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Top of the Week October 2, 2019
 
Top of the Week!
October 2, 2019
 
 
My Breast Cancer Support
 
 
Tiffany McKenna sends us pictures from the My Breast Cancer Support diaper drive. $348 in cash was raised to purchase needed items along with many other donated items. The estimated the total between cash and items donated is in the range of $800 - nice!!
 
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From left to right is Tiffany McKenna, Francoise Meissner, Jessica Parker and John St. Pierre.
 
 
The Hands On Crew Making “Cubbies” for Crossroads House
 
Our tireless Hands On Crew was at it again.
 
 
L to R: Ted Alex, Justin Finn, Bill Hurley and John St. Pierre.
 
 
What a great night to be downtown at the Portsmouth Gaslight Restaurant
. . . . al Fresco!
 
Yes, it has been a while since the Portsmouth Rotary Club hosted a Social and thanks for Caitlyn  Hassett and Barbara Miller, we had a wonderful event.  Attendance was brisk from Rotary members, significant others and past Rotarians who all joined in the fun and reconnected. 
 
 
What a great opportunity for members and friends to become better acquainted in a casual, social atmosphere.  According to Barbara Miller “A great night was had by all”!
 
If you were not there, you missed a great night.  Perhaps you can make the next event . . .  stay tuned!
 
 
Hurricane Dorian:  A Special Message from PDG Dave Underhill
 
Rotary is not a first-responder: the Red Cross and many other agencies provide that critical need.  But when a storm the magnitude of this one takes place; we all ask how we can help. 
 
Past-RI President Barry Rassin lives in the Bahamas.  He's safe, but the islands to the north of him are devastated.  Rotary has established a donor-advised fund to help the rebuilding and recovery efforts, both in the Bahamas and (if it becomes necessary) in the southern U.S.  We can be confident the dollars are monitored and approved by Rotarians on the ground, and will not be wasted.
 
Thank you for the many ways you serve through Rotary.  We are all connected and support each other.
 
Click on the link below for more information
 

Dave Underhill, Rotary Club of Portsmouth NH
District 7780 Finance Committee Chair & Past District 7780 Governor (2017-2018)
 
 
Rotary Rocks! District Conference message from DG Andy Glazier
 
Hello Rotarians and future Rotarians!
 
Our Events Team is working at warp speed on creating a fabulous October 5th RotaryRocks! event for us:
 
A District Conference Like No Other! One Magnificent Day! 

Saturday, October 5th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, at the Univ of Southern Maine, Portland.
 
Continuing with two of our themes this Rotary year of "Be Creative" and "Think Outside The Box", we are working at warp speed to finalize details for our "District Conference like no other!" Our event Team is confident that we are creating an experience that will excite, entertain, and motivate all, Rotarians and potential Rotarians alike!
 
To maximize participation (the theatre at the University of Southern Maine seats 550), we have set the event registration fee at a mere $20 for the day. This includes event participation, parking, breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
 
What's unique about this high energy event? It's the ideal event for all new (and veteran) Rotarians and potential Rotarians to experience what's happening in our Rotary today. We have asked each club to please have a display table featuring the good work that your club does, be it fund raisers, service projects, or grant work. There will be another 20 display tables featuring Rotary related projects. Connect with Rotarians from other clubs - explain to them what works for you - learn from others what works for them - experience what's going on in Rotary outside of your club.
 
Additionally our New Voices Club Rotarians (the high energy leaders of our future) will be explaining their novel and unique (Thinking Outside The Box) approach to Rotary.
 
And, our Zone 24 & 32 Rotary International Director Jeffry Cadorette, will be our keynote speaker! Jeffry is an exciting, high energy, GrowRotary! motivational speaker with new ideas; you will love him!
 
=> Please register to attend today!
https://rotary7780.org/event/rotary-rocks
 
Bring your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and in-laws - bring all your potential Rotarians. At this price you can afford to bring 20, 30, or more!
 
 
Make Peg’s Day!
 
Dear Fellow Rotarians:
 
Our dear friend and Portsmouth Rotarian Peg Millar is looking for some Rotarian fellowship during the week.  Since Peg is unable to drive it leaves her feeling a bit lonely and isolated.   A half hour visit can go a long way in putting a smile on Peg’s face.  We have had a small circle of our Rotarian’s visiting Peg and helping with errands but with everyone’s busy schedule it would nice to get a few more folks over to spread a little cheer Peg’s way.  Please reach out to Peg for a visit at 603-501-0910.
 
Thank you from Rotary Connections Committee
 
Volunteer for Cross Roads
 
For a great fellowship experience, please consider volunteering at Cross Roads House:
 
Slots are generally on Wednesdays and Saturdays with Cooks working 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 she will know when she has enough volunteers and can coordinate other dates that need to be filled.
 
