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Top of the Week January 4, 2017
 
Top of the Week!
 
 
Happy New Year!
 
Our holiday break is over and so it is back to regular order with meetings at the Portsmouth Country Club on Thursdays, beginning at 12:15 pm.  Let's hope one of your resolutions is to be a regular at our always entertaining weekly meetings.  
 
 
Calling all Rotarians
 
Here's your chance to start the year on a high note.
 
Remember all the hands-on projects over the years, how much fun they were, fellowship, friends, community service.
 
Well it's back! January 28th from 8 AM to noon sharp we have a project at the Portsmouth Discovery Center (Old Portsmouth Library) painting. We'll be painting the gallery area for upcoming programs. A great nonprofit that needs our help.
 
 
If interested, contact event coordinator Ted Alex.
 
 
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 James.
 
 
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!
 
 
Rotary Log for December 15, 2016
Rotary Log for meeting of December 15, 2016
by Mark Lorusso
Photos by Tube Loch
 

 
 
It was a year filled with wonderful fellowship and many accomplishments. Even emerging triumphs on a global scale (Polio Plus.) But, alas, we ended 2016 on a solemn note, in memoriam, as two club stalwarts passed. The first to leave us was Carl Brage, who served as a secretary for many years. He also kept attendance records, a service provided with military precision. Carl was both a veteran of this country and our club who will be missed.
 
About a week later, Reverend Gordon Allen passed. Gordon graced us with his presence and perfect attendance for almost 40 years. In more than 1,000 invocations spoken with his unmistakable golden Welch accent, he taught us about the unsearchable mind of God. In the process of doing so, Gordon showed us how one can become irreplaceable. 
 
Despite being a man of religion in the service of others, he lived a life filled with unique experiences and adventure. It’s a life that appears to have rivaled that of T.E. Lawrence himself.  One could almost substitute Reverend Allen’s name for Lawrence’s whose vivid writings about his adventures captured the world’s imagination. From humble beginnings in Great Britain, Gordon’s life included military dutry in Malaysia and religious service in the Middle East. He also taught in Uganda.
 
Purportedly, Gordon mastered twelve languages and experienced firsthand, the confluence of religion and history in times of conflict and of peace. When the Ugandan Friends Forever group came to one of our meetings, Gordon greeted them in their native Swahili tongue. One of the Ugandans remarked that the Reverend spoke it perfectly.  As if we didn’t somehow know that without being told!
 
For those of us fortunate enough to have been there, who can forget when our country was in turmoil due to the events of 9/11? Gordon spent two meetings teaching us in minute detail about Islam. He clearly detailed the Sunni/Shia schism that exploded with the death of Mohammed in 632.  We all walked away with a greater understanding of the peril that lied ahead, mesmerized by the depth of Reverend Allen’s knowledge. It was a time when we also collectively gained a much deeper appreciation about the man behind the collar. 
 
Gordon was so much more than someone who preached the Gospel: he was a man of the world.  For such a life well-lived, no doubt when he stood before his Maker, He could not help but smile.  Devout, pious, erudite, punctual, forthright, service above self, the superlatives that describe Gordon are endless and well deserved.  He was the epitome of service to his fellow man.  God speed Reverend Allen, you will be deeply missed by all.
 
 
With Gordon’s passing, President James turned to former Rotarian, Dr. Arthur Hilson, who filled in for our dearly departed.  That instantly familiar deep baritone voice paid tribute to Reverend Allen and gave the invocation.  Guests and visiting Rotarians were introduced including Robert Bogardus, Chad Chadwick, Courtney Shultz, Andrew Shultz, Ann Smith, Mike Toner and Madeline Warren. 
 
We next celebrated Rotarian birthdays including Andrea Herold, John Pappas, Sara Treacy, Bob Loch (31 years in Rotary!), Jim Rini, Bob Lewis, Catherine Edison and Ben Wheeler.
 
