Stories

Presidents' Message (December 5, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be held on Thursday, December 7th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

Please plan to attend as we will have music teacher Karie Swift and the Conant High School Chorus joining us for a mini-concert of Christmas carols, and perhaps a little singalong.

Our following meeting will be on December 14th. Reuben Duncan, SAU47 School District Superintendent, will speak on issues such as the budget, taxes, and education innovation. Joining us, too, on the 14th will be members of the Conant Interact Club and their advisors.

To finish out the 2023 season, we will be having an evening get together on December 21st at the Cathedral of the Pines from five to seven. We hope this will allow all our busy working Rotarians, who cannot make the morning meetings, to join in and spend time with their fellow Rotarians.

Lots of fun and excitement to close out this year! John and I look forward to spending time with all of you over the holiday season.

And speaking of the holiday season, did you know that the world celebrates numerous holidays in December each year? Here are just some of the better-known ones:

Bodhi Day
Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Hanukkah
Yule
Christmas
Boxing Day
Kwanzaa
Zartosht No-Diso
New Year's Eve

As Rotarians, lets extend our thoughts and prayers to all who have reason to celebrate this month.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (November 28, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, November 30th, 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

For your planning purposes, we will have breakfast meetings at the University on November 30th, December 7th, and December 14th.

As the University will be closed for the holidays on December 21st, John and I are looking into opportunities to plan a holiday event on that same Thursday. Plan on some festivities!

Please join us for the next several meetings, so that we can take the opportunity to discuss what we would like to accomplish in early 2024. Things are happening, and they are positive!

We look forward to seeing all of you this Thursday.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (November 21, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Happy Thanksgiving!

As this is Thanksgiving week, there will be no meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club this week in observance of the holiday.

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 30th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

As we move into the holiday season, please spend a moment to reflect on the value of family and friends. Objects and acquaintances come and go in our lives, but family and good friends endure forever.

To our Rotary brothers and sisters, please have a very special Thanksgiving week and remember all the things for which each of us can be grateful.

By separate email to all Rotarians, please review the document that Russ “Gas” Gaskamp requested be shared with the club members. Please review as this relates to our Emergency Warming Shelter Project.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (November 14, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be held on Thursday, November 16th, 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

During this week’s Happy Fines, I would encourage folks to share prior Rotary events that were meaningful to you.

I am going to ask John McCarthy and Ben Wheeler to give us an update on this week’s Interact induction ceremony, which will occur at the Cathedral of the Pines on Tuesday, November 14th, at 6:00pm. This is always an upbeat event, and a strong Rotary Club showing is always welcome. Yes, there will be cake!

Because of Thanksgiving week, the Club will not meet on Thursday, November 23rd. We will have a regular meeting the following Thursday on November 30th, including a guest speaker.

John and I are meeting with Bill Raymond this week to discuss the responsibilities of club Treasurer so we can transition this responsibility by mid-2024.

Join me in recognizing the past to inspire the future!

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (November 7, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

In observance of Veteran's Day, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will NOT meet this week (November 9^th).

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 16th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

Looking forward to the remainder of the year, we will have the following meeting schedule:

Nov 16^th - Club Assembly
Nov 23^rd - no meeting (Thanksgiving holiday)
Nov 30^th - regular breakfast meeting
Dec 7^th and 14^th - regular breakfast meeting
Dec 21^st - Club Assembly
December 28^th - no meeting (Christmas Week)

John and I will be releasing meeting notes in the next week or so overviewing the highlights/feedback that emanated out of the two recent club analysis sessions.

Join me in recognizing the past to inspire the future!

In the meantime, the World premiere of the Documentary, Monadnock, the Mountain That Stands Alone, was held October 6th at the Park Theatre. In case Rotarians missed it, the documentary will be shown Tuesday, November 7th, at 7:00 pm on NHPT, Thursday, November 8th at 9:00 pm, Saturday, November 11th, at 10:00pm, and Monday, Nov 13th, at 3:00 pm. The film is dedicated to Dr. David Knight, former Jaffrey Dentist and former Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (October 31, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting will be held at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, November 2nd, at 7:15am.

I would personally like to thank all who participated in one of our two Club’s leadership meetings last week. The feedback was extremely helpful to John and myself, and it helps give us direction on how to best retain current membership while looking at how to best attract new membership.

John and I will be releasing meeting notes in the next week or so overviewing the highlights of the meetings.

Lee DeBell will be joining us this Thursday to talk about AARP’s Smart Drive course. Lee has offered this six-hour course for the past ten years. He will share when eligible Rotarians will have the opportunity to take the class in the near future.

A big thanks to those Rotarians who participated in the local NH Food Bank distribution on Monday of this week. Despite a constant chilly drizzle, Jim Banghart, Greg Walsh, Bob Schaumann, Richard Feldman, and Peter Russell loaded hundreds of cartons of Food Bank produce and canned goods into the trunks of over 100 cars that found their way to Rindge's Hannaford Supermarket parking lot. This was all done in 75 minutes!

November is Rotary Foundation Month designed to emphasize the importance and need for Rotarian support of the Rotary Foundation.

Join me in recognizing the past to inspire the future!

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (October 24, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, October 26th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

Our speaker for this week will be Amber Dewey, who is going to give a presentation on bees and the need to preserve habitat for them.

As a follow up to our last meeting, John McCarthy and I have reached out to past Rotary Presidents and several Rotarians, and asked them to meet with us this week to evaluate our club members expectations, needs, and wants specific to their Rotary experience.

Many clubs and social organizations are grappling with diminishing membership and are questioning how to best bring new excitement and interest into their groups to promote retention and new membership.

The desired outcome for these meetings is to evaluate how we can accomplish this within our club.

The information obtained from of these meetings will be documented and shared with the entire club for further discussion and deliberation.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (October 17, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, October 19th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

Many thanks to the Rotarians and spouses that joined us Saturday morning for the Roadside Cleanup and to clean up the trash on Route 202. These are the type of activities in which folks who cannot make the weekly meetings can participate and support our club.

John and I will be reaching out to past Rotary Presidents to meet offline and discuss key topics such as club participation and what we can do to attract and retain new members. We also need to discuss what our current members expect and require from our Rotary club.

We will also be reviewing the following updated 2023/2024 project list and finalize the project leader’s expectations.

TBD-2023 Rotary Fund Raiser
Russ Gaskamp - overnight warming shelter for homeless through his Peterborough Church
Bill Raymond - Convert former welcome center/gazebo site to a pollinator garden; tidy up & weed whack around signs coming into Jaffrey & Rindge
Harold Davis, Donna Senechal - Coat Drive; Bird seed sales
Rudra Aryal - Discussion with JRMS/Conant Students on Science and Math
Lori Rautiola – Welcome to Rindge signs throughout town

The following three projects are also potential candidates but need dates, cost estimates, and member ownership/ support to proceed.

Greg Walsh – Rotary Garage Sale
Andy Lawn/Owen - Community meal

The following two projects are complex and will require financial and staff support from our club members. Both are excellent candidates as they will help support the youth in our local communities.

Bob Schaumann/Sheila Bergeron - After school program at Jaffrey Grade School

John McCarthy - Nutrition assistance for students in the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District. This would be a follow up to our Club’s 2018 startup support of the Rindge Congregational Church’s Got Lunch program. It could also be a collaboration with the Conant class of 1973

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (October 10, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

As this is a holiday week, we will not be meeting on Thursday, October 12^th.

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, October 19th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

On Saturday, October 14th, our Rotary Club will be meeting outside of Emma’s 321 Restaurant at 8:00am to support our biannual road side cleanup effort. Please grab your spouse, teenager, or friend, as many hands make light work.

As a follow up to a recent meeting I had with John McCarthy, the following projects have Rotary member support, and as such, John and I would like to move forward and implement them, effective immediately:

2023 Rotary Fund Raiser
Russ Gaskamp - overnight warming shelter for homeless through his Peterborough Church
Bill Raymond - Convert former welcome center/gazebo site to a pollinator garden; tidy up & weed whack around signs coming into Jaffrey & Rindge
Harold Davis - Coat Drive; Bird seed sales
Rudra Aryal - Discussion with JRMS/Conant Students on Science and Math
Lori Rautiola - Welcome to Rindge signs throughout town

The following three projects are also potential candidates but need dates, cost estimates, and member ownership/support to proceed:

Greg Walsh – Rotary Garage Sale
Owner? - Keene Sneaker Drive
Andy Lawn/Owen - Community meal

The following two projects are complex and will require financial and staff support from our club members. Both are excellent candidates as they will help support the youth in our local communities.

Bob Schaumann - After school program at Christian Camp Monadnock/Jaffrey Grade School
John McCarthy - Nutrition assistance for select students in the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District. This would be a follow up to our Club’s 2018 startup support of the Rindge Congregational Church’s Got Lunch program. It would also be a collaboration with the Conant class of 1973 and their efforts to raise funds for kids who come to school without breakfast and/or without money for lunch. This was described at a previous Rotary meeting by David Griffin of Conant’s class of 1973.

Due to the complexities, level of detail, and potential funding and membership support required to support these projects, John and I would like to use the remainder of 2023 to have our members develop a detailed action plan for each project.

In early December, we will ask you, the Rotary Club members, to overview the action plans and collectively determine which project we will move forward with in early 2024.

Summary:

The above outlined approach to project efforts in our club compartmentalizes our list of projects by member support, size, and club resource requirements. Furthermore, it allows us to move forward with six documented projects in 2023, three additional vetted projects in early 2024, and one major Rotary project throughout 2024.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (October 3, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, October 5th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University. John and I are meeting prior to Thursday's weekly meeting to discuss the current list of potential club projects and determine how to best translate this list into desirable, viable 2023 projects.

Our Thursday meeting this week finds Vache Hambardzumyan, MD, PhD, FEBS, joining us as our guest speaker. He is an orthopedic surgeon at Monadnock Community Hospital (MCH), and he will give a short presentation about the world of orthopedic and spinal surgery. He will be accompanied by Lee Ann Moore Clark, the Philanthropy and Community Relations Manager at MCH.

With Halloween upcoming, we have several Rotarians who volunteered to help with the "Scarecrow on the Commons" on the front lawn of the Jaffrey Clay Library on Saturday morning, October 7th, from 10am to Noon; we need three afternoon Rotarian volunteers for the Noon to 2pm shift, so please let us know who you are on Thursday.

Please note the enhance current list of proposed Rotary Project for the current Rotary 2023/2024 year.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Enhanced list of proposed Rotary Projects for 2023/2024:

Russ Gaskamp - overnight warming shelter for homeless through his Peterborough Church
Bill Raymond - Convert former welcome center/gazebo site to a pollinator garden; tidy up & weed whack around signs coming into Jaffrey & Rindge
Bob Schaumann - After school program
Andy Lawn/Owen Houghton - Community meal
Nutrition assistance for select students in the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District. This would be a follow up to our Club’s 2018 startup support of the Rindge Congregational Church’s Got Lunch program. It would also be a collaboration with the Conant class of 1973 and their efforts to raise funds for kids who come to school without breakfast and/or without money for lunch. This was described at a recent meeting by David Griffin of the Conant High School Class of 1973.
Harold "David" Davis - Coat Drive; Bird seed sales
Rudra Aryal - Discussion with JRMS/Conant Students on Science and Math
Lori Rautiola – Welcome to Rindge signs throughout town
Greg Walsh – Rotary Garage Sale
All – 2023/2024 Fund Raiser

Presidents' Message (September 26, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, September 28th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University. We will continue to explore options for our 2023/2024 Rotary projects, and have had positive interest/feedback on the five projects we recently outlined.

Our Rotary Club will sponsor a Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) film event on the evening of October 1st at the Park Theater in Jaffrey. The film is “Join or Die,” which centers on America’s civic unraveling through the journey of local scientist, Robert Putnam. There will be a social hour from 6:00pm to 7:15pm, with the movie starting at 7:30PM. Tickets are $10.00. Bring family and friends, as the more the merrier. Dress will be business casual.

Our October 5th meeting next week finds Vache Hambardzumyan, MD, PhD, joining us as our guest speaker. He is an orthopedic surgeon at Monadnock Community Hospital (MCH), and he will give a short presentation about the world of orthopedic and spinal surgery. He will be accompanied by Lee Ann Moore Clark, the Philanthropy and Community Relations Manager at MCH.

With Halloween upcoming, we have several Rotarians who volunteered to help with the "Scarecrow on the Commons" on the front lawn of the Jaffrey Clay Library on Saturday morning, October 7th, from 10am to Noon; we need three afternoon volunteers for the Noon to 2pm shift, so please let us know who you are on Thursday.

Proposed Rotary Projects for 2023/2024, as mentioned above, are listed here. Bob Schaumann will briefly update everyone on the proposed after school program at Thursday's meeting.

1. Russ Gaskamp - overnight warming shelter for homeless through his Peterborough Church

2. Bill Raymond - Convert former welcome center/gazebo site to a pollinator garden; tidy up & weed whack around signs coming into Jaffrey & Rindge

3. Bob Schaumann - After school program at Camp Monadnock

4. Andy Lawn - Community meal

5. John McCarthy - GOT LUNCH/School Nutrition Program (part of the David Griffin Class of 1973 initiative)

5. Harold Davis - Coat Drive; Bird seed sales

6. Rudra Aryal - Discussion with JRMS/Conant Students on Science and Math

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (September 19, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet on Thursday, September 21, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

This week’s meeting will be a Club Assembly meeting and it will be utilized to move forward with 2023/2024 project assignments.

We currently have a growing list of project opportunities, and John and I are hopeful we can collectively agree on project selection followed by Rotary leadership/support assignments.

I am listing six varying-sized project opportunities below so you can give some thought to which projects you would like to move forward and support.

Each accepted project will be assigned a Rotary Project leader and support staff.

Russ Gaskamp - overnight warming shelter for homeless through his Peterborough Church
Bill Raymond - Convert former welcome center/gazebo site to a pollinator garden; tidy up & weed whack around signs coming into Jaffrey & Rindge
Bob Schaumann - After school program at Christian Camp Monadnock
Andy Lawn - Community meal
Nutrition assistance for select students in the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District. This would be a follow up to our Club’s 2018 startup support of the Rindge Congregational Church’s Got Lunch program. It would also be a collaboration with the Conant class of 1973 and their efforts to raise funds for kids who come to school without breakfast and/or without money for lunch. This was described at last week’s meeting by David Griffin of Conant’ class of 1973.
Harold Davis - Coat Drive; Bird seed sales
Rudra Aryal - Discussion with JRMS/Conant Students on Science and Math

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (September 12, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Lots going on this week!

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be September 14th at 7:15am at Franklin Pierce University. The Board of Directors' meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 13th, 8:00am at the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce office.

This week, we will have the opportunity to meet Moritz, our Rotary exchange student from Germany, who will give us an update on his recent activities.

Dave Griffin, President of the Conant Class of 1973, will also be joining us to share an update on their recent fiftieth reunion activities, which raised $2,500 to go towards nutrition support for local students.

We also plan to start to explore several Rotary projects initially mentioned during our August 17th meeting. The following outlines our current list of exciting project opportunities.

Russ Gaskamp - overnight warming shelter for the homeless through his Peterborough Church
Bill Raymond - conversion of the former Jaffrey welcome center/gazebo site to a pollinator garden; tidy up & weed whack around signs coming into Jaffrey and Rindge
Bob Schaumann - after-school program at Christian Camp Monadnock
Andy Lawn - Community meal (part of the David Griffin class of 1973 initiative)
Harold Davis - Coat Drive; Bird seed sales
Rudra Aryal - Discussion with JRMS/Conant Students on Science and Math

John and I are excited to explore our growing list of potential Rotary projects. It is our objective to have a club vote to select two or three projects to support for our 2023/2024 support activities.

Look forward to seeing you all soon.

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (September 5, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

There will be no meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club this Thursday due to the Labor Day holiday. While we all look at this weekend as a time to relax and end the summer with a bang, it is important to remember all of the Americans who work so hard to assure we maintain our quality of life in this great country of ours.

Really enjoyed the update on Moritz, our exchange student from Germany. He sounds like he will acclimate to Rindge quickly, and John and I cannot wait to have the opportunity for him to join us at one of our upcoming Rotary meetings.

Susan Ashworth did a great job of highlighting the "Meals on Wheels" program last week, and how folks in Jaffrey and Rindge benefit from this incredible program.

Our next meeting will be September 14th at Franklin Pierce University, and our Board of Directors' meeting will be held on September 13th at the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce office.

Hope you all have a safe week off; John and I look forward to seeing you all on the 14th of September.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (August 29, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We will be at Franklin Pierce University for our weekly Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club meeting on Thursday, August 31st, at 7:15am.

Sorry that I had to miss last week’s meeting, but one’s eye health must come first. I did spend some productive time this week fixing our Rotary bell, as the top half had snapped off the base. Glad to report it has been fixed and should be good for quite some time to come.

This week, we will be having guest speaker Susan Ashworth join us, as she shares her insight on the "Meals on Wheels" program in our local area.

Last week on Tuesday, Sheila Bergeron and John McCarthy drove to Boston to meet our German exchange student, Moritz Neddermeier, and bring him back to Sheila's house where he will be her guest for the next several months. Along with Sam LaFortune, John, and Sheila have been quite active welcoming Moritz, as well as bringing him over to Conant High School, preparing him for the school year, and getting him approved for NHIAA sports (soccer) this Fall. John and Sheila will be giving us an update on Moritz at our Thursday meeting.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (August 22, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We will meet at Franklin Pierce University this week on Thursday, August 24^th, at 7:15am. This should be our final meeting in the side room where we met last week, as contractors work to finalize the construction in their cafeteria.

John and I would like to thank Donna Senechal for lending us her beautiful white convertible for the Jaffrey 250^th Anniversary Parade. Gail Therriault and Jed Brummer braved the sprinkles to join me for what was a unique small-town parade experience. We saw a lot of Rotarians and your families along the route, and we received well wishes all along our journey.

Our guest speaker for this Thursday's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be Amber Dewey, President of the Monadnock Beekeeper's Association. Amber will share insights about bees - so critical to our environment - and what Rotarians and their families can do to help bees survive via an embrace of pollinator gardening.

Rudra Aryal has reported in from the Frankfurt and Munich, Germany, Rotary groups, and it sounds like he is truly enjoying his experience. We certainly appreciate him representing the Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary club during his travels.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Rudra Welcomed by Rotary in Frankfurt, Germany

Our very own Rotarian, Rudra Aryal, attending a breakfast meeting of the Frankfurt Rotary Club in Frankfurt, Germany, and shared news about the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, related some of our activities, and exchanged Club flags with their President. Rudra spoke about global climate change and air pollution while addressing the Rotarians.

Presidents' Message (August 15, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

John and I would like to thank Owen Houghton and Steve Miller for an extremely informative overview on Amos Fortune and the upcoming dedication ceremony that will take place on Friday, August 18th.

Thirteen Rotarians turned out on Friday at Noon, along with many town officials and friends, to recognize former Town of Jaffrey Selectman and former Cheshire County Commissioner (and current Rotarian) Peter Davis at the unveiling of signage on the bridge where Hadley Road intersects with the Old Sharon Road. A motion at the March 2023 Jaffrey Town meeting moved that the bridge over the Contoocook River at that intersection was to be named in honor of Peter Davis. As a result, signage at the bridge now says "Dedicated to Peter B. Davis." Congratulations, Peter!

A reminder that this Thursday's meeting at 7:15am will be a Club Assembly, and we will be back in the cafeteria at Franklin Pierce University. John and I will be discussing 2023/2024 service project options and opportunities.

Saturday will be the big Jaffrey 250th Anniversary Parade, and the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be in it. Staging will occur at 9:30am at the Middle School parking lot, and the parade will kick off at 10:00am, winding up at St. Patrick's Church. Donna Senechal is donating her convertible. Please join us as marchers in the parade from 10am to 12 noon. Rotarians, spouses, significant others, and Interactors are all invited to participate. Next celebration will be in 2073, so don't miss THIS one!

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Photographs from our August 10th Meeting and Peter Davis Sign Unveiling

August 10th Rotary Meeting...

Dedication of the Peter B. Davis Bridge, Friday, August 11th

Presidents' Message (August 8, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

John and I would like to thank Greg Walsh and Kim Mooney for hosting a reception at their lovely home last Thursday evening. Much fun was had by all, and events such as this allow our Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club to maintain a strong bond with Franklin Pierce University.

Our August 10th meeting this Thursday at 7:15am will be our last for the summer at the Cathedral of the Pines. On August 17th, we will return to the University for a Club Assembly in the newly remodeled meeting room.

Owen Houghton and Steve Miller, two fellow Rotarians and members of the Amos Fortune - New Hampshire Black Heritage Trail Committee, will talk to us about their efforts to place a marker in Jaffrey and the upcoming dedication ceremony that will take place on Friday, August 18th.

Please circle Saturday, August 19th, on your calendar. This is the big Jaffrey 250th Anniversary Parade, and the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be in it. Donna Senechal is donating her convertible. Please join us as marchers in the parade from 10am to 12 noon. Rotarians, spouses, significant others, and Interactors are all invited to participate.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (August 1, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Just a reminder that there is no morning meeting this Thursday. Instead, we will be attending a reception hosted by Kim Mooney and Greg Walsh at the Pearly House on the Franklin Pierce University campus, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The location is 9 University Drive (first house on your left when entering University Drive from Rt 119). All Rotarians and their spouses/significant others are invited to attend this event.

Our August 10th meeting will be our last at the Cathedral of the Pines for the summer. On August 17th, we will be back at the University for a Club Assembly in the newly remodeled meeting room.

John and I have been discussing how we can help the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary identify projects that will motivate our membership, give us a sense of mission, and provide for a level of commitment and energy appropriate for a Rotary Club of our size and demographic. We plan to use a portion of the August 17 Club Assembly meeting to begin this discussion so that we can identify the right projects for our club and then start to tie names to the projects.

Circle Saturday, August 19th, on your calendar. This is the big Jaffrey 250th Anniversary Parade, and the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be in it! Donna Senechal is donating her convertible. Please join us as marchers in the parade from 10am to 12 Noon. Rotarians, spouses, significant others, and Interactors are all invited to participate.

We look forward to seeing all of you Thursday evening.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (July 25, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We hosted a pancake breakfast at our last meeting, and everyone seemed to enjoy the hot pancakes and local maple syrup. A big thanks to Don Upton for supplying some of his golden nectar, as well as Greg Walsh.

A big thanks, too, to Tom Frazier who was generous enough to purchase all of the Shelter of the Storm "Taste of Monadnock" tickets during last week’s meeting.

Our next meeting will this Thursday, July 27th, at 7:15am, at the Cathedral of the Pines. We will have the pleasure of having Allison Deutsch, Director of Production for the Peterborough Players, join us for what I am sure will be an interesting overview, as she provides a "you are there" perspective of what it takes to put on a show (and what the audience never sees), as well as an update of all things that make the "Peterborough Players."

Please remember we will need Rotarians for the annual Fair at the First Church of Jaffrey to help with parking on Wednesday, August 2nd, at 11:00am. See Owen Houghton for details.

Circle Saturday, August 19th, on your calendar. This is the big Jaffrey 250th Anniversary Parade, and the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be in it! Donna Senechal is donating her convertible. Owen has reached out to Joe Manning to see if he will be available to ride in our parade car. Please join us to march in the parade from 10am to 12 Noon. Rotarians, spouses, significant others, and Interactors are all invited to participate.

A reminder that Greg Walsh and FPU President Kim Mooney will be hosting an evening reception on August 3rd from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at their home (Pearly House) at 9 University Drive in Rindge. This is a very generous offer, and all Rotarians/spouses/significant others are invited.

Look forward to seeing all of you on Thursday.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (July 18, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our meeting this Thursday, July 20th, will be a Club Assembly at the Cathedral of the Pines, but it will be a bit unique in that Bob Schaumann and I, with the help of some of our fellow Rotarians, will be serving a blueberry pancake breakfast.

We will have several potential members joining us for this meeting, and I look forward to sharing good times with all.

Breakfast will start at 7:15am or whenever Bob and I get through burning the pancakes.

Your Board of Directors will be meeting this Wednesday, and we look forward to sharing with on Thursday morning some of the Board's initial observations and objectives.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (July 11, 2023).

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Hope you are all well and attempting to stay dry. Our first big project for this year may well be the design of a very big boat and locating pairs of animals.

There will be no morning meeting this week because members of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be attending a Peterborough Players event that same evening.

An all-member social will start at 5:30pm, followed by a show ("Maytag Virgin") for those who purchased tickets. Please plan to bring snack foods to the social and it will be BYOB. Should it rain, we will host the social inside the "Rehearsal Barn" next to the Playhouse, beginning at 6:00pm.

Saturday finds Rotarians helping with parking at the Firemen's Muster that will be hosted at Humiston Field. The "Jaffrey 250th Anniversary Team" really appreciates our help. Although several Rotarians have volunteered to assist with parking at 10:00am, Owen Houghton can use more help; please let Owen know of your availability.

The following week's meeting on Thursday, July 20th, will be at the Cathedral of the Pines. Bob Schaumann and I are planning to make pancakes, so breakfast will be served! If you have a griddle and would like to help us, please text me (Bill) at (860) 895-7596.

Bob will be bringing two new potential members that morning (Sean Driscoll, son of the late Bill Driscoll, and Cassandra Leach), so if any of you would be kind enough to volunteer to welcome them while Bob is busy cooking, that would be very helpful.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Presidents' Message (July 4, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Happy Fourth of July ! ! !

There will not be a meeting this week of the Rotary Club in observance of the Fourth of July. Please enjoy the various ongoing town-related activities and stay safe (and dry!).

I would like to thank all who attended our annual Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Gavel meeting at the Jaffrey Civic Center. Much fun was had by all, and the catering by Stephanie was very well done and much appreciated.

John and I are excited to move forward in our new roles, and with a little hard work and luck, we will be able to make the upcoming 12 months as interesting and productive as Peter did over the past year.

