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Top of the Week April 11, 2018
 
Top of the Week!
 
VP Leo Gagnon Graduates from Rotary Leadership Institute
 
 
VP Leo Gagnon recently graduated from RLI 3/24 at York Community College in Wells.
 
The Institute offers a leadership development program in three full day sessions (Parts I, II and III). The courses are designed to provide Rotary knowledge and to develop leadership skills for voluntary organizations. Some examples of course sessions include:
 
·         A Look Outside the Club
·         Membership Orientation and Activation
·         Introduction to Leadership
·         Creating Service Projects
·         Problem Solving Workshops
·         Vocational Service
·         Effective Committees
·         Membership Development
·         The Rotary Foundation
·         Analyzing a Rotary Club
·         The Object of Rotary
·         The District
·         International Service
·         Problems of Leadership
·         Creative Service
·         Written Communications
·         Motivating Rotarians and Effecting Change
 
 
Basic Needs Book Fund
 
In 2017, our Basic Needs committee spear-headed a one-year partnership for our Club with the Richie MacFarland Children’s Center to give them Rotarian expertise and assistance where needed.  "RMCC is a non-profit which offers a range of high-quality programs from preschool playgroups to comprehensive therapy for children from birth to six years of age. Whether a child has special needs or needs some special encouragement, the Richie McFarland Children’s Center can help build a brighter future for the child, and for the entire family."
 
In our latest effort, Cathy Nickerson and Francoise Meissner are asking for a monetary donation of $10 to buy 100 new, children’s books so that RMCC can continue its practice of giving a book to each child upon graduation. 
 
Club members have the opportunity to view samples of the books we intend to purchase and to contribute to our “book fund” at lunch meetings on April 12.
 
 
 
Seeking Nominations for the Rev. Allen Humanitarian Award
 
The first recipient of the annual Reverend Gordon Allen Humanitarian Award will be recognized at our meeting on Thursday, April 26th.
 
The intent of the award is to honor the memory of Gordon Allen by recognizing someone in our community that embodies some of the same attributes that we admired so much in Reverend Allen - humility, service to community, love of knowledge, and caring for others, to name a few.
 
Please take a moment to reflect on someone in our club or community that is deserving of this recognition and reach out to the committee members with your thoughts.
 
Committee members - James Petersen, Ellen Labrie, Sara Treacy, Cleo Villaflores, Tom Decker, Leo Gagnon, Paul Lucy, Neal Ouellett, John Pappas, John Rice or Ben Wheeler.
 
We look forward to hearing from you.
 
 
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 April 5, 2018
Rotary Log for meeting of April 5, 2018
By Suzanne Rapoza
Photos by : Jim Rini
  
This week we were greeted by Al Lantinen, who also led us in the Four Way Test. It being Red Sox Opening Day, Nancy Clayburgh guided us through Take Me Out to the Ballgame. John Rice then gave a lovely invocation.
 
President Ben was kind enough to remind the club that since the old carpet has been replaced with new wood flooring, conversations are louder. It was his polite way of telling us all to quiet down and pay attention! There were many guests (they must have heard that this was by far the funniest meeting to attend!)
 
District Governor Dave Underhill explained the difference that we can make as a club by donating to the Rotary Foundation. Ten dollars a week turns into $520 dollars in a year! Our club then matches that amount. The money is invested for three years and then returned to the foundation. Half of those funds go to Rotary’s global effort to eradicate polio and provide clean drinking water. The other half goes to our club committees. We should consider the difference we can make by contributing to the Foundation.
 
 
Ben then presented James Petersen with his Paul Harris Fellow two-year pin.
 
 
Club Announcements.
 
Lindsey tells us that make-up notices should be sent to portsmouthrotary@yahoo.com and not the email previously mentioned….The United Way is hosting a community baby shower on 5/12 from 10am- 12:30pm at the Community Campus. Volunteers are needed for this fun filled event…Past President James asked us save the date on 4/26. Some 160 trees will be at the meeting for all members to take and plant. It’s part of Rotary’s Plant A Tree initiative…The clothing drive is set for May 10. James reminded everyone that road race shirts would not be accepted. 
 
The Program.
 
Neal Ouellett kicked off the Annual Joke Show after Ben failed miserably at his attempt to be a stand-up comedian. (No offense, Ben.) The rules: no hogging the mike and keep it relatively clean. The floor was then open to anyone who wanted to wow us with their humor. Many brave people came forward. I believe the most memorable was James. He seemed to use the moment as a therapy session of sorts. We all anxiously awaited a punch line that never came.
 
 
When the amateurs were done, Neal introduced professional comic Paul D’Angelo.  Paul is a stand-up comedian that has entertained people across the country. Well known in Vegas, he has appeared on Showtime’s Godfather’s of Comedy.  Paul spent the next 20 minutes entertaining us. There were many laughs, a few groans, and overall a great feeling of comradery as the meeting came to a close.
      
                                             
Respectfully submitted, Suzanne Rapoza
New Members Photos
To see photos of our new members click on the following link:
 
http://portsmouthrotary.org/PhotoAlbums/new-member-photos-welcome
Speakers
Apr 12, 2018
A Rotarian inspired group - helping Citizen's address Climate Issues
Apr 19, 2018
The state of the Opioid Crisis from ME & the NH Gov.'s Advisory Team
Apr 26, 2018
Rev. Gordon Allen Humanitarian Award
May 03, 2018
Double A Baseball with our Fisher Cats
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Basic Needs Committee Meeting
Infinite Imaging
Apr 11, 2018
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
 
Communications Committee Meeting
Portsmouth Country Club
Apr 12, 2018
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Cash Committee Meeting
Eastern Bank
Apr 26, 2018
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
 
New Member Orientation
Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank
Apr 26, 2018
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Salvation Army Soup Kitchen
Salvation Army
Apr 30, 2018
4:00 PM – 6:15 PM
 
Board Meeting
Service Credit Union Corporate Office
May 02, 2018
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Sponsors
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
Photo Albums
April 5, 2018: Joke Day
C. 2018 Rotary Club of Portsmouth, PO Box 905 Portsmouth NH 03801
Email: portsmouthnhrotary@yahoo.com. www.portsmouthrotary.org.
eBulletin Editor: John Rice