Or Volunteer At the Salvation Army
 
Another great fellowship opportunity.  Upcoming dates for dinner service at the Salvation Army are October 29 and November 25.  Volunteers are asked to be at the kitchen at 4:15 to prepare for the dinner service.  If you are interested, contact Sara Treacy.
 
 
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:
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
Read more...
Rotary Log for September 26, 2019
Rotary Log for September 26, 2019
 
Our cheerful greeter, Tiffany McKenna, welcomed Rotarians and guests on this beautiful fall day!
 
 
President Leo started the meeting promptly at 12:15 pm with a strike of the bell.  Jessica Parker led us in prayer.
 
 
Later, Steven Bennett attempted to auction off a vacation timeshare owned by Larry Gray in St. Thomas.  Unfortunately, there were no bidders…wonder if the hurricane season scared of some of us New Englanders?
 
Past District Governor Dave put in a plug for “Rotary Rocks” which is being held October 5 from 9am to 4 pm at University of Maine, Portland.  The message is “Be There or be Square!”  Come learn about projects Rotary is doing, how to get involved and meet new people. 
 
President Elect Jon thought he was wicked “smaaaht” when he came up to give his historical moment. He gave us a pop quiz and discussed how the Rotary Wheel came about.  As the story goes, a group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound. It could not work without a "keyway" in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923 the keyway was added to signify the wheel was a "worker and not an idle.”
 
The keyway in the center of the hub is of great significance, because it represents the individual Rotarian, the key factor in every club. Key members are needed for the hub to engage with the shaft and turn. They put energy into motion, creating power for the gears to do their work.   How is that for a historical moment? 
 
Leo gave us some sad news; Past District Governor Mort Schmidt is having major surgery this week. He would love cards, calls and visits from club members to cheer him up. Please keep Mort and his family in your prayers this week.
 
 
Our guest Speaker today, Jerri Anne Boggis, is the Executive Director at the Black Heritage Trail.  Jerri Anne is originally from Jamaica but came to the United States in 1977.  The BHT recently purchased a building on Court Street with part of the $450,000-dollas in tax credits given to them.  Walking tours start at 22 Court Street and run through October 20. Time is ticking so don’t miss out if you would love to learn about Black History in Portsmouth. 
 
Many of you are familiar with the African Burial Ground, but did you know how it came to be? In 2003, through regular sewer construction in the street, what was thought to be coffins were disturbed.  They were later tested, and it was confirmed that the place was indeed a burial ground. Subsequent research shows that Portsmouth was heavily involved in the slave trade from 1645 until about 1800.
 
Jerri Anne went on to tell us about many famous African Americans who ran away from slave owners and made history.   Ona Marie Judge was one of those slaves, running away from George Washington himself. She ended up living in Greenland.  Harriet E. Wilson settled in Milford, N.H. and became the first woman to be a published writer. Many more followed over the years until slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment in 1865. 
 
Come and hear about African American history right here in our backyard. Learn about these brave young men and women, who escaped to freedom and their struggles for more than 100 years. Mike Asselin asked what local schools are doing to teach children about the truths of slavery and if curriculum is being changed.  This is something the BHT is trying to accomplish, but there are still a lot of mountains left to climb.
 
 
The 50/50 was $58 with a jackpot of $ 300!  Angela Ferris won the 50/50 but sadly it was not a match! Better luck next time.
 
Leo brought the meeting to a close with the Four Way Test.
 
Respectfully submitted, PP Cleo Villaflores
Photos by Sara Treacy
 
 
New Members Photos
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
 
http://portsmouthrotary.org/PhotoAlbums/new-member-photos-welcome
Speakers
Oct 03, 2019
Community College System of NH
Oct 10, 2019
The Business of Christmas Trees
Oct 17, 2019
B Corporations
Oct 24, 2019
View entire list
Upcoming Events
New Members Orientation
Aileen Dugan State Farm Agency
Oct 08, 2019
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
 
Basic Needs Committee Meeting
Infinite Imaging
Oct 09, 2019
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
 
Communications Committee Meeting
Portsmouth Country Club
Oct 10, 2019
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Membership committee meeting
Portsmouth Country Club
Oct 17, 2019
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
New Members Orientation
Aileen Dugan State Farm Agency
Oct 21, 2019
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Salvation Army Soup Kitchen
Salvation Army
Oct 29, 2019
4:00 PM – 6:15 PM
 
View entire list
Sponsors
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Download the website sponsorship guide
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
C. 2019 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801
Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.
eBulletin Editor: John Rice