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Top of the Week April 25, 2018
 
Top of the Week!
 
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. 
 
 
Time To Plant
 
This week at Rotary you will receive your tree to plant.
 
Ian H.S. Riseley, President of Rotary International says "It is my hope that by planting trees, Rotarians will renew their interest in, and attention to, an issue that we must put back on the Rotary agenda: the state of our planet."
 
Rotarians everywhere endeavor to plant 1.2 million trees this year, that's one tree for each Rotarian!
 
One good idea is to plant the small seedling in a protected area like your garden, and then transplant it when it has had a chance to establish itself in a couple of years.
 
We look forward to hearing your tree stories for years to come.
 
 
...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

 
It started out as a very intimate Rotary Social event on Thursday, April 19th at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre.  Local Rotarians from Portsmouth sharing a cocktail and pizza in The Rep’s theatre atrium, discussing The Rep and the current show “In The Heights”. . .  and the fact that not a single ticket was available for the remaining performances, even if you wanted one.  Fortunately, many of us had already seen the musical, but it would have been nice to see it again.
 
Barbara Miller, Leonard Seagren and Susan Gold
 
Thanks for Susan Gold, we were invited backstage for a tour of the dressing rooms, orchestra pit, technical facility, and an brief introduction to many of the cast members.  Shortly thereafter, the Board of Directors of the Seacoast Rep, led by Alan Gold, emerged from their meeting for an informal meet & greet.  Suddenly, the balcony, the stairway and the entire atrium burst into music, song and dance, as the entire cast of “In The Heights” broke out with their opening ensemble song which offered entertainment for a good 5-6 minutes. 
 
 
The private audience was thrilled and “overwhelmed” by the wonderful surprise and perhaps one of the most memorable Rotary Socials as the cast sang their hearts out just before their next performance was about to begin . . . you had to be there to really appreciate the excitement and appreciation of this powerful local “live” theater group.
 
 
If you were not among the “lucky” Rotarians to see this in person, you can see an amateur video of this posted on the Portsmouth Rotary Facebook page.
 
 
 
Interact Serves at the Salvation Army
 
 
Thanks to Craig Taylor and his intrepid crew of Interact students for serving dinner at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen on April 17.  Well done!
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 19, 2018
Portsmouth Rotary Log for April 19, 2018
by Lindsey Hery
Photos by Tube Loch
 
Following some surprising snow flurries, Portsmouth Rotarians joined together for food and fellowship and collective prayers for spring weather. Our greeter, Chad Chadwick welcomed all and later guided us through the Four Way Test. John Lyons delivered the invocation and Al Lantinen led us in America. President Ben recognized our many visiting Rotarians and guests by asking everyone to rise in unison.
 
New Book Honoring White Island Nine
 
 
Sue Reynolds, representing the Light House Kids organization, joined our meeting and shared a new book honoring the “White Island Nine.” This group of nine Rotarians participated in an off-shore service project. Boating out to the White Island Light house this past summer, they helped deconstruct the generator room. The book commemorates the project with pictures and a story.  
 
Club Announcements
 
 
Vocational Awards- Lexi Leddy is seeking nominations for the vocational awards luncheon. Club members may nominate people within four categories: Public Service, Health and Human Services, Education and General.
 
Golf Tournament- Donna Harvey is looking for Rotarian volunteers on the day of the tournament, June 22.
 
 
Matt Randall seeks recommendations and donations for those who would like to advertise in the program booklet.
 
 
Clothing Drive- Nancy Clayburgh wants everyone to bring gently used clothing to benefit the Echo Thrift Shop on May 10.
 
Interact Polar Plunge- If you pledged money to sponsor a swimmer for the Interact Polar Plunge, it’s time to pay up. Please make your donation at an upcoming meeting using the iPad.
 
 
Rotary Trees- James Petersen reminded us that we will be receiving 200 trees in an initiative to have every Rotarian plant one tree this year. The saplings will be indigenous to our area. Please come ready to receive and care for two trees on April 26.
 
The Program:  
 
Rotarian Moe Sullivan introduced our two speakers, Dave Mara, the Governor’s Advisor on Behavioral Health and Chief of Police Robert Mackenzie.
 
 
Mara is the former Police Chief of Manchester and former interim Chief of Portsmouth. He since has been serving the Governor as the appointed “drug czar,” committed to combating New Hampshire’s opioid crisis. Mara said that there were 476 overdose deaths in New Hampshire last year. For the first time in many years, this number has decreased due to the increase of Narcan or Naloxone.
 
New Hampshire is the third highest state in the United States in number of overdose deaths. Mara educated Rotarians on how the Granite State got to this point. A few of the reasons include doctors over prescribing pain medications and pharmaceutical companies aggressively marketing oxycodone.
 
 
The rise of the drug crisis can be tracked through events of the past six years. In 2012 and 2013, there was an increase in burglaries related to pill habits. In 2014, arrests for heroin grew in numbers. In 2015, officers saw an increase in fentanyl usage among criminals. There was a greater presence of drug trafficking from Mexico directly into Lawrence. Eventually, this increase impacted the seacoast and continues to affect our community.
 
Mara shared some positive news, though.  For starters, there are several initiatives helping to make an impact on this issue in New Hampshire. These efforts include strong support by our governor. Bipartisan efforts in congress and successful treatment and recovery incentives are also on the rise.
 
 
Chief Mackenzie is not only the Kennebunk Police Chief, but also a dedicated Rotarian in the Kennebunk Rotary Club. Mackenzie educated our club on the financial impacts of the substance abuse problem in the United States. In his work with Rotary, Mackenzie has gone to great length to educate fellow Rotarians on this important issue.
 
 
Under the guidance of District Governor Dave Underhill, an Opioid Committee titled 7780 Recovery Initiative was started this year. The group, composed of Rotarians in our district, is working diligently to reduce the stigma of substance abuse in our community. The Kennebunk club has undergone and helped lead many overdose recognition and response classes to better educate citizens. Mackenzie encouraged the Portsmouth Rotary Club to take a stance and create initiatives of our own.
 
The 50/50 Raffle
 
Congratulations to Walter on his $58 prize. The bonus was $125 and his ticket was not a match.
 
New Member Update
 
Midge Nelson has been put on Seven-Day Notice.
 
Next Week
 
Join us next week as we award the recipient of the first Reverend Gordon Allen Humanitarian Award.
 
Respectfully submitted, Lindsey Hery
New Members Photos
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
 
http://portsmouthrotary.org/PhotoAlbums/new-member-photos-welcome
Speakers
Apr 26, 2018
Rev. Gordon Allen Humanitarian Award
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
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Cash Committee Meeting
Eastern Bank
Apr 26, 2018
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
New Member Orientation
Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank
Apr 26, 2018
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Salvation Army Soup Kitchen
Salvation Army
Apr 30, 2018
4:00 PM – 6:15 PM
 
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
 
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National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
Photo Albums
Opiates are more than a headache
C. 2018 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801
Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.
eBulletin Editor: John Rice