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Top of the Week May 2, 2018
 
Top of the Week!
 
Portsmouth Rotary Honors Ellen Labrie
 
On Thursday, April 26, 2018, Ellen Labrie became the first person to be honored by the Portmouth Rotary Club as the Rev. Gordon R. Allen Humanitarian Award recipient.
 
Rev. Gordon R. Allen (1929 - 2016) was known to his fellow Portsmouth Rotarians as a man of intellect and charm.  Further he was a person who set an example of grace, humility, curiosity and sincere interest to all he met.
 
It is in the mission of his fellow Rotarians that Rev. Allen’s legacy and memory be perpetuated by a Humanitarian Foundation.  The Foundation will annually recognize a person chosen for outstanding humanitarian service to the community.  That person will also be one who embodies the character, humility and generosity of spirit of Rev. Gordon Allen.
 
Trained as a nurse, Ellen married Jim Labrie at age 22 after a one-year courtship.  Through Jim’s early professional career and five children, she managed to work a few hours a day.  As Jim’s volunteer efforts broadened to causes outside the U.S. Ellen initiated her own exceptional record of service.  As she remembers it, “I learned to ‘step up or step out’ of the way.”  She volunteered as a nurse in Papa Doc’s Haiti in the 1980’s, ten years before following Jim in joining Rotary.  She was an in-country coordinator in the Dominican Republic where Rotary installed numerous wells that helped abate a clean water crisis there.
 
When Jim became District Governor, the couple visited 72 clubs.  On a district project, she wowed Rotarians in Canada by speaking French.  She delivered babies in
Ethiopia while on a polio eradication mission.  Jim passed away in 2016, but Ellen continued to march on with her philanthropy and volunteerism.
 
She brought Rotaplast, a program committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities to Portsmouth Rotary.  In fact, her family has recently donated $25,000 towards the $100,000 goal for the current plans of the Portsmouth Rotary to send a medical mission to Bangladesh to perform corrective surgeries.
 
Ellen identifies “understanding” as the Seacoasts’s greatest need.  “We must communicate with one another,” she says.  She is also concerned about women today and thinks the Marsy’l Law movement is very relevant. 
 
As for the recent recognition, Ellen is characteristically humble.  “I can’t fathom that anyone could be similar to Allen Gordon,” she said, “I really liked him.  He was just such a genuinely marvelous person and I’m deeply humbled to be associated and to become the first person to receive this recognition”.
 
 
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Applications and Service Project
 

At the surface, RYLA is a four-day, three-night leadership program for students entering their junior year of high school. It is a change for students to grow as leaders and people on an individual level while in a group setting. The deadline for studnets to apply is May 15th. Students can apply online at http://rotary7780.org/sitepage/ryla/


We also invite you to come volunteer to Clean up Camps Hinds on Saturday June 9th at Camp Hinds in Raymond Maine 9:00AM. We use this day to prepare for running RYLA the end of June. This is a great opportunity for Rotarians to work alongside RYLA Staff and Alumni to build bonds in service. Please contact Phil Giordano at Philtastic7780@gmail.com for a list of projects and to let him know you will be attending. 

RYLA CAMP also needs vounteer for registration and kick off on Sunday June 24th at Camp Hinds Raymond ME between 7:45 am—12:30 pm Rotarians are invited to Stay for the RYLA Kickoff and Lunch at 11:00 am at the Dining Hall. 

Lastly, Rotarians are also invited to attend the "Final Camp Fire & Camper Skits & Candle Light Ceremony, Tuesday June 26th between 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm the cost is $10.00.

 
 
Vocational Service Awards
 
Fellow Rotarians, the time is upon us to once again look out into our community and give recognition. Vocational Service is the second of Rotary's 5 Avenues of Service. Each year the Portsmouth Rotary honors 4 individuals representing 4 categories within Vocational Service:
 
1.  Public Service
2. Health and Human Services
3. Education
4. General Category
 
Please take the time over the next couple of weeks to think of the people you encounter in your daily routine that may not always get the recognition they deserve. This  is your opportunity to nominate this unsung hero and have them recognized in June with a plaque as well as a donation to the charity of their choice. As well as asking for your nominations, I invite you to sit on the committee with myself and Caitlin Burke to screen the nominations and select the most deserving in each category. Please send all nominations to LEXI.LEDDY@BEANGROUP.COM by May 25th! Vocational Award nomination forms can be accessed at the link below.
 
 
Volunteers Needed
 
At the moment, there are spots open for the afternoon shift of volunteering for the 27th annual Kitchen Tour on May 12th.  We can volunteer together for a Rotary Fellowship event.  The Kitchen Tour is the biggest and longest running fund raiser for The Music Hall.
 
Anyone who wants to help would come to an orientation at the theater at 8:30 and get their assignments as well as coffee and refreshments.
 
You will then have the opportunity Saturday to tour the homes starting at or before 10:00, until you need to report to the assigned home at 12:45.  The tour ends at 4:00.
 
The only dress code is comfortable/professional and walking shoes. If two people wanted to work together they can make the request and we do our best to honor it.
 
