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Portsmouth Rotary Special Meeting Notes
Join Us In Person or Via Zoom
 
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth is back to live meetings at the Portsmouth Country Club so please join us on Thursday. Don't miss the fun!
 
Please join us Thursdays at 12:15pm for lunch at the Portsmouth Country Club, 80 country Club Lane, Greenland. 
 
For those wishing to join virtually, our technical crew has been hard at work to enhance our Zoom experience. 
 
 
 
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Top of the Week!
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Slide Show
 
To view Dr. Roberts' slide show from his presentation (see story below), please click on the link.
 
 
 
Thanksgiving Dinner Service Needs Volunteers
 
 
Dear Rotarians
 
Thanksgiving is right around the corner on Thursday, November 24th.  Because covid is still spreading, we will continue to provide boxed meals, which will be delivered to families at their homes.  The sign up sheet is available on line and can be found below.
 
We need:  4 people to help us set up tables for our assembly line event .  We will meet at the Greek Orthodox Church at noon until about 1:00 to set up tables and do whatever prep is necessary for getting the assembly line tables ready for assembling the meals.
 
We need 25 assembly line workers to arrive around 8:30.  We expect we will be done as we did last year around noon or 12:30.  We hope we can streamline the process and have meals and bags ready for delivery starting at 10:00.  
 
We are asking that everyone be vaccinated/boosted for covid…if you are working with food, you will need to be masked and we will provide food service gloves while you are working with the food.  
 
Masks are optional during the day before set up.
 
Portsmouth Hospital continues to generously provide all the food, Greenland elementary is providing the beautifully decorated bags for our guests and Rotary provides the  many hands to help Seacoast families have a lovely holiday meal.
 
We will also need 25 drivers to volunteer for delivery.  You will be assigned a route along with phone numbers of recipients so you can call them in advance and let them know that their meal is on the way. Señor Rice continues to be  our Driving Route Coordinator and he will have cards with names, addresses, and phone numbers.  Volunteers will bring the bags to you cars.  You can drive to the back of the church to receive your bags and directions.   The meals can be left on front steps, in lobbies of buildings, or another convenient spot so that you can deliver with no contact.  If you must go into a home or apt. building we recommend you wear a mask.
 
Here is the sign up link.  Thank you in advance for adding your hands to this wonderful volunteer project.  This is our 51st year.  That is quite an amazing accomplishment for our club.
 
Best,
Ann Bliss & Betsy Scott
 
 
 
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Rotary Log for October 6, 2022
Rotary Log for October 6, 2022
 
 
President Joanie opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Dave Underhill forcefully led the 4-Way Test and Al Lantinen, the song. John Rice’s invocation, in keeping with the program, acknowledged the world’s diversity.
 
Guests and visiting Rotarians were introduced, followed by announcements.
 
 
Ann Bliss reminded us that Thanksgiving Dinner remains delivery only. This will be Ann and Betsy Scott’s last hurrah as the dynamic duo plans to retire from their leadership position. 
 
With that in mind, Betsy and Ann are seeking two volunteers to shadow them, so the newbies can seamlessly take over next year. Trish Cummings will also retire from taking telephone dinner requests, necessitating a volunteer to assume that critical job, too.
 
 
Sara Treacy announced the completion of the Warm Coats distribution. The committee processed almost 350 winter coats. Well done!
 
 
Barbara Miller reports that the William Cash Committee recently approved two grants. One is a $1000 dollar donation to Craig Taylor’s Pan Mass Challenge team which raised $20,000 for cancer research. A $5000 dollar grant went to build a Habitat home that will eventually be gifted to a needy veteran. This project will provide the club with ample volunteer opportunities. More to come.
 
There were many happy dollars put out today but remember next week is “Mad Dollars.” So, save up your greenbacks to vent your frustrations.
 
 
Dr. William Roberts was our speaker. After joining Rotary, he assumed leadership roles within his club and district, rising to be 7950 District Governor. Prior to that he served on the district’s membership committee, becoming involved with DEI.
 
DEI is shorthand for diversity, equity and inclusion in our membership and service. Rotary international has restated its mission in this regard and wishes all clubs to embrace the concept.
 
 
Diversity means everyone is invited to the party, no exceptions. Equity means removing all barriers to group involvement, like, for example, financial barriers. Inclusion means everyone is part of the group and welcome.
 
For years diversity has only related to race and gender. But Dr. Roberts asked us to look for other avenues through which we might expand interest in our club and its mission. To wit, the disabled and socio-economic status, among many others. Ideally, club membership should more accurately mirror community demographics.
 

 
Dr. Roberts suggests that a way we might begin becoming more diverse is to ask ourselves what intrinsic biases are present already and plan to address them. This will be an ongoing effort for Rotary with plenty of room to grow. The hope is for progress not perfection.
 
 
I am embarrassed to say I was distracted at the raffle and do not know who won. (Publisher's note: photos show it to be Mike Asselin)  BUT I do know the new bonus is more than $300 dollars. That is certainly worth attending this week’s meeting and buying a few tickets!
 
Respectfully submitted, Al Lantinen
Photos by Francoise Meissner
 
       
 
Speakers
Oct 13, 2022
Candidate for US House of Representatives
Oct 20, 2022
Governor, New Hampshire
Oct 27, 2022
Halloween!
Nov 03, 2022
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Rotary Meeting 22-10-06
C. 2022 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801
Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.
eBulletin Editor: John Rice