October 20, 2011: Rotary Log (John Clayton)

Beautiful day. Big crowd. Many Happy Dollars. 

Our program today was New Hampshire story teller John Clayton.

o    Rotary Foundation Fellowship recipient in Journalism.

o    Master story teller of the NH way of life, an author, freelance journalist and awarded winning columnist.

o    Received an Emmy for his work as host of the NH public Television production “NH Crossroads”.

o    Named one of the most influential people in NH by NHPR.

o    Recently appointed VP of Communications for the NH Hospital Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities.

o    John's true love is telling stories of NH. And with that he wrote the book “you know you’re in NH when”…

Asked by Nancy Notis if John believes in “free speech”, John replied “yes”. Then Nancy said ‘would you like to give a free speech to our Rotary group?”

While in college, John spent a  year abroad as a Rotary student at the University of Wales. Wales is known for their coal mining villages. At 5’10” he was asked to be on the basketball team. Joining him were students from Egypt, Kenya & Wales which made for colorful huddle strategies.

“you know you are in NH when” … 101 passionate reasons about this state.

We Rotarians were asked by John for names of places or events significant to New Hampshire and all most all of them were in his book. Some included:

·         Top of White Mountains: highest wind-speed ever recorded on earth: 231 MPH

·         Mount Washington Hotel: one of the grand hotels is now open year round

·         Old Man of the Mountain: natural rock formation which came down in 2003 is a statement how God makes “real men” in NH

·         Smallest beachfront in US: 18 miles long and 21 miles if you include the Isles of Shoals

·         Daniel Webster: US Senator

·         NH Primary: 1^st in US since 1920’s. We got to vote for the candidates ourselves starting in 1952.

·         St Louis Cardinals star pitcher, Chris Carpenter, was born and raised in Raymond, lives in Bedford and graduated Trinity HS

·         Carlton Fisk: born in Charlestown NH, played basketball at UNH and later drafted as one of the sports greatest catchers

·         Alan Shepard: graduate of Pinkerton Academy. First American in space: 5/5/61. Avid Tang lover

·         Robert Frost: originally a not-so-good chicken farmer, started writing poetry then taught English at Pinkerton

·         General John Stark: “live free of die for death is not the work of evils” which is still known as the most provocative motto in the country

·         NH license plates are made by inmates of our State prisons but say "Live Free or Die", irronically

·         Franklin Pierce: NH’s only native son to become President was best known as a handsome man who enjoyed a touch of the grape

·         Main Streets of NH:

o    Keene’s main street is the widest main street

o    Manchester is known for it main street having dead ends at both ends.

·         Adam Sandler: single most financially successful actor from NH who is also a very generous donor to his roots

·         Rene Gagnon: 1 of the 6 men to raise the flag in Iwo Jima on Feb 23, 1945

Be proud of our granite state and enjoy her many glories.

John Clayton’s book is available in paperback for $9.95.