Our next meeting WAS scheduled for July 13th at 7:15am at the Cathedral of the Pines. We will NOT be meeting in the morning, however, as we have the Peterborough Players scheduled for later that evening, with our Rotary Club social beginning at 5:30pm. If you still have not ordered tickets for the "Maytag Virgin," please contact Don Upton.

Please note our Rotary Club will be hosting a young man from Germany this school year, beginning in late August. Please help us find a first host family by reaching out to your networks and helping to spread the word. Contact Sam LaFortune or John McCarthy for more information.

Please feel free to reach out to both of us with any suggestions, recommendations, or outstanding issues.

Yours in Service,

Bill/John

Pictures from Gavel Night, June 30th

President's Message (June 27, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

The weather forecast is not looking good for Thursday, and my field is too wet to mow for parking. So, our Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club Gavel Night celebration will be held in the auditorium at the Jaffrey Civic Center this Thursday, June 29th, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. It is a BYOB event that includes scrumptious hors d'oeuvres by Stephanie Porter, so no need for Rotarians to bring additional goodies. There will be ice, plastic cups, napkins, etc.

Looking forward to seeing Rotarians, partners, and spouses to welcome Bill Coleman and John McCarthy as our new co-presidents for 2023-2024.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (June 20, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians.

Our meeting this week of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, June 22nd, at the Cathedral of the Pines, at 7:15 AM. This week will be my last regular meeting at which I will preside before Gavel Night (June 29th).

Owen Houghton will introduce our guest speaker, Reverend Chris Owens, who has been visiting Rotary Clubs to initiate discussion on our common values in American life today. His weekly podcast goes deep and sheds light on the binary that impacts our humanity. Rotarians will be inspired by the ideas he will examine.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the parking at the Jaffrey 250th Veterans celebrations on Saturday.

Only a few remaining tickets for the July 13th Peterborough Players Rotary social and the "Maytag Virgin" play. Contact Rotarian Dave Upton if you have yet to obtain your tickets! This is one Rotary social you won't want to miss!

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (June 13, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our next meeting on June 15th will be at the Cathedral of the Pines at 7:15am.

David Blair of Project Home will be our guest speaker at Thursday's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. Project Home is a volunteer organization in the Monadnock Region that hosts asylum seekers and supports them in their medical care, education, training, and the preparation of their asylum cases. It will be an interesting talk.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors will meet Wednesday, June 14th, at 8:00am, at the Jaffrey Chamber Office.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (June 6, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We have a June 8th Meeting this Thursday and a June 10th Social!

This week we are doing something different. Our meeting on Thursday, June 8th, will be held at the Teleflex plant in the Jaffrey Industrial park at 7:15 am. We'll learn about the Teleflex operation and get a tour of their facility.

We'll meet in the building to the right of the main driveway as you enter the Teleflex complex from Plantation Drive. No breakfast, but coffee and donuts will be served.

Then, on Saturday, June 10th, come to the Park Theater for a concert by Matt Nakoa, who is Tom Rush's award-winning front man. Starting at 6:00pm, have a beer or glass of wine in the lobby and listen to Bernie & Louise's great music before the concert at 7:30pm. We expect a good turnout of Rotarians for this event.

Remember that the Rotary night at the Peterborough Players will take place on Thursday, July 13th, at 5:30pm for cocktails and awesome hors d'oeuvres. The show, "Maytag Virgin," starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are $40 per person. You bring a plate to share and what ever you want to drink. We provide ice, cups, plates, napkins, etc.

This has traditionally been a sold-out Rotarian social. Already 25 tickets have been sold, and you will not want to be disappointed if you delay requesting tickets and they are sold out. Please send your check to: Donald Upton, 1024 Mountain Road, Jaffrey, NH 03452.. Tickets are limited.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (May 30, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

There will be no meeting this week of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, as we observe Memorial Day. Thanks to our veterans and active duty service men and women who have preserved our freedom.

Our June 8th meeting will be at Teleflex in Jaffrey. We will meet in their conference room and then have a tour of the facility. Read next week's letter for details on meeting location and parking.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (May 23, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Thanks to the Committee members who did an outstanding job on last week's Golf Event and Auction. Kudos to Rotarians Russell Gaskamp, Jon Frederick, and Andy Lawn, each of who made this a fun event and successful fundraiser! A fine dinner, plenty of camaraderie, lots of laughter, and a good time was had by all. Thanks, too, to Rotarian Greg Walsh, our premier auctioneer!

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be at the Cathedral of the Pines on Thursday, May 25th, at 7:30. No breakfast at the Cathedral, but there will be coffee and donuts.

Our Guest Speaker Thursday morning will be Alan Rumrill, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Cheshire County. His presentation is "A Journey on the Manchester & Keene Railroad.“ Take a journey into the history of the Monadnock region’s most difficult, spectacular, and short-lived rail line. The Manchester & Keene Railroad traversed a 30-mile route from Keene through Roxbury, Marlborough, Harrisville, and Hancock to Greenfield. Learn the story of the region’s most interesting rail line and view the sights and stations along the railroad’s route. Should be quite interesting, as Alan has numerous pictures to share that show railroading in our past.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Donna Senechal Honored with Paul Harris Award

Donna Senechal receives a Paul Harris Award for her generous gift to Rotary International. Making the presentation is Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club President Peter Russell. The presentation occurred at the beginning of the Golf Outing Dinner. Congratulations, Donna!

Photographs from the Golf Outing at the Shattuck...

Note: we could not include all the picture of those who teed off at the First Hole due to memory capacity limitations of ClubRunner bulletins.

President's Message (May 16, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

Our annual Golf Event and Auction is Wednesday, May 17th, at the Shattuck, followed by a dinner and live auction. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our annual fun fund raiser. Because of this event, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will not meet on Thursday morning.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, May 25th, at 7:30am, at the Cathedral of the Pines.

See you Wednesday!

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our May 11th Meeting...

Adrienne Kennedy, Interactor of the Month

President Peter Russell congratulates Conant High School senior Adrienne Kennedy on her selection as "Interactor of the Month." Adrienne, who graduates in June and who will matriculate at UNH in the Fall, was recognized as one who exemplifies "Service Above Self" via her involvement in a dozen of Interact programs during her senior year. Adrienne later this morning participated with three of her fellow Interactors when she presented details about the group's service project visit to the Dominican Republic. Congratulations, Adrienne!

Brandon Tarrats, Student of the Month

Sam LaFortune (L) presents Conant High School student Brandon Tarrats (C) with the Student of the Month award for the month of April. Brandon was recognized for his progress over the past few years as a student and as a person. It was only a few weeks earlier than Brandon's younger brother, Bryce (R), received a similar recognition from the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club as their Student of the Month for the month of March. Congratulations, Brandon!

Interactors Laurel Bennet and Kelly Williams Share Their Dominican Republic Experiences

Eight Conant Interactors - four seniors and four juniors - traveled to the Dominican Republic over their Spring break for a service project. All four seniors came to the Rotary to share their experiences in this Caribbean country. Laurel Bennett (L) and Kelly Williams (R) found the island to be beautiful, but with a real dichotomy insofar as demographics, noting the affluency and poverty. Upon graduation in June, Laurel will attend Plymouth State College and Kelly will attend UNH in Durham. All four senior Interact members are heavily involved in sports, with each participating in various sports, e.g., basketball, volleyball, swimming, volleyball, tennis, and track.

Emma Tenters, Interactor

Emma Tenters and Adrienne Kennedy (not pictured) also presented and shared their experience. Emma, who was a star basketball player for Conant, will attend Emmanuel College in Boston in the Fall. No surprise -- she will be on their basketball team!

Steve Miller is NOW "officially" a Rotarian

Russ Gaskamp presents Steve Miller with his badge. Now that he is in possession of his name badge, Steve is now "officially" a Rotarian.

Jon Frederick Gives a Thumb's Up!

Can't remember what it was for, but Jon Frederick gave a "thumb's up" to something that a Rotarian said. As Jaffrey Town Manager, he looks forward to several months of "no snow," given the challenges of the 30+ inches of white stuff that mid-March provided in one of the heaviest snowfalls seen in the Monadnock region in years. Perhaps a "thumb's up" for warm weather?

Gas Reports on the Golf Outing

With the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club's upcoming Fund Raiser at the Shattuck on Wednesday, May 17th, Russ Gaskamp brought everyone up to date on that day's activities. With a full field of golfers for the fun event, complemented by a dinner and a live auction, it promises to be a great event. Rotarians are reminded to let Gas know that they want tickets to the dinner! It's not too late!

President's Message (May 9, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

This week we'll have our last meeting of the spring at Franklin Pierce University. Join us Thursday at 7:15am for the Interactors' presentations on their recent trip to the Dominican Republic. The Club will also recognize the Interactor of the Month and Student of the Month.

Remember the Golf Event at the Shattuck on May 17th. The committee is still looking for a few good quality auction items.

Starting May 25th, we will be meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines, as Franklin Pierce University's classes will have finished their Spring Term.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our May 4th Meeting...

Reverend Jessica Johansson, Guest Speaker

The subject of end-of-life and what occurs can be very fascinating. Reverend Jessica Johansson, an ordained interfaith minister, shared insights on end-of-life care and stories of her personal experiences assisting others as they ended their life's journey on this earth.

"Reverend" Owen Houghton Invocates

Yes, invocates is a word! The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club is blessed to have three Rotarians who provide thoughtful invocations that begin our weekly meetings. This past Thursday, Rotarian "Reverend" Owen Houghton leads us off with a thoughtful invocation. The previous two weeks saw two Rotarians - Steve Miller and Kathleene Card, both ordained ministers - provide inspiring messages when they invocated.

Mike Perrault, Our Newest Rotarian

TOP: President Peter Russell (L) inducts our newest Rotarian, Mike Perrault (C). Standing next to Mike is Bob Schaumann, Mike's Rotary sponsor. Mike is an active duty United States Marine Corps Sergeant Major who is stationed at Fort Devens. Mike and his wife, Kelly, moved to Rindge not too long ago. Welcome aboard, Mike!

MIDDLE: Following his induction, as is our Club custom, each Rotarian congratulated Mike.

BOTTOM: Mike quickly gets into the swing of things as he contributes to Happy Fines, as Sam LaFortune and Reverends Jessica Johansson and Kathleene Card look on with approval.

Happy Fines' Stories

For only a few dollars, Rotarians can tell their recent story, as Rotarians share tales about themselves, their kids, or recognize others. Some good-natured ribbing goes along with Happy Fines. TOP TO BOTTOM: Bill Raymond, David Jeffries, Richard Pedott, and Sheila Bergeron share their "latest and greatest."

President's Message (May 2, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Our Thursday, May 4th, meeting will be at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am. Mike Perreault will become our newest Rotarian, and Reverend Jessica Johansson will be our guest speaker. As an ordained interfaith minister, she will speak on end-of-life care and assisting in the dying process.

Wednesday, May 17th, will be the JRR Golf Gala & Dinner at the Shattuck. Get tickets at this week's meeting. Because of this Wednesday event, we will not have a breakfast meeting on Thursday, May 18th. Be sure not to miss out on the Golf Gala!

Looking ahead, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary hosts a summer social event at the Peterborough Players. The tickets quickly sell out, and it is recommended you circle your calendar for this event that will take place on Thursday evening, July 13th, at 5:30pm. Yes, cocktails and awesome hors d’oeuvres!

The show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets to see the "Maytag Virgin" are $40 per person. Everyone brings a plate to share and whatever you want to drink. We provide ice, cups, plates, napkins, etc. Please send checks to: Donald Upton, 1024 Mountain Road, Jaffrey, NH 03452. Do this NOW, as tickets are limited.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our April 27th Meeting...

Matt Keenan, Monadnock Habitat for Humanity

President of Monadnock Habitat for Humanity, Matt Keenan was our Guest Speaker, and he shared insights relative to what his organization has done, is doing, and hopes to do in the future. Matt is also chair of their Building Committee.

Mike Shea Introduces Matt Keenan

Past Rotary President Mike Shea introduced Matt Keenan, who serves as President of Monadnock Habitat for Humanity. Matt is also an employee of Belletetes. You weren't seeing double -- Matt wore his Belletetes' company shirt when he arrived for our Breakfast Meeting, but for his presentation, he quickly slipped his Habitat for Humanity shirt over his Belletetes' shirt when no one was looking.

In April, Snowbirds Return to New Hampshire

Looking rested and well-tanned, we welcomed back Rotary President Peter Russell with some good natured-ribbing. Rotarian Jim Banghart also returned, sporting a tan. Welcome back, Peter and Jim!

Getchyer' Winning Tickets Here....!

Tom Frazier mans the ticket table where hopeful Rotarians plunk down $2.00 with the hope of winning the weekly 50-50 drawing. Tom has been a great help with morning set-up and, especially, the return of Rotary items to our storage closet at the end of each meeting. Thank you, Tom!!

"Ah'm gonna' Win THIS Time...."

Owen Houghton and Steve Miller, both with 50-50 tickets in hand, hope that Lady Luck will visit them. However, it was David Jeffries who gained Lady Luck's favor, as he won last week's "massive" sum and promptly donated it back to the Club. The Queen of Diamonds has so far managed to elude Rotarians hoping to hit the jackpot!

How c-c-c-c-cold Was It?

Jeff Dickler welcomed Peter Russell back to the somewhat warm climes of New Hampshire. We're not quite sure what Jeff was saying, but we're sure that Jeff was "sympathizing" with Peter that temps in Florida "dipped" into the fifties while Peter was down south. Peter missed the snowfall of six weeks ago when the Monadnock region received three feet of the white stuff. Such a shame...

Rudra Contributes to Happy Fines

Rudra Aryal (L) shares his Happy Fines stories while Tom Frazier (C) and Richard Feldman listen in. Monies raised via Happy Fines make up a major part of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club's annual donations to the Food Pantries in both Jaffrey and Rindge.

President's Message (April 25, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

I'm excited about being back in town for our Thursday, April 27th, meeting at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am.

We had a successful Roadside Cleanup on Saturday, headed by Mike Shea. Six teams of Rotarians and spouses/significant others cleaned up Rt. 202. Fortunately, the rains held off. No word yet on who found the most empty nip bottles of Fireball!

Mike Shea has arranged for Matt Keenan, President of Monadnock Habitat for Humanity and chair of its building Committee, to speak to us on Thursday.

I look forward to seeing everyone and congratulating our new members.

Yours in Service,

Peter

The "Fleeting Fotographer's" pictures from our April 20th Meeting

Bryce Tarrats, April Student of the Month

TOP: The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club recognized Middle School Eighth Grader Bryce Tarrats as one who "is a friend to many, one with natural leadership skills, and who has demonstrated resiliency and perseverance." In making the presentation, Rotarian SToM Chairperson Sam LaFortune presented Bryce with a certificate and a Gift Card to the Toadstool Bookstore. BOTTOM: Bryce's Middle School teacher for the past three years, Gretchen Booth, spoke highly of her student, while Bryce's family (R) looks on.

Lori Rautiola Inducted as our Newest Rotarian

Smiling broadly, Lori Rautiola, Rindge Town Administrator, was congratulated by two dozen Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians following her induction as our newest Rotarian. Jon Frederick is Lori's sponsor. Congratulations, Lori, and welcome to Rotary!

Rebecca Frederickson, Jaffrey Civic Center

Rebecca "Becca" Fredrickson, Executive Director of the Jaffrey Civic Center, addressed the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club last week as our Guest Speaker, sharing the history of the Civic Center, now over 55 years old. Becca shared the broad range of activities at the Center, and she also focused on the Civic Center's future directions.

Sing We Must....and Rotarians do it well!

Rotarians sing "America, The Beautiful" at the beginning of each meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary. We miss Bill Raymond's harmony, but Owen Houghton picked up the slack!

President's Message (April 25, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

I'm excited about being back in town for our Thursday, April 27th, meeting at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am.

Mike Shea has arranged for Matt Keenan, President of Monadnock Habitat for Humanity and chair of its building Committee, to speak to us on Thursday.

I look forward to seeing everyone and congratulating our new members.

Yours in Service,

Peter

The "Fleeting Fotographer's" pictures from our April 20th Meeting

Bryce Tarrats, April Student of the Month

Lori Rautiola Inducted as our Newest Rotarian

Rebecca Frederickson, Jaffrey Civic Center

Sing We Must....and Rotarians do it well!

Rotarians sing "America, The Beautiful" at the beginning of each meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary. We miss Bill Raymond's harmony, but Owen Houghton picked up the slack!

President's Message (April 11, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter or Passover!

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will not meet this week. Our next weekly meeting will be at 7:15am on Thursday, April 20th, at Franklin Pierce University. We will have an interesting guest speaker. In the meantime, enjoy the week off and take advantage of the warmer weather that has arrived.

The Board of Directors will meet via ZOOM on Wednesday, April 12th, at 8:00am. A separate email to the Board with a ZOOM URL will come from Bob Schaumann today.

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures (below) from the recent social gathering and last week's breakfast meeting.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures taken at our April 6th meeting

Travis Brent, FPU Soccer Coach - Our Guest Speaker

Travis Brent, FPU's new men’s soccer coach, spoke about the soccer program. After listening to Travis address the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, we were amazed at the depth of the program, the focus on the players and the team, and all that goes into preparing for each game. Wishing you a successful season, Coach!

Happy Fines always produce fun comments and the usual friendly banter

Pictures from the recent social hosted by David Jeffries

President's Message (April 4, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

Thanks to David Jeffries for hosting last Thursday's social gathering. A good time was had by all!

This week on Thursday, April 6th, we are back at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am. Ben Wheeler will be running the meeting.

Russell Gaskamp will introduce Travis Brent, FPU's new men’s soccer coach, as our guest speaker. Travis is taking over a national championship program, and we will hear about his vision for the future of the Raven's soccer program.

Snowbirds can still join in on ZOOM, which will begin at 7:30am. No passcode required: https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/98447274475

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (March 28, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

There will be no morning meeting this week at Franklin Pierce University. David Jeffries has invited us for a social evening at his house at 617 Mountain Road (Rt 124) on this Thursday, March 30th, from 5:30PM to 7:00PM. Spouses and Significant Others are invited. Be advised David's house is several miles north on Rt 124 beyond downtown Jaffrey. Look for his mailbox and driveway on the left side as you travel towards Marlborough.

David will supply beer and wine. BYOB if you desire something else. Please bring a tasty hors d'oeuvre to share.

This will be a good time to get to know our newer Rotarians and potential Rotarians, as well as enjoy a great view.

Yours in service,

Peter

Photographs from our March 23rd Meeting

Rotary Honors Riley Derosier as "Student of the Month"

Principal Susan Shaw-Sarles shares stories about the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary "Student of the Month," Riley Derosier, a 5th Grade student at the Jaffrey Grade School. Riley, with a smile as big as the sky, was recognized for her sunny disposition, ready willingness to demonstrate kindness and compassion to others, demonstrated positive attitude, and generous spirit. Rotarian Sam LaFortune presented Riley with a Certificate of Recognition, as well as a Toadstool gift certificate. Behind Susan and Riley are proud parents and grandparents!

Brandon Smith, our Newest Rotarian

Brandon Smith (L) holds his Certificate of Membership as the newest Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian. He's flanked by Rotarian Russell Gaskamp, Membership Chair, who had the pleasure of pinning onto Brandon's left lapel his new membership pin. Brandon is the Branch Manager at the Jaffrey TD Bank. Welcome, Brandon!

We Didn't Forget Your Badges, Guys!

Mark Hower and Jeff Dickler, recently inducted as new Rotarians, ham it up for the photographer, as both Rotarians were presented with their name badges by Co-President-elect Bill Coleman.

Project Shakespeare Receives Rotary Contribution

Deborah Thurber, Founder and Artistic Director of Project Shakespeare, shares details about the theater organization's impending trip to the United Kingdom in August. Ten students will perform "Hamlet" at the Thorington Theatre in Suffolk. Included in the entourage's activities will be visits to Stratford-upon-Avon and London to attend performances at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and The Globe Theatre. Charitable Giving Chairperson Gail Therriault presented Deborah with a check to help defray the travel expenses.

Rotarian Tom Bennett Updates Club on FNE Activities in Nicaragua

(TOP) Rotarian Tom Bennett updated the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on the activities of FNE International and how this non-profit organization is using our nearly $20,000 donation to upgrade the facilities, including sanitation and potable water, in several schools in Chacraseca, Nicaragua. The second picture shows several Nicaraguan young adults who are now going to college as a result of FNE's work. If you look closely, you will see Rotarian John McCarthy on the far left, his wife, Paddy, just to the right of center, and Rotarian Tom Bennett on the far right, the result of a recent visit in July 2022. Missing from the picture is Rotarian Jim Guy, Monadnock Rotary Club, who we suspect took the picture.

President's Message (March 28, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

David will supply beer and wine. BYOB if you desire something else. Please bring a tasty hors d'oeuvre to share.

This will be a good time to get to know our newer Rotarians and potential Rotarians, as well as enjoy a great view.

Yours in service,

Peter

Photographs from our March 23rd Meeting

Rotary Honors Riley Derosier as "Student of the Month"

Brandon Smith, our Newest Rotarian

We Didn't Forget Your Badges, Guys!

Mark Hower and Jeff Dickler, recently inducted as new Rotarians, ham it up for the photographer, as both Rotarians were presented with their name badges by Co-President-elect Bill Coleman.

Project Shakespeare's Deborah Thurber Receives Rotary Contribution

Rotarian Tom Bennett Updates Club on FNE Activities in Nicaragua

President's Message (March 21, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

No snow, but a little rain in the forecast for this week's meeting at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, March 23rd, at 7:15am. Bill Coleman will lead our weekly meeting.

After a one-week delay, courtesy of Mother Nature, we will welcome Brandon Smith as our newest Rotarian. Meanwhile, Sam LaFortune will recognize our Student of the Month, and Tom Bennett will update us on the FEI Nicaragua project, one to which we donated money last year.

Snowbirds are welcome to join us via ZOOM at 7:30am. No passcode is required. https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/98447274475

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (March 14, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

Plan on going to the Cathedral of the Pines for this week's meeting on Thursday, March 16th. No breakfast, just coffee and donuts, and the meeting will start at 7:30am. Jed Brummer will lead the meeting, and David Jeffries has lined up Eric Masterson, a renowned ornithologist and expert on global bird migration, who will share some of the local and global migration issues affecting our fine feathered friends.

We will induct our newest Rotarian, Brandon Smith, who has been to at least four of our meetings. Bob Schaumann is his sponsor.

The Zoom link below will be good for attending our meetings through the remainder of snowbird season. No passcode is required, and the ZOOM will start at 7:30am.

https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/98447274475

The voting in both Rindge and Jaffrey today has been postponed until March 28th because of today's Nor'easter. Drive carefully and only if you must, as the weather is not being very cooperative!

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (March 7, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

We meet at Franklin Pierce University for a Club Assembly on Thursday, March 9th, at 7:15am. There will be no guest speaker, but the Board will propose new projects, including sponsorship of a foreign exchange student and various potential Community Service Projects, some of which were discussed two weeks ago during the latter part of the meeting when we broke into groups of two.

Meanwhile, the Board will meet via ZOOM on Wednesday, March 8th, at 8:00am, and the outcomes of that meeting will be shared with those in attendance on Thursday.

Bill Coleman will be leading this week's Club Assembly.

Snowbirds may attend via zoom starting at 7:30am: https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/98447274475

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our Thursday Meeting, March 2nd

Lori Rautiola, Rindge Town Administrator

Lori Rautiola, Town Administrator for the Town of Rindge, spoke to the Rindge warrant that will be voted upon on March 14th at the polls, and urged Rotarians from Rindge to come out and vote. Polls will be open at the Rindge Memorial School from 7am to 7pm.

Rotarian Jon Frederick, Jaffrey Town Manager

Jaffrey Town Manager and Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian Jon Frederick spoke to some of the notable time-saving changes that Jaffrey voters will see when the come to the Town Meeting deliberative session on Saturday, March 18th, at the Pratt Auditorium. Jaffrey voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, March 14th, to elect a variety of municipal and school officials. Polls will be open at Pratt Auditorium from 7am to 7pm.

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club Welcomes Steve Miller

Reverend Steve Miller, Pastor of the First Church of Jaffrey, was inducted by Rotary District 7870 Assistant Governor Bob Schaumann at our Thursday meeting. Posing for a "candid" shot are Steve (L), Membership Chair Russell Gaskamp (C), and Steve's sponsor, Peter Davis. Welcome, Steve!

Prospective Rotarians

Mike Perrault, an active duty Sergeant Major, USMC, stationed at Fort Devens, recently moved into Rindge, and welcome the opportunity to learn more about the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. At the same time, along with being our guest speaker, Lori Rautiola, also expressed interest in Rotary. We look forward to you both coming to our next meeting!

Welcome Back, Sadie Halliday

With two teenaged daughters sacked out and sleeping late because of school vacation, Rotarian Sadie Halliday didn't have to worry about getting the kids off to school this week. Good to see her again!

Andy Card and Steve Miller

Always good to see Andy Card (L) at our Rotary meeting. Seated to his right is Steve Miller, who - five minutes later - was inducted as our newest Rotarian!

Rotarians Listen Intently to our Speakers

President's Message (February 28, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting will be at Franklin Pierce University at our regular time of 7:15am, Thursday, March 2nd. We anticipate the possibility of some "nuisance" snow Thursday morning, but unless the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School district cancels classes for the day because of the weather, we will meet as usual.

Thursday's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club promises to be very informative, as the Club welcomes Lori Rautiola, Rindge Town Administrator, and Rotarian Jon Frederick, Town Manager of Jaffrey, as they host "State of the Towns - What you need to know heading into Town Meeting."

As always, key decisions will be made at the polls/Town Meeting in the respective towns. This will be a grand opportunity to truly "be in the know." For those who require ZOOM access, you may join by accessing this URL: https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/9844727

Bob Schaumann will run the meeting, and he looks forward to inducting Reverend Steve Miller as our newest Rotarian.

Hope you can be there.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (February 28, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

Bob Schaumann will run the meeting, and he looks forward to inducting Reverend Steve Miller as our newest Rotarian.

