The government shutdown has affected many in our community including the men and women in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rotary has received a few requests from families in the Coast Guard to help with food drop off in New Castle as well as Walmart gift cards and gas cards. Gas cards are a priority. The cards cannot be more than $20 each to comply with Coast Guard gift policy but there is no limit on the number of $20 gift cards. Cash donations are also accepted but it must go through the Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA)-Northern New England Chapter. The CPOA is a designated 501(c)(19) veterans non-profit organization. CPOA helps members cover heating, rent, car repairs and other items.
We have about 350 Coast Guard members in this area that need our support during this difficult time for their families.
Please reach out to President Cleo or Leo Gagnon for any info or to donate. Any help will be appreciated.
Volunteers Needed!!!
As many of you know our club’s annual partnership this year is with The Cross Roads House. There are many ways to volunteer in our community but the more immediate need is to have members help during their dinners. Cross Roads House has asked for our help with the dinner being served this Saturday, January 19. They will need 3 cooks from 3-5pm and 3 servers from 5-7pm.
There is also help needed on Wednesday, February 6 for 3 cooks, Saturday, February 16 for 4 cooks and 4 servers. The time goes by quickly and there is lots of fellowship and music.
Tiffany McKenna will be at the meetings getting Rotarians signed up. Thank you for those that have volunteered already. For those who would like to sign up please let myself or Tiffany know, and if you need a makeup, it also counts!
You all make a difference in our community and I thank you!
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!!
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:
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!
President Cleo opened the lightly attended meeting promptly at 12:15 and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. (Have the snow birds headed South already?)
Al Lantinen led us in God Bless America.
John Lyons provided the Invocation.
Jessica Parker directed the Four- Way Test.
At 12:27, Cleo brought the meeting back to order.
Club Announcements
Sarah Treacy says our Salvation Army dates are 1/29, 2/19, 3/18 and others later in the Spring.
Aileen Dugan, Ramona Dow, Ed Mallon were among Rotarians who have worked at Cross Roads House. Our next dinner there is February 16th.
Leo Gagnon mentioned that 400 Coast Guard workers are affected by the partial Government Shutdown. Ross Smith from the Durham Great Bay Club visited. He is in the Coast Guard and said if you wanted to contribute gas cards, Walmart cards etc. of $20 dollars or more, that would be appreciated. Donations of more than $20 can be accepted in the form of check made payable to Coast Guard Petty Officer Association. All donations could be dropped off c/o of Leo at Keller Williams on Lafayette road or Aileen Dugan at State Farm Agency on Court Street.
Cleo gave the Christmas tree sales wrap-up noting that we netted $45,000 and thanking many Rotarians and others who made it happen.
Cleo announced birthdays including Neal Ouellett, Ramona Dow, Bill Hurley, Judy ringer, Mort Schmidt, Leo St Martin, Ellen Labrie and Dana Levenson.
There was no Jon Flagg History Moment!
Cleo recognized several Rotarian Anniversaries. Tony Delyani and Louis Melchor each have 30 years-- most of quite a long list of names Together their group service totaled 329 years of Rotary service.
Debra Grabowski won the 50/50 raffle and the $75 match.
Guest Speaker
Elizabeth Burr from Great Bay Services was the Guest Speaker. She is the daughter of former Rotarian Roger Worboys, a three-time Paul Harris Award winner.
Great Bay Services is an organization that supports adults with mental disabilities, often Autism or Down Syndrome. Prior to 1954, these adults were institutionalized. Now they are placed in situations outside the Center.
Great Bay serves 100 Seacoast Families and develops unique goals for each client. One of them is to have these individuals integrated into the community and have a sense of value. Some clients have paying jobs while others volunteer. There is some involvement for the Special Olympics. Games which are selective and for which a participant must qualify.
The Center also teaches:
Nutrition
Personal Finance
Personal hygiene and
Sex Education
The clients have diverse backgrounds with some active in the performing arts, which greatly helps their confidence.
Employment opportunities include janitorial, cafeteria and manufacturing positions. Clients work five to 40 hours per week at places as diverse as Market Basket and Sponge Jet. One client even had his own landscaping business.
Great Bay will conduct a gala fund raiser "Hollywood Nights" to be held at Spring Hill in South Berwick on April 6.
Great Bay is 85 percent government financed and 15 percent privately supported.
Elizabeth asked us to think of their clients if you had employment opportunities.
Respectfully submitted, Dutiful Scribe du Jour, Everett Eaton
