Portsmouth Rotary members supported the district 7780 awareness and fund-raising efforts by laying out the red carpet (twice) for pilots Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels.  They landed in Portsmouth on Friday May 5, first stop on their circumnavigation of the globe for PolioPlus.  The district hosted a welcome dinner and fundraiser at the Port City Air hangar, Pease Tradeport, Saturday night May 6 which was a wonderful chance to meet, greet and welcome them.  More information on their journey at this link:

 

https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/end-polio

 

You can follow their three-month journey on the aircraft-tracking website Flight Aware.  Just click the button on the site above and then enter their aircraft tail number as the flight number: N732WP

 

After the big event, Peter and John determined there were two critical maintenance issues that had to be addressed, so they ended up staying in Portsmouth until Thursday.  President Joanie and Rotarian Leonard Seagren co-hosted them at a second dinner, an ad-hoc buffet at Joanie's house attended by 26.  

 

As of Thursday we are close to the twenty thousand dollar PolioPlus goal for the event, a very ambitious number supported by Rotarians and clubs, including our own Club contribution of $1500 plus the hard work of seventeen Portsmouth Rotary volunteers over the weekend of May 6.  It is a privilege to be a member of Portsmouth Rotary, thank you all.

 

Here is a marvelous photo-gallery from our Saturday, May 6 event at Pease, from photographer extraordinaire Don Chick: enjoy!