Hope you can be there.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (February 21, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

No Rotary meeting this week! Our next meeting will be on Thursday, March 2nd, at Franklin Pierce University, at the usual morning hour.

Celebrate Presidents Day! Enjoy the week, be thankful for our freedom, and let's try to learn from our past history - good and bad.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Photographs courtesy of Owen Houghton

Meeting of Thursday, February 16, 2023

New Rotarians: Mark Hower and Jeff Dickler !!

Assistant Governor Bob Schaumann (L) had the pleasure of inducting our newest Rotarians (Left to Right), Mark Hower and Jeff Dickler, at Thursday's weekly meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. Standing to their left side is Jeff's sponsor, John McCarthy, and Mark's sponsor, David Jefferies. Welcome!

Membership Chair to the Rescue!

Rotary Membership Chair Russell Gaskamp (R) affixes new Rotarian pin on the shirt of Mark Hower. Rotarians John McCarthy and David Jefferies smile, as "Gas" successfully places Mark's Rotary pin on his shirt.

Interactor of the Month, Maddy Bellofatto

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club honored Maddy Bellofatto as their Interactor of the Month for February. The certificate read by Bob Schaumann to the assembled Rotarians pointed to Maddy's service to the Conant Interact Club via her membership on the Services Committee. Among her activities, Maddy wrote holiday letters to the elderly this past December; she serves meals at the Keene Community Kitchen, as well as spearheads a blanket-making class at Conant so that Interact can donate to the LINUS project. She has sold bracelets to raise money for the American Red Cross. She's even taken her artistic talents and painted murals for the Conant High School library. Congratulations, Maddy, as our Interactor of the Month! With Maddy is her grandmother, Annia (Second from Right), and Rotarian Sheila Roberge, Rotary Club Advisor to Interact, who presented Maddy with a Gift Certificate to the Toadstool Book Store.

President's Message (February 14, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

This week our regular meeting will be a club assembly at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University, on Thursday, February 16th.

Included on the agenda will be reports from two Interact students, induction of two new Rotarians - Jeff Dickler and Mark Hower - and a vote on our slate of officers and directors for 2023-24. Bob Schaumann will be running the meeting, and there will be Zoom access for those of us who are away. The ZOOM URL will be available at 7:30am (no passcode required): https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/97081708307

Be thinking of ONE key area in which you would like to see Rotary take a leadership role in the communities of Rindge and/or Jaffrey, and in which you have passion and a desire to become personally involved. More to follow...

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures by the Roving Photographer (Meeting on February 9, 2023)

Vanessa Palange, Homeland Security, our Guest Speaker

Vanessa Palange serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator for New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management. In her role with Homeland Security and Emergency Management, she is responsible for working with communities and organizations across New Hampshire to promote emergency preparedness. A good discussion ensued following Vanessa's presentation that COULD very well result in a Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) in both towns.

Mark Hower Fills in the Application

Following last week's meeting, Mark met with Bob Schaumann as part of his orientation to Rotary. During the 40-minute chat, Mark and Bob discovered they both lived in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, at one time. Here, Mark complete his application to become a Rotarian. Along with Mark, Jeff Dickler will also be inducted as a Rotarian at our Thursday meeting this week.

President's Message (February 7, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone made it through the cold spell without any frozen pipes.

Our meeting this week will be in the warm Spagnuolo Hall dining room at Franklin Pierce University. Plan on our regular time of 7:15am on Thursday, February 9th, or on Zoom at 7:45am at https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/94573473324. No passcode required.

Bill Raymond will be running the meeting, and Bob Schaumann will introduce our speaker, Vanessa Page, from the New Hampshire office of Homeland Security in Concord.

Thanks to Greg Walsh for running last week's meeting and Donna Senechal for arranging our speaker, Scott Symond, who shared insights about SMART Ride LLC, a new local ride-share program.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures by our Roving Photographer (Meeting of March 2nd)

Scott Symond, CEO of SMART Ride

Scott Symond, our Guest Speaker, shared insights about his company, SMART Ride LLC, which provides safe, clean and economically sound transportation to the mobility-challenged members of our communities. Since its inception, the company has been quite busy. Scott fielded several questions from Rotarians who wanted to know more about his company and some of the challenges in running such a valuable service.

Donna Senechal and our Guest Speaker, Scott Symond, SMART Ride

A little bit of breakfast before the presentation. Thanks, Donna, for arranging for Scott Symond to come to the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club.

Reverend Steve Miller, Future Rotarian

David "Harold" Davis (L), Reverend Steve Miller (center), and John McCarthy (R) socialize prior to breakfast. Reverend Miller is the pastor of the First Church in Jaffrey, and he is considering becoming a Rotarian.

Jeff Dickler, Future Rotarian

Always smiling, Jeff Dickler will be inducted shortly as our newest Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian!

President's Message (January 31, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

With what appears to be a snow-free week, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, February 2nd, at 7:15am. Greg Walsh will preside in my absence. Donna Senechal has arranged for Scott Symond, our guest speaker, to share insights about a new local ride-share program, Smart Ride.

Thanks again to all Rotarians and the FPU Football team players who helped out at the Food Bank distribution last Monday.

Yours in Service,

Peter

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President's Message (January 24, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Greetings from sunny Florida. Hope everyone is dug out and with power.

This week's meeting is back at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, January 26th, at our regular time of 7:15am.

Tom Bennett will be our speaker; Bill Raymond is going to run the meeting.

Tom will update us on how FNEI's work in Nicaragua is progressing and give us an update and accounting of how

our 2022 Nicaragua donation is being invested. I look forward to joining in on Zoom, which is available to everyone at https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77983347344?pwd=Thr82Bjmmvgnt3pxiRIWbiI11ryeTd.1

[ NOTE: Be advised that the weather forecast for Wednesday going into Thursday morning is dicey, as of this writing, with the possibility of another heavy snowfall. Past practice has been that if the Jaffrey-Rindge Schools are closed, the Rotary meeting is cancelled. Tom Bennett is willing to host his presentation via ZOOM, should schools be cancelled. Thus, IF schools are cancelled, we will meet by ZOOM. BYO(Coffee) and bagels. ]

Speaking about weather, thanks to Kathleene, Gail, Gas, and Donna, who trekked over to Hannaford's in Rindge to join Bob Schaumann on Monday at the Food Bank distribution. A special shout out to Gas and his FPU football players who came out and helped. The weather was... well... cold and snowy!

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (January 17, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

For those at the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration at the Park Theater on Monday, it was a well-organized program that was seen by a packed house. Dr. Aaron Mair, recent past president of the national Sierra Club and the Club's first African American president, was the keynote speaker, and he addressed both the adults and the kids in the audience, as many families were in attendance. Kudos to Rotarian Owen Houghton and Conant Interact President, Ellie Weinmann, and others on the Committee, for a job done well!

In observance of MLK Day, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will not meet this week. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, January 26th, at Franklin Pierce University, at 7:15am. Bill Raymond will preside in my absence.

Bob Schaumann will be at Hannaford's in Rindge for the Food Bank distribution, an event that occurs every 3-4 months. Rotarians have been helpful in the past, and Bob is seeking volunteers this coming Monday, January 23rd, from 11:30am to no later than 1:30pm. Please let Bob know of your willingness to help. Many hands make work light.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (January 10, 2023)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We are back in business after our holiday break!

This week, we meet at the Cathedral of the Pines on Thursday morning, January 12th, at 7:30am. There will be no breakfast, but there will be coffee and Munchkins.

Owen Houghton and members of the Jaffrey-Rindge Martin Luther King Celebration Committee will present plans for the MLK Park Theater program that will occur on January 16th. The keynote speaker that day will be Aaron Mair, recent past president of the national Sierra Club and the Club's first African American president. Mr. Mair is a prominent environmentalist and environmental justice activist. Joining Mr. Mair on January 16th will be several local activists. The Celebration will occur at 5:00pm at the Park Theater.

Hope to see you at the Cathedral on Thursday, as we have Happy Fines and other business to attend to, as well.

Yours in service,

Peter

President's Message (January 3, 2023)

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Happy New Year, Fellow Rotarians!

Just a reminder: No meeting this week on Thursday, January 5th. Enjoy the Holiday season.

See you on January 12th at the Cathedral of the Pines, which will be our first meeting of the New Year.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (December 20, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

The holiday season is upon us. This Thursday, December 22nd, we will meet at the Cathedral of the Pines at 7:30am. No breakfast, but we'll have coffee and donut holes from Dunkin' Donuts. It's our last meeting of 2022.

Come join us for a "morning social." No speaker, but we'll enjoy the company and pay happy fines for our favorite 2022 memories. Then its a two-week break for the holidays. We will not meet again until January 12th.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures by our Roving Photographer (December 15th Meeting)

Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School Chorus

Annual Christmas Songfest at Rotary

Treasurer Bill Raymond Presides

"Reverend" Owen Leads Us Off

With our Morning Invocation

Breakfast and Fellowship

Autumn in New Hampshire:

17" of Snow on Friday! (Jaffrey Airport)

President's Message (December 13, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

Many thanks to Past President Sheila Bergeron for running last week's meeting. This week, Bill Raymond is going to stand in for me.

The Conant High School Chorus is scheduled to give us their annual holiday concert. We'll meet at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, December 15th, at 7:15am. We will return to Franklin Pierce in late January as the University will be closed for the winter break until the Spring 2023 term begins in January.

I'm planning to be back on duty on December 22nd for our morning social at the Cathedral of the Pines, which will be our last meeting of 2022. We then break for the holidays until January.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from the Roving Photographer (Meeting on December 8th)

Eliana Ludlam, Student of the Month

Eliana Ludlam, a Fifth Grader at the Rindge Memorial School, can't be missed. Her perpetual smile, as mentioned by her teacher, lights up the room. That's mom to Eliana's right, along with two brothers. Recognized for her cheerful demeanor and her willingness to help others, the family gathered around Eliana as she was presented with a Rotary Cerficate and a gift card to the Toadstool Book Store in recognition of her accomplishments.

Franklin Pierce University NCAA Division II National Soccer Champions !

The Franklin Pierce University Men's Soccer Team won the NCAA Division II National Soccer Championship in Seattle in early December. The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club was honored to have representatives from the team come to our meeting. This was the team's second National Championship in fifteen years.

Jeff Dickler, Rotarian Candidate

Jeff Dickler has attended two Rotary meetings since being introduced to the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club by his sponsor, John McCarthy. Welcome, Jeff!

Pictures Taken At Large

President's Message (December 6, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Past President Sheila Bergeron will be running this week's meeting, and Stephanie Thompson will be introducing our guest speaker, Mandy Sliver.

Mandy is President of the Peterborough Sunshine Fund, which provides humanitarian support to individuals and families in need in Peterborough and surrounding communities. Mandy will share how the Sunshine Fund came to be, as well as some of the work that it has accomplished.

Our meeting will be at the regular time and place, Franklin Pierce University, at 7:15am, on Thursday, December 8th, in the University dining hall.

Hope everyone is getting in the holiday spirit!

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our December 1st meeting

Past President Ben Wheeler Recognizes our Interactor of the Month

Past President Ben Wheeler (L) reads the citation presented to Ashlyn Askey, Interactor of the Month. Pictured next to Ben is Ashlyn (C) and one understandably pround mother, Rebecca Anne Askey. In recognizing Ashlyn, her citation read, "On recogntition of the recommendations of many, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club wishers to publicly recognize, honor, and commend Ashlyn Askey as Interactor of the Month for exemplary service to others." Ashlyn is not only a member of the Board of Directors of the Conant Interact Club, she is involved in many of the Interact projects.

Interactor of the Month -- Ashlyn Askey

Ashlyn is a 10th grader at Conant High School and resides in Rindge. Following her recongition by the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, Ashlyn shared a few personal thoughts.

Ben Wheeler, President Peter Russell, Mom, and Ashlyn

It wouldn't be a recognition of our Interactor of the Month without a group picture, would it?

What's THAT on Ben Wheeler's Face?

Rumor has it that Ben Wheeler has grown a mustache!

President's Message (November 29, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving and a week's break from Rotary.

It's Interact Week, and - this week - we welcome Conant Interact for presentations about their club projects and activities. Our breakfast meeting is at the regular time and place at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am on Thursday, December 1.

It's always interesting to hear from some of the most talented kids in the area. Hope you can make it.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (November 22, 2022)

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club Raffle Drawing

Here are the winners of the Annual Raffle whose names were drawn:

$1,500 -- Kay Golden

$1,000 -- Dr. Zane Broome

$ 500 -- Greg Walsh

$ 250 -- Sheila Bergeron

$ 250 -- Colin Murdough

Thank you to ALL who purchased raffle tickets, the monies of which will be given to non-profit groups and causes in the towns of Rindge and Jaffrey.

President's Message

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I hope everyone enjoys the day and a week off from Rotary.

As it is Thanksgiving Week, there will be no breakfast meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club this Thursday. Enjoy Thanksgiving!

The raffle turned out to be a big success - we sold $8055 of tickets and netted $4555. Thanks for making it happen!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Peter

Random pictures taken at Thursday's Social/Raffle Drawing

Under the Watchful Eye of Rotary's Peter Davis, Rotary Raffle Co-Chair Jon Frederick Places Raffle Tickets into the Drum prior to the Drawing

Jaffrey Recognizes Veterans

Three of our club's veterans that participated in the Jaffrey Veteran's Day events are pictured below.

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club Raffle Drawing

Profuse apologies -- we had technical difficulties that prevented our hosting a live ZOOM this evening, Thursday, November 17th, at 6:00pm.

However, here are the winners whose names were drawn:

$1,500 -- Kay Golden

$1,000 -- Dr. Zane Broome

$ 500 -- Greg Walsh

$ 250 -- Sheila Bergeron

$ 250 -- Colin Murdough

Winners wil receive notifaction and their checks VERY shortly.

Thank you to ALL who purchased raffle tickets, the monies of which

will be given to non-profit groups and causes in the towns of Rindge and Jaffrey.

President's Message (November 15, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

There will be NO morning meeting this Thursday, November 17th. Instead, we are having a Rotary social event on Thursday at the Cathedral of the Pines from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. It's a BYOB, and be sure to bring an appetizer to share. We'll draw the winning raffle tickets at 6:00pm. Should be fun, so I hope you will join us.

Please finish selling your raffle tickets, and if you need extra tickets, get them from Jon Frederick at the Jaffrey Town Office. We all need to make an extra effort in the last few days to make the raffle a success. Thanks to Bill Raymond, Bob Schaumann, Tom Frazier, Gail Therriault, John McCarthy, and Bill Coleman for selling $730 of tickets at Walmart on Saturday (Editor's note: our President also sold tickets there, too). An "attaboy" to Bob Schaumann for coordinating with Walmart and organizing the event.

Enjoy this incredible November weather.

Yours in service,

Peter

President's Message (November 8, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

There will be no weekly meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club this week, as Friday is Veterans Day.

Please make an extra effort to SELL RAFFLE TICKETS. Everyone needs to do their share, as our goal is for each member to sell at least $300 worth of tickets. This will be a big success, but only if everyone makes an effort to sell their tickets.

The raffle drawing will be held at our evening social at the Cathedral of the Pines from 5:00-7:00pm on Thursday, November 17th. It will be a BYOB event; all Rotarians are asked to bring an appetizer to share. We will draw the winning tickets at 6:00pm.

See you on November 17th, and thanks for selling those raffle tickets!

Yours in Service,

Peter

Photographs from our meeting on Thursday, November 2nd

Matt Webber, Our Newest Rotarian

President Peter Russell inducts our newest Rotarian, Matt Webber (R). Standing next to Matt is Thomas Frazier, Matt's sponsor, who is also one of our newer Rotarians. Matt hails from New Zealand, and we welcome him aboard!

Kusum Aryal Addresses the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary

TOP: Kusum Aryal, daughter of Rotarian Rudra Aryal, spoke before the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club to share insight about the application, i.e., an app, that she is developing that will help an individual to coordinate, consolidate, and manage all of their online meetings and activities. Kusum, a freshman majoring in Health Sciences at Franklin Pierce University, is a most effective and enthusiastic public speaker!

BOTTOM: Daddy and daughter together. Rudra is an Associate Professor of Physics at FPU and, as you can tell, is only "slightly proud" of his daughter who, by the way, is considering becoming a Rotarian,

Enjoying a Laugh!

We're not sure what was said, but while all were standing for Matt Webber's induction as our newest Rotarian, Bill Raymond must have said something that got a great reaction from Sam LaFortune. Lots of Rotarians were present for our first meeting in November, and attendance has been on the upswing. A good reason for smiles!

Random Photos At Our Meeting

President's message Nov 1

Rotarians,

I hope everyone was prepared for Halloween last night and ready for the time change coming up on Sunday. This week we will have a club assembly on Thursday Nov 3 at 7:15 AM at Franklin Pierce University. Please bring your sold raffle ticket money and stubs and pickup extra tickets for a last two week sales push. We need everyone's help in selling tickets.

On Thursday Franklin Pierce student, Kusum Aryal, will join us for a quick overview of the ACTIVATE project she is working on. She is hoping to develop a multipupose app that combines task and fitness info, etc. She mentioned wanting to ultimately steer revenues to Nepal for mental health projects. Kusum is looking for guidance for her project and exploring ways to raise money for development costs. I made no promises but I'm sure there are members in our our club with good ideas and advice for Kusum. It will be interesting to hear about her project.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Transcript Article

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript - 10/20/2022

Thursday, October 20, 2022 | MONADNOCK LEDGER-TRANSCRIPT 3

Rotary International program changes lives

Club members and students work on service projects

By OWEN HOUGHTON

For the Ledger-Transcript

The Rotary clubs of the Monadnock region have long held the belief that cross-cultural learning and studying abroad can be transformative, both for young people and club members as well as the recipients of service in other countries.

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club has been fortunate to develop a strong relationship with FNE International, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization and public charity that promotes education and sustainable development projects worldwide. FNEI works to identify needs, facilitate collaborations, network with local and international organizations and empower individuals to participate actively in their communities.

President's Message (October 25, 2022)

Hello, fellow Rotarians,

My thanks to Ben Wheeler for running last week's meeting and to Steve Miller for speaking about indigenous friendships.

This week, we meet at Spagnuolo Hall at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am on Thursday morning, October 27th. Our speaker will be Phil Wyzik of Monadnock Family Services. Conant Interact will be on hand for "Purple Pinkie Day."

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (October 18, 2022)

Hello, Fellow Rotarians,

Hope everyone enjoyed Columbus Day, whether you worked or not. The leaves are really spectacular this time of year, even as the rain starts to knock them off.

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, October 20th, at 7:15am. Past President Ben Wheeler will preside, as I will be away.

Steve Miller, pastor of First Church in Jaffrey, will be our guest speaker. Steve will share his experience with the Lakota of the northern plains in a talk entitled, "Indigenous Friendship." In addition, there will be a "Student of the Month" presentation.

Please bring in your sold raffle tickets and resupply so we can have a successful raffle. Everyone needs to try to sell at least $300 worth. Thank you for for your efforts!

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (October 11, 2022)

Hello, Fellow Rotarians,

Many thanks to Rudra Aryal for a great talk at last week's meeting, and to all who turned out for our October "Roadside Cleanup" under the direction of the inimitable Mike Shea, as well as the "Scarecrows on the Common" on Saturday. A busy week!

NO MEETING this week due to Columbus/Native American day. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, October 20th, at Franklin Pierce University, at 7:15am. Past President Ben Wheeler will host our meeting, as I will be away.

Enjoy the week and the beautiful foliage!

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our October 6th Breakfast Meeting

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Donates to the Jaffrey War Memorial Park

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Charitable Giving Committee Chairperson Gail Therreault presentss the Jaffrey War Memorial's Rick Lambert (center) a donation towards the upkeep of the Jaffrey War Memorial Park. Peter Russell, President, is to the left.

Rick Lambert Addresses the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary

Rick Lambert, Jaffrey War Memorial Park, updates the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on where donated funds go. "100% goes to the upkeep of the Jaffrey War Memorial Park, and we rely 100% on donations that we receive." The War Memorial Park will be physically altered by the State of New Hampshire rotary that will be installed when the project begins in a few years.

Rotarian Rudra Aryal Shares His Journey from Nepal to the United States

It's a long way from Nepal, but Rudra Aryal, Ph.D., and a professor at Franklin Pierce University, spoke of his journey from his native Nepal to the United States. A key word in Rotarian Rudra's vocabulary was the feeling of "serenity" that he felt upon coming to New Hampshire several years ago, and the word is still foremost in his mind in 2022. Rudra became a United States citizen; he's proud to be one of our newer Rotarians. Nice presentation, Rudra!

Rotary Raffle is Coming Up

Rotarian Stephanie distributed Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club 2022 tickets to Rotarians so that they might be sold prior to the November 7th drawing.

Karyn Andreozzi Returns

Our rambling photographer caught Rotarian Karyn Andreozzi at our weekly Rotary meeting. Karyn spend the summer criss-crossing the United States as part of her FPU project, and we are glad to have her back with us!

President's Message (October 4, 2022)

Hello, Fellow Rotarians,

We had a good time at the Park Theater last Thursday. Nancy Belletete gave a behind-the-scenes tour, and we enjoyed Stephanie's great food. It's a nice location for a get-together. Saturday found us on Saturday at the FPU football game, while Andy Lawn hosted Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians at his tailgate tent. Good food, fun, and football!

This week we have three events:

7:15am, Thursday, October 6th - our regular Breakfast Meeting at Franklin Pierce University. Rudra will speak about his personal journey from Nepal to the United States, complete with PowerPoint slides. This will be interesting.

8:00am, Saturday, October 8th. ROADSIDE CLEANUP. We meet at West Rindge Builders on Rt 202 (the usual site). We need as many people as possible. Bring family and friends. Mike Shea is organizing this bi-annual service project and will bring plastic bags and orange vests. PLEASE TRY TO MAKE THIS ONE!

11:00am - 3:00pm, Saturday, October 8th. SCARECROWS ON THE COMMON. Come and help support our Interact club at the hay pit for this fun-filled event.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Photographs from Thursday's Social, Park Theater

President's Message (September 27, 2022)

Hello, Fellow Rotarians,

Two events this week, keeping in mind that we will not have a weekly Breakfast Meeting on Thursday morning, September 29th:

Thursday 9/29, 5:00 - 7:00pm -- Social at the Park Theater. Bring your spouse/partner/friend. There will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres provided by Stephanie Porter. It will be relaxed and fun.

Saturday 10/1, Rotary day at Andy's tent at the FPU football game. Bring your own food and drink. Andy has a grill, and the game starts at 1:00pm, so get there well before the game begins. Go Ravens!

Thanks to Rotarian Sadie Halliday for bringing Eric Graage, our guest speaker, to our Breakfast Meeting this past week. Eric has an interesting challenge ahead building the Development Office at Franklin Pierce University.

Please plan ahead for Saturday October 8th, as we have two events -- Roadside Cleanup at 8:00am and Scarecrows on the Common later on that same morning. Mark your calendars, as "many hands make work light."

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our Breakfast Meeting, September 22nd.

Our speaker for the meeting was Eric Graage, the new Vice President for University Advancement at Franklin Pierce University. He described his job and gave us all a better understanding of charitable giving in the U.S..

Tarah Castiglioni, the new Executive Director of Team Jaffrey, was a guest at the meeting to receive a donation and solicit our help for The Scarecrows on the Common event to be held on October 8th. She was introduced by her predecessor, fellow Rotarian Stephanie Porter.

Our September 22nd Meeting

Our speaker for the meeting was Eric Graage the new Vice President for University Advancement at Franklin Pearce. He described his job and gave us all a better understanding of charitable giving in the US.

Tarah Castiglioni, the new Executive Director of Team Jaffrey was a guest at the meeting to receive a donation and solicit our help for The Scarecrows on the Common event to be held on October 8th. She was introduced by her predecessor in that position, fellow Rotarian Stephanie Porter.

President's Message (September 20, 2022)

Hello, Fellow Rotarians,

Lots of events coming up, so please read beyond the first sentence. (Yes, I'm guilty -- I stop reading after the first line all the time.)

This week, we have Eric Graage, the new Vice President for University Advancement at Franklin Pierce University, speaking at our regular 7:15am Breakfast Meeting at FPU on Thursday, September 22nd. Rotarian Sadie Halliday will introduce him and deliver the invocation.

The following week, we are having an evening social on Thursday, September 29th, at the Park Theater, from 5:00 - 7:00pm. There will be a cash bar, and Stephanie Porter is going to prepare appetizers.

On Saturday, October 1st, Andy Lawn has invited the club to come by his tent at the FPU football game. Bring something to grill, and enjoy the day!

At this week's meeting, we'll seek Rotarians to help out at Team Jaffrey's Scarecrows event on October 8th.

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (September 6, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend, although some much needed rain visited New Hampshire.

There is no meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club this week because of the holiday, so enjoy the beautiful weather once Wednesday arrives.

The Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, September 14th, at 8:00am, at the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce office.

Our next meeting of the Club will be a Breakfast meeting at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, September 15th. Our guest speaker will the Reverend Steve Miller, pastor of the First Church in Jaffrey, who will speak on indigenous friendships.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Photographs Courtesy of Owen Houghton - Meeting of August 31st

Richard Pedott Welcomed as our Newest Rotarian

One of the favorite jobs of being a Rotary Club president is inducting a new member. Peter Russell's first inductee is Richard Pedott, who was inducted at our Thursday Breakfast meeting. You might be asking, "Why is Richard's sponsoring Rotarian who invited Rich to become a Rotarian not standing behind him during his induction?" Simple. Rich was invited by President Peter to consider Rotary. Welcome, Richard!

John McCarthy Shares Nicaragua Update

Rotarian John McCarthy updated the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on the recent visit to Nicaragua that included John, as well as Rotarians Tom Bennett, Jim Banghart, and Jim Guy (Grand Monadnock Rotary Club). The entourage spent several days in the warm weather at meetings, including meetings with FNE.

President's Message (March 7, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

Meanwhile, the Board will meet via ZOOM on Wednesday, March 8th, at 8:00am, and the outcomes of that meeting will be shared with those in attendance on Thursday.

