Rotary Club of Portsmouth NH
Portsmouth
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:15 PM
Portsmouth Country Club
80 Country Club Lane
2nd Floor
Greenland, NH 03840
United States of America
Starting May 13th we are meeting in person again (same place, same time) If you prefer not to meet in person you can continue via Zoom. Meeting information will be emailed on weekly basis.
Venue Map
28th Annual Golf Tournament
Registration is open for the Golf Tournament
Registration is still open, Sponsorships are still available to raise funds for Basic Needs Committee.
 
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth, NH is hosting our 28th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, October 8th, at Pease Golf Course in Portsmouth, NH.
 
Corporate and team sponsorships opportunities are available now. Team & individual golfer registrations are available now, don't miss out, register today!.  All Rotary members and guests are welcome and individuals will be paired with other players.
 
The tournament will be a four-player scramble format. Tournament day check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. and shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. Entrance fees are $175 per player, and include lunch, greens fees, practice range, cart fees and a sit-down lunch.
 
Prizes include 4 place prizes, Top Men’s & Women’s Division, the highly acclaimed Rotary Cup and all par 3’s – Closest to the Pin, and Longest Drive Contest. 
 
Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Portsmouth Rotary Club’s Basic Needs Fund for worthy community non-profit organizations that serve food banks, clothing, shelter and other basic needs.
 
To register an individual, a team, or to become a tournament sponsor  visit https://events.golfstatus.com/event/ff75694b-f09e-4d33-9108-4eef59eab5f7/details/registration-details or contact our Rotary Tournament Chair, Marie Brownell marie@brownellinsurance.com
Top of the Week September 22, 2021
 
Top of the Week!
 
 
 
 
Rotary Golf Tournament is Almost Upon Us
The 28th Annual Rotary Club of Portsmouth Golf Tournament is set for Friday, October 8th, 2021 at the beautiful Pease Golf Course. We want you to be part of the opportunity to help our community during this pandemic.
Promote your business by being a sponsor. The proceeds from this event will be benefiting our Basic Needs Fund immediately to help our community. Worthy organizations like Families First, Seacoast Family Promise, Fair Trade, Crossroads House, End 68-Hours of Hunger plus others will benefit from your valued participation. Our sponsor opportunities are available at the link below. Select sponsors of $1200 or more are guaranteed a foursome in the coveted 144 golfer limit for the tournament, if you secure your sponsorship before September 15th.
 
After September 15th, our tournament’s remaining foursomes will be open to the public and other Rotarian Club golfers. Sign-up sheets for the golfers are also available at the link below. Each foursome will have registration starting at 8 AM with a Continental Breakfast served by Grill 28. Shotgun Start at 9 AM. Registration cost per player for a four-player Scramble is $175. This registration includes: green fees, cart, practice range and a sit-down lunch to enjoy with fellow golfers. Prizes for the tournament include: Top Men’s and Women’s Divisions, the highly acclaimed Rotary cup and all par 3’s – Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive Contest. There will also be raffle prizes and a 50-50 to round out a fun – filled day of golf.
 
We also need volunteers. You can sign-up with the link below. Aileen Dugan will be organizing the volunteers.
 
To make our golf tournament a true success we need all of our Rotary member to help us. We will gratefully accept silent auction items, restaurant gift certificates, give away items for the 144 golfers and other gift bag items. Items can be brought to the Thursday Rotary meetings, dropped off at my office at 860 Lafayette Rd., Hampton or we can arrange a pick up. 
 
We really appreciate your help and as always if you have any questions, please call Marie Brownell at 603-548-0704
 
Below is a link to register to be a golfer or an individual sponsor. You can either click on the link or copy and paste the link to your browser. 
 
The deadline to sign up is September 14th.
 
 
 
Volunteer Opportunity
 
The Seacoast Rep will be in need of some volunteers for painting the steel their back stairwell next month. They do not have an exact date yet but wanted to get some generic info out in case there are people looking for volunteer work.
 
