As you know, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is one of our most special programs. This year, 142 campers will benefit from your generosity.
Scarborough, Maine Rotarian Phil Giordano serves as RYLA's executive director. Thank you, Phil, for all the time you put into the program. You truly place service above self!
Phil needs 10-15 Rotarians to help him with registration on Sunday, June 23. See the attached flyer for more information. If you can help, please call Phil at 207-850-9072 or email him, phil@waldenwoodsleadership.com.
Rotarians also are once again invited to attend the final RYLA dinner on Tuesday, June 25, and, if you'd like, to stay for the final campfire and candle light ceremony. A $10 donation is requested for the dinner. The attached flyer contains information regarding the Tuesday night dinner and other events. To register for the Tuesday night dinner, click on the June 25 RYLA event on the district calendar, rotary7780.org, then click on Phil's name to send him a message that you'll be attending.
If you have been to RYLA before, I know you'll want to go back. If you haven't been there yet, consider taking one or both of these opportunities to see what all the excitement is about!
Four days out and counting and the preliminary weather forecast looks good. I have attached a schedule, which may still be subject to some small adjustments, but it will give you an idea of the plan for the day.
Here are some reminders and things to keep in mind.
1. No alcohol, smoking or vaping are allowed in the park and it is a carry in - carry out facility. We will have trash and composting services but please - we want to leave the park cleaner than we find it.
2. If you plan to participate in yoga, bring your own mat and/or towel
3. We still could use more volunteers, especially for clean up at the end of the day.
4. We will be collecting crutches, walkers, etc so if you have any bring them to donate to "Crutches for Africa."
5. Bring sunscreen, and even thought we will have chairs and water, it would be wise and helpful if you brought some of your own.
6. Please bring cash or checks for the duck Foundation fund raiser - no credit cards ($10 per duck and a chance to win Foundation Recognition points.)
7. A South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotarian will be selling $5 raffle tickets to win a corn-hole board with all proceeds going to Polio Plus.
8. HAVE FUN!
I hope to see many of you at Fort Williams on Saturday.
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
Save the Date!
Tie on your walking shoes and join the fight to STOP DIABETES at the American Diabetes Association’s inaugural New England Classic Walk.
July 13, 2019 on the Durham campus of UNH. Walker check-in at 11 am.
Choice of walk routes from 1 to 5 miles (or more!)
Volunteers are needed for advance planning and day-of-event. Contact the walk coordinator, Barbara Sehr, at bsehr@iuk.edu to volunteer or get further information.
Volunteer for Cross Roads
Upcoming dates for meal service at Cross Roads House:
Wednesdays: July 3 August 7
Saturdays: July 20
Cooks 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 I will know when we have enough volunteers and can coordinate other dates that need to be filled.
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!!
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:
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!
President Cleo opened with the Pledge. Al Lantinen channeled his best Irving Berlin and led us in singing “God Bless America.”. Justin Finn was rumored to be the Greeter. Ben Wheeler joined a growing list of fine Invocators who don’t require a microphone to be heard.
There were no guests or visiting Rotarians. In three years of Rotary Log service, your scribe has never witnessed a guestless meeting!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There was even a paucity of announcements. Dave Holden lauded the Speakers Committee for their efforts. Tiffany McKenna reported that our service work with Crossroads will continue next year. Justin Finn drummed up support and participation in our upcoming Golf Tournament.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION
Marcie Bergan introduced our newest new member, Josiah Babcock. Josiah is involved in IT, including website design. He has already been active in various Seacoast community activities. Welcome aboard, Josiah!
ROTARY HISTORY
Jon Flagg provided today’s Historical Hour, err, Moment. Among other curiosities, Jon discovered that today’s speaker last spoke at our club in June 2012.
SPEAKER
Jay Gibson introduced our speaker, former New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. Governor Lynch is now Professor Lynch at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Jay and John were fraternity brothers at UNH in the last century. They formed a friendship that has continued to this day. The two men are godparents to each other’s child.
After graduating from UNH, Governor Lynch earned degrees from Harvard Business School and Georgetown Law School. He enjoyed considerable success in the business world, culminating in a complete turnaround at high end furniture design supplier, Knoll Furniture. Entering politics, John was elected governor of New Hampshire…FOUR times! While a Democrat, John was generally considered an effective bi-partisan leader, garnering across-the-board voter approval.
Drawing upon his experience in both the private sector and government service, Governor Lynch outlined five guidelines that served him well in both arenas. He fleshed out each with anecdotes that illustrated their efficacy.
Fiscal matters must be carefully controlled. Businesses need to show a profit. Governments need to balance budgets.
The quality of products and services should be defined in terms of the needs of the customer (or citizens.) Don’t dictate to the market what the user wants or needs Listen, then adapt.
Make sure the facts are correct. Assemble accurate data before making decisions.
Cultivate an ability to deal with failure. Everyone fails at something some time. Author Dan Brown’s first four published books were considered failures. His fifth book, The DaVinci Code, sold over 100 million copies. Had he not persevered past failure, the book would not have been written.
Build trust within the organization. Trust must be earned. Know your stuff, then deliver.
Governor Lynch provided excellent advice in an engaging and entertaining manner. Already a Paul Harris Fellow, President Cleo presented him with a second Paul Harris Award.
Francois Meissner won the $46 raffle but was unable to win the match.
