Rotary Meeting Minutes - 7/27/2016
President Damon rang us in at 7:15 (Ed immediately started the Pledge to the Flag)
 
Today in history:
Bugs Bunny was introduced in 1940
Korean War ended in 1953
 
Thanks to Kevin for greeting this week!
Greeter next week: Shannon
 
KJ humbly subbing in as scribe for the traveling Mr. Traegger
Scribe Next week: Jim then Kevin
 
Guests:
Bill Stevens - Assistant District Governor
Lisa Fitzgerald - prospective member
Jill and Maysa and Jill's Dad David
Cindy Delgatto - prospective member
Dennis and Donna McMann - District Governor
 
Rotary Anniversary: Drew Hazelton - 2 year anniversary (Yay Drew!)
 
Announcements:
Frisbee Golf Course: work is going well - Thanks to everyone for putting in their blood, sweat and tears.
 
Todd Murchison - Requesting a leave of absence, medical issues are preventing him from joining us regularly.  Todd sends his best wishes and is still committed to the club.
 
August 19th - Pure Water for the World Golf Tournament in Keene.  Would love to have a team, but if we can't put a team together they will put us with another group.  Tickets are available to attend the after party if you're interested.  Please see Damon with questions (LINK)
 
Rotary Romp - August 8th @ the Marina @ 5:30 - come walk, run, bike, or stumble! Just join us for fun and exercise. 
 
Red Sox tickets are available for a Rotary group of 20 or more people, see Sandy Shriver if interested.
 
Scott Gordon-Macey's birthday - Happy Birthday Scott.
Happy Birthday to Jill's dad David (and Maysa, birthday tomorrow)) who were serenaded by our wonderful singers.
 
6 of clubs - You are all winners just for playing.
 
Brags:
Sadie:
Dinner last night with District Governor, thank you North End Butchers!
Today only! Flyers for WOW Frozen yogurt to have a portion of the bill is contributed to United Way Kid's in Coats fund.  Kids in Coats hasn't been as well funded as the old Christmas Stocking, trying to raise funds, a long way to go, any support is welcome.
Sandy Shriver:
Got Married!  Raining, but was able to move inside on short notice.  Apparently the officiant sat in the rain and drank, but they found someone to perform the ceremony. 
The next week went to California to see his niece get married.  Southwest Airline's extended his honeymoon by three days (Thanks Southwest!)
 
Sandi Ladd:
What the heck is that?  It's a HUGE cucumber!
 
Jim Maxwell:
Bragging for the people who have participated in the Frisbee Golf Course ($5)
Performing at "The Next Stage" with Apron Theatre company opening on August 12th, Eurydice (LINK) (another $5!  Jim is feeling flush today)
 
Jill:
Just accepted a full time job with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts and starts next week (and they have onsite child care!)
The move has been pretty good, other than our first two months spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital with Maysa and difficulty breathing, diagnosed as baby asthma.  She is doing great now with medication. 
 
Bill Stevens:
$5!  Moved to Bellows Falls Rotary Club, too difficult to get back to Keene for mid-day meetings. 
Excited to see two prospective members and hear about us working with the noon club.
Looking for a CEO for the United Way Monadnock region, if you know anyone qualified have them submit a resume.
Last Sunday went skydiving!  It was awesome!  Highly recommend the folks in Orange Massachusetts. 
 
Will:
Bonardi Family of Chevy Chase Maryland, parents of Rebecca who is marrying Will’s son in November. Bonardi’s are coming to Marlboro this weekend.  Very excited to meet them for the first time!  Trying to get their act cleaned up (putting lip stick on an old cow, I don’t know why they will be spending time with the old cow).
 
Damon:
Had a great time visiting family. 
Parent's are getting a new basement due to flooding
Taking the last harvest of winter wheat off of the family farm, this is the last harvest on the family farm, a bit of a bittersweet. 
 
District Governor Dennis McMann:
Small town boy from northern New Hampshire
Four years in the Army after a year at UNH
Worked his way through college after his return
Short time Rotarian - 11 years
Has retired 6 times, this is the last one!
Had a great meeting with our board last night, it was the best board meeting he's been too, it was interactive and enjoyable.
 
What are we about this year?
John Germ is our president this year, one of the best Rotarian's Dennis has ever met.
John Germ says there are SO many rules in Rotary.  We're working to change the rules, if there are rules in your way, ignore the rules and get the work done. 
#1 priority is to retain members, we gain 100,000 a year, but lose 120,000.  We, as a group, need to engage our members to retain them. 
Engage our members in our communities and make a difference in our community and the world.
 
Polio, last year there were 17 cases of Polio, down from 360,000 in 1986.  We're making a big deal about Polio and the Foundation this year.  If each Rotarian gives $10 more to the foundation we will add $12,000,000 to the fund (1.2 million Rotarian's)
Dennis is a polio survivor, he takes polio eradication very personally.
Donna and Dennis were able to attend an immunization day in India, they immunized 10 million kids under the age of 5 (in one day! (Dennis says they had some help)).  If you have a chance to work at one of these days do it! It will change your perspective and your life. 
 
Pure Water for the World.  Almost all of the serious diseases in the world are caused by bad water and bad sanitation.  In Haiti 2 out of 5 kids die before the age of 5.  PWFTW helps to train people about hygiene and clean water, build the units in Haiti and work with the people to raise awareness. 
The district is putting in $25,000 (with matching grants and donations) we are trying to raise $200,000 to put in filters for 200-500 families in Haiti. 
 
District Conference: Bill Stevens will be Sargent at Arms which is also the entertainment! :-) We're trying to do something different this year, usually have 200 Rotarian's (out of 2,100) who come.  We'll hold our meeting in Nashua this year, it will only be two days instead of three, Friday and Saturday.  Golf Friday morning, lunch, meeting in the afternoon.  Evening is casino night (this is for you Jason!), professional dealers will be running the tables.  We have a room block of $129/night, trying to keep the cost per couple below $600 for the two day event.  April 28-29, 2017, Saturday will be the normal session, exchange students will be there to say goodbye.  Saturday afternoon we'll have a service project working with End Hunger in New England.  You can stay another night at the hotel or head home. 
 
Training: We're trying to setup training on our tools.  Stay tuned for more info.
 
Rotary Leadership Institute, everyone should try to attend as many they can, they have 3 standard courses and 1 graduate level course.  Clubs who have RLI trained members have a higher retention rate than other clubs.  This is a training run by Rotarian's NOT Rotary.  Members who got together to train Rotarian's.  Many clubs pay for their members to attend, $65 - $95 to attend.  October 15, 2016 at Dartmouth Hitchcock for $85 (LINK). 
 
International Convention: The most motivating event Dennis has ever attended (outside of the trip to Haiti and World Immunization day).  June 2017 in Atlanta is expecting around 50,000 attendees.  Go if you can!
 
Dennis was presented with the HUGE cucumber and a (very prized) Rotary flask.
 
We were rung out by President Damon @ 8:26