The work could take a few hours or a full day depending on how many hands they can get.
 
Obviously, The Rep will supply all materials and drinks/snacks will be included! Painting will consist of some light cleaning and sanding of the steel first and then just one coat of paint. Masks are still required in the theatre and we obviously ask that volunteers do not show if they are feeling ill at all.  If interested, contact Kim Davies, SRT FOH and Facilities Manager, kim.davies@seacoastrep.org, 603-661-5045.
 
 
Salvation Army Update
 
 
Good News!  The Salvation Army has moved into its new Portsmouth headquarters at 272 Rockland Street (off Miller Ave.) formerly the Church of Christ Scientist. Rotary will continue to pick up the food from Edgewood Centre at 2:00pm and take it to the new facility. 4 Rotarians are needed at 4:10 pm at 272 Rockland Street to box the meals. The meals are then loaded onto a van and the van goes to St Patrick’s church parking lot on Austin Street, to hand out.  Only 2 of the 4 Rotarians are needed to go to the Austin Street parking lot to hand out the meals. Sara will announce dates each month for volunteers to sign up.
 
Please contact Sara Treacy at saratreacy@comcast.net or call or text to: 603-661-8588.  
 
 
Call for Zoom Hosts
 
The Tech Group has worked hard at making our Zoom meetings better and better. They have contributed time and effort and it gets better every week.  Last week was a good example of how we can host remote speakers at our in person meetings and still make it an immersive experience.
 
We have had some members step up, but need YOU to help out with our Zoom presence as well!  A few more volunteers will spread the load and help to assure this runs smoothly throughout the coming year.  Thanks, Portsmouth Rotary, for supporting the many fellow Club members who attend our meetings virtually.   Inclusion of each of our 150 family members matters so much. 
 
 
Basic Needs Grants
 
The Portsmouth Rotary Club’s Basic Needs Committee is currently accepting grant requests from local nonprofits to help provide for people in need in our community. We have funds allocated to support your efforts and we are ready to disburse them to qualified organizations in the very near future. Nonprofit agencies who are in need of funding to provide basic needs (food, shelter, healthcare, clothing) and are located in and/or primarily serving those in the Greater Portsmouth Area are encouraged to apply. Grants generally range in size from $500 to $2,500.
 
HOW TO APPLY:
 
Complete the Basic Needs funding request and submit with required documentation. The application can be found at: https://www.portsmouthrotary.org/sitepage/basic-needs-committee.
 
There is no deadline for the application and disbursements are done on a rolling basis, however applicants are encouraged to apply quickly, as funding is currently available. Requests will be reviewed by the Basic Needs Committee monthly, and may require a video or telephone conference to seek additional information if necessary. Please feel free reach out to me with any questions at j.parker@crossroadshouse.org.
 
Read more...
Rotary Log for September 16, 2021
Rotary Log for September 16, 2021
 
 
President Justin called the meeting to order before a sparse luncheon gathering. (In the interest of full disclosure: this writer did not attend and is working from a recording.  The talk among many of the club’s leaders is that we can do better with attendance. If you are staying away because of health concerns and business pressures- understood.  If, however, you are taking the path of least resistance, please make the effort to attend!)
 
Justin led with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Richard Lyons and the Four-Way Test.  America the Beautiful followed, with Judy Ringer once again leading beautifully.  Next was John Rice who offered an inspirational invocation in praise of our spirit of volunteerism.  He offered gratitude for the successful Air Show and wished more of the same for the upcoming Golf Tournament. The Senor gave fitting recognition of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism.
 
