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Top of the Week December 20, 2017
 
Top of the Week!
 
 
Fair Tide Donation
 
 
A check for $2,250 was recently presented to Emily Flinkstrom, Executive Director of Fair Tide, a transitional housing shelter.  The funds are being used to support the construction of a safe entryway to their housing unit.  Water from the roof currently falls directly in front of the door and especially during the winter this is a serious safety hazard.  Fair Tide’s mission is to reduce homelessness by providing housing and support services to individuals and families in the Seacoast.
 
 
Tree Sales Are Over!
 
On Saturday, 12/16/17  at 5:01 pm, tree sales were officially CLOSED FOR THE SEASON.
 

The lone survivors!

Thank you to everyone that made this year's tree sale such a success!!

Thanks too all of the Rotarians that gave their time, energy and Christmas spirit and to the Seacoast Community for YOUR continued support!

It is YOU that allows us to do what we do!
 
Peace!
 
Merry Christmas to All!
 
 
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.
 
 
Ride Needed
 
Fellow Rotarian Peg Millar needs a ride to get to our Rotary meetings. For anyone willing to help, she lives at Spinnaker Point in Portsmouth. If you can help it would be very appreciated. Peg's phone number is 501-0910. Peg appreciates your efforts.
 
 
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!
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Annual Senior Holiday Luncheon 
ANNUAL SENIOR HOLIDAY LUNCHEON   December 11, 2017
 
 
Conviviality reigned supreme at our annual Senior Holiday Luncheon, held at the Portsmouth Country Club. We initiated this event more than 20 years ago. It’s been a welcoming Christmas Social for local senior residents ever since.
 
 
This is the fourth celebration organized by our own Cindi Shanley. She earns hearty kudos for the event’s continued success. How successful? Well, word has clearly gotten out. This year seniors were asked to RSVP starting on November 13. By 10:40AM that day the 150 senior guest maximum had been filled up!
 
Like most effective Rotarian leaders, Cindi enlisted a co-coordinator this year, Julia Ghigliotti. Thanks, Julia, for stepping up. You helped make this year’s event more fun than ever!
 
On to the luncheon itself. President Ben was an enthusiastic Master of Ceremonies. Background music was provided by the Portsmouth High School Band while Santa mingled among the guest tables. John Rice gave the invocation.
 
President Ben thanked the gift donors: Salvation Army of Portsmouth, HALO Branded Solutions (Janice Cassidy), Infinite Imaging (a fellow named Bill), State Farm Insurance (Aileen Dugan), Direct Printing & Graphics (Lindsey Hery) and Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
 
The “spotted turtle room” of the Seacoast Community School provided spirited renditions of seasonal songs. Afterwards President Ben interviewed the precious preschoolers. While inquiring about their Christmas gift requests to Santa, Ben’s adult façade fell apart. All of a sudden we were watching a young Ben Wheeler connecting with kids about his same age! Very cool!
 
 
The 50/50 raffle was enthusiastically embraced. A magnificent $127 prize was won by an unknown woman. We noted that she was suspiciously seated next to the Liff Cartel table.
 
Our own “Rotations” led the attendees in singing several secular and spiritual songs. This slimmed-down version of the vocal group consisted of John Rice and Ashley Bush. We know John’s good baritone voice. A pleasant unveiling was Ashley’s superb alto voice. Mark well your scribe’s prediction: Ashley will be leading our club in song at future meetings!
 
After a sumptuous meal and this fine entertainment, our senior guests left with a nicely filled swag bag.
Rotary Log for December 14, 2017
Rotary Log for December 14, 2017
 
 
Our final club meeting of calendar 2017 was one of the year’s best! New officers were elected. Information was well communicated. Humorous quips abounded. A great jazz keyboard performance was enjoyed.
 
 
President Ben opened with the Pledge. Al Lantinen sang for his lunch. New Rotarian and Greeter Judy Lot tested us. John Rice showed that life is not so short that it doesn’t deserve a meaningful invocation now and then.
 
A moment of silence was observed. Eric Weinrieb’s father, Jerry, passed away earlier in the week.
 
 
Aileen Dugan presented the Nominating Committee’s proposed slate of officers for the 2018-2019 year. The following officers were unanimously approved for election:
 
President- Cleo Villaflores 
President-Elect- Leo Gagnon
Vice President- Jon Flagg
Treasurer- Steve Wood
Asst. Treasurer- Joe Bove
Secretary- Marcie Bergan
Asst. Secretary- Lindsey Hery
Immediate Past President- Ben Wheeler
 
Club Service Director- Susan Gold
Vocational Director- Lexi Leddy
Community Service Director- Betsey Scott
International Service Director- Bob Herold
New Generations Director- Joanie Dickenson
 
Director- John Bohenko
Director-Craig Taylor
 
Sargent-at-Arms- Justin Finn
Asst. Sargent-at-Arms- John St. Pierre
 
Senior Directors- Aileen Dugan
                             Ted Alex
                             Dan Hoefle
 
 
Donna Lewallen reported that Operation Warm is keeping needy recipients toasty. More than $1,200 worth of new coats and other winter apparel have been delivered. Donna invited two leaders of another local non- profit, OneSky Community Services, to briefly describe their organization’s activities.
 
OneSky has served Rockingham County residents since 1983. It helps more than 1,200 individuals annually. One needed service it supplies is the meaningful integration of disabled individuals into the workforce.
 
Our Interact Club has been active. Joanie Dickenson said that they stuffed more than 40 stockings to deliver to Crossroads. Colleen Westcott invited Rotarians to attend Interact’s Christmas Party. The event will be held at noon on Thursday, December 21 at the Portsmouth High School.
 
Cleo Villaflores indicated that the Christmas Tree Sale should wind up this weekend. As of our meeting, less than 100 trees remained unsold.
 
Tom Decker won the raffle. His winnings were $43 plus $75 for a successful match. That should help defray the cost of the crutch that Tom was sporting. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Tom!
 
President Ben thanked Rotarians who helped at the Senior Holiday Celebration. More broadly he thanked all club members for their active participation throughout 2017. His sincere and thoughtful appreciation for our efforts ended the business part of the meeting on a nice note.
 
 
But there were several more notes to be sounded. Cuzzin’ Richard introduced our guest musical performer, Max Logue. Max performs at many venues in the Seacoast area. A Portsmouth native and UNH grad, Max is a Tommy Gallant Scholarship recipient. That’s the university’s most prestigious music scholarship.
 
 
Max repertoire includes classical jazz, contemporary jazz and pop/rock songs interpreted through his jazz filter. On his keyboard, the gifted pianist displayed jazz virtuosity that may have been the best musical performance to grace our meetings. It was truly outstanding.
 
Respectfully submitted, Richard Greulich
Photos by Chad Chadwick
 
New Members Photos
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
 
http://portsmouthrotary.org/PhotoAlbums/new-member-photos-welcome
Speakers
Dec 21, 2017
Where is that little box.....
Dec 28, 2017
Cork screw - where?
Jan 04, 2018
Water and Climate Change - 1001 Sories
Jan 11, 2018
Camaraderie & Club Opportunities/Updates
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Cash Committee Meeting
Eastern Bank
Dec 28, 2017
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
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Photo Albums
12/14/2017 Christmas luncheon
C. 2017 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801
Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.
eBulletin Editor: John Rice