Bill Coleman will be leading this week's Club Assembly.

Snowbirds may attend via zoom starting at 7:30am: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/2258313694?pwd=SnJtbTNtR2h3S3JQTnlENzZKVXdzUT09

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our Thursday Meeting, March 2nd

Lori Rautiola, Ridge Town Administrator

Rotarian Jon Frederick, Jaffrey Town Manager

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club Welcomes Steve Miller

Prospective Rotarians

Welcome Back, Sadie Halliday

Andy Card and Steve Miller

Always good to see Andy Card (L) at our Rotary meeting. Seated to his right is Steve Miller, who - five minutes later - was inducted as our newest Rotarian!

Rotarians Listen Intently to our Speakers

President's Message (August 16, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Last week, Randell Barclay, our District Governor, and joined by his wife, Dianne, addressed our Rotary Club. With the theme this year of "Imagine....," Randell encouraged us to look to the future. Thanks to both of them for making the trip down from Vermont.

This week, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will return to the Franklin Pierce University campus for our Breakfast meeting, which begins at 7:15am, on Thursday, August 18th. It will be good to be back in our regular meeting space. Our guest speaker will be Chief of Police Rachel Malynowski, recently appointed Chief of the Rindge Police Department.

Unfortunately, both Ginnie and I have COVID; thus, I will not preside over our meeting. Jim Banghart, a Past President, will be taking my place, and I'm sure he will do a great job.

Have a great meeting, and I'll see you on August 25th!

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from our Roving Photographer (August 11th Meeting)

Randall Barclay, District Governor, Addresses Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary

With the theme of "Imagine....," DG Randall Barclay addressed the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club at our Thursday meeting. Accompanied by his wife, Dianne, Randall challenged our Club to "Imagine the future." Both Randell and Dianne visited several Rotary Clubs in the Monadnock region during the past week.

Coffee and Dunkin' Munchkins Before the Meeting

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary at the Peterborough Players

Over forty Rotarians, spouses, and significant others, participated in a pre-show soiree between 5:30pm and 7:20pm, before being entertained by "2 Pianos 4 Hands" at the Peterborough Players this past Thursday evening.

President's Message (March 21, 2023)

Hi, Fellow Rotarians,

No snow, but a little rain in the forecast for this week's meeting at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, March 23rd, at 7:15am. Bill Coleman will lead our weekly meeting.

Snowbirds are welcome to join us via ZOOM at 7:30am. No passcode is required. https://franklinpierce-edu.zoom.us/j/98447274475

Yours in Service,

Peter

President's Message (August 2, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We had a great turnout for last week's meeting and the presentation by my daughter, Lily Russell-Hooks, who spoke to the topic of "sustainability."

This week's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will again be at the Cathedral of the Pines on Thursday, August 4th, at 7:30am. Dunkin' coffee and Munchkins will be available.

We are still waiting to hear from Franklin Pierce University and their dining room schedule for our August 11th meeting, one in which we will host Randall Barclay, our District Governor. As soon as our location is firmed up, we will let everyone know.

This week on Wednesday, August 3rd, the annual August Church Fair will be held at the First Church in Jaffrey. As in past years, Rotarians have helped with the parking between 11:30am and about 1:15pm. Let Owen Houghton know that you can help, as about six Rotarians will be needed.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Pictures from Thursday, July 28th, meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines

President's Message (July 26, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Summer is in full swing, and I am very proud that my daughter, Lily, will be speaking to us at our next meeting. We will meet on Thursday, July 28th, at 7:30am, at the Cathedral of the Pines. Dunkin' coffee and Munchkin donuts will be available.

Lily Russell-Hooks just transitioned from leading a Responsible Sourcing Strategy team at Nike to Google, where she is now responsible for implementing Google's company-wide Net Zero Carbon Goal in collaboration with their vendors. Lily will be speaking about supply chain, carbon, and other sustainability "buzzwords," and how two large but very different companies - Nike and Google - are addressing them. It will be interesting.

Hope you can be there.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Peter Russell

prmulch@aol.com

Photographs from our Breakfast Meeting on July 19th at Franklin Pierce University

President Peter Russell's First Meeting!

Following a series of negative tests for Covid, President Peter Russell presided over his first meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. In what may have been a first for the Club, our Breakfast Meeting was held upstairs in the Multi-purpose Room. Twenty Rotarians had a good time, ate well, and learned about the Applied Technology Center later on in the meeting,

Jennifer Kiley, Guest Speaker -- Applied Technology Center

Perhaps one of the best kept "secrets" and one that would benefit by additional exposure to parents and high school students is the Applied Technology Center, headed up by Director Jen Kiley. In her role, she is responsible for Region 14, which includes several high schools in Cheshire County. Rotarians were treated to a video that showed the many different trades and programs that are available to students in the Monadnock region, including Conant and nearby ConVal. A healthy number of Rotarian questions that followed her presentation suggested good interest in Jen's message.

The Missing E" Has Been Located!

This time, the plaque is right, and with two "e's" in Wheeler. Ben proudly displays his plaque given to him on Gavel Night. Not sure what he will do with the original placard that recognized "Benjamin E. Wheler," but the bottom-line message is still the same, i.e., Ben, thanks for your outstanding leadership in 2021-2022.

Our New Happy Fines Collector!

Sam LaFortune wasted no time demonstrating she'll do well in her new role with collecting Happy Fines. She even gave Jed Brummer a run for his money!

Speaking of Happy Fines...

The photographer caught several Rotarians sharing the "latest and greatest" news... and all for the payment of a Happy Fine that cost each a few dollars.

It's Absolutely Official !!

With the arrival of Tom Frazier's badge, he is absolutely and officially a Rotarian! President Peter presented our newest Rotarian with his badge at Thursday's Breakfast Meeting. By the way, Tom's wife, Mary, joined other Rotarians at Bob Schaumann's home on Saturday morning, and was a tremendous contributor to the team of six that discussed the exploration of a Ukrainian resettlement program.

President's Message (July 19, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

I am very sorry to have missed my first meeting. Thanks to Gas for running the meeting on short notice. I heard there was a good discussion about club goals and the exploratory meeting on Ukraine.

Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club is this Thursday, July 21st, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University. Our guest speaker will be Jennifer Kiley, Director of Region 14's Applied Technology Center.

I've been on a Covid roller coaster for the last week. Notified on Wednesday just after the board meeting that I was exposed last Monday. Got a negative test on Thursday evening, then a positive test on Saturday morning. Fortunately, it was a false "positive" because I've had three negative test results from two different manufacturers since first testing "positive." So, I'm happy to be Covid-free.

The upcoming exploratory meeting on Ukraine resettlement and affordable housing will be at Bob and Diane Schaumann's home, 42 Fitch Rd, Jaffrey, this coming Saturday at 8:30AM. Bob promises to have homemade cranberry/blueberry muffins and coffee. His invitation letter will go out later today.

Yours in Service,

Peter

Peter Russell at prmulch@aol.com

President's Message (July 12, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone had a nice Fourth of July weekend!

This week’s meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, July 14th, at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am. This will be a Club Assembly, with reports on community service, efforts to explore a relocation program for Ukrainian families, and club goals for the coming year. Please come and bring your ideas. In addition, Bill Coleman will present the speaker's program for the year, and will share how this will work, with each Rotarian being assigned responsibility for one speaker.

The Board of Directors will meet Wednesday, July 13th, at 8:00am, at the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce building on Main Street.

Our Rotary Breakfast meeting on July 21st at FPU will feature Jennifer Kiley, Director for Applied Technology Center, Region 14, who will share new vo-tech education opportunities in the Monadnock Region.

I’m looking forward to hosting our first meeting of the new Rotary year!

Yours in Service,

Peter

Cars Everywhere -- Rotarians Handled Amos Fortune Forum Parking Duties

You can't see Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians at work, as they were situated all over the Meetinghouse lawn to ensure safe parking for all those who attended the Amos Fortune Forum's first Summer 2022 program. Perfect weather highlighted the informative evening with journalist Carl Bernstein, and Rotarians - in return for volunteering to help out - had front-row seats.

Gavel Night Pictures -- June 30, 2022

Changing of the Guard

President Ben Wheeler, in his closing remarks as outgoing President, thanked everyone for their support during his presidency, while speaking highly of incoming President Peter Russell. Ben wished Peter well, as President (2022-2023) of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club.

"E" for Excellence !

The "E" for Excellence Award is often bestowed on United States Navy ships in recognition for various things done well. The "E" Award to President Ben was in recognition not only for his presidency during a year in which we (hopefully) left the pandemic behind, but also because the award plaque to "Benjamin J. Wheler" was missing that third "e" in Ben's last name. The good news... a new plaque has been order with the correct name of "Benjamin J. Wheeler."

Tom Frazier, Our Newest Rotarian

In one of his last acts as President, Ben Wheeler (center - TOP) inducts Tom Frazier (L) as our newest Rotarian. Russ Gaskamp (R), Membership Chair, holds the Membership plaque. Tom's sponsor is Bob Schaumann, who was behind the camera. In the second picture, Rotarians Owen and Rudra congratulate Tom on his induction.

Shades of Bill Driscoll !??!

It's hard to tell whose slacks are more reminiscent of the late Bill Driscoll, but Joe Manning (R) and President Ben Wheeler certainly bring back memories of a great Rotarian who is very much missed. We'd have to give the nod to Joe on this one!

President's Message (July 5, 2022)

Hi Rotarians,

Before we start a new year of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, a special thanks to Ben Wheeler for a great job last year, as President, and for bringing perfect weather to Gavel Night. It was a good time, and the food was great (Thanks, Stephanie!).

This week we celebrate the Fourth of July, and there is no regular meeting. Our next meeting will be at 7:15am on Thursday, July 14th, at Franklin Pierce University. It will be a Club Assembly, and we will do some planning for the coming year.

The following week (June 21st) will feature Jennifer Kiley, Technology Center Director for Region 14, which includes Conant High School and several other high schools in the Monadnock Region. Jennifer recently spoke to the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club, and Rotarians were literally blown away by what was going on in our own backyard relative to alternatives to college for area high school students. You'll find this program highly informative!

The Board of Directors will meet Wednesday, July 13th, at 8:00am. Tentative location will be the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce office on Main Street. Look for confirmation later this week.

The Amos Fortune Forum is having Carl Bernstein as a speaker this coming Friday, July 8th. They expect a big crowd and have asked if Rotary might help with parking that evening. If you can help, please contact Owen Houghton.

Yours in Service,

Peter

[Editor's Note: A special thank you to President Peter, and Jinnie, for again hosting Gavel Night, as they have for many past years.]

Gavel Night Pictures -- June 30, 2022

Changing of the Guard

"E" for Excellence !

Tom Frazier, Our Newest Rotarian

Shades of Bill Driscoll !??!

We Tried to Get Everyone's Picture

President's Message (June 28, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

Happy Tuesday, and enjoy the beautiful day.

This week we will be hosting our Gavel Night at Peter Russell’s home on 4 Gilson Road in Jaffrey on Thursday evening, June 30th, starting at 5:30pm. This is a BYOB event and will be catered by our own Stephanie Porter. The weather is looking great, and we will be inducting a new Rotarian (Tom Frazier), so it should be a great evening!

Because of Gavel Night, we will not meet at Franklin Pierce University this Thursday, June 30th. As the Fourth of July holiday is next week, our first July meeting will be July 14th at Franklin Pierce University.

Don Upton tells us that more than half of the tickets have been sold for the August 11th Peterborough Players 7:30pm performance of "2 Pianos, 4 Hands." A Happy Hour starts off the evening at 5:30pm. Call Don at (603) 876-3626 to request tickets ($40 each); send him a check (made out to Don) to 1024 Mountain Road, Jaffrey, NH, 03452 to "seal the deal."

This will be my last weekly President's Message. It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve as the Club President the past 12 months, and I am extremely confident that our incoming President, Peter Russell, will do an excellent job.

I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday evening!

Yours in Service,

Ben

Pictures from our July 23rd Meeting at FPU...

Dr. Pierre Morton, Chief Diversity Officer, Guest Speaker

Dr. Pierre Morton, Chief Diversity Officer at Franklin Pierce University, was our guest speaker at our recent Thursday meeting. Incorporating his good sense of humor with insights about his role, a clear message became evident of the importance of creating an ongoing inclusive environment for each student, faculty, and staff member at Franklin Pierce. Thanks, Pierre, for an enjoyable and informative presentation!

Our New Temporary Meeting Place

Because of various summer programs at Franklin Pierce, our usual meeting room is not available to us during July. Instead we will meet, at least for the July 14th and 21st meetings, in the room immediately to the right of the coffee station. "Reverend" Owen Houghton starts us off with our first meeting at our new "home" with an inspirational invocation.

Rindge Diner?

Rindge Diner? Not really, as Rotarians Stephanie, Jon, and Peter catch up on Sheila's latest doings with Interact during breakfast in our temporary meeting room.

President Ben Shares Announcements

With two weeks to go, President Ben Wheeler continues to demonstrate energy and enthusiasm, as he hosts his next to last meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club.

The Last Day of Spring - Summer's Here!

Taken from the deck of the Schaumann residence on the last day of Spring, a nice sunset over Mt. Monadnock set the stage for Summer's entrance the next day. Warmer weather is forecast for the summer, and Gavel Night on Thursday should find great weather on the menu!

President's Message (June 21, 2022)

Good afternoon, Fellow Rotarians,

Happy Tuesday, and I hope all had a great Father’s Day weekend. Thanks to those who attended our meeting last week, where we recognized our Scholarship Winner, Heather Gonyea, and where we heard from Rindge resident, Taylor Ratcliffe, and her presentation about her weekly column in the Monadnock-Ledger Transcript.

We will meet at Franklin Pierce University for our weekly Breakfast Meeting on Thursday, June 23rd, at 7:15am. However, we will be in the lower level of the cafeteria (make a right down the hallway past the coffee station) instead of going to the back room in which we usually find ourselves.

Gavel Night will be at Peter and Jinnie Russell's home in Jaffrey at 4 Gilson Road on Thursday, June 30th, at 5:30pm. After hosting Gavel Night for many years, Peter will become our new President. As one of President Ben's last last duties, he will induct our newest Rotarian, Tom Frazier. As always, a scrumptious feast is planned, catered by our own Stephanie Porter. Bring your spouse or significant other. This is a BYOB event.

Have a great week, and I hope to see you all on Thursday.

Yours in service,

Ben

From the Photographer's camera from our last meeting...

Heather Gonyea, 2022 Scholarship Winner

Heather Gonyea is the recipient of this year's Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club $2500 scholarship. Pictured here with her proud mother, Heather will attend college in the fall and plans to become an actuarial accountant upon graduation and, as she says, "hopefully, in three years." Heather, a member of the Interactors, graduated this month from Conant High School in Jaffrey.

Taylor Ratcliffe, Columnist, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Taylor has been a columnist for the town of Rindge for some time. Her column appears weekly in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. As one who has always had a passion for writing, Taylor commented on her experiences, sharing background on how she comes up with her stories, while - at the same time - entertaining several questions from interested Rotarians.

President's Message (June 14, 2022)

Hello, Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful day! I am looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday morning.

Please see our schedule below.

Thursday, June 16th - 7:45am meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines. This is BYOB (bring your own breakfast; I do intend to pick up some Dunkin Joe and Munchkins for the group!). Please note the start time difference. Our guest speaker will be Taylor Ratcliffe of Rindge; she is a weekly columnist for the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, and her three children will be accompanying her. We will also have former Rotary Scholarship recipient Wren Wolterbeek attending, as well, to update us on her progress at Yale.
Thursday, June 23rd – 7:15am –BACK at FPU! Full breakfast and normal meeting! Guest speaker TBD.
Thursday, June 30th – Gavel night at Peter Russell’s house at 5:30pm!

Have a great week!

Yours in service,

Ben

00000000Ø Thursday, June 16^th - 7:45am meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines. This is BYOB (bring your own breakfast; I do intend to pick up some Dunkin Joe and munchkins for the 00He will show off his new bicycle – details to follow.0vice, Ben.

President's Message (June 7, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone enjoyed the long Memorial Day weekend and had a chance to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country. It was great to see so many Rotarians at Jaffrey’s parade event on Monday.

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet at the Cathedral of the Pines on Thursday, June 9th, at 7:45am. This meeting will be a Club Assembly. This is BYOB (bring your own breakfast; no food or coffee service to be provided).

Please see our schedule below:

Wednesday, June 8th – Board of Directors Meeting at 8am at the Cathedral of the Pines.
Thursday, June 16th - 7:45am meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines. This is BYOB (bring your own breakfast; no food or coffee service to be provided). Please note the start time difference. Guest speaker TBD or potential Club Assembly.
Thursday, June 23rd – 7:15am – BACK at FPU! Full breakfast and normal meeting!
Thursday, June 30th – Gavel night at Peter Russell’s house at 5:30pm. He will show off his new bicycle – details to follow. Spouses and "Significant Others" are welcome, of course.

Have a great week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (May 31, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

Thanks for all in attendance last Thursday at the Cathedral of the Pines for our weekly meeting. Attendance was solid, and it was great to hear from both Rotarian Rudra Aryal on his trip to Nepal and visit to a local Rotary Club, and our guest speaker, Leyre López (an exchange student) from Spain – an interesting meeting that demonstrates the Rotary connections on a worldwide basis.

Remember that there is no meeting this week on Thursday, June 2nd, due to Memorial Day.

Our upcoming schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, June 8th – Board of Directors Meeting at 8:00am at the Cathedral of the Pines.
Thursday, June 9th - 7:45am meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines. This is BYOB (bring your own breakfast; no food or coffee service to be provided). Please note the start time difference; guest speaker TBD.
Thursday, June 16th - 7:45am meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines. This is BYOB (bring your own breakfast; no food or coffee service to be provided). Please note the start time difference. Guest speaker TBD or potential Club Assembly.
Thursday, June 23rd – 7:15am – BACK at FPU! Full breakfast and normal meeting!
Thursday, June 30th – Gavel night at Peter Russell’s house at 5:30pm. Spouses invited. More details to follow.

Have a great week!

Yours in service,

Ben

Pictures from Nepal and our Thursday, May 26th Meeting,

at the Cathedral of the Pines

Rotarian Rudra Aryal Visits Nepal and Local Rotary Club

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian Rudra talked about his recent trip to Nepal and brought back many gifts to our club from his Rotary visit over there. Rudra stated the Club was very welcoming and friendly, and his overall his trip went great.

Rudra Receives Nepal Rotary Banner

Rudra received a Rotary Banner from his visit to the local Rotary Club. It is customary for visiting Rotarians to exchange local Club Banners as a sign of friendship and international cooperation. Notice the more formal attire and flowers. Should we do the same?

Leyre López, Exchange Student, and Guest Speaker

Leyre López, an exchange student from Spain who is attending Conant High School this current school year, joined us as our Guest Speaker at our most recent Club Meeting. Pictured with Leyre is Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian Past President Jim Banghart, current President Ben Wheeler, and Rotarian Rudra Aryal.

President Wheeler Presents Leyre a Rotary Shirt

Leyre López receives a Rotary shirt from President Ben Wheeler following her presentation at Thursday's Club Meeting.

President's Message (May 10, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Rotarians,

Enjoy the beautiful weather! Temperatures in the 80's the latter half of this week. Spring has sprung!

We meet for our weekly Breakfast Meeting at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, May 12th, at 7:15am.

A big thank you to Don Upton and the group from Tracie’s Farms for being our guest speakers/ presenters last Thursday; a very interesting and informative meeting.

We also had a great turnout on Saturday morning for the Roadside cleanup under Mike Shea's leadership. I think we had 16+/- volunteers, which allowed us to complete our work in record time!

Congratulations to Rotarian Karyn Andreozzi for her front cover picture appearance on Pierce magazine. Our mycologist is going places, and this summer will find her quite busy, as she travels around the country!

Weekly Upcoming Schedule:

Wednesday, 5/11 @ 8:00am = Monthly Board of Directors Meeting at Cathedral of the Pines.
Wednesday, 5/18 = Club Golf Outing and Raffle/Dinner Event at the Shattuck Golf Course; golf registration starting at 3:30pm and the social event starting at 5:30pm.
Thursday, 5/19 - NO meeting.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday morning!

Yours in service,

Ben

Photographs from our Thursday, May 5th, Breakfast Meeting:

Golf/Dinner/Raffle Party

Information on the upcoming Golf Outing and Food Foray

President's Message (May 3, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

A good turnout last week to hear from Keith Stevens of the Peterborough Players on their upcoming season; I am already looking forward to our club event at a play this summer!

We meet for our weekly Breakfast Meeting at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, May 5th, at 7:15am. Our Guest Speaker will be from Tracie's Community Farm in Fitzwilliam. You'll learn all about Community Supported Agriculture, a concept bringing together farms and members of the community to share in a mutually beneficial relationship.

Roadside Clean-up this Saturday, May 7th, at 8:00am. We meet at West Rindge Builders on Rt. 202. "Many hands make work light." Spouses and kids welcome! Should take us around 90 minutes.

As a reminder that shouldn't need to be said: Please pay your breakfast dues invoice in a timely manner to make Treasurer Bill Raymond’s job easier.

A special thank you to Sheila Bergeron and the club volunteers for helping out with Interact’s volunteer event at Humiston Field in Jaffrey. It was a blustery three days, and I thank those that were able to assist and provide a Rotarian presence for the Interactors.

Upcoming Club Schedule:

5/11 @ 8:00am at the Cathedral of the Pines = monthly BOD meeting.
5/12 @ 7:15am at FPU = weekly breakfast meeting – guest speaker TBD.
5/18 @ 3:30pm = our 1st golf social event, followed by the buffet dinner & raffle fundraiser at the Shattuck Golf Club. This will replace our weekly club meeting on May 19th.

Enjoy the week, and I look forward to seeing you on Thursday morning.

Yours in service,

Rotarian Ben

Pictures from our Roving Photographer from our April 28th meeting:

President's Message (April 26, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Rotarians,

We meet on Thursday morning, April 28th, 7:15am, for our Breakfast Meeting at Franklin Pierce University. For those Rotarians who are potential thespians (we already have singers, thank you!), you will find our guest speaker, Keith Stevens, President of the Peterborough Players, an engaging presenter.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week finds us helping our Interactors during their vacation week, as they are engaged in a project over at the Humiston Field. Although several Rotarians have already volunteered to ensure an adult presence, we welcome your also helping out for a couple of hours between 9am and 1pm. Let Sheila Bergeron know your availability. No charge for the fresh air and fellowship!

In case you are wondering, the Roadside Cleanup will take place NEXT Saturday, May 7th, at 8:00am, at the usual place. We meet at Rindge Builders. More to follow from Rotarian Mike Shea in next week's bulletin. Who will win the coveted "Fireball Whiskey" Award for most nip bottles collected along Route 202? We shall see!

I hope everyone had a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday.

Yours in service,

Ben

President's Message (April 19, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter with their friends and families. Just a reminder that we will not be meeting this week due to the Easter holiday. Our next meeting will be a breakfast meeting at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, April 28th, at 7:15am.

On the good news front, we have already filled up 7 of our 11 team slots for our golf outing on May 18th that will precede our dinner buffet and raffle event. Thanks to Andy Lawn, Jon Frederick, and Russell Gaskamp for your continued efforts. If you haven’t signed up yet with Andy, please do so! Invites are going out to other Rotary Clubs.

Enjoy the week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

Photographs from our April 14th meeting at Franklin Pierce University

Student of the Month -- Dominic Gnoza, J-R Middle School

Dominic Gnoza is an Eighth Grader at the Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School and is our April "Student of the Month." In recognizing Dominic, Rotarian Sam LaFortune praised this young man's scholarship and good citizenship, as well as his willingness to help others in his class. A smiling mom, Jennifer Gnoza, stands proudly next to her son.

President Ben Wheeler Presents Dominic Gnoza the "Student of the Month" Certificate

President Ben presents the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club "Student of the Month" certificate to Dominic Gnoza. Moments later, Sam LaFortune presented Dominic with a Gift Card from the Toadstool Bookstore.

Jon Frederick Updates Rotarians on the May Program at Shattuck

Things are well underway for the May 18th Golf Tournament/Raffle Dinner at the Shattuck. Rotarian Jon Frederick updates the Club on all that will occur. Golf Teams -- only four slots remain, so sign up NOW!

John McCarthy Shares Update on Nicaragua Project

Over the past five to six years, Rotarian John McCarthy has invested hundreds of hours to try to bring the Club's Nicaragua project to fruition, one that would have benefitted a dozen or so schools in that country. At our meeting last week, John reluctantly announced that - after consultation with the Rotarians in Leone, Nicaragua - and having given due consideration to the Nicaraguan government's current policies, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary will no longer pursue the RI Foundation Grant. Following his announcement, John received many heartfelt compliments from fellow Rotarians in recognition of his hard work over the years.

Pre-Breakfast Candid Photos

President's Message (April 12, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

I hope your week is off to a good start and your Easter holiday plans are coming together!

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, April 14th, at 7:15am, for our weekly breakfast meeting. We will be honoring our "Student of the Month" (thanks, Sam!).

As a reminder, the Board of Directors will meet at the Cathedral of the Pines on Wednesday, April 13th, at 8:00am.

Below, please find the upcoming calendar of events for our Club for the remainder of the month of April:

Thursday, 4/21 = NO MEETING due to Easter Holiday.
Thursday, 4/28 @ 7:15am = Weekly breakfast meeting at FPU; guest speaker TBD.

A reminder – please save the date for our nine-hole golf outing at the Shattuck Golf Club, followed by our Buffet Dinner & Raffle Event, also at the Shattuck (downstairs lounge & veranda). The date is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18th, with the golf outing starting at 4:00pm and the dinner event to start at 6:00pm. Rotarians Jon Frederick and Russell Gaskamp are working on finalizing the details and getting ticket sales coordinated, etc.

Have a great week, and I hope to see everyone on Thursday morning.

Yours in service,

Ben

Photographs from our Thursday, April 7th, meeting

President's Message (April 5, 2022)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We meet at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, April 7th, at 7:15am, for our weekly Breakfast Meeting.