Announcements
  • Sara updated the serving of food for the Salvation Army.There is an ongoing need for volunteers.Meals are not being served at tables as in the past.Please let Sara know if you are available to help with box meals for takeout.This much-needed service takes place at 272 Rockland Street.Contact Sara at for all of the details.
  • A wonderful slide show of volunteer service at the Air Show was shared by Yvonne.  If you want to see all the photos from the Air Show, click on the link at the bottom of the newsletter.
  • Occasionally, an announcement is made with a certain zeal and sense of urgency.Marie delivered a very spirited appeal to those in attendance to step up in support of the October 8th’ Golf Tournament.Sponsors and golfers, as well as swag for the gift bags, are needed to make the fundraiser successful.  “Come on people,” enthused Marie.“This is our second largest fundraiser!”The stirring message was very well-received indeed.
 
The Speaker: Sam Reid-Wood Island Life Saving Station
 
 
In his second appearance in as many weeks, Past-President Butch introduced Sam Reid. Sam has had a successful career in politics, sometimes in Washington DC, according to Butch. But his passion and love, as a third-generation resident, is for his hometown – Kittery, Maine.
 
Today’s talk was centered on the rescue and restoration of a dilapidated old building at the mouth of the Piscataqua- the Wood Island Life Saving Station.  Sam is President of the Wood Island Life Saving Association (WILSSA) and one of its most visible and effective advocates.
 
 
In some ways the presentation began at the end, with two glorious photos of the restored 1948 Station Portsmouth Harbor.  Reid offered the One Big Message: brave men rowing out in small boats to save others! Service above Self, if you will...
 
That simple message was brought heartily to life in a fast-paced “Ken Burnsian” pictorial and narrative by the speaker. He marched us through the history of life-saving at the Station, to its closing during WW II.  Kittery took ownership in 1973 and began a period of decay and disrepair.  In 2009 the town decided to demolish the building.  Seven dedicated townspeople and others in the Seacoast protested, resulting in a 2013 agreement to save the exterior only.  The rest is history in the making. 
 
 
In the years since, the island has been cleaned up, and its walls rebuilt by the Maine National Guard.  Volunteers and contract laborers by the hundreds have brought the Station to its former glory in just over five years.  By 2022, at a projected cost of $5.3M, the completed project will be one of the remaining nine Life Saving Stations to be saved. It will also have a museum open to the public.
 
 
So much was shared in the brisk, highly entertaining presentation that it would be impossible to cover in this Log. If you missed the meeting the recording is well worth a watch.  The WILSS website chronicles the vision and determination of a group of citizens to save a National Historic Landmark.  And it wonderfully captures the history of the brave men who risked their lives to serve others from a small island at the mouth of the Piscataqua River.
 
Visit the website to learn how to visit this special place and support the incredible project going on there.
 
 
In recognition of his tireless work, the club awarded Sam Reid with a Paul Harris Fellow. In Butch’s words, “If one gives of one’s money that is good.  If one gives of one’s time, one truly gives”.
 
Raffle
 
Priscilla, our terrific Program Chair, walked away with the $40 50/50 raffle drawing.
 
Respectfully submitted, Neal Ouellett
Photos by Don Chick
 
 
 
 
 
 
28th Annual Golf Tournament
Registration is open for the Golf Tournament
Registration is still open, Sponsorships are still available to raise funds for Basic Needs Committee.
 
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth, NH is hosting our 28th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, October 8th, at Pease Golf Course in Portsmouth, NH.
 
Corporate and team sponsorships opportunities are available now. Team & individual golfer registrations are available now, don't miss out, register today!.  All Rotary members and guests are welcome and individuals will be paired with other players.
 
The tournament will be a four-player scramble format. Tournament day check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. and shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. Entrance fees are $175 per player, and include lunch, greens fees, practice range, cart fees and a sit-down lunch.
 
Prizes include 4 place prizes, Top Men’s & Women’s Division, the highly acclaimed Rotary Cup and all par 3’s – Closest to the Pin, and Longest Drive Contest. 
 
Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Portsmouth Rotary Club’s Basic Needs Fund for worthy community non-profit organizations that serve food banks, clothing, shelter and other basic needs.
 
