Rotary Log for meeting of November 29, 2018
President Cleo welcomed fellow Rotarians and friends to the meeting. Al Lantinen led us in song. Cathy Nickerson directed The Four-Way test and John Lyons said the Invocation.
Announcements.
We learned that Past President Al Bergeron, 92, was in hospice care. He passed away the next day, Friday November 30. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Yvonne showed us the annual tree sale posters and invited everyone to take one. John Flagg also shared that there are still many tree selling shifts still available. Please make sure you are signed up for at least three shifts.
Basic Need’s Cathy Nickerson would like us to bring in $25 gifts cards for gas, Walmart, or Visa gift cards. These will be donated to Cross Roads house, our charity partners this year. You can also bring in cash and Cathy will purchase a gift card on your behalf.
Betsy Scott and Donna Harvey discussed the success of last week’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Some 180 seated meals were served and 160 more delivered to towns as far away as Hampton, Exeter and Newmarket. Greenland Elementary School decorated 200 bags for the road meals. Special thanks to all volunteers including John Rice who scheduled deliveries and recruited last-minute entertainment and Priscilla MacInnis who answered emails. And finally, thanks to Portsmouth Hospital who donated the food.
Monday December 10th is the Senior Lunch. If you have not already told Cleo you’re attending, please do. December 6th and 13th we will be collecting donations for the Portsmouth Country Club wait staff. We will be presenting this gift on the 20th.
John Flagg provided an the historical moment from December 6, 1956. On this day 75 members were present, four guests, and four visiting Rotarians. The meeting notes referred to the “modern” cars of the 1950’s which are very unlike those of the 2000’s. It also talked about the Margeson & Feaster apartments, one of Portsmouth’s first work force housing units. This apartment building was named after Portsmouth Rotarians. It fit with our speaker’s theme perfectly.
Happy Dollars passed around the room. Bill Powers threw in a dollar for no hallmark holiday movies. Sandy was happy that Portsmouth received Rain and not snow. Stanford bet on a football team against his friend who is also a Rotarian. They decided whoever won the bet would donate the proceeds to their club. Unfortunately, Stanford did not win the bet. Donna Harvey is happy to be going to Thailand for Chinese New Year.
Dan Hoefle won the raffle with a match!
The Program.
Executive Director of the Portsmouth Housing Authority Craig Welsh spoke about PHA’s role in the community. First, Craig thanked us for the Thanksgiving Dinner effort since most recipients are also PHA tenants. Established in 1953, PHA is an independent special government agency. It is a 501c3 affiliate which means it receives no money from the town of Portsmouth. PHA has 11 area private and public housing developments. About 750 families represent PHA which is about 8% of the city. They have an $11.3 million budget.
The PHA provides affordable workforce housing while helping to preserve Portsmouth’s history and assist in urban renewal. In 2016 their strategic plan was and continues to be “Listen, Connect, Improve, Grow”. The main challenges they are facing are cost, tax credit scarcity and creating a design that is cost effective.
PHA knows that as more jobs are created here the demand for housing is rising. There are more than 2,100 jobs in the current pipeline and the city is already facing a housing crisis. Luckily, new affordable housing units are being built on Court Street. By 2021 this new workforce housing will be available.
The units are targeted for people who make between $30 and $50,000 dollars a year. One-bed room units will start at $850-$1,050 dollars per month and two-bedroom at $1,020-$1,250 dollars per month. There will be 64 units and space available for parking.
Other future projects include a housing unit at the Urban Forestry Center. This would be helpful because it allows access to thousands of walkable jobs in the retail and trade sector. That job segment currently makes up 17% of Portsmouth’s employment opportunities. Health care accounts for 18% of jobs and it is continuing to grow as new hospitals are scheduled to open. The demand for housing is increasing since more people are moving here. Luckily, PHA is doing the best it can to provide affordable housing in Portsmouth.
Respectfully submitted, Madeline Warren