A highlight of our meeting will be our recognition of the Franklin Pierce University Women's Ice Hockey Team, which won the recent New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) Tournament. Join us as we honor the Women's Team and Coach David Stockdale for their outstanding season, one in which they amassed the greatest number of wins ever in their team's history!

March Madness is over... great games, especially the Championship Game on Monday night that saw the University of Kansas Jayhawks narrowly defeat North Carolina in a tight game that went down to the last minute. Bob Schaumann is licking his wounds after his Villanova Wildcats lost to the Jayhawks in the Final Four. Bob was heard to say, "Wait 'til next year."

Now, it's the Red Sox's turn.... Spring Training is over, and Major League Baseball is about to begin!

I look forward to seeing everyone Thursday morning.

Yours in Service,

Ben

New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA)

2022 Tournament Champions: Franklin Pierce University Women's Ice Hockey Team

President's Message (March 29, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

It was nice to see those in attendance last Thursday at FPU for the Cabana Falls Winery overview; it is great when we can support our local businesses!

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, March 31st, at 7:15am, for our Club Assembly. Among our activities, we will be recognizing a local student as "Student of the Month." At the following week's meeting, we plan to honor and recognize the Franklin Pierce University Women's Ice Hockey team and their championship season.

That having been said, I hope everyone had a great weekend, and if your NCAA bracket is not busted, you are doing far better than I am. I am sure Bob Schaumann will have his Villanova gear on full display, as Villanova has reached the Final Four. As a side note, Xavier University is in the semi-finals of the NIT; I know, I know... I am reaching a bit here.

Club members Jon Frederick and Russell Gaskamp are working hard on the details for our Club “Live Auction” in mid-May; details to follow, but it will be a great event.

Our upcoming schedule for meetings is below:

Breakfast meeting at FPU on Thursday, 4/7, at 7:15am. Guest speakers will be the FPU Women’s Hockey Team (see attached photo). Thank you Jed and Gas for lining this up.
Monthly Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, 4/13, at 8:00am at the Cathedral of the Pines.
Breakfast meeting at FPU on Thursday, 4/14, at 7:15am. Guest speaker(s) – TBD.

I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday morning – have a great week,

Yours in Service,

Ben

Franklin Pierce University Women's Ice Hockey Claims New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) title game against Saint Anselm, 1-0.

Pictures from our last meeting...

Aly Lefebvre, Cabana Falls Winery - Guest Speaker

Aly Lefebvre entertained Rotarians, as she enthusiastically told the story of Cabana Falls Winery, which recently opened in Jaffrey's Belletete's Plaza. The winery produces "fun wines" with zany names, and Rotarians are invited to come down to enjoy the weekly tastings.

Random shots taken by the Photographer

Not sure what happened, but the photographer's camera wasn't focusing too well in "automatic" mode. We'll try to do better for our next meeting!

President's Message (March 22, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone’s week is off to a good start. Again, many thanks to David Jeffries for hosting us for the St. Patrick’s Day event. It was great to see such a good turnout, and a good time was had by all!

We meet for our weekly Breakfast Meeting at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, March 24th, at 7:15am. For those who are wine afficionados, our guest speakers will be Aly and Carroll Lefebvre, owners of the Cabana Falls Winery, which recently opened in Jaffrey's Belletete's Plaza. Should be quite interesting!

Our upcoming schedule for meetings is below:

Breakfast meeting at FPU on Thursday, 3/31 at 7:15am. Guest speaker(s) - TBD
Breakfast meeting at FPU on Thursday, 4/7 at 7:15am. Guest speaker(s) - TBD
Monthly Board of Directors Meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines on Wednesday, 4/13 at 8:00am
Breakfast meeting at FPU on Thursday, 4/14 at 7:15am. Guest speaker(s) - TBD

I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday morning – Spring is here!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (March 8, 2022)

Good afternoon, Fellow Rotarians,

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet at Franklin Pierce University for our Breakfast Meeting on Thursday, March 10th, at 7:15am.

I am most pleased to announce that our plans are to induct Stephanie Thomson and Rudra Aryal, as our newest Rotarians at our meeting this week. Please join me in officially welcoming both Stephanie and Rudra!

Our guest speaker will be the Right Reverend Mark Beckwith, retired Episcopalian Bishop of Newark, NJ. Thanks to David Jeffries for arranging for his presentation, and we look forward to it.

We will have a club social on St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17th, at Rotarian David Jeffries' home. The event will run between 5pm and 7pm+; this will not be a club meeting but rather a time to socialize. David lives at #617 Mountain Road in Jaffrey, NH. It's a long driveway that is on the left as you drive down Rt 124 towards Marlborough. This is a BYOB event and we have it catered with appetizers, etc.

Based on getting a proper headcount for catering purposes, it is necessary that each Rotarian RSVP no later than 3/10 on your attendance and number of guests. Spouses/significant others/family members are more than welcome to attend; additionally, if you know anyone that may have any interest in becoming a Rotarian, I would encourage you to bring them along, as well. It should be a fun event in a beautiful setting.

Please RSVP to one of the following by 3/10:

Ben Wheeler = bwheeler@walpolebank.com

David Jeffries = davidhjeffries@gmail.com

Bill Raymond = w-mraymond@comcast.net

Being St. Patrick’s Day, please wear your green!!

Last but not least, today is Election Day in both Rindge and Jaffrey, and the polls will be open until 7:00pm. Be sure to vote!

Yours in Service,

Ben

The Rotary Photographer returns! Pictures from our March 3rd meeting...

A most appropriate Invocation

Referencing the sad situation in the Ukraine, "Reverend" Owen Houghton's morning Invocation was particularly appropriate to begin our first meeting in many months at Franklin Pierce University.

Jon Frederick prepares the raffle tickets!

Hard to remember the last time we had our 50/50 Raffle. Thanks to Jon Frederick, the tickets were available, and Rotarians - each hoping they would win - plunked down $2.00. In the background, Mike Shea prepares to say goodbye to his two dollars, but it was David Jeffries who won this time - reportedly, his first time as a raffle winner!

Rotarians socialize around the Raffle Ticket Table

Tickets went fast. Always a good crowd around the table, as it is where it seems "everyone meets."

Fire Chief David Chamberlain and Town Manager Jon Frederick

Jaffrey Fire Chief David Chamberlain arrived, and the photographer caught David and Town Manager, Jon Frederick, together. Talking town business?

President Ben Welcomes Rotarians Back

With an introduction that included a reference to "No more Zooms [hopefully]," President Ben Wheeler welcomed fellow Rotarians to our first in-person Breakfast Meeting in several months at Franklin Pierce University. It's good to be back!

John McCarthy explains School District HVAC Warrant

With the annual Town Election in Rindge and Jaffrey on March 8th (today!!), John McCarthy, a member of the SAU47 School Board, shared insights on the HVAC warrant article that will be voted upon by voters in both towns. At least two Rotarians are on the Town or School District ballot as incumbents.

The Jaffrey 250th Celebration in 2023

Rotarians learned that organizations, companies, and citizens can sponsor a flag with their name that will line the main streets in Jaffrey, as part of the town's 250th Anniversary celebration in 2023. Andy Lawn spoke to this, and the topic of a Rotary flag will be discussed at the Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, March 9th.

Jaffrey Fire Chief David Chamberlain, Guest Speaker

Chief David Chamberlain provided an update on the Jaffrey Fire Department. He shared information to support the Town's warrant article for a new fire engine to replace Engine 1, which is nearing thirty years of service. The warrant will be discussed and voted upon at Town Meeting at the Pratt Auditorium at Conant High School on Saturday, March 12th, at 9:00am.

Candid (?) shots by the photographer...

President's Message (March 1, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

I hope all is well. Unfortunately, the Conant High School girl’s basketball team had their 58-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday at the State Championship game. They should remain VERY proud of their accomplishments during their great run!

Looking forward to seeing everyone in person when the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club meets at Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, March 3rd, at 7:15am. Our guest speaker will be Jaffrey Fire Department Chief David Chamberlain.

Our upcoming meeting schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, 3/9 -- Board of Directors meeting at 8:00am at the Cathedral of the Pines.
Thursday, 3/10 -- Breakfast Meeting at FPU at 7:15am. Guest speaker will be the the Right Reverend Mark Beckwith.
Thursday, 3/17 (St. Patrick’s Day!) -- Social meeting from 5-7pm at David Jeffries home; spouses and/or significant others are invited. More details to follow.

Let’s pray for a quick and peaceful resolution in the Ukraine.

I hope to see everyone on Thursday morning.

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (February 22, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

I think we all probably enjoyed yesterday’s sun and spring-like weather. We still have the remainder of February and all of March, however; April doesn't mean we are out of the woods when it comes to the white stuff, either!

The Conant High School girls basketball team continued its undefeated season by winning their playoff game; they play again on Wednesday evening at 7:30pm at Bedford High School, and if they win again, they will play for the State Championship on Sunday at 1:00pm at Keene State College.

As we celebrate the President’s Day Holiday, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will not be meeting this week.

Below is a list of upcoming meetings/events:

Thursday, March 3rd -- Breakfast Meeting at 7:15am at FPU; guest speaker TBD
Wednesday, March 9th -- Board of Directors meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines, 8:00am
Thursday, March 10th -- Breakfast meeting at 7:15am at FPU; guest speaker, the Right Reverend Mark Beckwith.
Thursday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) -- Cub social at David Jeffries house; details to follow on time, etc., but this will be an evening event.

Enjoy the week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (February 15, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

The sun is out, but the temperatures are still quite chilly! Hopefully, everyone enjoyed an entertaining and competitive Super Bowl.

Below is the meeting schedule for the next few weeks. As I mentioned at our meeting last week, we are planning to return to Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, March 3rd, for a resumption of our weekly Breakfast Meetings. I still need to confirm this with FPU, but - as you read this - this is the plan.

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet this Thursday, February 17th, at 7:30am, via ZOOM. The URL is the same as was used last week and can be found in Bob Schaumann's email sent to all Rotarians on Tuesday, February 8th. Our guest speaker will be Susan Ashworth of Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services. She will present an informative session on the "Meals on Wheels" program and how it assists residents in both Jaffrey and Rindge.

Here is the planned schedule for meetings as it currently stands:

Thursday, 2/24 – NO MEETING due to the President’s Day holiday
Thursday, 3/3 – Breakfast Meeting at 7:15am at FPU (to be confirmed). Guest speaker - TBD
Wednesday, 3/9 – Board of Directors meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines at 8:00am
Thursday, 3/10 – Breakfast Meeting at 7:15am at FPU (to be confirmed). Guest speaker - TBD.

Have a great week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (February 8, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet this Thursday, February 10th, at 7:30am, via ZOOM. Our Guest Speaker will be our own Jon Frederick, Jaffrey Town Manager, who will share insights of the budgeting process that has led up to the Board of Selectmen's recommended budget that will be presented for a vote at Town Meeting (Jaffrey) on Saturday, March 12th.

As this is "the season," consider attending the SAU47 deliberative session that will occur on Wednesday, February 9th, 6:30pm, at the Rindge Memorial School. By attending, you will learn about the tax impact of the 2022 SAU47 School District Warrant, if approved by the voters.

Below please find our meeting schedule for the remainder of February:

Wednesday, 2/9 @ 8:00am Zoom meeting, Board of Directors
Thursday, 2/10 @ 7:30am Zoom meeting; Jon Frederick, guest speaker.
Thursday, 2/17 @ 7:30am Zoom meeting; guest speaker TBD.
Thursday, 2/24 – NO MEETING due to the Presidents' Day holiday.

Please be on the look-out for the ZOOM link from Bob Schaumann for our Thursday meeting, February 10th. This will be sent to you Tuesday via email. A separate email will also be sent to the BoD Tuesday that provides the URL for Wednesday's BoD meeting via Zoom.

Have a great week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (February 1, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone survived the snow storm on Saturday and is enjoying these frigid temperatures! If my math is correct, only 48 days until spring; it seems hard to fathom at this point.

For those of us that enjoy football, the past two weekends have been filled with highly competitive and exciting games; good luck to the Bengals and Rams in the upcoming Super Bowl.

Rotary International's monthly theme for February is “Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution." If any members have a potential guest speaker they would like to invite that would like to speak to this topic, this would be great.

The Board of Directors at our January meeting decided to stay with “Zoom” meetings through the month of February, at which point the BoD will then re-assess the situation. Below is a schedule for this month:

Thursday, 2/3 @ 7:30am -- Club Assembly (ZOOM) unless we get a last-minute guest speaker.
Wednesday, 2/9 @ 8:00am -- Board of Directors Meeting (via ZOOM).
Thursday, 2/10 @ 7:30am Club Meeting (via ZOOM); guest speaker TBD.
Thursday, 2/17 @ 7:30am Club Meeting (via ZOOM); guest speaker TBD.
Thursday, 2/24 – NO MEETING due to President’s Day holiday.

Please be on the lookout for the ZOOM link from Bob Schaumann for Thursday’s meeting. This will arrive in your emailbox on Tuesday.

Have a great week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (January 25, 2022)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to spring! For those who like snow, however, your dreams may come true, as a major Nor'easter is forecasted for Saturday!

Fortunately, sunny skies are forecasted for Thursday, and the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet that day, January 27th, via ZOOM, at 7:30am.

Our guest speaker will be Franklin Pierce University President, Kim Mooney, with updates on the University, etc. I hope you are able to attend. The URL was emailed to you two weeks ago, and as a reminder, our Club Secretary will send out reminder email with the URL address.

Have a great week, and I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday morning.

Yours in Service,

Ben

Received from Jessica Yap, President of the Conant High School Hot Wings Robotics Club

President's Message (January 11, 2022)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone is staying warm, as we battle some very frigid temperatures over the next couple of days.

We will be meeting this Thursday, January 13th, at 7:30am via ZOOM. This will be our first Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club meeting of the New Year. Via separate email, each Rotarian received the ZOOM URL.

There will be no Board of Directors meeting tomorrow on Wednesday due to multiple scheduling conflicts. An announcement as to the new date will be sent shortly to Board members.

I look forward to seeing you Thursday morning via ZOOM!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (January 4, 2022)

Happy New Year, fellow Rotarians!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun-filled holiday season, one spent with their extended families and friends.

Due to the New Year’s Day holiday, there is NO meeting this Thursday morning. Below is an overview of our meeting schedule for the month of January:

Board of Directors Meeting; Wednesday, 1/12/22 @ 8AM via Zoom. NOTE – due to scheduling conflicts, this meeting MAY be cancelled or rescheduled – TBD.
Weekly Breakfast Meeting; Thursday, 1/13/22 @ 7:30am via Zoom w/ a guest speaker in attendance.
NO breakfast meeting on Thursday, 1/20/22 due to the MLK Holiday.
Weekly Breakfast Meeting; Thursday, 1/27/22 @ 7:30am via Zoom w/ a guest speaker in attendance.

I am hopeful we can resume meeting in person again starting in February, but this will be a “fluid” situation that the Board will continue to monitor closely.

Have a great week, and I am looking forward to our ZOOM Breakfast meeting on January 13th.

Yours in service,

Ben

President's Message (December 28, 2021)

Happy New Year, Fellow Rotarians,

I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season!

With 2021 on its last legs, we usher in the New Year of 2022 with optimism for good health, peace in our world, and goodness for the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club and our families.

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet for the first time in the New Year on Thursday, January 13th, via ZOOM.

Happy New Year!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (December 21, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

Wishing EVERYONE a happy and safe holiday season.

As a reminder, our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be January 13th. We will meet via ZOOM.

Enjoy your time off!

1067 free santa clipart christmas | Public domain vectors

Yours in service,

Ben

President's Message (December 14, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

This week, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet on Thursday morning, December 16th, at 7:15am via ZOOM.

We will have a guest speaker. Heather McKernan, Publisher of the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. She will share some of the challenges of being a small-town newspaper in the digital age. Should be quite interesting!

This will be our last official meeting for calendar year 2021. I hope you are able to attend.

Enjoy the week - snow is coming, for sure!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (December 7, 2021)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

To use the often-heard phrase, "Out of an abundance of caution," the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will continue to hunker down and not meet this week. I am pleased that those Rotarians who tested positive for COVID after the Raffle Party are doing well.

We will, however, meet on December 16th, via ZOOM. Our guess speaker will be Heather McKernan, publisher of the Ledger-Transcript, who will share the challenges of being a small town newspaper in a digital age.

The BoD will meet on Wednesday, December 8th, at 8:00am, via ZOOM.

Bob Schaumann received the latest request for volunteers from the NH Food Bank; they indicated that the Rindge location (Hannaford's) is not scheduled to be a distribution site through to the end of March. Should the Rindge location be scheduled in the Spring, Bob will let us know.

Hope your holiday shopping goes well!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (November 30, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone had a safe and fun-filled Thanksgiving holiday weekend. As was discussed last week, we will be taking the month of December off from our weekly meetings and will revisit the pandemic situation in January. I want to encourage those who came to the Raffle Event on October to get tested, especially if flu-like symptoms seem to be present.

There will be a Board of Directors meeting next Wednesday, December 8th, at 8:00am, via Zoom. We will not meet at the Cathedral.

Enjoy the week ahead!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (November 23, 2021)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday. Safe travels!

On the good news front, our Raffle Event went well; we sold almost all of the 2,000 tickets (great job!!), and we raised roughly $4,500 for the Club, which given the circumstances and tight time-frames was no small feat. Thanks, again, to the Cathedral of the Pines and Greg Walsh for hosting us; Jon Frederick and Stephanie Porter for running the event, including the Zoom feed, and to all of the Rotarians and future Rotarians that pro-actively sold their raffle tickets.

On another positive front, it was also great to recognize Paddy McCarthy as a Paul Harris Fellow for all of the great community service she has provided over the years. Congratulations, Paddy, and a big THANK YOU to Clay Hollister for putting together the fitting tribute.

On the “not-so-good" news front, multiple attendees at Thursday’s raffle event have tested positive for COVID. Based on this, the Board of Directors has made the decision to cancel all Rotary Club meetings through the Holiday season.

This will be a fluid situation that we will closely watch, but as of the moment, we will not be meeting again as a Club until early January. We will work with Bill Coleman to reschedule speakers, new Rotarian inductions, and student recognitions for our January meeting schedule.

Ending on a positive note, we DO have much for which to be thankful. Please safely enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with those whom you love.

Yours in service,

Ben

Photographs of our Rotary Raffle Party event on Thursday, November 18th, courtesy of Greg Walsh

President's Message (November 16, 2021)

Good afternoon, Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone had a great weekend. My wife, Ann, and I got to experience our first Rotary District Conference up in Meredith, NH, this past weekend. It was a great networking and informative event, and I would encourage all to try to attend in the future. I will provide further feedback at one of our next weekly meetings.

Some items from last week and upcoming:

Please see the attached three photos from our own Greg Walsh at this year’s Veteran’s Day ceremony. Don Upton, Clay Hollister and Andy Lawn were prominent figures in this year’s parade.
Reminder = this Tuesday evening at 6:30pm @ The Cathedral of the Pines, there will be the CHS Interact Induction Ceremony; if you can attend for support, that is greatly appreciated!
Raffle Update = we are meeting at 5:30pm @ The Cathedral of the Pines on Thursday, 11/18, to hold a social meeting and our raffle drawing. Please try to turn in all of your “sold tickets” to Jon Frederick or Stephanie Porter prior to Thursday evening.
Franklin Pierce University will be closed after Thanksgiving, as the students have an extended leave for the holidays until they return in January. Updates will be provided on meeting location, etc., for December and January meetings.

Have a great week!

Yours in service,

Ben

Photographs at the recent Veteran's Day ceremony on Thursday, November 11th, courtesy of Rotarian Greg Walsh:

President's Message (November 9, 2021)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone is well. As a reminder that because of the Veteran’s Day holiday, there will be no weekly breakfast meeting this upcoming Thursday, November 11th.

Please take some time on this day to give thanks for all of our Veterans that have served our Country and provided us with a great quality of life, as well as personal and professional choices. Many of our Rotarians are veterans, and we have all five services represented within the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club (Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marines).

Our upcoming schedule is as follows:

Monthly BOD meeting on 11/10/21 @ 8am at the Cathedral of the Pines.
District 7870 Annual Conference in Meredith NH on 11/13 and 11/14.
Conant High School Interact Induction service on 11/16 @ 6:30pm at the Cathedral of the Pines.
The Club’s Annual Fundraising/Raffle Event on 11/18 @ 5:30pm at the Cathedral of the Pines (BYOB).

Please be sure to sell all of the Raffle tickets you have been given; we have good momentum going on this, but we need to make sure we move all 2,000 of these! So far so good, and lets finish strong!

Jon Frederick indicates that the Thursday evening social on November 18th at the Catherdral of the Pines will be a BYOB event, and will include an appetizer contest. Get those recipes of your favorite appetizer out.... and let's see who shall be our winner, complete with "bragging rights."

Have a great week!

Yours in service,

Ben

Pictures taken at our Thursday meeting, November 4th, at Franklin Pierce University, which included a presentation by the Conant High School Interactors ("Purple Pinkie Day").

President's Message (November 2, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

Hopefully everyone had a safe and fun-filled Halloween weekend despite the weather. The Club focus over the next two weeks is to sell out our 2,000 raffle tickets.; If you need more, please each out pro-actively to either Jon Frederick or Stephanie Porter.

This week, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet on Thursday, November 4th, at 7:15am at Franklin Pierce University. It will be Purple Pinkie Day at Rotary, as we will be joined by Interactors from Conant High School. Purple Pinkie Day is a means by which Rotary and Interactors raise funds and awareness for Rotary's polio prevention projects. The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will also honor and recognize the "Interactor of the Month."

Below is our upcoming schedule:

Wednesday, 11/10 = Board of Director’s Meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines, at 8:00am.
No meeting the week of 11/11 due to Veteran’s Day Holiday.
District Wide Conference on Saturday & Sunday 11/13 and 11/14 @ Church Landing Resort in Meredith, NH (member optional – please reach out to me if you are interested in attending).
Thursday, 11/18 = weekly evening meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines, (most likely) starting at 5:30pm to select the raffle winners and enjoy a social gathering.

November is Rotary Foundation Month and December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month.

Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday morning at FPU. Have a great week!

Yours in service,

Ben

Pictures from our Thursday, October 28th, meeting at Franklin Pierce University

The Quiet Before the Meeting Begins

And then it Begins... President Ben

Two Davises and A Cup of Coffee!

Breakfast! Breakfast!

Stephanie Thompson and Rudra Aryal, our two Soon-to-be Rotarians

"Reverend" Owen Houghton

President's Message (October 26, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

The weather has taken a slight change for the worse from last week; it sounds like we may see the sun again tomorrow and/or Thursday. I hope everyone is having a productive week.

Below is our upcoming schedule:

Thursday, 10/28 = weekly breakfast meeting at 7:15am at FPU.
Thursday, 11/04 = weekly breakfast meeting at 7:15am at FPU.
No meeting the week of 11/11 due to Veteran’s Day Holiday.
District Wide Conference on Saturday & Sunday 11/13 and 11/14 @ Church Landing Resort in Meredith, NH (member optional – please reach out to me if you are interested in attending).

Please coordinate with Raffle Co-Chairs Stephanie Porter and Jon Frederick on the sale of your assigned raffle tickets. Our goal (read: expectation) is to sell all 2,000 tickets before Thursday, 11/18. This equates to roughly 50 tickets per member; given the modest cost of each ticket, this should be easily achievable. If you do not have your tickets yet, please pro-actively reach out to either Stephanie or Jon.

Good news front: Dr. Rudra Aryal, a Physics Professor at FPU, attended last week’s meeting and has indicated a desire to join our Club! Please reach out to introduce yourself to him; the Membership Committee will be assisting in the formal process of taking Dr. Rudra through the process.

October (although it is almost over) is Economic & Community Development Month for Rotary International.

November is Rotary Foundation Month and December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month.

Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday morning at FPU.

Have a great week!

Yours in service,

Ben

From the Photographer's Desk.... Meeting of October 21st

Student of the Month, Nathan Davis

Student of the Month for September was Nathan Davis, an 8th Grader from the Heritage Christian School. An avid soccer player, Nathan was recognized with positive words by his teacher, Mrs. Allen (far right), that resulted in his nomination. Joining Nathan (third from Left) are his proud parents, brother, and sister.

Laurel McKenzie, Conant High School Robotics Team

Laurel McKenzie, past Chairperson of the SAU47 School Board, is now involved with the Conant High School Robotics Team. Sharing some of the details of the Team and pictures of their fellow Robotics team members were two students who presented several PowerPoint Slides.

Raffle Tickets Are Available !

Raffle tickets are available! There they are!! See Stephanie Porter or Jon Frederick when your supply runs low. This year's Raffle Party item will be part of our major fund-raising effort for this year.

Prospective Rotarian, Dr. Rudra Aryal

Joining us at our most recent meeting was Franklin Pierce University Professor Dr. Rudra Aryal, a long-time friend of President Ben Wheeler. Rudra teaches courses in physics at FPU. Welcome, Rudra!

Kathleene Card Has the "Magic Touch"

Greg Walsh and Kathleene Card chat before breakfast began. Twice in the last three months, Kathleene purchased her raffle tickets and handed them to Bob Schaumann before she left for an early morning meeting, with instructions that if her ticket is the winner, to give the proceeds to a certain designee. Twice Bob held the ticket for Kathleene, and twice she won!! The lucky recipient of the weekly pot this time: Nathan Davis, our Student of the Month!

President's Message (October 19, 2021)

Happy Tuesday fellow Rotarians; hopefully, you are enjoying this beautiful fall day.

We will be meeting for our weekly breakfast meeting on Thursday, October 21st, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University. On tap is the Student of the Month Presentation, as well as guest speakers from Conant High School who will discuss their robotic club!

I would like to thank the volunteers that came out Saturday morning for roadside cleanup; a little lighter turnout than normal, but we got the job done by 10am – many thanks to Mike Shea for spearheading this event.

Enjoy the week, and I look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Ben

President's Message (October 12, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

I hope you all had a great Columbus Day weekend. How about those Red Sox!