Special thanks were given to Cindy Boyd and Cindi Shanley for orchestrating the Senior Luncheon. Some 192 seniors attended! Quite a crowd!
 
 
Club announcements followed including a last call for staff collections. In this small way we thank the great professionals who serve us week in and week out. They include folks behind-the-scenes like Manager Sue Bowen, Chef Reno Diehl, Sous chef Mark Gage and Line cooks Keith Martel and Damien Nichols. And the “out front” people: Servers Peggy Nelson, Nancy O’Neill, Steve Reynolds and Melanie Fenenco.
 
 
President James next recognized those Rotarians with perfect attendance records including Marcie Bergan, Marie Brownell (eight years), Dave Holden (four), Bill Hurley (12), Jim Rini (30!) and Dave Underhill (eight).  President James also recognized those with “almost” perfect attendance including Luis Melchor (30), Bob Smith, Ramona Dow, Leo St. Martin and Walter Liff (14).  Special recognition was given to Reverend Allen for his 39+ years of perfect attendance to the very end.
 
 
Announcements included Judy Ringer encouraging us to take Salvation Army bell ringing opportunities. 
 
 
Joanie Dickinson thanked those that brought in can tops. 
 
 
Ben Wheeler was grateful for the special edition of Christmas tree unloaders who were called to handle an unscheduled delivery. Only 88 trees were left as of the 15th.  The sales are expected to net between $45,000 and $50,000. 
 
 
Bob Smith reminded Club committee members to supply him with a list of their “positions.” 
 
 
Leonard Seagren wanted us to think about the upcoming Rotary International meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.  Anyone that signs up before January 18 receives a $75 discount. 
 
 
Dave Holden announced a speaker committee meeting to be held after this week’s meeting.  Lastly, Neil Ouellette spoke to us about the mystery of the missing Christmas Tree Sales display tree that was anchored to the trailer.  We’ll put Nancy Drew on the case for sure. 
 
 
Jim Rini introduced our speaker, “Abraham Shapiro,” who was born to a Jewish family in Russia in 1885.  Mr. Shapiro told us about his arduous life’s journey that led him to eventually settle here. Shapiro’s tale begins with the story of his family living in Ukraine under the repressive rule of the House of Romanov.  With danger seemingly around every corner, one by one, Abraham and his brothers left their home in a quest to reach the United States. 
 
 
Travelling by foot and by ship all the way to England, Abraham worked odd jobs and saved enough money to pay for passage on a ship to the Americas. Tragically, the money was stolen before he could purchase his ticket. The crime left him penniless and homeless. Thankfully, a kind English family took him in and Mr. Shapiro worked until he had enough money again to buy a ticket.  To his surprise and chagrin, he ended up in Canada where he quickly realized his name put him in jeopardy at Immigration. Always the quick thinker, he gave a fake English-sounding name, and was able to enter Canada.
 
 
From Canada, he made his way to the US, which included time spent in Massachusetts.  He eventually came to Portsmouth, where he met and wed his wife, Shiva.  They bought a house in Portsmouth and had a daughter Molly, who tragically died as a young woman.  Shiva, too, passed before Abraham. He has lived out his life to this day in the same house.  A word to the wise, never mention Winston Churchill to Abraham.  Apparently there is another story to tell.
 
 
And so we ended the year.  Hello 2017!
 
Respectfully submitted, Mark Lorusso
New Members Photos
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
 
http://portsmouthrotary.org/PhotoAlbums/new-member-photos-welcome
Speakers
Jan 05, 2017
History - the Portsmouth Naval Prison
Jan 12, 2017
Concord Coalition on Generational, Responsible Fiscal Policies
Jan 19, 2017
Challenges and Opportunities
Jan 26, 2017
Regional Issues of Importance
Feb 02, 2017
TBA
View entire list
Sponsors
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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
Sage
Photo Albums
Mr Shapiro Enlightens the Crowd
C. 2016 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801. Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.