Rotary Log for April 11, 2019
This is the kind of day we have been waiting all winter for! Beautiful, warm, sunny April 11. Almost as nice as the Rotarians inside.
Lots of guests today. Lots of announcements.
Former president Dave plugged the upcoming ACE conference. On Friday May 3, the Pinetree Institute of Eliot is holding a daylong event on trauma informed care. It all happens here at the Portsmouth Harbor Events Center. The two key-note speakers are Dr. Robert Anda and Ms. Laura Porter, who helped pioneer and advance ACE study. For those who do continuing ed, the conference offers CEs.
The event is mainly targeted at social workers, medical and treatment professionals. However, it is also designed to raise ACE awareness among community leaders. Awareness that can lead to better treatment and social outcomes. Dave is planning on attending himself.
“I’m very interested in hearing these two speakers,” he explained. “And learning more about childhood indices that ‘forecast’ vulnerability to depression, suicide, addiction and other health challenges.”
We have a Rotary discount. Any member of District 7780 Rotary can register for the event at a fee of $150. Enter the word “rotary” when you sign up. https://pinetreeinstitute.org
Habitat for Humanity is building a home for a Dover veteran family on April 25 from 9 AM to 3 PM. Seacoast, Portsmouth and Hampton Rotary clubs are assisting
The Interact club would love to have Rotarians help them at their Wallis Sands beach cleanup May 11 from 9 AM to 11 AM. I am in! How about you? Show the Interact kids that Rotary cares about them.
No humor in today’s historical moment. The Rotary Loghad a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King on this date, April 11, in 1968. Dr. King had been assassinated just after our Rotary meeting the week before, April 4, 1968. Here is the tribute that our club gave to Dr. King in the Log for April 11, 1968:
Almighty God, we remember before thee thy faithful servant Martin Luther King. Grant him, we pray thee, that peace and love he sought for all of God's children, even unto his death and beyond. In this hour of America's shame and sorrow, guide us in a deeper dedication of our lives to the mission of justice and dignity for all mankind, that there may be peace at home and in the farthest reaches of the world. So may thy will be done through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Turning to a much brighter topic, we welcomed the smiling face of new member Jen Madden. Jen is from Rye, married for 22 years, has three kids and owns her own residential brokerage firm. Most importantly, she has one of the Flagg golden retriever puppies from 10 years ago! Jen is very active over at the high school and will be a huge addition to our club! Welcome, Jen!
Ben Wheeler did not win the raffle today, despite having cornered the market with approximately 5000 tickets.
There were multiple happy dollars for birthdays, anniversaries of coming home from Basic Training, kid’s accomplishments and a bunch of other good stuff.
The program.
Our speaker was Deborah DeScenza on the subject of “Autism and Farmsteads of New England, Inc.” Everyone knows someone, or some family, touched by autism. One in 59 people in this country is somewhere on the spectrum.
“If you know one person with autism,” Deborah began, “you know one person with autism, because every single person is different.”
Indeed, her own son has autism and that sparked her motivation to start a farm where people with autism could live and work.
Farmstead has two farms, one currently operating in Hillsboro, and one being developed in Epping. People on the spectrum typically love animals and relate well to them. At the farmstead they can have residential, vocational and recreational opportunities. Ages of their clients are typically 21 to 63 years old.
This is another one of those organizations that I wouldn't know anything about if it were not for Rotary. Excellent program!
Respectfully submitted, Jon Flagg
Photos by Craig Taylor