To register an individual, a team, or to become a tournament sponsor  visit https://events.golfstatus.com/event/ff75694b-f09e-4d33-9108-4eef59eab5f7/details/registration-details or contact our Rotary Tournament Chair, Marie Brownell marie@brownellinsurance.com
Top of the Week September 22, 2021
 
Top of the Week!
 
 
 
 
Rotary Golf Tournament is Almost Upon Us
The 28th Annual Rotary Club of Portsmouth Golf Tournament is set for Friday, October 8th, 2021 at the beautiful Pease Golf Course. We want you to be part of the opportunity to help our community during this pandemic.
Promote your business by being a sponsor. The proceeds from this event will be benefiting our Basic Needs Fund immediately to help our community. Worthy organizations like Families First, Seacoast Family Promise, Fair Trade, Crossroads House, End 68-Hours of Hunger plus others will benefit from your valued participation. Our sponsor opportunities are available at the link below. Select sponsors of $1200 or more are guaranteed a foursome in the coveted 144 golfer limit for the tournament, if you secure your sponsorship before September 15th.
 
After September 15th, our tournament’s remaining foursomes will be open to the public and other Rotarian Club golfers. Sign-up sheets for the golfers are also available at the link below. Each foursome will have registration starting at 8 AM with a Continental Breakfast served by Grill 28. Shotgun Start at 9 AM. Registration cost per player for a four-player Scramble is $175. This registration includes: green fees, cart, practice range and a sit-down lunch to enjoy with fellow golfers. Prizes for the tournament include: Top Men’s and Women’s Divisions, the highly acclaimed Rotary cup and all par 3’s – Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive Contest. There will also be raffle prizes and a 50-50 to round out a fun – filled day of golf.
 
We also need volunteers. You can sign-up with the link below. Aileen Dugan will be organizing the volunteers.
 
To make our golf tournament a true success we need all of our Rotary member to help us. We will gratefully accept silent auction items, restaurant gift certificates, give away items for the 144 golfers and other gift bag items. Items can be brought to the Thursday Rotary meetings, dropped off at my office at 860 Lafayette Rd., Hampton or we can arrange a pick up. 
 
We really appreciate your help and as always if you have any questions, please call Marie Brownell at 603-548-0704
 
Below is a link to register to be a golfer or an individual sponsor. You can either click on the link or copy and paste the link to your browser. 
 
The deadline to sign up is September 14th.
 
 
 
Volunteer Opportunity
 
The Seacoast Rep will be in need of some volunteers for painting the steel their back stairwell next month. They do not have an exact date yet but wanted to get some generic info out in case there are people looking for volunteer work.
 
The work could take a few hours or a full day depending on how many hands they can get.
 
Obviously, The Rep will supply all materials and drinks/snacks will be included! Painting will consist of some light cleaning and sanding of the steel first and then just one coat of paint. Masks are still required in the theatre and we obviously ask that volunteers do not show if they are feeling ill at all.  If interested, contact Kim Davies, SRT FOH and Facilities Manager, kim.davies@seacoastrep.org, 603-661-5045.
 
 
Salvation Army Update
 
 
Good News!  The Salvation Army has moved into its new Portsmouth headquarters at 272 Rockland Street (off Miller Ave.) formerly the Church of Christ Scientist. Rotary will continue to pick up the food from Edgewood Centre at 2:00pm and take it to the new facility. 4 Rotarians are needed at 4:10 pm at 272 Rockland Street to box the meals. The meals are then loaded onto a van and the van goes to St Patrick’s church parking lot on Austin Street, to hand out.  Only 2 of the 4 Rotarians are needed to go to the Austin Street parking lot to hand out the meals. Sara will announce dates each month for volunteers to sign up.
 
Please contact Sara Treacy at saratreacy@comcast.net or call or text to: 603-661-8588.  
 