There is no club meeting this week because of the Columbus Day holiday. Keep in mind the following upcoming Club events/meetings:

Wednesday, 10/13 @ 8:00am = Board meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines
Saturday, 10/16 @ 8:00am = Roadside Cleanup (weather permitting) at West Rindge Builders
Thursday, 10/21 @ 7:15am = Breakfast meeting at FPU w/ guest speaker and Student of the Month presentation.

Wishing everyone a great week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Remarks (October 5, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

Thank you to all Rotarians who turned out for the FPU game on Saturday. It was a great day/event; a tough OT loss for the Ravens, but a very competitive and exciting game. Once again, Rotarian Andy Lawn stepped up to “man the grill”!

The talents of Coach Gas go beyond the gridiron. Coach Gas will deliver this Sunday's sermon at the Peterborough United Methodist Church, where Reverend Kathleene Card's congregation gathers. The service will be online should you not be able to attend in person, and it can be viewed at https://youtu.be/U1n4ILeoqjg at 10:00am. You are encouraged to "like" the video, so we can track Rotary visitors.

We will meet this Thursday, October 7th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce. Our guest speaker will be Bruce Hill, who will discuss the 250th celebration for the Town of Jaffrey. I will not be able to attend, but former club President Jed Brummer will be more than capable of handling the duties.

Have a great week!

Yours in service,

Ben

Photographs sent to the Editor by Andy Lawn...

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary at Franklin Pierce/Assumption Game

A hard fought game at Sodexo Field at FPU saw the Ravens lose in OT to Assumption College, 35-28, in one of the Ravens' best efforts to date. Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians came out to support the team, and Andy Lawn's tailgate BBQ provided gastronomical delights, although a Big "W" would have made the afternoon a complete success. Great team effort by the Ravens, Coach Gas!!!

President's Message (September 21, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

I hope you are enjoying this nice stretch of weather we are having. This Thursday, September 23rd, we meet at Franklin Pierce University at 7:15am. We are fortunate to have our District Governor, John Bob Siemienowicz, as our guest speaker; I am hopeful we will have a strong turnout from membership for this meeting.

A reminder that we do have a tent reserved for the FPU football game on Saturday, October 2nd; it should be a fun event, and lets show our support for the Ravens!

Enjoy the week, and I look forward to seeing many of you on Thursday morning!

Yours in service,

Ben

Photographs from our Thursday, September 16th, Meeting:

We Remember.... Jean Hampsey

Rotarians were saddened to learn of the passing of Jean Hampsey, wife of Rotarian Bernie Hampsey. Jean had fought a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease; she and Bernie were married for 61 years. President Ben made the sad announcement of her passing at the beginning of his President's Remarks at our Thursday meeting. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 1, 2021, at 12:00 Noon in St. Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, Jaffrey.

Pictures from our Thursday Breakfast Meeting

President's Message (September 14, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians,

First of all, I would like to thank all Rotarians (and their significant others) that were able to attend the FPU football team dinner at the Cathedral of the Pines Thursday evening. Attendance was very strong, and I have received very positive feedback from both Russell Gaskamp and the FPU football players, as well as many Rotarians. I would definitely rate this a successful event!

Our meeting this week will be a Club Assembly on Thursday, September 16th, at 7:15am, at Franklin Pierce University.

A reminder that our District Governor, John Bob Siemienowicz, will be at our Breakfast meeting next week on September 23rd; please do your best to be in attendance that day.

Have a great week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

Pictures from the Franklin Pierce Football Dinner on Thursday (Pictures courtesy of Owen Houghton)

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Dinner Honors FPU Football Team

As many as 80 FPU Football Team Players and Coaches were recognized by the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on Thursday, September 9th, for their service to the community. Over the years, the team - under Rotarian and Head Coach Russ Gaskamp - has participated in numerous Rotary events where manpower was needed, including recent Food Bank distributions at Hannaford's, the pre-pandemic Police/Fire/EMS dinner honoring our first responders from Jaffrey and Rindge, and other events. Pictured above, players get in line for a meal that consisted of barbequed pork ribs and barbequed chicken, chili, baked beans, multiple salads, and tons of cookies and brownies. No one left hungry from the dinner, which was held in the Hilltop House at the Cathedral of the Pines.

Rotarians Serve Hungry Football Players!

Over twenty Rotarians cooked, grilled, prepared food, served, and helped to make the event a success! Rotarians from both ends of the serving line are shown, as they filled the plates of hungry football players. Nearly 200 lbs. of barbequed pork ribs and barbequed chicken were consumed. A hungry bunch!

Coach Gas Thanks the FPU Football Team and Rotary

Coach Gas thanks the Team for their hard work in support of various Rotary activities, as well as giving a shout out to the Rotary Club for their preparation of the dinner. Who says a little rain stopped Rotarians?

President's Message (September 7, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

As we move closer to the Fall, I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. It was good to see many of you at our weekly meeting this last Thursday.

The Board of Directors will meet tomorrow morning at 8:00am at the Cathedral of the Pines; there is NO weekly breakfast meeting this week, given the Labor Day holiday; however, we will be hosting a dinner event for the Franklin Pierce University football team starting at 5:00pm on Thursday at the Hilltop House at the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge. Thanks to all for their volunteerism and, especially, a huge thank you to Andy Lawn for spearheading this event!

A reminder to block the date for Thursday morning on 9/23 when District Governor John-Bob will be our guest speaker.

I look forward to seeing our club out at full force Thursday evening; our next breakfast meeting will be Thursday, September 16th, at 7:15am at FPU.

Have a great afternoon/week, and enjoy this beautiful afternoon,

Yours in Service,

Ben

Pictures from our September 2nd meeting at Franklin Pierce University

Welcome "Home," Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club !

After a year and a half, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club once again met at our "home" of several years. As a nice surprise, FPU President Kim Mooney came down to our breakfast meeting and welcomed us back

Jed and Jon Do Happy Fines

Jon Frederic and Jed Brummer did the honors with Happy Fines. Don Upton (center) had Happy Birthday sung to him on his "39th." Meanwhile, Clay Hollister (bottom) announced he was celebrating with Caroline their 54th wedding anniversary. Always nice to hear such good news.

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Honors FPU Football Team -- Andy Lawn Updates

Never one for a loss at words, our Andy Lawn updates his fellow Rotarians on progress for the September 9th Recognition Cookout for the Franklin Pierce University Football Team. Upwards of 120 players, Rotarians, and spouses are expected at the Lawn residence to honor the Team for their several involvements at Rotary functions over the past few years.

Gotcha', Sam!!

We caught Sam Lafortune in a candid moment, as Harold and Peter Davis looked on. Good to have Peter back with us after his recent visit to the hospital.

Random Shots

President's Message (August 31, 2021)

Good afternoon, fellow Rotarians. Happy Tuesday!

I would like to thank all of the Rotarians who made it over to Hannaford’s earlier today for the Food Bank distribution; it was busier than I expected, and many hands make for light work, thank you. A special thanks to Coach Russell Gaskamp and his Franklin Pierce Football Team for assisting – it is much appreciated.

This week, we will be meeting Thursday at Franklin Pierce University, at 7:15am. I am looking forward to coming back home to the FPU campus. Our big topic to cover this week is our football team recognition dinner to be held at Andy Lawn’s home on Thursday, September 9th, starting at 5:00pm. We are expecting a large crowd that evening, so everyone’s participation and involvement would be great. We will share details this Thursday.

Enjoy the beautiful weather this afternoon, and I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday morning at Franklin Pierce.

Yours in Service,

Ben

Food Bank Distribution at Hannaford's

Thanks to the FPU Football Team and 10 Rotarians who helped!

President's Message (August 24, 2021)

Good morning fellow Rotarians,

I hope everyone safely survived Tropical Storm Henri and that you are looking forward to seeing the sun for a few days the rest of the week. We will be meeting this Thursday, August 26th, at 7:45am, at the Woodbound Inn.

This will be our last summer breakfast meeting at the Woodbound. Our guest speaker will be the Executive Director/President of the Monadnock United Way, Liz Larose. She will be providing an update on how the past 18 months have been for the United Way, given all that has taken place, and she will be highlighting some of the programs that directly serve residents in our geographic area.

A few dates to set aside as details come together on the following:

Tuesday, August 31st = Food Bank Distribution at Hannaford's in Rindge, 11am - 1:00pm. Rotarian volunteers needed.

Thursday evening, September 9^th = we will host the FPU football team for a dinner for all of their volunteer efforts the past two years, led by Head Coach Russell Gaskamp. Rotarian Andy Lawn is greatly assisting in spearheading this event.

Saturday, October 2^nd = we are in process of renting tent space for a tailgating event at the FPU football game that day. It will be similar to the event we held there two years ago, and exact details will follow. They will be playing Assumption College, with a 1:00pm game start time.

Friday, October 29^th = please save the date for our Annual Raffle/Fundraising Event to be held that evening at the Woodbound Inn. Rotarians Jon Frederick and Stephanie Porter are assisting me with the preliminary details, and we will be looking to recruit some additional Rotarians to join us to plan this event and coordinate all of the details, etc.

Finally, we remember Rotarian Russ Robertson, who passed away on July 7th. A "Celebration of Life" at the Robertson home in Dublin this past Saturday honored Russ's memory.

I look forward to seeing everyone this Thursday morning... and wish you a great week,

Yours in Service,

Ben

Russell Wright Robertson (1939-2021)

President's Message (August 17, 2021)

Good morning, fellow Rotarians,

I hope all is well. We will be meeting on Thursday, August 19th, at the Woodbound Inn at 7:45am. The program agenda is still being finalized at this moment.

As a reminder, we will be moving to Franklin Pierce University starting on Thursday, September 2nd, with a start time of 7:15am.

As mentioned - due to CDC revised guidelines - the Rotary District is "strongly recommending" we return to wearing masks for inside meetings. Based on this, the Board of Directors is "strongly recommending" we begin the mask protocol starting next week when we are moving about the breakfast meeting. Please see the email below that was received from District Governor John Bob.

Enjoy your week!

Yours in Service,

Ben

“CDC Updates Guidance on Mask Wearing for Indoor Meetings”

Summary: Out of an abundance of caution we are recommending that clubs in areas which the CDC defines as having “substantial” transmission follow the new CDC guidance asking that all attending indoor meetings wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status.

As of 7 August this would include clubs in the following counties:

NH: All Counties have substantial transmission except Sullivan County

VT: Bennington County in southern VT

Why has CDC Updated its Guidance?

CDC has been tracking the seven day average case rate and percent positivity and in the past weeks they have seen significant increased activity across the country associated with the Delta variant. At the following website you can view both the current situation (by State and County) as well as see the progression over time in a country-wide projection ( https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view ).

These cases have been in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Importantly, people who have been vaccinated generally have mild disease and are not being hospitalized. However, vaccinated people who become infected may be a risk to uninfected people and those with compromised immune systems. So, wearing a mask will help protect them.

What are NH and VT Government Guidances? The State of NH Best Practices guidance has not changed. While that guidance, issued in May 2021, has removed all mandates it also notes that businesses, organizations, and individuals should review the CDC guidance.

The State of VT removed all CoVID restrictions in June and VTOSHA guidance in June refers employers to CDC guidance as well.

How long will this last and should we stop our in person and hybrid meetings? We cannot predict when this will end, but we continue to monitor the data. We appreciate the efforts for clubs to open up again and following these face covering guidelines is an added precaution that will help you continue that practice safely. We hope that we may see what has been seen with Delta in the UK and India, where there was a sudden drop in cases, suggesting that the virus may have “burned itself out.”

Pictures from our August 10th meeting...

Cynthia McGuire, CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital

With nearly eighteen months of the pandemic behind us, CEO Cynthia McGuire shared some of the challenges experience by the Monadnock Community Hospital and lessons learned. The Delta Variant has caused a major surge in the United States, as well as world-wide. Cynthia entertained questions from Rotarians at the end of her presentation. She also won the 50/50 Raffle... and donated it back to the Club!

Many Rotarians Attended the Celebration of Life of Bill Driscoll

Funny stories abounded and good memories were shared by friends and relatives of the late Bill Driscoll at his Celebration of Life that was held at the Meetinghouse on Thursday, August 12th. Many Rotarians and spouses were there to remember Bill -- a Korean War Veteran, a firefighter, a town "character," haberdasher extraordinaire, and - as we best remember him - a Rotarian and Friend.

Abigail Wheeler, Recipient of $2500 Rotary Scholarship

Past President Jed Brummer congratulates Abigail Wheeler (center), who was selected to receive the 2021 Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Scholarship. The award, given annually, recognizes a young adult who graduates from an area high school and who "exemplifies academic excellence and service to community." Abigail will matriculate at James Madison University in Virginia, majoring in elementary education. Looking on proudly is Ann Wheeler, Abigail's mother.

Arriving in Style!

Rotarian and Jaffrey Town Manager Jon Frederick has a nice set of wheels -- two of them! Admiring Jon's motorcycle shortly after he arrived for Thursday's Breakfast Meeting are Rotarian "wannabe" bikers Clay Hollister, Jed Brummer, and Bruce Edwards.

Cathedral of the Pines 75th Anniversary

Executive Director of the Cathedral of the Pines and fellow Rotarian Patricia Vargas shared insights about the 75th Anniversary of the Cathedral of the Pines that - this past weekend - featured a number of programs, speakers, and the nearly 300-foot Vietnam Wall Traveling Memorial, which was open to the public. Greg Walsh, a member of the Board of Trustees and a fellow Rotarian, shared additional insights, including the new Cathedral of the Pines pins and commemorative medallions that were struck for the celebration.

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians Meet at Woodbound Inn in August

The Philly Photographer was at it again, taking pictures at our August 10th Breakfast Meeting. Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians have welcomed again getting back to breakfast meetings, camaraderie and fellowship, good-natured ribbing, and interesting guest speakers. We will meet at the Woodbound Inn until the end of August, at which time we will return (finally!!) to Franklin Pierce University on Thursday, September 2nd, with a meeting starting time at 7:15am and an ending time of 8:30am.

President's Message (August 10, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, fellow Rotarians,

I hope you are enjoying the return to the summer weather we are enjoying after an "interesting" July. My wife and I enjoyed a movie at the Park Theatre on Saturday evening, and we will be back.

This week, we meet Thursday, August 12th, at 7:45am, at the Woodbound Inn. The meeting will kick off promptly at 8:00am with breakfast; we have a fairly full agenda with guest speaker, Cynthia McGuire, the CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital. We will also be recognizing our 2021 Rotary Scholarship Recipient, and we will be providing updates from the Board of Directors' meeting being held this Wednesday.

Please remember that a Celebration of Life for Bill Driscoll will occur on Thursday afternoon, at 2:00pm, at the Meetinghouse in Jaffrey Center. Bill was a long-time Rotarian, and sadly missed.

Have a great week, and I hope to see you all on Thursday morning.

Yours in Service,

Ben

Pictures from our Thursday, August 3rd, meeting...

President's Message (August 3, 2021)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

Wishing you a great week! The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet this week, on Thursday, August 5th, and for the remainder of August, at the Woodbound Inn. Socializing begins at 7:45am; the meeting begins at 8:00am, with breakfast being served shortly after the eight o'clock hour.

Starting with our first meeting in September, we will be back home at Franklin Pierce University. Our meeting time will start Thursday, September 2nd, at 7:15am with breakfast at 7:30am.

The Board of Directors will meet next Wednesday, August 11th, at 8:00am, at the Cathedral of the Pines.

I would like to express my appreciation to Bill Coleman (and back-up Donna Senechal) for stepping up to handle the guest speakers and invocation schedule for the upcoming year, along with Sheila Bergeron for volunteering to be our new Sargent at Arms. Thank you very much!

Don't forget -- Rotary will be helping with the First Church Fair parking on Wednesday, August 4th, from 11:00am to 2:00pm!

Yours in service,

Ben

Photographs from our July 29th meeting:

Todd Croteau, Jaffrey Superintendent of Highways and Facilities, Guest Speaker

Todd Croteau, Jaffrey's Superintendent of Highways and Facilities, shared how his department handled the challenges of the recent weekend rainstorm of two weeks ago, one in which nearly eight inches of rain fell on Jaffrey and surrounding areas. Complimenting Todd and his team for their great work, Town Manager and Rotarian Jon Frederick also complemented Todd's information with that of his own. In addition, Jon filled in for vacationing Club President Ben Wheeler.

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians Socializing at our July 29th meeting

President's Message (July 27, 2021)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

It's good to be meeting again in person. Our Thursday, July 29th, meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will again be at the Woodbound Inn. Fellowship starts at 7:45am, with our formal meeting beginning at 8:00am, at which time breakfast will be served.

With thunderstorms scheduled for southwest New Hampshire this evening and rain much of the morning on Wednesday, it seems we are having a VERY wet July. Memories of nearly 8" of rain the weekend before still remain. The Towns of Jaffrey and Rindge and their emergency services were put to the test. Our guest speaker this Thursday is Todd Croteau, Jaffrey's Superintendent of Highways and Facilities, who will share with us how his team coped with the massive rainfall, the challenges they faced, and how damage was minimized to our roadways. Complementing Todd's perspective, our own Jon Frederick will share additional insights.

Good news... after an absence of nearly 18 months, we will be heading back to Franklin Pierce University for our weekly breakfast meetings once school begins in mid-August. Stay tuned for a date for our return.

Remember August 4th -- Owen Houghton will be looking for Rotarians to help with the annual First Church parking from 11:00am to 2:00pm.

Yours in Service,

Ben

Pictures from our Thursday, July 22nd, meeting:

Elm City Rotary's Patty Farmer Receives Check from Charitable Giving

Patty Farmer, Elm City Rotary in Keene, receives a check from Gail Therriault, Charitable Giving Chairperson, to support that Rotary Club's Follow ME (Mover Everyday) Sneakers project. During the months of May and June, the Elm City Rotary club delivered more than 600 pairs of New Balance sneakers to second graders at 27 schools in the Monadnock region, including grade schools in Jaffrey and Rindge. In addition, they brought frisbees and jump ropes for more than 630 third graders whom they were unable to visit last year due to pandemic-related school closures. Their Club also gifted each school with a set of double dutch ropes! Following the presentation, Patty was our Guest Speaker.

Rotary Raffle Party is Coming!

President Ben Wheeler updates the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on the Raffle Party that will be hosted at a new location this year, Woodbound Inn, in late October. Let your friends know that you will have tickets shortly!

Karyn Wears Her Pin -- Do You?

Rumor has it that if you are not wearing your pin, Happy Fines will tap your wallet for a buck!

Owen Houghton is Back... and Up to His Old Tricks

Unbeknownst to Bernie Hampsey, Owen Houghton hams it up for the camera. Owen reminds us of the August 4th First Church Fair and our annual participation to help with parking from 11:00am to 2:00pm.

The Roaming Cameraman...

President's Message (July 20, 2021)

Happy Tuesday, Fellow Rotarians!

We will be meeting again at the Woodbound Inn on Thursday, July 22nd, at 7:45am, with breakfast to start at 8:00am. Patty Farmer, Jaffrey Resident and Elm City Rotary club member, will be our guest speaker.

A couple of follow-ups from last week's meeting will include the following items:

Volunteers - parking at the First Church event, August 4
Volunteers - parking at Shelter From the Storm, August 15
Annual Rotary District golf outing on Friday, August 20.
Club Committee assignments for members.
October Raffle Party

Have a great week, and I look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Yours in Service,

Ben

Photographs from our Meeting on Thursday, July 15th

President Ben's First Meeting!

President Ben Wheeler presides over his first meeting as President of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. Twenty-One Rotarians were present to wish Ben well and congratulate him on a meeting run well.

Club Recognizes Paul Harris Fellow Kathleene Card

Rotary Foundation Chairperson Clay Hollister recognizes our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Kathleene Card, for her generosity in making a major monetary contribution to Rotary International. Kathleen would have been honored at Gavel Night

Reverend Kathleene Card's Invocation

Reverend Kathleene Card can always be counted on to deliver a spirited Invocation to being our meeting.

As Jed Brummer Would Say, "Breakfast! Breakfast!"

Greg Walsh, Bill Coleman, and Bill Raymond fill up at the Woodbound Inn Breakfast Buffet, as the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary returns to regularly scheduled breakfast meetings. When this photographer last looked, the warming trays were pretty empty of food!

We Remember the 50/50 Raffle!

It was Kathleene Card's day. Not only was she recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow, she also won the first 50/50 Raffle which we have had in over a year. Kathleene donated her winnings back to the Club.

Rotarians Chatted It Up Prior to Breakfast

The Calm Before The Storm

Bob Schaumann snapped this picture of Mt. Monadnock on his way home from Woodbound Inn. The serene view and blue skies changed two days later, as the Jaffrey-Rindge area was deluged with nearly 8" of rain, which did major damages to area roads, as well as causing considerable flooding.

President's Message (July 13, 2021)

Good morning, fellow Rotarians,

I hope you all had a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday with family and friends.

The Board of Directors will be meeting on Wednesday morning at 8:00am at The Cathedral of the Pines. We will also hold our weekly breakfast meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club at the Woodbound Inn on this Thursday, starting at 7:45am and finishing by 9:00am. We will be utilizing the Woodbound Inn for at least our July breakfast meetings until we finalize details for August.

I look forward to seeing you all in person this Thursday, and I wish you a productive week ahead.

Thanks,

Ben

Do you remember...

The Secret of Eternal Youth???

Former President Jed Brummer and new President Ben Wheeler discuss the merits of the Youth Elixir that Ben is holding. Rumor has it that they found the bottle hidden in the rafters of Peter Russell's barn shortly after the Gavel Night festivities had concluded. Well, not really. Yet, if you think both look about ten years younger, you're right. This picture was taken at the Raffle Party in November 2012.

Remember the Shattuck?

Bill Raymond, with checkbook in hand, past President Sheila Bergeron, and Owen Houghton share a laugh at a 2017 breakfast meeting at the Shattuck.

President's Message (July 7, 2021)

Hi Rotarians,

Hope you had a good Fourth of July. As this is a holiday week, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will not meet.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, July 15th, at 8:00am, at the Woodbound Inn (and not the Civic Center, as originally planned). Come at 7:45am for coffee and fellowship. We will meet at the Woodbound Inn through the month of July. A guest speaker is planned for our next meeting.

For planning purposes, the Board will meet on Wednesday, July 14th. Site TBA.

Yours in Service,

Ben

President's Message (June 22, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

Don’t forget Gavel Night on Thursday at 5:00pm, at the Russell’s, 4 Gilson Road, in Jaffrey. I'd like to have all hands on deck to welcome our new President, Ben Wheeler. The weather looks to be terrific. Please park in the field near the barn. For those for whom walking may present a challenge, you may park behind the house.

Rotarians, I want to thank you all for your help and support during this COVID year. To say the least, it’s been different. In-person meetings are now our future.

See you all on Thursday!

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

Photographs from our June 15th Meeting at the Cathedral of the Pines

Mary Drew, CEO and Founder of Reality Check, Our Guest Speaker

Mary Drew, CEO and Founder of Reality Check, was our guest speaker at our most recent meeting. With its mission to "Holistically reduce drug and alcohol use, addiction, and overdose, and the related social and economic costs to youth, adults, families, and businesses by providing comprehensive addiction services," this non-profit organization has seen an uptick in a demand for its services due to the pandemic. During her presentation, Mary talked to what she is seeing regionally relative to addiction and related illnesses during what has been a trying year.

Dr. Tom Bennett Listens to Mary Drew

One of two dozen Rotarians present at our weekly meeting, Rotarian and physician Dr. Tom Bennett took a particular interest in Mary Drew's presentation.

Ben Wheeler Gets Ribbed

President-elect Ben Wheeler got some good-natured ribbing from Mary Drew during her informative presentation on the impact of COVID in towns in which Reality Check provides services. Seems that Mary and Ben were grade school classmates. You'll have to ask Ben why he was the subject of the ribbing!

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians Listened Intently as Mary Drew Shared the Realities of Addiction During the Pandemic.

Over two dozen Rotarians and guests learned what is needed and what currently is available insofar as addiction and treatment for those in need. Mary Drew painted a realistic picture that communicated the desperate need for treatment facilities for overwhelming numbers of those affected by addition in New Hampshire

Donna Senechal, Our Newest Director, Enjoys A Laugh

Donna Senechal, busier than ever with her successful "From Dust to Shine" company, enjoys listening to President-elect Ben Wheeler getting ribbed by Reality Check's Mary Drew.

Our Two Newest Rotarians

Patricia Vargas and Karyn Andreozzi, our two newest Rotarians, were captured at the same table.

Ernie Found, Guest of David Jefferies

Ernie Found, a Trustee of the Cathedral of the Pines, is a potential Rotarian. A guest of David Jefferies, Ernie also had David's new pooch, "Elsa," with him.

Bill Coleman To Be Inducted as our Newest Rotarian

In what will be one of his last official duties, President Jed Brummer will induct Bill Coleman, a resident of Rindge, as our newest Rotarian at the Gavel Night festivities this Thursday. Bill is a retired Director at United Healthcare. Joining Bill at his induction will be his wife, Joan.

President's Message (June 15, 2021)

This Thursday’s meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on June 17th will be in person at the Cathedral of the Pines at 8:00am. Our guest speaker will be Mary Drew from Reality Check, who will share insights on how the pandemic has impacted addiction, both locally and nationally.

Our Thursday meeting will be the last regular meeting of the 2020-2021 Rotary year before Gavel Night on Thursday, June 24th, at 5:30pm. Gavel Night will be catered by our very own Stephanie Porter. Wine and drinks are BYOB.

As in years past, Peter and Jinnie Russell have graciously agreed to host our annual soiree. Jinnie’s flowers will be in full bloom -- a beautiful site for a great party. Be sure to RSVP to Bob Schaumann if you have not done so already so that we have an accurate headcount for victuals.

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

PS. Ben, I’ll bring an extra drink for you - what’s your pleasure?