This day is always a lot of fun .   Thanks for considering it! Email Coleen Wescott  if you would like to participate in this Rotary Fellowship on Saturday May 12th. 
 
 
...And to Clean Out Those Closets
 
Gather your gently used clothing for our Clothing Drive coming up on May 10.  Spring is the perfect time to say "Out with the old..."
 
 
Flash Mob Overwhelms Rotary Social
 
If you were not among the “lucky” Rotarians to see the "In the Heights" flash mob in person at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre Rotary social, you can see an amateur video of this by following the link here https://vimeo.com/266746335
 
 
 
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!
Read more...
Rotary Log for April 26, 2018
Portsmouth Rotary Log for April 26, 2018
By Al Lantinen
Photos By Chad Chadwick
 
President Ben opened the meeting in the time-honored manner. In honor of the day’s program, the first Rev. Gordon Allen Humanitarian Award, we had a special invocation. Rev Rob Stevens, the current rector of St John’s Episcopal Church, did the honors. Gordon was rector at St, John’s for more than 20 years back in the day.  Visiting Rotarians and guests were announced and greeted. 
Aileen Dugan then introduced our newest member, Midge Nelson, who was warmly welcomed back. During her time away from our club, she served as president of the Sunrise Club.
 
Announcements:
 
Lexi Leddy reminded all that her committee still seeks nominations for the Vocational Service awards. The deadline for submitting names is May 26. This always seems to be one of those things that comes together at the last minute. Yet the Vocational Awards program is one of the programs that seems to rank with the year’s best.
 
Cathy Nickerson offered thanks for the more than $700 in donations to buy books. The volumes are being donated to the Richie McFarland Center, our year-long charity partner. Interestingly, she purchased them from G. Willikers in Portsmouth at a discount.  One of the owners was previously on the board at Richie McFarland…The Basic Needs Committee is seeking nominations/suggestions for next year’s partnership. Start thinking, please!
 
Mark your calendars for June 24.  It’s Portsmouth/Seacoast Rotary day at the Fisher Cats.  Enjoy baseball, Rotary friends and a buffet.  It’ll be summer then, too!
As you spring-clean closets, don’t forget to bring your “gently used” clothes to our annual clothing drive at the May 10 meeting.
 
James “he’s a lumberjack and he’s OK” Petersen announced the placement of guards at the close of the meeting. This to ensure that all of us got at least one tree to try and grow. The pines and red maples dispensed are indigenous to our area.  Let us know how yours are doing.
 
 
The 50/50 raffle was won by Bill Hurley, no match. But he did get personal service.
 
Rev. Gordon Allen Humanitarian Award.
 
James acted as host for the first annual Rev. Gordon R. Allen Humanitarian Award ceremony.  Rev Allen’s dedication and service to our community represent a standard to which we all can aspire.  Rev. Stevens recounted his own experiences with Gordon, reaffirming memories of Rev. Allen’s kindness and compassion. As Rob said, “he knew your name.” And your wife and kid’s names, too.  
 
 
The Award is accompanied by a gift of $500 to be shared between St John’s Common Table and The Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. The Salvation Army was one of Gordon’s most beloved charities. He was a member of its Board of Directors for many years.
 
Members eagerly rose to their feet to applaud the recognition of Ellen Labrie as our first recipient.  All agreed that she was a perfect choice for this honor.  Mort Schmidt detailed her many accomplishments in Rotary International both solo and with her late husband, Jim. On a trip to Canada, she made Mort a star by teaching him a small speech entirely in French. The locals were thoroughly charmed.  
 
 
Her Rotary work spanned the globe and, with her husband, brought Rotaplast to our club. She coordinated a clean water project in Central America and delivered babies in Africa. Leanne Spees recounted her early and continuing friendship and the qualities that make her worthy of this honor.
 
 
 Michael Labrie’s tribute was mute testament as to how Ellen’s values and strength have been passed on to the next generation of Labrie’s. 
 
 
Ellen’s acceptance was humble and modest, befitting the award’s name sake. She is thoroughly deserving and an impressive example of Rotary at its very best. The Rev. Allen Humanitarian Award launches in impressive fashion.
 
 
 
Respectfully submitted, Al Lantinen
New Members Photos
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
 
http://portsmouthrotary.org/PhotoAlbums/new-member-photos-welcome
Speakers
May 03, 2018
Double A Baseball with our Fisher Cats
May 10, 2018
The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (yes Portsmouth!)
May 17, 2018
“Gertrude Fiske American Master” now on display
May 24, 2018
Scholarship Awards Luncheon
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Board Meeting
Service Credit Union Corporate Office
May 02, 2018
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
 
2018 Rotary Summit (District Conference)
The Mount Washington Hotel
May 04, 2018 12:00 PM –
May 06, 2018 12:00 PM
 
New Member Orientation
Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank
May 08, 2018
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
 
Basic Needs Committee Meeting
Infinite Imaging
May 09, 2018
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
 
Communications Committee Meeting
Portsmouth Country Club
May 10, 2018
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Cash Committee Meeting
Eastern Bank
May 31, 2018
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
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4/26/2018
C. 2018 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801
Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.
eBulletin Editor: John Rice