Rotary Log for November 19, 2020
Our Top Turkey Jon made another humorous entrance, this time adorned with a turkey leg headband. He promised a meeting stuffed with greatness. And in his inestimable way gobbled up some time with a litany of bad puns.
God Bless America was next up, beautifully sung A Capella by Judy Ringer.
John Rice offered a wonderful Thanksgiving prayer, reminding us to be grateful for friends, family and good deeds even in these difficult times. Perhaps a Covid vaccine will bring us together in person one day soon.
Also mentioned was our wonderful plucky Peg Millar, who sadly passed away at age 90. We are grateful that she graced our club for so many memorable years. Later, several of us attended a lovely committal service in Rye Central Cemetery on Friday, November 20. With close acquaintances and family gathering under cloudy skies, Peg’s dear friends Shannon, Trish Cummings and James Petersen offered heartfelt remembrances of a special woman. The sun peeked out in agreement.
Thanksgiving
Like many members, Jon will be celebrating the holiday with only immediate family. The Prez is not one to be deterred by a vegetarian daughter and a wife who eschews the “big fowl.” He plans to chow down by himself on a 40-pound bird. His decidedly better half, Polly, will be honored with her own ham (no, not Jon, though he will be doing the cooking.)
On to the Rotary Thanksgiving Dinner. Betsy and Ann have taken on our initial socially distanced meal service with aplomb and good cheer. For the first time in history, meals will be received by delivery only. Two hundred and sixty community members have requested meals!
Volunteer drivers will make contactless deliveries. They will line up behind the Greek church to collect meals and directions to destinations throughout the area. Many “boxers” will be needed to pack 30 meals every 10 minutes. Boxers should be on hand by 9AM. Drivers at 10:30. Betsy, Ann, Jon and the intrepid early crew plan to be there by 6AM. Is this a great club or what!? Big shouts of gratitude to Ann and Betsy!
What will be different and what will be the same for your Thanksgiving this Covid-year, asked Jon?
A couple of the memorable answers included Frank telling us he is breaking with tradition to cook an Italian feast.
White wine will be on the menu at Joannie’s in place of her customary red. As you just read, our club’s Thanksgiving Dinner service will be different, but the fellowship will be the same.
Basic Needs
Jessica Parker highlighted both fellowship and gratitude, as she announced recent Basic Needs Committee contributions to several area non-profits. Her reading of several sincere thank-you notes was a nice touch. A House for Me, Community Tool Box, Seacoast Community Lunch, Share Fund, and Step Up Parents were among the appreciative recipients.
Historical Moment
Ian served up another entertaining and educational Historical Moment, taking us back to 1957. In those days, our citizenry consumed an average 24 pounds of chicken and 369 eggs per year. Enter Nichols Poultry of Kingston, N.H., which became the center of Granite State turkey production. Mr. Nichols, a Portsmouth Rotarian, produced a new bigger, fatter, and meatier turkey. The birds were shipped live to all 48 states, where many producers bred their own bigger turkeys from that stock.
“Now that’s fowl play,” quipped Ian.
Today’s speaker, a Planetary philanthropist
Ken Murphy introduced our speaker, his friend and Portsmouth entrepreneur and philanthropist Alex Choquette. Mr. Choquette told us he is very impressed with Rotary’s “Service above Self.” Motto. His immediate $1500 donation to the club was an ample and much-appreciated demonstration of that admiration.
Growing up the fifth of eight children, Alex had a dad who taught his kids the importance of giving generously to help people in need. Back in the day, the successful Choquette-family business sold automotive manuals to 50,000 customers throughout New England. By 1997, as that industry was going electronic, Alex moved in a different direction.
In 2005 with “passion and guts” he decided to buy into the Planet Fitness phenomenon. A single purchase in 2006 led to a second in 2007. Alex was a man with “a mission to open 10 stores, cash out, and travel the world to help people.”
An apparent overachiever (and obviously nice person,) Alex bought a Planet Fitness territory with 15 stores in North and South Carolina and Georgia. He sold that company last year, recently purchasing even more Planet Fitness stores. Undoubtedly his success can be attributed in part to the way he values and rewards employees and their families, a practice to which he freely admits.
Alex has certainly not forgotten the lessons imparted by his mother and father years ago. His mission to give back to the less fortunate has been brought to life. Recognizing food insecurity caused by Covid 19, Alex and his management team made a generous donation to food banks in Myrtle Beach. He has also purchased nine mobile food collection storage units, placing food collection bins inside and outside supermarkets.
Quoting Choquette’s company website: “Giving back to our community is at the heart of what Anchor Management stands for. I am proud of our team and the kindness and generosity shown during this time when so many around the world and here at home have been impacted.”
Service above Self indeed! Thank you, Alex, for a great presentation, an educational Q&A and your generous donation.
Respectfully submitted, Neal Ouellett
Photo captures by Don Chick
