banner
Stories
Top of the Week August 12, 2019
 
Top of the Week!
August 12, 2019
 
 Sarstoon Island Eco Challenge : Kayak Race for Males and Females 
Rotary is looking for 6-12 kayaks to be donated to the Annual Sarstoon Island Eco Challenge

About the Challenge

2019 marks the 4th Annual Sarstoon Island Eco Challenge! The challenge was created to bring highlight the ecological importance of the region and the river, as well as the illegal fishing that is endangering it. Organizers hope to show that eco-tourism is an alternative to illegal and harmful fishing practices that can support the local economy.

All are invited to attend! Racers from international places are welcome. If you reach out as soon as you can, a kayak can be put aside for you. It is recommended that you stay in Punta Gorda and BTV will be organizing transportation to the starting line.

PRIZES
There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes for both the male and female races! There
will also be station prizes throughout the race -
first person to pass the station gets the prize. The oldest and youngest racers will also receive a prize. During the race, spectators are invited to participate in 5-a-side football marathon, with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prizes!

Barranco is the southern-most coastal village in Belize, right across the river from Guatemala, and has a population of about 200. Traditionally a fishing and farming village, Barranco has seen a decline in population in recent times. The village is already experiencing severe climate change impacts, including repeated flooding and drastic erosion. One goal of the Eco-Challenge is to bring people back to the village and raise awareness both among everyday people and the government on the challenges facing them.

 
Make Peg’s Day!
 
Dear Fellow Rotarians:
 
Our dear friend and Portsmouth Rotarian Peg Millar is looking for some Rotarian fellowship during the week.  Since Peg is unable to drive it leaves her feeling a bit lonely and isolated.   A half hour visit can go a long way in putting a smile on Peg’s face.  We have had a small circle of our Rotarian’s visiting Peg and helping with errands but with everyone’s busy schedule it would nice to get a few more folks over to spread a little cheer Peg’s way.  Please reach out to Peg for a visit at 603-501-0910.
 
Thank you from Rotary Connections Committee
 
Volunteer for Cross Roads
 
For a great fellowship experience, please consider volunteering at Cross Roads House:
 
Slots are generally on Wednesdays and Saturdays with Cooks working 3-5 pm and Servers 5-7 pm.
 
If you would like to volunteer please text or call Tiffany at 603-380-5872. That way she will know when she has enough volunteers and can coordinate other dates that need to be filled.
 
Or Volunteer At the Salvation Army
 
Another great fellowship opportunity.  Upcoming dates for dinner service at the Salvation Army are September 17, October 29 and November 25.  Volunteers are asked to be at the kitchen at 4:15 to prepare for the dinner service.  If you are interested, contact Sara Treacy.
 
 
PHA Volunteer Coordination
 
Mary Kelliher, Volunteer Coordinator at the Portsmouth Housing Authority forwarded the following:
 
“I'm reaching out regarding a recurring volunteer opportunity that has sprung at two of our resident building. We now hold a coffee hour at our Margeson building on Mondays at 10am and at Feaster on Thursdays at 10am. These are opportunities for residents to get out of their apartments and spend time in a communal space to have a treat together. We'd love to have volunteers sign up for a particular day or recurring days to bring donuts, pastries, and/or fruit (coffee is provided) if anyone would like to do so! This is an easy opportunity to also chat with our resident population, as well. Each building also has a piano, waiting for anyone with a passion for it to play during coffee hour as well!!
 
Let Mary know if anyone might be interested.
 
 
 
AmeriCorps Seeks Rotary Volunteers 
 
Mary Kelliher is the Volunteer Coordinator for AmeriCorps working out of Portsmouth Housing's Greenleaf Recreation Center with the Resident Services team which assists low-income residents, senior residents, and residents with disabilities in finding resources for different needs, such as budgeting, financial literacy, transportation, etc. Mary and AmeriCorps is seeking volunteers who would be willing to volunteer. One example of a volunteer opportunity is assisting an older female resident who lives alone in moving heavy furniture (strong people needed!) into and from a UHaul during her planned move from her Feaster apartment to Connor's Cottage. If there are any volunteers intersted in lending a hand please contact Mary at maryk@nh-pha.com
 
 
Sorry We Missed You
 
If you have a makeup for a missed meeting, please email it to the following link:
 
 
 
Check Your Profile
 
The Communications Committee is asking that everyone log onto ClubRunner and check your profile to make sure it is up to date.  Change is part of life and we hope to be able to reflect those changes in our website.  Happy surfing.
 