 
Call for Zoom Hosts
 
The Tech Group has worked hard at making our Zoom meetings better and better. They have contributed time and effort and it gets better every week.  Last week was a good example of how we can host remote speakers at our in person meetings and still make it an immersive experience.
 
We have had some members step up, but need YOU to help out with our Zoom presence as well!  A few more volunteers will spread the load and help to assure this runs smoothly throughout the coming year.  Thanks, Portsmouth Rotary, for supporting the many fellow Club members who attend our meetings virtually.   Inclusion of each of our 150 family members matters so much. 
 
 
Basic Needs Grants
 
The Portsmouth Rotary Club’s Basic Needs Committee is currently accepting grant requests from local nonprofits to help provide for people in need in our community. We have funds allocated to support your efforts and we are ready to disburse them to qualified organizations in the very near future. Nonprofit agencies who are in need of funding to provide basic needs (food, shelter, healthcare, clothing) and are located in and/or primarily serving those in the Greater Portsmouth Area are encouraged to apply. Grants generally range in size from $500 to $2,500.
 
HOW TO APPLY:
 
Complete the Basic Needs funding request and submit with required documentation. The application can be found at: https://www.portsmouthrotary.org/sitepage/basic-needs-committee.
 
There is no deadline for the application and disbursements are done on a rolling basis, however applicants are encouraged to apply quickly, as funding is currently available. Requests will be reviewed by the Basic Needs Committee monthly, and may require a video or telephone conference to seek additional information if necessary. Please feel free reach out to me with any questions at j.parker@crossroadshouse.org.
 
Read more...
Rotary Log for September 16, 2021
Rotary Log for September 16, 2021
 
 
President Justin called the meeting to order before a sparse luncheon gathering. (In the interest of full disclosure: this writer did not attend and is working from a recording.  The talk among many of the club’s leaders is that we can do better with attendance. If you are staying away because of health concerns and business pressures- understood.  If, however, you are taking the path of least resistance, please make the effort to attend!)
 
Justin led with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Richard Lyons and the Four-Way Test.  America the Beautiful followed, with Judy Ringer once again leading beautifully.  Next was John Rice who offered an inspirational invocation in praise of our spirit of volunteerism.  He offered gratitude for the successful Air Show and wished more of the same for the upcoming Golf Tournament. The Senor gave fitting recognition of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism.
 
Announcements
  • Sara updated the serving of food for the Salvation Army.There is an ongoing need for volunteers.Meals are not being served at tables as in the past.Please let Sara know if you are available to help with box meals for takeout.This much-needed service takes place at 272 Rockland Street.Contact Sara at for all of the details.
  • A wonderful slide show of volunteer service at the Air Show was shared by Yvonne.  If you want to see all the photos from the Air Show, click on the link at the bottom of the newsletter.
  • Occasionally, an announcement is made with a certain zeal and sense of urgency.Marie delivered a very spirited appeal to those in attendance to step up in support of the October 8th’ Golf Tournament.Sponsors and golfers, as well as swag for the gift bags, are needed to make the fundraiser successful.  “Come on people,” enthused Marie.“This is our second largest fundraiser!”The stirring message was very well-received indeed.
 
The Speaker: Sam Reid-Wood Island Life Saving Station
 
 
In his second appearance in as many weeks, Past-President Butch introduced Sam Reid. Sam has had a successful career in politics, sometimes in Washington DC, according to Butch. But his passion and love, as a third-generation resident, is for his hometown – Kittery, Maine.
 
Today’s talk was centered on the rescue and restoration of a dilapidated old building at the mouth of the Piscataqua- the Wood Island Life Saving Station.  Sam is President of the Wood Island Life Saving Association (WILSSA) and one of its most visible and effective advocates.
 
 
In some ways the presentation began at the end, with two glorious photos of the restored 1948 Station Portsmouth Harbor.  Reid offered the One Big Message: brave men rowing out in small boats to save others! Service above Self, if you will...
 