Our Most Recent Rotary Meeting, June 10th. Pictures by Bob Schaumann

Secretary of State, Bill Gardner, Our Guest Speaker

Bill Gardner, the longest-serving Secretary of State in New Hampshire and the United States, addressed the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. In his presentation, Secretary Gardner shared how New Hampshire has maintained a steady course that has resulted in being in the Top 5 states insofar as voter turnout in the Presidential Elections, despite considerable efforts by other states and PACs to "make simpler" the process of voting.

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians Listen Intently to Secretary of State Gardner

Along with two dozen Rotarians, we hosted the Town Moderators from Jaffrey (Mark Tieger), Rindge (Charlie Eicher), and Milford (Peter Basiliere), who were invited by SAU47 moderator Bob Schaumann. Rotarian Bernie Hampsey also served as Town Moderator for Jaffrey before becoming a Superior Court Justice.

District Governor-Elect John Bob Siemienowicz Joined Us

District Governor Elect John Bob Siemienowicz joined us at our Thursday meeting. Speaking very briefly, he looks forward to working with President-elect Ben Wheeler in what he sees as a positive year for Rotary in 2021-2022. John Bob is a member of the Milford Rotary Club.

Milford Town Moderator (and Rotarian) Peter Basiliere and Secretary of State Bill Gardner at the Schaumann's

Following the weekly meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, Bill met with area town and school district moderators at Bob and Diane Schaumann's home, during which time Bill shared what New Hampshire was doing to preserve our "First in the Nation" Presidential Primary, despite what other states and commonwealths have done in the past (and present) to derail the Granite State's "first" primary election. Secretary Gardner informally met with them over coffee for two hours before heading back to Concord.

President's Message (June 8, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on Thursday, June 10th, at 8:00am, will be in person at the Cathedral of the Pines. Our guest speaker will be Bill Gardner, New Hampshire‘s longest serving Secretary of State, and the longest serving Secretary of State in the history of the United States.

We will have coffee and donuts. Please bring friends if they are interested in hearing our guest speaker, but try to give me a head's up if you plan to bring friends so that Stephanie can purchase refreshments, accordingly.

The Board of Directors will meet for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 9th, at the Cathedral of the Pines, at 8:00am.

Please put on your calendar our annual Gavel Night that will occur on Friday, June 24, at 5:00pm, at Peter and Jinnie's Russell's estate.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

Pictures courtesy of Bob Schaumann

Paddy McCarthy Honored by President Jed Brummer

Paddy McCarthy is retiring as a faculty member at Conant High School at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Involved with the Interact Club for many years, she will be missed by students as a trusted and enthusiatic advisor. During the afternoon meeting that was attended by faculty and students a few weeks ago, President Jed Brummer presented Paddy with a bouquet of flowers and shared reflections on Paddy's service to Rotary and to Interact.

Two New Rotarians Inducted -- Patricia and Karyn

by their sponsoring Rotarians Bob Schaumann and Russell Gaskamp, Patricia Vargas (second from left) and Karyn Andreozzi (second from right) are the newest Rotarians to be inducted into the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. Presiding over the induction ceremony is President Jed Brummer.

Karyn Andreozzi Proudly Displays Her Certificate

Karyn Andreozzi, a senior at Franklin Pierce University, proudly displays her Certificate of Membership. Joining the ceremony from Florida via ZOOM was her Rotarian grandmother, Paula, along with her mother and significant other from New England.

Patricia Vargas, Executive Directer, Cathedral of the Pines, and New Rotarian

Patricia Vargas, the Executive Director the Cathedral of the Pines, joins Karyn Andreozzi as our two newest Rotarians.

Bill Coleman from Rindge -- Future Rotarian

Rindge's Bill Coleman first met Rotarians at the March Food Bank distribution at Hannaford's. This is his second Rotary meeting, and we look forward to Bill's joining us on June 10th for his third meeting. We may have an induction at our June 24th Gavel Night to welcome Bill to our Jaffrey-Rindge Rorary Club!

David Jeffries -- No Longer Our "Newest" Rotarian

Heard at our most recent meeting from David Jeffries lips, "Does this mean I am no longer the newest Rotarian?" Absolutely, David! We enjoy your sense of humor!

Dr. Fred Rogers, Franklin Pierce University - Our Guest Speaker

Hard to believe that millions of years ago that Mt. Monadnock was surrounded by other mountains, perhaps reminsicent of the Swiss Alps. That's what Dr. Fred Rogers, Professor of Geology at Franklin Pierce University, shared in his interesting stories of what southwest New Hampshire looked like as Mother Earth's land mass was being formed. Today's "turkey tracks" that we see on rocks when hiking up any of the trails to the summit originally were buried one to five miles BELOW the surface. Such was the upheaval as a younger Earth was being formed. What remains of what was once a series of mountains, now buried under the surface as a result of hundreds of millions of years of geologic formation, is this view that we all know so well:

Rotarians Enjoy Cameraderie of Once Again Getting Together

The smiling faces say it all. It's good to be meeting again live and in person!

President's Message (June 1, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

Due to the Memorial Day holiday week, there will be no meeting on Thursday of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club.. Our next meeting will be June 10th at 8:00am at the Cathedral of the Pines. Our guest speaker will be New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner.

It was nice to see so many Rotarians at Barbara Davis’ and Alan Clapp's memorial services. Two wonderful people to remember.

Thank you to all the Interactors that handed out American flags during the Memorial Day parade on Monday.

Please mark on your calendar June 24th. This will be our annual Gavel Night at the Russell's at 5:00pm. Thank you, Peter and Jinnie, for once again hosting this annual event. More details to follow!

A Rotarian in-service,

Jed

Pictures courtesy of Bob Schaumann

Two New Rotarians Inducted -- Patricia and Karyn

Flanked by their sponsoring Rotarians Bob Schaumann and Russell Gaskamp, Patricia Vargas (second from left) and Karyn Andreozzi (second from right) are the newest Rotarians to be inducted into the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club. Presiding over the induction ceremony is President Jed Brummer.

Karyn Andreozzi Proudly Displays Her Certificate

Patricia Vargas, Executive Directer, Cathedral of the Pines, and New Rotarian

Patricia Vargas, the Executive Director the Cathedral of the Pines, joins Karyn Andreozzi as our two newest Rotarians.

Bill Coleman from Rindge -- Future Rotarian

David Jeffries -- No Longer Our "Newest" Rotarian

Heard at our most recent meeting from David Jeffries lips, "Does this mean I am no longer the newest Rotarian?" Absolutely, David! We enjoy your sense of humor!

Dr. Fred Rogers, Franklin Pierce University - Our Guest Speaker

Rotarians Enjoy Cameraderie of Once Again Getting Together

The smiling faces say it all. It's good to be meeting again live and in person!

President's Message (May 25, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting will be in person at the Cathedral of the Pines on Thursday, May 27th, at 8:00am.

Lots going on this week -- our guess speaker will be Dr. Fred Rogers, Professor of Geology at Franklin Pierce University. We will be inducting two new Rotarians -- Patricia Vargas and Karyn Andreozzi.

There is no meeting June 3rd due to the Memorial Day observance. Our next meeting will be June 10th, and our speaker will be the longest serving Seecretary of State in the United States, our own Bill Gardner who will share insights on the news relative to voter law changes in the United States, impact on New Hampshire, the Windham audit, etc.

Thank you, Clay, and fellow Rotarians, for a record breaking RI Foundation drive. Nearly 80% of our Rotarians participated.

Please keep in mind the following dates this week for the memorial services for Barbara Davis and Alan Clapp.

Friday, May 28th, Jaffrey Meetinghouse, 1:00pm (Barbara Davis)
Saturday, May 29th, Cathedral of the Pines, 11:00am (Al Clapp)

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (May 18, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

There is no Rotary meeting this week. Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, May 27th, via ZOOM at 8:00am... join us for informal chat at 7:45am.

Our program will include Dr. Fred Rogers, Franklin Pierce University, Professor of Geology. We will also welcome and induct our two newest Rotarians, Karyn Andreozzi and Patricia Vargas.

Please circle on your calendar the dates for the upcoming memorial services for our departed Rotarians or spouses, as follows:

Friday, May 28th, 1:00pm -- Barbara Davis, wife of Rotarian Peter Davis

Old Burying Grounds at the Jaffrey Meetinghouse

Saturday, May 29th, 11:00am -- Rotarian Al Clapp

Cathedral of the Pines

Thursday, August 12th, 2:00pm -- Rotarian Bill Driscoll

Old Burying Grounds at the Jaffrey Meetinghouse

Enjoy the beautiful weather and watch the grass grow!

A sunny Rotarian in service.

Jed

President's Message (May 11, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

There are two Rotary meetings this week. The first is the Board of Directors' meeting at The Cathedral of the Pines, Wednesday, May 12th, at 8:00am. The second is the weekly meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on Thursday, May 13th, at 8:00am via ZOOM. Chat begins at 7:45am.

Although we don't have a guest speaker this week, the schedule is firming up for some good informative sessions over the next month. Dr. Fred Rogers, a professor at Franklin Pierce University, will join us on May 27th. You'll learn about what you "see" daily - but perhaps on which we don't reflect, geologically speaking - as we drive around our southwest corner of New Hampshire.

After last week's meeting, I think we can conclude that we have two very competent police chiefs in both Jaffrey and Rindge. Good meeting and VERY informative. Thanks, Chief Muilenberg and Chief Anair!

The Board will review the slate of proposed Board members for 2021-2022 for presentation to the Club. Here is the proposed slate:

President: Ben Wheeler
Immediate Past President: Jed Brummer
President Elect: VACANT
Vice President: David Jeffries
Treasurer: Bill Raymond

Secretary Bob: Schaumann
Sargent-at-Arms: VACANT
Director 2023: Gail Therriault
Director 2023: Sam LaFortune
Director 2024: Russell Gaskamp
Director 2024: Donna Senechal

A Rotarian in-service,

Jed

President's Message (May 4, 2021)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, May 6th, at 8:00am via ZOOM..

Our speakers on Thursday will be two Rotarians -- our own Jaffrey Police Chief Todd Muilenberg and Rindge Police Chief Dan Anair. They will host an open discussion on the topics of police accountability, police reform, "Defund the Police," etc., topics that have been in the news recently. They welcome your questions on the subject of current-day policing in our neighborhoods.

The Food Bank distribution at Hannaford's this morning at 11:30am is ON, rain or shine. A good Rotary presence is always welcome. See you there!

Please remit your Rotary International donations as soon as possible, so I don’t have Clay on my back.

We want to think Rotarian Russell Gaskamp for bringing members of the Franklin Pierce University football team to help us on last Saturday’s roadside cleanup. Gas exemplifies service above self. Thank you, again.

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (April 27, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be via ZOOM on Thursday, April 29th, at 8:00am -- chat starts at 7:45am.

Our Guest Speaker Thursday will be George Scollin, a former agent with the National Security Agency. George, who spoke at the Milford Rotary in early April, shared interesting insights relative to what now is declassified information that - back then - was classified as Top Secret.

Interesting silhouette style | Spy party, Secret agent party, Secret agent

George Scolin's presentation will be on:
"The Life of a Former NSA Agent".

Should be fascinating and spooky!

We received a nice email from Catholic Charities (they run the Food Bank), thanking the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club for our help with the March and April food distribution at Hannaford's. With the warmer weather coming (it's true!), they again welcome our helping out on May 4th (Tuesday) at Hannaford's. Let's get there by 11:30am, and we should be done by 1:00pm. Coach Gas, the FPU football team is also welcome to join us! Great to have them with us last month!

Don’t forget roadside pick up this Saturday morning at 8:00am -- need all hands on deck. Mike Shea and Andy Lawn have teetimes at 9:30am. Let’s make it happen.

It was a special time for Rotarians two weeks ago when we reflected via ZOOM on our Covid experiences this past year; let’s hope we’re back to some normalcy by summer.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (April 20, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

Breaking news!

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet in fellowship in person at the Cathedral of the Pines this Thursday, April 22nd, at 5:00pm to 6:30pm. We will respect the wearing of masks and social distancing, and that attendees have received at least one COVID shot. It will be BYOB, and bring your own hors d’oeuvres. We will meet in the newly-expanded Hilltop House, which will give us plenty of space.

On the marquee, our guest speaker will be Caroline Krause Hollister, who will update us on the Park Theater. I'm sure you have seen the new marquee that was installed last week!

Looking ahead, remember that the Jaffrey Town Meeting will be this Saturday at the Hope Fellowship Church at 9:00am - same venue as last year, i.e., in our cars. The following Saturday, May 1st, will be the Roadside Clean-up that was postponed from last week due to the Spring snowstorm. We will meet at 8:00am at the usual place. Who will win the coveted Fireball Whiskey Award for Spring 2021?

Looking forward to a large turn out on Thursday and good camaraderie.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (April 13, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be via ZOOM at 8:00am on Thursday, April 15th. The Rotary Board of Directors will meet at the Cathedral of the Pines at 8:00am on Wednesday, April 14th.

Please rememember that the Rotary Roadside Pickup will be at 8:00am this Saturday, April 17th. We meet at West Rindge Builders on Route 202. Please, all hands on deck so we can complete the job in one hour. Many of us have tee times in the morning. More hands save time! 🏌️‍♂️😃

Thanks to all who helped with the Food Pantry distribution last week!

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (April 6, 2021)

Good afternoon, Rotarians,

There is no meeting this Thursday because of Easter Sunday. Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be on Thursday, April 15th, at 8:00am via ZOOM.

Thanks to all the Rotarians and Coach Gas with a half-dozen FPU football players who volunteered this morning at the Food Bank distribution in the Hannaford's parking lot.

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

Rotarians at the Food Bank Distribution -- Hot Off the Presses!

Even with the masks, we can tell it's Greg, Owen, Bill, Peter, Bob, Gas, Jed, and Bruce. Missing is Sheila, who was busy distributing information to those awaiting food. Mea Culpa, Sheila, for not including our former Rotary President in the impromptu photogathering of the clan during a lull in the action at Hannaford's this morning!

President's Message (March 30, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

Our meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club is on Thursday, April 1st, via ZOOM at 8:00am. April Fools’ Day - no joke.

Jon Fredrick will speak to us about Jaffrey’s present and future activities; Caroline Hollister will update us on the Park Theater.

Remember that the food pantry will be coming to Hannaford‘s in Rindge on Tuesday, April 6th. Our help, along with other volunteers, is welcome to set everything up for the expected 250 families, many of whom arrive well before noon distribution begins. Please let Bob Schaumann know if you can join him from 11 AM to 1 PM. Our help will be greatly appreciated.

No meeting next week due to the Easter holiday. Our next meeting will be Thursday, April 15.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (March 23, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on Thursday, March 25th, at 8:00am, will be via ZOOM. Dr. Tom Bennett will lead us in a discussion on COVID-19 and update us on the latest relative to the pandemic.

As this email goes out to about 40 Rotarians, let’s try to reach out to those members who have been hesitant to join our meeting. Our fellowship is important to serve our community, locally and internationally. Please help our Rotarians who may be "technically challenged" so that they may join us on ZOOM.

The Food Pantry will be coming to Hannaford's in Rindge on Tuesday, April 6th. Our help, along with other volunteers, is welcomed to set everything up for the expected 250 families, many of whom arrive well before the noon distribution begins. Please let Bob Schaumann know if you can join him from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

The recent warm spring weather has put a smile on my face; let’s see a lot of smiling faces on Thursday.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (March 16, 2021)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary via ZOOM on Thursday, March 18th, at 8:00am, will be orchestrated and conducted by President-elect Ben Wheeler.

Without a doubt, we all want to resume regular face-to-face meetings. At Thursday's meeting, we will ask you to use the Chat Function to let our Secretary, Bob Schaumann, know that you are/or when you will be... fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated is defined as "two full weeks have passed since your second shot of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.... or two weeks have passed since your single-shot of J&J vaccine." This will help us to propose a strategy for the resumption of "safe" breakfast meetings, with a sensitivity to those younger Rotarians who may still be awaiting their vaccinations.

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (March 9, 2021)

Fellow Rotarians,

This week‘s meeting on Thursday, March 11th, via ZOOM, will bring together the most ourstanding group of Rotarians, all dedicated to service above self, to discuss how we can make a difference in our community. Let’s be creative!

Last week's Food Bank distribution at Hannaford's on Wednesday saw nearly a dozen Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarians volunteering to help. Nearly 250 families were beneficiaries of our distribution efforts, one in which we loaded cars that were lined up well before the planned noon distribution. It went fast. Thanks to all Rotarians who helped. We even have a potential new Rotarian, too.

The Board of Directors meets at the Cathedral of the Pines on Wednesday, March 10th, at 8:00am.

ID and passcode for the Thursday ZOOM will be delivered on Wednesday -- I hope everybody can be connected.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (March 2, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

If you liked high winds, overnight did not disappoint. The cold weather and frigid temperatures resulted in the cancellation of the Food Bank distribution at Hannaford's today (Tuesday) from 12 Noon to 2:00pm.

The Food Bank distribution has been rescheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow); same time, same place. Thanks to several Rotarians, spouses, and Gas's FPU football team for volunteering to help out on Tuesday. Let Bob Schaumann know of your availability for Wednesday.

No meeting on Thursday, March 4th. Our next meeting will be March 11th via ZOOM at 8:00 AM.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, March 10th, at 8:00am, at the Cathedral of the Pines.

The baby picture meeting was fun; let’s come up with something creative again.

In the meantime, let’s Spring eternal and winter be damned.

Yours in hibernation,

Jed

Hibernation Illustrations and Clip Art. 1,047 Hibernation royalty free illustrations, drawings and graphics available to search from thousands of vector EPS clipart producers.

President's Message (February 23, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

Our weekly meeting is Thursday, February 25th, at 8:00am, via ZOOM.

Congratulations to our own Bernie Hampsey, recongnized by the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce as its 2020 "Citizen of the Year." In accepting the award, Bernie recognized his wife of many years, Jean, when he said, "I've been motivated, inspired. encouraged and supported by the love of my wife." The presentation to Bernie, which includes an introduction by the 2019 receipient, Jeff Crocker, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Jaffrey-Chamber-of-Commerce-174960080741/videos/440068364000191

Recognized by the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce was Cathy Furze, owner of Country Bridals and Formal Wear, as the Chamber's "Business of the Year," and the John Humiston American Legion Post 11 of Jaffrey, its "Non-Profit Business of the Year." Congratulations to all!

Got a baby picture that hasn't see the light of day in years? Send it to Bob Schaumann. At Thursday's meeting, we'll display the pictures, but without an ID. A prize goes to whoever best guesses "who is who."

Yours in Service,

Jed

President's Message (February 16, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

No meeting this week on Thursday, February 18th, due to the Presidents' holiday. Our next meeting will be via ZOOM on Thursday, February 25th, at 8:00am.

FYI, Clay Hollister's and David Jeffries' driveways are closed today due to US Olympic luge tryouts. Dr. Tom Bennett (Rindge luge construction contractor) has volunteered to be a race official. Thank you all "For service above self."

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (February 9, 2021)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

This week's ZOOM meeting on Thursday, February 11th, will be at 5:00pm. Our meeting will be focused on FNE International and our efforts in Nicaragua. Dr. Tom Bennett, John McCarthy, and Travis Kumph will introduce scholarship recipients and update us on our efforts there.

On a sidenote, Linda and I went to Keene to receive our first COVID-19 shots. In the line were Owen Houghton and Amy, my friend Dick Reynells, and the Park Theatre's Steve Jackson. John Hunt‘s wife, Linda, a RN, came out of her castle and administered the shots. You never know into whom you might run.

Don’t forget the meeting's at 5 o’clock, and you’re allowed to have libation. Just don’t spill any!

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (February 2, 2021)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Happy Groundhog Day. I would have bet that Punxsutawney Phil wouldn't come out of his burrow to see his shadow, given the snow that fell overnight along the Atlantic Seaboard. However, he awoke this morning at 7:25am to perform his Groundhog Day duties -- and as he saw his shadow, six more weeks of winter are forecasted. Are we surprised??

We meet on Thursday, February 4th, via ZOOM, at 8:00am, and we have an interesting guest speaker in Matt Cabana, a Temple resident. His topic, as he describes it, "Mount Monadnock is the Beacon that draws people to the area and we do focus on Monadnock, but Xplore Monadnock and Xplore Real Estate, which went live on Tuesday, is really about the people, places and things that make this area so special. We expect that when the dust settles in the next few years that we will see growth in our region, and we are committed to preserving and protecting the natural resources that make this area so unique."

Listen to Matt's three-minute video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtBHA_ITAbs&feature=emb_logo

Meanwhile, be careful out there. I don't think the snow will melt too soon!

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (January 26, 2021)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

We meet via ZOOM this Thursday, January 28th, at 8:00am. ZOOM information will be sent to you tomorrow.

We will begin our meeting in our usual fashion and then have Happy Fines without monetary exchange. Let’s be creative -- we need some levity in these tough times. I’d like to hear your efforts in getting a date for the Covid 19 vaccine. In my case, not easy.

Please remember dues are due -- please remit as soon as possible.

Keep smiling, stay safe, and see you all Thursday. Cheers!

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (January 19, 2021)

Fellow Rotarians,

Due to the MLK Day holiday, there will be no meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on Thursday, January 21st.

Thank you to Rotarian Owen Houghton for his efforts in making the MLK Day rememberable.

Please check your email - Treasurer Bill Raymond has sent out dues notifications. Please remit as soon as possible so that sergeant at arms Stephanie Porter doesn’t have to knock on your door!

Stay warm and healthy. See you next week!

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (January 12, 2021)

Good morning, fellow Rotarians,

This weeks ZOOM meeting will be at 8:00am, Thursday, January 14th. Owen will host a 20-minute preview of the Martin Luther King program.

The Board of Directors will be meeting Wednesday at 8:00am in person at the Cathedral of the Pines at the Hilltop House. Board updates will be on the agenda for the Thursday morning meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club.

Don't look now, but town and school district elections are right around the corner. Filing for candidates for town and school district elected positions closes at the end of January in both Jaffrey and Rindge.

I can’t wait for January to get be over -- I’m tired of hearing all the ads for weight loss and seeing ads for freezing critters.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (January 5, 2021)

Happy New Year, fellow Rotarians!

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary will meet via ZOOM on Thursday, January 7, at 8:00am. The Board of Directors will be meeting at the Cathedral Pines' Hilltop House on Wednesday, January 13th, at 8:00am.

The topic for discussion at this weekly meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be how do we navigate through the New Hampshire winter amidst COVID-19. Let’s be creative - the best idea will be submitted to Yankee Magazine. Rotary updates will be provided, along with trinkets of club accomplishments.

Zoom passcodes will be announced Wednesday.

Miss you all, and I look forward to our Thursday’s meeting!

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (December 15, 2020)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

There will be no Rotary meeting this week. Our next meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will be via ZOOM on Thursday, January 7th, at 8:00am.

I want to think Rotarian Tom Bennett for orchestrating last week's ZOOM meeting, one that connected our Rotarians with FNE personnel working in Nicaragua. Great job! Let's hope that we can get more to contribute during this giving season. Thank you, Owen, too, for your related excellent article that will appear in the newspaper. Well done!

My next communication will be the first week of January, so for now, Happy Holidays, joy, peace, be safe, and see you on ZOOM next year.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (December 8, 2020)

Hello fellow Rotarians,

May this email find you in good health and safe!

We have an in-person Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, December 9th, 8:00am, at the Cathedral of the Pines.

The Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club will meet via ZOOM on Thursday, December 10th, at 5:00pm.

The first snowfall of the season is a reminder to bring in the wood, stay warm, and drink responsibly, which means don’t spill any!

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

Our Newest Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian -- David Jeffries

David Jeffries, our newest Rotarian, receives his Rotary Pin from sponsor Clay Hollister, at the Hollister residence half-way up Mt. Monadnock. This "high" honor occurred in late November. Welcome David!

President's Message (December 1, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We are all saddened by the passing of our fellow Rotarian, Bill Driscoll, on Saturday, November 28th.

Owen Houghton reported that Bill passed away shortly after the noon hour. Owen stopped in to visit Bill just a few minutes after his passing and noticed that he had on his red socks. What a character! Bill will be surely missed. A memorial service is in the planning stages for sometime in the spring.

There will be no weekly Rotary meeting on Thursday, December 1st. Our next meeting will be December 10th, at 5:00pm late afternoon, via ZOOM. The Board of Directors will meet December 9th at 8:00am ian the Cathedral of the Pines' Hilltop House.

Hopefully, all had a happy Thanksgiving and stayed safe. Let’s count our blessings, and remember Bill Driscoll and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

We remember... with fondness, respect, and sorrow at his passing.

President's Message (November 24, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Enjoy family and friends, and - above all - be safe.

We welcomed to our club a new Rotarian, David Jeffries. David will be a great member and contributor.

Our next meeting will be early evening on Thursday, December 10th, at 5:30pm, via ZOOM.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (November 17, 2020)

Fellow Rotarians,

Due to increasing numbers of active COVID-19 cases (31 in Rindge and 10 in Jaffrey), our meeting will be via ZOOM Thursday, November 19, at 8:00am.

The Membership Committee and the Board of Directors have unanimously nominated and approved David Jeffries for membership. The presentation will be made Thursday.

Our guest speaker will be Laura Christoph, PhD in Public Health and Nutrition. She teaches at Franklin Pierce University, and her talk will be very timely.

Jack Frost greets us most mornings; let’s have warm fellowship and camaraderie via ZOOM.

Lastly, our thoughts and prayers are with Sam Lafortune, Stephanie Porter, Russ Gaskamp, and Bill Driscoll.

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (November 10, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

There will be no meeting this week because of Veterans Day. Our next meeting will be 19 November in person at the VFW, Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Hopefully, all Rotarians can be present and we can do a ZOOM meeting for Peter Davis and anyone else that wants to be on ZOOM.

Beautiful Indian summer lately in November; colder temperatures ahead. Our state flower is the purple lilac, just around the corner.

Speaker and cost of admissions will be announced soon.

Best wishes and happy Veterans Day,

Buck Sergeant Jed

President's Message (November 3, 2020)

Dear fellow Rotarians,

Today is the most important election of our lifetimes. Vote, VOTE, VOTE!!!