 
Rotary Connections is back!!!
 
Rotary Connections let’s our members know that their Rotary club is thinking of them.  Members facing a health issue, death in the family or a life celebration, we are here!  
 
If you know of any of our members who may need a Rotary Connections, please reach out to the Cathy Nickerson or President Ben.
 
 
Let us Know What is Happening!
 
If you have an event or news that you would like to share with your fellow Rotarians, please forward the information to Dennis Moulton for inclusion in the weekly eBulletin. My contact information is d-moulton@comcast.net.  And please send photos!
Read more...
Rotary Log for August 1, 2019
Rotary Log for August 1, 2019
 
President Leo started the meeting sharply at 12:15 pm with a ring of the bell!  Al Lantinen led our crew in song.  Leo then welcomed back Queen C from her hiatus. He promptly put her to work by having the ex-Rotary Ruler say the invocation.  
 
We acknowledged numerous guests and then Leo called the winning Raffle number. The $37 prize went to Rick Wallis, but no match. Better luck next time, Rick!  
 
Rotary does many wonderful things around the world. Leo acknowledged one of them by reading a thank-you note from Bill Chadwick, past president of the Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club. Bill inspired a full house of Rotarians and visitors with his plans to start drilling clean water wells in a remote area of Guatemala.
 
Recognizing that clean water is fundamental to good health, Bill is promoting a sustainable way to produce it.  By drilling down 50 to 100 meters, an aquifer can be reached that yields uncontaminated water. It’s a more reliable source than purifying small amounts through filters.  His work is now done with the partnership of our club and many others in the District.
 
We also received an invitation from Friends Forever’s Steven Martineau. He would like us to visit their site and help with some projects.  Our very own Leonard Seagren donated 30 acres of land in Belize.  If you would like to volunteer and learn more about Friends Forever, please join us September 8-15th.  See Leo for more info. 
 
Past President Cleo presented Leo with our charter…Trivia Question- when was our club Chartered? Jon Flagg can tell you the answer.
 
Haven’t yet paid your dues? Please see the cashier soon.  
 
President Elect Jon gave us a personal historical moment.  He recalled, as a new lawyer, attending his first deposition with Past President Dan Hoefle.  Dan remarked that lawyers NEVER wear short-sleeved shirts. Admonishing the rookie barrister, he explained that these kinds of shirts are for folks like accountants and other geeks.
 
Subsequently, Dan introduced our speaker, Ken Kunhardt, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund Director of Investor Relations. Before assuming this position in October 2014, Ken was the chief investment officer of a community bank in Florida for five years. There he managed the bank’s fixed-income portfolio. Previously, he worked for several prominent Wall Street firms. Ken has more than 20 years’ experience marketing fixed-income products and strategies to sophisticated institutional investors.
 
The Community Loan Fund helps create affordable housing and community facilities such as nonprofit and child care centers. It is also involved with business finance.  Their mission is to serve as a catalyst by boosting financial, human and civic resources. The Fund enables traditionally underserved people to participate more fully New Hampshire’s economy. It provides loans, capital and technical assistance, bringing people and institutions together to solve problems. 
 
Ken discussed the Community Loan Fund difference. The organization provides not just money, but also technical assistance, as well as management and leadership skills. It boasts an active network of coaches to help with menus/layouts and ideas. 
 
If you are interested in investing as an individual or as a company, please consider the Community Loan Fund. 
 
Leo closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
 
See you all next week!
 
Respectfully submitted, Cleo 
 
New Members Photos
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
 
http://portsmouthrotary.org/PhotoAlbums/new-member-photos-welcome
Speakers
Aug 15, 2019
Polio Eradication
Aug 22, 2019
The Music Hall
Aug 29, 2019
Parking in Portsmouth
Sep 05, 2019
University of NH - Meet the New President
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Basic Needs Committee Meeting
Infinite Imaging
Aug 14, 2019
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
 
Basic Needs Committee Meeting
Infinite Imaging
Sep 11, 2019
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
 
Membership Committee Meeting
Portsmouth Country Club
Sep 19, 2019 11:00 AM
 
View entire list
Sponsors
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
C. 2019 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801
Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.
eBulletin Editor: John Rice