That simple message was brought heartily to life in a fast-paced “Ken Burnsian” pictorial and narrative by the speaker. He marched us through the history of life-saving at the Station, to its closing during WW II.  Kittery took ownership in 1973 and began a period of decay and disrepair.  In 2009 the town decided to demolish the building.  Seven dedicated townspeople and others in the Seacoast protested, resulting in a 2013 agreement to save the exterior only.  The rest is history in the making. 
 
 
In the years since, the island has been cleaned up, and its walls rebuilt by the Maine National Guard.  Volunteers and contract laborers by the hundreds have brought the Station to its former glory in just over five years.  By 2022, at a projected cost of $5.3M, the completed project will be one of the remaining nine Life Saving Stations to be saved. It will also have a museum open to the public.
 
 
So much was shared in the brisk, highly entertaining presentation that it would be impossible to cover in this Log. If you missed the meeting the recording is well worth a watch.  The WILSS website chronicles the vision and determination of a group of citizens to save a National Historic Landmark.  And it wonderfully captures the history of the brave men who risked their lives to serve others from a small island at the mouth of the Piscataqua River.
 
Visit the website to learn how to visit this special place and support the incredible project going on there.
 
 
In recognition of his tireless work, the club awarded Sam Reid with a Paul Harris Fellow. In Butch’s words, “If one gives of one’s money that is good.  If one gives of one’s time, one truly gives”.
 
Raffle
 
Priscilla, our terrific Program Chair, walked away with the $40 50/50 raffle drawing.
 
Respectfully submitted, Neal Ouellett
Photos by Don Chick
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gilley's 2020 ornament

 

Last year we picked the iconic Portsmouth diner “Gilley’s” as our Christmas Ornament. Who has not been to Gilley’s? Its been around since 1912 and it is as famous as the tugboats and the North Church!

 

Last year has been so hard for both restaurants and their waitstaff, that the Portsmouth Rotary Club has chosen to take all of our net proceeds from the sale of our Gilley’s ornaments and buy, at retail, gift certificates to local restaurants, and then we took those gift certificates and distributed them to waitstaff who have been so impacted by Covid. It's one of the 100’s of ways Portsmouth Rotary supports our local community along with scholarships, food banks, the homeless shelter, coats for kids, building playgrounds, and the list goes on. We are 100% volunteer, so when you buy a Rotary ornament or Christmas tree, all of the net proceeds go to the community! 

 

      <----  Click the ornament to buy online
 
 
Visit Us on Facebook & Twitter
Facebook   Twitter 
Portsmouth Rotary Charitable Division
 
Website Sponsors
Upcoming Events
Speakers
Chief Todd Germain
Sep 30, 2021
Portsmouth Fire Department
Doug Nelson
Oct 07, 2021
Appledore Art Colony
Terry Desmarais, Peter Rice
Oct 14, 2021
Peirce Island Waste Water Treatment Facility
Michael Wilson
Oct 21, 2021
Race Across America
View entire list...
Portsmouth Rotary eBulletins
Website Sponsors
Club Documents
Club Executives & Directors
President
Justin Finn
President Elect
Joanie Dickinson
Vice President
Yvonne Legge
Treasurer
Steve Wood
Assistant Treasurer
Joe Bove
Secretary
Lindsey Reid
Assistant Secretary
Caitlin Burke
Immediate Past President
Jonathan Flagg
Club Service Director
Jess Hamilton
Rotary Foundation Chair
Bob Herold
Vocational Service Director
Caitlyn Hassett
Community Service Director
Betsy Scott
International Service Director
Bob Herold
New Generations Director
Nicole Clark
Director
Tristan Shanley
Sergeant at Arms
John St. Pierre
Assistant Sergeant at Arms
Julia Thompson
Senior Director
Daniel Hoefle
Senior Director
Benjamin Wheeler
Senior Director
Cleo Villaflores
Membership
Cleo Villaflores

Link to: 

DISTRICT 7780 WEBSITE