income residents, senior residents, and residents with disabilities in finding resources for different needs, such as budgeting, financial literacy, transportation, etc. Mary and AmeriCorps is seeking volunteers who would be willing to volunteer. One example of a volunteer opportunity is assisting an older female resident who lives alone in moving heavy furniture (strong people needed!) into and from a UHaul during her planned move from her Feaster apartment to Connor's Cottage. If there are any volunteers intersted in lending a hand please contact Mary at maryk@nh-pha.com.
Sorry We Missed You
If you have a makeup for a missed meeting, please email it to the following link:
Check Your Profile
The Communications Committee is asking that everyone log onto ClubRunner and check your profile to make sure it is up to date. Change is part of life and we hope to be able to reflect those changes in our website. Happy surfing.
Rotary Connections is back!!!
Rotary Connections let’s our members know that their Rotary club is thinking of them. Members facing a health issue, death in the family or a life celebration, we are here!
If you know of any of our members who may need a Rotary Connections, please reach out to the Cathy Nickerson or President Ben.
Let us Know What is Happening!
If you have an event or news that you would like to share with your fellow Rotarians, please forward the information to Dennis Moulton for inclusion in the weekly eBulletin. My contact information is d-moulton@comcast.net. And please send photos!
Rotary Log for April 18, 2019
President Cleo opened a well-attended meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Greeter Kevin Schultz 4-Way Tested us. Our own acapella group, The Rotations, led us in a stirring rendition of the Coast Guard Anthem. We were puzzled at this song choice until informed that Walter Liff had served in the Coast Guard (more on Walter later.) John Lyons delivered a profound invocation.
Guests and Rotarian hosts
Doug Scamman (Stella Scamman)
Linda Underhill (Dave Underhill)
Larry Murphy (Joanie Dickinson)
Ian O’Neal (Susan Gold)
Daniel Lyons (father of Richard Lyons)
Nicole Scamio (Susan Gold)
Josiah Babcock (Marcie Bergen)
Walter Liff (a guest, we wondered?)
An entire table of Alex family relations, including mother Frances, wife Cindy, daughter Kelly and grandchildren Hayden and Kamryn.
Announcements, Historical Moment, Raffle
The annual Golf Outing is scheduled for June 28. Contact a committee member to help out.
Jon Flagg found a past Rotary Log that highlighted Reverend Allen’s memorized recitation of the poem “The Owl and The Pussycat.”
The $68-dollar raffle was won but no bonus.
Paul Harris Fellow Award to Walter Liff
After 30 years of Rotarian membership and with his 80th birthday looming, Walter Liff tendered his resignation in March. Fortunately he was not allowed to leave quietly! Cleo announced that he was to be honored. His “gamblers table” friends shared stories of the Walter they and we have appreciated over the years.
Many of us are familiar with the Walter who worked tirelessly with Club activities. But who knew that Walter was the genesis of the raffle bonus pot! Or that Walter Liff metal art and sculptures are nationally renowned! And that, among other posts, Walter served as New Castle Deputy Town Moderator for more than 20 years. For all his accomplishments and contributions, Cleo bestowed a well-deserved Paul Harris Fellow Award on Walter.
Ted Alex is given the 2d Annual Rev. Gordon Allen Humanitarian Award
Past President James Petersen hosted the award presentation. He explained that the purpose of the Humanitarian Foundation is to honor and perpetuate the legacy and memory of Rev. Allen. The annual award recognizes a person who demonstrates the many personal qualities embodied by Rev. Allen. Chief among these are outstanding character, wisdom and commitment to the community and the well-being of others.
To give the award context Sara Treacy remembered Rev. Allen. Before entering the clergy he served in the British Army in Malaysia. He earned three degrees from St. John’s College and was conversant in several languages. During Rev. Allen’s 39 years as a Rotarian, he served our community in many ways. He was Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church for 25 years. He was a director of the Mark Wentworth Home and the Salvation Army. Through all that, Rev. (or “Father”) Allen’s personal charm and congeniality endeared him to all.
Before Ted could accept the award, three fellow Rotarians and Ted’s wife, Cindy, shared stories, observations, anecdotes and accolades. Together they illustrated the life of a person well deserving of this award.
John Pappas noted that service is a passion of Ted’s Rotarian life. He is a galvanizing force behind many of our club’s service and hands-on projects. Ted makes sure that fellowship is a big part of these projects. The missions are accomplished in a manner that enhances our personal relationships with fellow Rotarians. John noted that in the aftermath of his son’s tragic disappearance, Ted initiated the Jeremy Alex Fund. Since its inception thousands of school children have benefited from its guidance and activities.
Neal Ouellett highlighted salient aspects of Ted’s character. Ted’s hopeful nature turns adversity into goodness. His disposition is that of a giver, a doer, a leader. Throughout, Ted exhibits humility.
Ben Wheeler lauded Ted’s participation in more than 13 Rotaplast trips, underscoring that Ted “doesn’t dip his toe into life, he dives in.” Ben joined John and Neal in thanking Ted for the caring personal relationships he has developed with them.
Cindy Alex observed that Ted is driven to give everyone and anyone the opportunity to experience an improved life. She added that none of Ted’s efforts are self-serving.
In graciously accepting the award Ted was true to form. He first congratulated Walter Liff for his earlier award. He noted his admiration for Rev. Allen. Then he thanked his fellow Rotarians.
It was a heart-felt celebration of one of our finest. A meeting that will live long in our memories.
In a business aside, James notes that the Humanitarian Foundation funds currently total $21,000-dollars. To fund an annual Rev. Gordon Allen award endowed funds must be at $30,000-dollars. James encouraged us to make the contributions necessary to reach that level.
Respectfully submitted, Richard Greulich
Photos by Tube Loch
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