There will be no meeting this Thursday, November 5th; I don’t want to deal with hangovers or depression. We will take a week off. However the Board will meet at the Cathedral of the Pines, Wednesday, November 4th, at 8:00am. Bring your mask and coffee.

All is well in this neck of the woods; keep your distance and wear protective gear. Get ready for ski season by waxing your skis at Lahout’s, the oldest ski shop in America, located in Littleton, New Hampshire.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

P.S. Bill Driscoll and Stephanie Porter need our prayers for a speedy recovery. If Bill Driscoll didn’t vote absentee, can someone volunteer to drive him to the polls?

Picture courtesy of President Jed Brummer

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Donates Masks to Town of Rindge

Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary President Jed Brummer recently attended the Rotary District 7870 Million Mask distribution in Concord, part of a New England Rotary program to distribute some one million masks to first responders and other critical personnel in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Receiving some of these masks as part of District 7870's share is Rindge Town Administrator Sue Gravell and Rindge Police Chief (and Jaffrey-Rindge Rotarian) Dan Anair.

President's Message (October 27, 2020)

Good morning, fellow Rotarians,

We had a successful roadside pick up, thanks to a crew of ten, two of who were non-Rotarians. With just eight Rotarians, Mike Shea is giving a heads up for the spring turn out - we need help. Thank you, Ginny Russell and Dick Reynolds.

This week's meeting will be in person at Woodbound Inn at 7:15am on October 29th; the cost of the breakfast, including tax and tip, will be $11.00. Please bring cash or check.

'Tis the hunting season, and I tried to get an officer from Fish & Game; it was a longshot, and I missed. They said, "Can’t speak until after the hunting season due to being undermanned and overworked." Still looking for a speaker, if anyone has a suggestion.

Don’t forget to mask up and keep social distance. See you all Thursday, smiling and awake.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (October 20, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

As an old Yankee, I think this fall foliage season has been spectacular, and - therefore - I look forward to seeing your colorful faces on ZOOM this Thursday, October 22nd, at 7:15am. Owen Houghton has an inspiring invocation and Bill Raymond, "The Voice," will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Several topics to discuss; bring your good thoughts, joys, and thanksgivings.

Remember that Saturday, October 24th, we have our rescheduled Roadside Pickup at 8:00am. Last week, we were rained out. Weather should be good THIS time around. Meet at the usual place!

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (October 13, 2020)

Fellow Rotarians,

There will be no meeting this week, Thursday, October 15th, due to the Columbus Day or Indigenous Day holiday,

However, our services will be needed for Roadside Pickup on Saturday, October 17th, at 8:00am, with the 24th being a back-up date in case of rain. Mike Shea is asking for all hands on deck to make the pick up go quick and easy. Kick off is at West Ridge builders.

Rotarians thank Caroline, Clay, and Steve Jackson for inviting us to tour the almost completed Park Theatre. An outstanding achievement under difficult circumstances. Our best wishes for a quick opening.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

Photographs of the Park Theatre tour, conducted by Caroline Hollister, courtesy of Rotarian Bill Raymond

President's Message (October 6, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We have the pleasure of meeting in person at the Park Theatre on Thursday, October 8th, at 8:00am. Coffee and donuts will be made available, thanks to Stephanie Porter. Caroline Hollister will have top billing, as she provides Rotarians and spouses a guided tour. Don’t forget your face mask; there’s plenty of space to keep our social distance.

The Board Of Directors will meet this Wednesday, October 7th, at 7:30am, at the Cathedral of the Pines' Hilltop House.

Remember there will be no meeting of the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club on Thursday, October 15th, because of the Columbus Day holiday. The next meeting will be October 22nd.

A Rotarian in space,

Yours truly,

Jed

President's Message (September 29, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

This week we meet via ZOOM at 7:15am, Thursday morning, October 1st, to listen to our District Governor Steve Puderbaugh talk about the state of our district amid COVID-1. Steve is serving during a difficult time; however, he is spearheading new initiatives such as the "Million Masks Distribution" on October 6th in Concord and the mobile food drive-in at Keene on October 8th. Steve, a veterinarian, owns and operates an animal hospital in Raymond, and he might be open to one or two critter questions. Let’s have all hands on ZOOM to welcome our district governor.

October 8th, we’re meeting in person at the Park Theatre and a tour of the almost-completed facility. Coffee and donuts will be served. Any actors that wanna' perform their talents are welcome. Thank you, Clay and Caroline!

I also want to thank Jon Frederick for last week's excellent presentation on the waterfront.

Yours truly

Jed

Water, Water, Everywhere.... and coming up, plenty to drink!

Jaffrey Town Manager and fellow Rotarian Jon Frederick explains the history of the partnership of Jaffrey and the neighboring town of Peterborough relative to future water supplies that will benefit both towns, as well as local industry. Jon's presentation on the waterfront at the Contoocook Lake public beach was well-received by Rotarians. Coffee and donuts/muffins were eagerly scarfed down by hungry Rotarians and helped to fuel numerous questions about the project that were fielded by Jon.

President's Remarks (September 22, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting will be at the Contoocook Public Beach on Thursday, September 24th, at 7:30 in the morning. Coffee and donuts; donations accepted.

Our speaker will be Jon Frederick, who will discuss Jaffrey’s water - past, present, and future. Since we will be talking about water - at Jon’s inspiration - it is very appropriate to meet at the beach. Bring a beach chair. Spouses are welcome. Morning temperature will be around 50°. Thursday’s high will be 75°, so it will be a beautiful day to be on the water.

Contoocook Lake is at the headwaters of the Contoocook River, one of the few rivers that flows north, as most rivers flow south towards the equator.

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

President's Message (September 15, 2020)

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

This week's meeting on Thursday, September 17th, will be at 7:15am via ZOOM. Up for discussion will be our future meetings - via ZOOM or in person?

At next week's meeting on September 24th, we will hear from one of our own, Jon Frederick, Jaffrey Town Manager, who will speak on the history of Jaffrey water, past, present, and its future.

Did you know that the first ski club in the United States was the Nansen Ski Club in Berlin, New Hampshire, established in 1882?

A Rotarian in service,

Jed

The Walk is Coming!!!!!!

September 26^th and the 2020 Western NH Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Our committee has been working throughout the year to plan this year's event, and despite all of the adversity we are all currently experiencing, we have a great event planned. We are thrilled to see a record number of teams signed up to participate, along with record local corporate giving! However……

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO COMPLETE THE WORK!!! To end this ravaging disease, we need your help in raising the dollars needed now more than ever for research, support, and education. Walking is so important to show your support, but it is mission-critical to have our walkers help us raise money for those impacted by Alzheimer's or another related dementia.

You can help by:

Asking people for their support and securing donations
Giving to the event, if you're unable to join us in Walking
Use Social Media as a way of letting your loved ones know how they can help your efforts!
Start a Team
Growing your team by recruiting more team members

Our group has done an outstanding job, but in all honestly, we can't finish the job without the help of the entire community.

Our 2019 Co-Chair, Owen Houghton, says, " The reality of the inevitable ending sustained our family to the end of her life, and we are honored to now celebrate her life with this Purple Flower tribute for all Deceased Alzheimer’s Victims: After living for 10 years in the shadow of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Norma was set free from the prison of a disease without a cure. Her family celebrated her release and recalled all the blessings of a life well-lived, hoping that someday the PURPLE FLOWER for deceased Alz victims would disappear.” Join Owen in helping us in our efforts to #ENDALZ by registering and fundraising for our 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Please think about ways you could help us cross the finish line together. Thank you in advance, and together we can end Alzheimer's!

Sincerely your 2020 Committee,

President's Message (September 8, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

No meeting this week due to the Labor Day holiday. The Board of Directors will meet Wednesday morning, September 9th, at our regularly scheduled meeting at 7:30am via ZOOM.

Rotarians, please keep in mind creative ideas for our virtual fundraiser to replace the traditional Raffle Party in November. This could be a fundraiser that takes place in the Spring, too.

Since my mind is in virtual reality these days given ZOOM and all the other technological advances, remember that the first American in space was Alan Shepard from East Derry, New Hampshire. He was also the first human to carry a golf club to the moon.

Look forward to see y’all in space next week.

A Rotarian in Service,

Jed

President's Message (September 1, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

We are meeting via ZOOM on Thursday morning, September 3rd, at 7:15am.

Our speaker will be Reuben Duncan, Superintendent of Schools for SAU47, who will speak about the pandemic, as well as the reinduction of students and teachers from kindergarten to high school. Think about questions you might want to ask, and let’s have a good showing.

Remember that the Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary Club won’t be meeting next week because of Labor Day.

Since the schools are on our mind, please note that Sarah Hale from Newport, New Hampshire, was the one who wrote the song, ”Mary Had a Little Lamb."

Yours in service,

Jed

President's Message (August 25, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

There will be no meeting this week on Thursday, August 27th.

There will be a ZOOM meeting the following week (Thursday, September 3rd), with Jaffrey/Rindge School District Superintendent Reuben Duncan as our guest speaker. It’ll be a good opportunity to learn about the SAU's re-opening and achieving objectives.

Hope all is well, and let’s have a good turn out on September 3rd.

A Rotarian,

Jed

P.S. Brentwood Country Club Rotary District 7870 Golf Tournament update: Ben Wheeler, Jon Frederick, Todd Muilenberg, and Jed tied for fourth place. We will have to practice to be the champions next year.

President's Message (August 18, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

Calling on all Rotarians to put on their creative thinking caps to come up with a virtual fundraiser for the club. Due to the COVID-19 virus, there will be definite needs in the community for us to support.

This week's meeting will be on ZOOM and starts at 7:15am on Thursday, August 20th. A URL for the ZOOM will be sent shortly to all Rotarians.

Did you know that New Hampshire was the first state to have its own constitution?

Yours in Service,

Jed

P.S. Thank you, Kathleene Card, for your email - good start on initiating a virtual fundraiser.

Rotarians gathered at Monadnock Christian Ministries for our Thursday morning meeting two weeks ago. Courtesy of Rotarian Harold Davis, here are some of the two dozen pictures that he took at https://photos.app.goo.gl/tNFX2JXxycKYQgek7

Thank you, Roy and Karen!

Kudos to both Rotarian Roy Baldwin and Karen Baldwin, without whom Camp BEST would not have taken place. Fifty Jaffrey/Rindge Middle Schoolers enjoyed four weeks at Camp BEST that - in July 2020 - took place at Monadnock Christian Ministries, where Roy is their Executive Director. Thank you, Roy and Karen!!!

President's Message (July 28, 2020)

Thank you, Rotarians, for making the pilgrimage to Maplewood Nursing Home. Peter and Barbara were very grateful. Special thanks goes to Bob Schaumann, Ricky Lambert, and Ricky Cleveland for their military service. Our Sergeant at Arms, Stephanie Porter, was right there with coffee and donuts. Thanks, Steph!

Not to be outdone, Susan Emerson provided colorful posters for Pete and Barbara.

To take advantage of beautiful summer weather, this week’s meeting of the Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary Club will be held at the Cathedral of the Pines at 4:30pm, Thursday afternoon, July 30th. It will be a combined regular meeting and fellowship. BYOB and hors d’oeuvres, just as we did at Gavel Night.

Our Jaffrey/Rindge Scholarship recipient, Jillian Patria, will be recognized at our Cathedral meeting. I hope many can attend to enjoy good fellowship on what promises to be a nice Thursday afternoon.

Did you know that the State of New Hampshire was first known as North Virginia?

See you all soon!

Yours in Service,

Jed

Over three dozen pictures of our June 23rd meeting that took place at the Maplewood Nursing Home, courtesy of Harold Davis, are found at https://photos.app.goo.gl/WQUo48fCedzhNjZr6

Our Rotarian of the Day -- Peter Davis

The Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary Club travelled to Westmoreland to the Maplewood Nursing Home. From inside the facility, a smiling Peter Davis was happy to see his fellow Rotarians. Over twenty Rotarians and guests were present to extend good wishes to both Peter and his wife, Barbara.

Why Not? Let's Bring the Rotary Meeting to Peter!

Because of the pandemic and so that he might see his wife, Barbara, on a regular basis, Rotarian Peter Davis, at his own expense, has been a resident at the Maplewood Nursing Home for the past three months as a caregiver for Barbara. Otherwise, were he to leave and because of the pandemic, he would not be allowed to re-enter the building. That's Peter behind the window, along with Barbara (not visible), and many Rotarians who came to wish the married couple (60 years!!) good wishes. We miss you, Peter!

Rotary - When You Care Enough to Send The Very Best

(Sorry, Hallmark...)

The signs say it all. No further explanation necessary. We miss you, Peter!

President's Message (July 21, 2020)

Hi Fellow Rotarians,

As some may know, Rotarian Peter Davis has been in the county nursing home sequestered for the last 3+ months. Due to the strict coronas virus regulations at the nursing home, Peter’s been unable to go anywhere, not even outside. Otherwise, he can't re-enter the facility to visit with Barbara, his wife.

So, instead of our weekly meeting, the plan is to rendezvous that morning at the Home Depot parking lot in Keene on Thursday, July 23rd, at 9 o’clock. From there, Rotarians will caravan with the motorcycle escort provided by Ricky Cleveland to the county nursing home to see Pete.

We will gather in the nursing home parking lot. Owen Houghton will have the invocation, and Ricky Lambert and Bob Schaumann will provide the honor guard. Stephanie Niemela will have Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and donuts. Peter will be inside at a designated window so he can wave at us, and we can wave back our best wishes to Barbara and Peter. My hope is to have a big turnout.

See you all at Home Depot, and - by the way - our State flower is the purple lilac. The State dog is the chinook.

Yours in-service,

Jed

Photographs of our Woodbound Inn Breakfast Meeting on Thursday, July 16th, courtesy of Harold Davis. Additional pictures may be found at https://photos.app.goo.gl/gDkoDHWGyvSekAk49

Wren Wolterbeek Honored as "Interactor of the Year"

With a smiling Mark Wolterbeek (L) approving, daughter Wren Wolterbeek, a graduating senior from Conant High School, was recognized by the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club as "Interactor of the Year." In making the presentation, Rotarian Sheila Roberge (R), Rotary Advisor to the Interact Club, complimented Wren on her outstanding year as President of the 50+ member Interactor Club. This was Wren's second year as Interact President. Wren will be matriculating at Yale University in the Fall. Club President Jed Brummer is in the background.

Proud Papa and Distinguished Daughter

Wren Wolterbeek poses with her father, Mark Wolterbeek, at the breakfast table shortly before Wren was recognized by the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club as "Interactor of the Year." Wren was the class Valedictorian, Conant High School. Class of 2020. The Wolterbeek's live in Rindge.

Dr. Tom Bennett Dispenses a Thoughtful Perspective

For four months, weekly Thursday morning meetings have taken place via ZOOM, with 18-25 Rotarians coming together at 7:15AM. Should we reinstate breakfast meetings? When discussion took place relative to reinstating breakfast meetings on a regular basis, Rotarian Tom Bennett shared some good perspectives regarding the coronavirus, potential risks, and the value of wearing masks. "There is a concern that the virus can be carried on aerosolized particles that can remain in the air much longer than droplets."

Will There Be Football At Franklin Pierce University in the Fall?

That was the big question, as Rotarian and FPU Head Football Coach Russ Gaskamp awaited word from the Conference. That same day, a decision was made to reluctantly cancel all conference sports due to the pandemic. This affects all sports at FPU, including football. Who's holding the mic? Our President - Jed Brummer - who, to limit excessive handling of the microphone, roamed the room to collect money.

What Is Stephanie Pondering?

Looking studious, our masked Team Jaffrey leader and Rotarian Stephanie Porter ponders a Happy Fines comment by a fellow Rotarian.

Who's That?

If it weren't for the badge, our masked "beardless" Past President Jon Frederick might not be recognized. Jon contributed some bucks to the pot for Happy Fines, as did many Rotarians, which helped to make up for monies not collected the past four months while ZOOM conferencing.

President's Message (July 14, 2020)

Hello Rotarians!!

Our meeting this week on July 16th will be at the Woodbound Inn, starting at 7:15am. Please bring your mask. Reverend Kathleene Card has the Invocation, and we can all sing America the Beautiful.

Owen Houghton reports that all is well at Camp BEST.

Did you know that New Hampshire’s State House is the oldest state capital in which a legislature still meets in its original chamber?

Other than that, stay out of the sun or the dermatologist will get you.

Yours in Service,

Jed

What does a Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary ZOOM Meeting Look Like?

President's Message (July 14, 2020)

Hello Rotarians!!

Our meeting this week on July 16th will be at the Woodbound Inn, starting at 7:15am. Please bring your mask. Clay Hollister has the Invocation, and we can all sing America the Beautiful.

Owen Houghton reports that all is well at Camp BEST.

Did you know that New Hampshire’s State House is the oldest state capital in which a legislature still meets in its original chamber?

Other than that, stay out of the sun or the dermatologist will get you.

Yours in Service,

Jed

What does a Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary ZOOM Meeting Look Like?

President's Message (June 30, 2020)

Fellow Rotarians,

First of all, I want to congratulate Jon, Tonya, John, and Randy for their service to the Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary Club and our two communities. It was a great Gavel Night and a good way to say thanks to them, especially President Jon, who completed a successful year as our President.

As the Fourth of July is on Saturday, we will not meet this Thursday. Our next meeting will be via ZOOM on Thursday morning, July 9th, with a social quarter hour at 7:15am. The actual business meeting will begin, as usual, at 7:30am.

As I look ahead, there are several opportunities for the Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary Club to have additional impact in our two towns. Given that this is our last year of Camp BEST, opportunities exist to reach out to children at risk. One community project that we might wish to consider would be to look at the old Crocker Junkyard on Rt. 202, and restore it as a children’s playground.

For the Rotary to remain relevant, we will create achievable goals that will resonate in both Jaffrey and Rindge. I look forward to working with our Interactors, welcoming foreign exchange students, moving forward with our Nicaragua project, and pursuing the possibility of a Rotaract at Franklin Pierce University, along with other projects agreeable to my fellow Rotarians. More to follow…

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Yours in Service,

Jed

Five Dozen Gavel Night pictures, courtesy of Harold Davis, may be found at

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNlaTuuDiFUwa5xZ1rvNF0jxgGNIQw-s6a35uVYdwF6f-erY1O7XfPK_89ZBDe9Yw?key=WkZHRDRINFJGeEpEanhJaktsdVkwT19DSXoyMjRB

Outgoing President Jon Frederick Reflects on The Past Year

President Jon Frederick reflects on his year as Jaffrey/Rindge 2019-2020 President, a year in which the pandemic called for a radical change in how the Club met and functioned. Jon thanked his fellow Rotarians for all that they did and that contributed to yet another good year for the Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary Club.

Incoming President Jed Brummer Shares His Reflections

Incoming President Jed Brummer capitalized on the opportunity to share good words about the upcoming year, and he looks forward to a great year in 2020-2021! Within his remarks on several topics, Jed reflected his desire that we continue our commitment to youth and reach out to children in our two communities, especially now that Camp BEST is coming to an end.

Past President Jon Frederick Recognized With Rotary Plaque

President Jed Brummer congratulated outgoing President Jon Frederick on a great year, and presented him with a plaque that recognized Jon's good work and service as Jaffrey/Rindge Rotary President, 2019-2020. More than 30 Rotarians and their guests came to Gavel Night, this year at the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge.

How Sweet It is!!

Jon Frederick, who enjoys Jim Beam Black, received his second bottle of libation that night, this time as a gift from President Jed Brummer.

Clay Hollister Introduces John McCarthy, Paul Harris Fellow!

Rotarian John McCarthy, who has been strongly involved with the Rotary Youth Exchange and the Nicaragua Project Rotary International Foundation Grant effort, was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow during Gavel Night festivities. Clay Hollister introduced John as our newest Paul Harris Fellow for his fine and detailed work that resulted in making many things happen over the years. Pinning John is fellow Paul Harris recipient Randy Morse.

Recognizing Tonya Albee, Camp Quest/BEST Chair

Tonya Albee has served as Chairperson of Camp BEST (formerly Camp QUEST) for ten years. The Club recognized Tonya's contributions, which have benefitted several hundred Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School children over the years, with a beautiful engraved glass vase.

We'll Miss You, Randy Morse!

Randy Morse, after seven years as a Jaffrey/Rindge Rotarian, was recognized with a Rotary Clock with engraved sentiments. Randy will be leaving us as he heads south, along with Barbara, to new opportunities. Randy has served the Club in a number of capacities, most recently as Membership Chair and Club Secretary. We will miss you, Randy -- come back and see us!!

Tables are Turned on Bob!

On the lighter side, one of President Jon's last duties before turning over the gavel was to turn the tables on Bob Schaumann, Past President, 2017-2019. Teamed with Jon at the recent Roadside Clean-up, Bob "trash talked" Jon during their friendly competition to see who could find the most discarded bottles of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, a beverage known for its unique ability to make its way to the sides of roadways. Jon presented Bob with a 20-pack container of 1-oz. Fireball bottles, which Bob is sure to enjoy when no one is looking. "It tastes good chilled, I am told," Jon said. A moment later, Bob presented Jon with a bottle of Jim Beam Black, noting it to be the superior libation!

President's Message (June 23, 2020)

Fellow Rotarians,

My final president’s message to the club. Thank you all for your support throughout the past Rotary year. This has been a great experience, and I appreciate the opportunity. I look forward to our next year with President Brummer. Good luck, Jed!

Gavel Night is Thursday, June 25th, 5:30pm, at the Cathedral of the Pines. Ben Wheeler has the Ivocation. It may not be typical to sing at this event, but I would like to hear “America the Beautiful” in person to close the Rotary year. I miss the beautiful harmony.

Please bring your own refreshments and food. We will tailgate in the parking lot. If the weather does not cooperate, we will be inside the Hilltop House.

Jed’s first meeting will be July 9th. We are off on July 2nd for Independence Day. Details to follow on where we are meeting.

Again, thank you all very much for your support. See you Thursday, and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Jon

Service Above Self
One Profits Most Who Serves Best

Thanks, Jon, for a great year as our President, 2019-2020!

(Picture snuck in by the Bulletin Editor when Jon wasn't looking!)

President's Message (June 16, 2020)

Fellow Rotarians,

We tried to have an in-person meeting this week, but no restaurant is prepared to receive us as of yet. Therefore, our club meeting on Thursday will be via Zoom at 7:15am. Bill Raymond will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and America the Beautiful. We will also have biography presentations from Russell Gaskamp and Greg Walsh.

Gavel Night is Thursday, June 25th, at 5:30pm at the Cathedral of the Pines. We will err on the side of caution and not provide community food or drink. Please bring your own refreshments and food. We will tailgate in the parking lot. If the weather does not cooperate, we will be inside the Hilltop House.

Following Gavel Night, our next meeting will be on July 9th. We are off July 2nd for Independence Day. Hopefully, we will be able to meet in person for Jed’s first meeting.

See you Thursday, and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Jon

Service Above Self

One Profits Most Who Serves Best

Remembering the Past... Gavel Night 2016

President's Message (June 9, 2020)

Fellow Rotarians,

Our next club meeting is Thursday at 7:15am on Zoom. Gail Therriault will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. We will have a special guest appearance for America the Beautiful. We will also have biography presentations from Kathleene Card and Roy Baldwin.

The Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday morning at 7:30am on Zoom. One of the issues we will be discussing is Gavel Night. Details from our Board meeting will be shared on Thursday morning.

Town Meeting for Jaffrey is officially in the books. I counted nine Rotarians in attendance. Thank you for attending this historic event.

See you Thursday, and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Jon

Service Above Self
One Profits Most Who Serves Best

Do we remember... Driscoll with a mustache????

Gavel Night 2013

President's Message (June 2, 2020)

Fellow Rotarians,

Welcome to June! (Gavel Night is coming soon!)

With the Governor extending our Stay at Home order by two weeks, we will meet again on Zoom on Thursday morning at 7:15am. Clay Hollister will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Owen Houghton will sing America the Beautiful.

We will be joined by our scheduled guest speakers, Patty Farmer and Glenn Galloway, from the Elm City Rotary Club. They will be speaking to us about their success in recruiting members. I am sure the conversation will lead to how their club has handled the COVID-19 crisis.

Below is an email from District 7870 about a fun fundraising evening taking place this Saturday, June 6th, at 7:30pm:

Hello Rotary Club Leaders,

We're having a little party - Why? Because we continue to do great things and we deserve to celebrate together and with the community. Here's the simple points of why you should care and buy your ticket right away! Tickets are already selling; buy yours, invite your fun loving friends, share with club members, and get ready to get down! Below you'll see the invitation and a quick step-by-step attachment that will help you succeed at the Stayin' Alive (at Home) Disco Gala. If you have any questions or comments, give us a shout!

· Who – 500 Donors recruited by District 7870 members

· What – An on-line 75 minutes of Zoom music, dancing, COVID updates and just plain fun “Stayin’ Alive (at Home) Disco Gala” to raise funds for our clubs

· When – June 6th, 7:30pm - 8:45pm

· Where – Online (Zoom), the link to the event will be sent to you the week of the event.

· Why – Raise money for our clubs to support local restaurants and your local heroes during this pandemic.

· Why now/so quickly: Our states are opening up; people are tired of Stayin’ at home. As the states are likely to be opening up more at the end of May/early June; we want to help people “Break Out” of their confinement with a celebration.

· How – Purchase your tickets at 7870gala.com, click "Join Us" or "Donate", put in your information and your choose your club. You share this link with friends of your Rotary, asking them to donate a minimum of $20 through the website in the name of your club. Their reward - they get an invite to join the “Stayin’ Alive Disco Gala” event. After the event, the money you raised is returned to you (minus Credit Card processing costs - around 3%) to buy gift certificates to local restaurants and then pass them out to your local heroes (and you make sure to get press coverage of that event).

· Compelling points for Rotary clubs

· The fundraiser is already planned by the District Public Image team – no planning needed by the local clubs.

· Money raised from donations by local clubs comes back to their local club.

· You will have a template to use for your future fundraising (helpful if you’ve had outdoor events canceled, like many of us have), especially if there are future cycles of lockdowns because of COVID resurgence.