Stories

The Dover High School - Interact students recently helped with the Don’t Trash Dover clean-up. It was great to see them getting outside and earning Community Service hours while learning. Thank you from the Rotary Club of Dover!

Look what we have started!

The Rotary Club of Dover’s Victory Community Garden at Garrison Hill Park and Tower is growing. With the help of our club and others in the community, we have planted berms and squash to grow to help support those with food needs in our community.

The Rotary Club of Dover had the opportunity this week to partner with the Woodman Museum and offer an Open House to share with the community how the club has been a big part of the Dover community for the past 97 years. We were able to gather with friends for an evening of friendship & fellowship and recognized dedicated citizens and organizations for efforts that have done and will continue to do for others in need of assistance.

.

DOVER — Seacoast Endowment for Education in Dover (SEED), a nonprofit organization dedicated to lifting academic excellence in Dover schools, accepted a $4,159 donation from The Rotary Club of Dover to help fund two literacy grants in Dover public schools.

According to Rotary Club of Dover President Jim Munro, literacy is one of the club’s main areas of focus. “We are pleased to provide SEED funding for these targeted reading initiatives and applaud their efforts to support teachers and promote educational excellence for Dover students.”

The first literacy grant, awarded to Dover High School Language Arts Teacher Leslie Hocking, will be used to underwrite her Reading for Fun proposal valued at $2,500. A longitudinal study spearheaded by Dr. Mariah Evans of the University of Nevada, Reno, found the greater the number of books in a household, the greater the positive impact on the child.

The funding will provide every freshman at Dover High a book of their choice, free of charge as part of their high school orientation. In conjunction with a $5,000 sponsorship from Barnes and Nobles, the students will have a variety of current, high-interest books to select. “This grant reaches students in a way that no classroom does, filling an important gap in their education,” said Hocking.

The second grant award was bestowed to Kelly Cote to purchase literacy supplies and tools for the entire Woodman Park School first grade, which consists of approximately 120 students. The two-part grant will allow for Take Home Reading Bags—backpacks filled with reading level books for first grade students to transport to and from home—and provide socially distanced classroom tools such as individual seat pockets to keep student materials organized and easily accessible during learning times; clipboards for use during outside learning time; and classroom stools for flexible seating options.

In a 2019 article published in ScienceDirect, a study found that immersing children in book-orientated environments benefits their later educational achievement, attainment, and occupational standing. “Many of our students come from families of low economic status that may not have access to quality books appropriate for their reading skills,” said Cote “The Take Home Reading Bags provide students with access to quality books so they can read daily at home.”

To learn more about SEED and its mission to create a legacy for educational excellence in Dover public schools, visit doverseed.org.

The story can be read at Foster's Daily Democrat: Dover Rotary Honors Local Businesses and Individuals for Their Community Service.

With the screech of an air horn to end the evening Women’s League golf event, the outdoor celebration of Gregg Dowty’s year as President moved inside the club house. President, Gregg Dowty welcomed members and plus-ones in attendance. With our Bingo fundraiser back in play, Phil Rinaldi announced a 3-month net contribution from Bingo that we can use to give back to the community. With the annual golf tournament taking place on Monday, Gregg extended his thanks to Kathy Fink, the Golf Committee and all who participated in the brutally hot game. Upcoming meetings and events were announced, including the Rotary Open House to be held on July 7th at the Woodman Museum starting at 4:30pm. As we begin the new Rotary year, the motto will be Serve to Change Lives.

President Gregg’s “Wizardly” Year End Comments:

• President, Gregg described 2020-21 as “an amazing year”- we set a goal of completing eight service projects and ended up with 28 projects!
• The club exemplified Service Above Self during a challenging year, stayed connected and commited.
• Gregg concluded his remarks and his year as President of the Rotary Club of Dover, NH, with a familiar tale about the Wizard of Oz that proved you don’t have to look for a wizard or follow a yellow-brick road to find people with brains, hearts and courage.
• Rotarians are a collection of wise people who care about each other and want to make a difference.

You truly made a difference Gregg Dowty - thank you for an incredible year and incredible leadership!

The Rotary Club of Dover NH, President Elect, Jim Munro presented Paul Harris Fellow Awards to our fellow Rotarians, Doug Locy, Kathy Fink, Frank Biehl, Ram Ramdev, Gregg Dowty, Naila Aslam, Ed Hokinski, Megan Keil, Doug Glennon, and Ken McCann. He also presented a Paul Harris Fellow +1 award to Donna Rinaldi and Malcolm McNeill, and a Paul Harris +6 award to Dick Clark.

Our club thanks all of you for your generosity and commitment to the ideals of Rotary.

The first of many deliveries to the Senior Communities in Dover from the Rotary Club of Dover. We miss our visits with the Seniors due to COVID and we look to be back on our Senior Visits real soon. Until we visit again, we hope you enjoy!

Thank you to The Flower Room for the beautiful planting.

Last year, the Rotary Club of Dover NH applied for and met all the criteria to be awarded a District Grant to have the City of Dover NH install bike racks in multiple locations throughout the City of Dover, including Henry Law Rotary Park Amphitheater & Gardens, Dover Public Library, City Hall, Dover Transportation Center, and other places in the Downtown Retail District.

In a post COVID 19 world, fewer People will be anxious to use public transportation. In addition many people have found that working from home is a more attractive alternative to the daily commute. at the same time, the city of Dover is experiencing a large influx of new residents who are young and active. These factors have and will contribute to an increase use of bicycles as a primary method of local transportation.

There will be some rocks described as “wave racks” intended for up to five bicycles. Additionally some racks are intended to use for one or two bikes that are designated to fit in with the downtown historic district design motif.

We estimate 25 to 50 people per day will use the bike racks at any given time which will mean up to almost 100 uses daily.

These racks are designed to be removed during the winter to ensure the investment will last a long time.

As you can see the racks through this grant show through the Rotary symbol that our Rotarians care about those in our community.

Join the Rotary Club of Dover NH, Community Action Partnership of Strafford County and Gather to keep local food pantries stocked by dropping off non-perishable food items.

This food drive will take place from 9:00am-12:00pm on May 1st in the parking lot of Tucker's located at 238 Indian Brook Drive in Dover.

Help us help those those in need!

On Saturday morning, if you were out and about, you may have seen Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Dover NH as we shopped for those in need through our Homeless project as we partner with Community Action Partnership of Strafford County to deliver items in need, including wool gloves, hats, long underwear, wool socks, rain coats, tarps and gift cards to Dunkin Donuts.

We look to delivering these items this week to CAP so that they can get to those in need in our Dover community.

DOVER – Dover Public Library staff and other city officials gave thanks to the Rotary Club of Dover for its $75,000 donation to upgrade the children’s room in the library at an event Thursday in the McConnell Center Cafeteria.

Read the Full Article at fosters.com

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

Twenty years!

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

I used to love the "Unwanted Christmas Gift auction" that John Cogan used to do. He would always pick on Malcolm, especially if Malcolm wasn't in attendance! I also enjoy the Annual Golf Tournament.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I currently line in Downtown Dover.

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. My father was originally from New Jersey but was working on his PHD in Clinical Psychology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. When I was in 4th grade, we spent a year in England while my dad taught a visiting year at the University of Leeds. It was fascinating to go to an English school and study about Guy Fawkes, Kings and Queens, and learn how to spell words the English way.

The most important thing that happened while we lived in England was that my homeroom teacher happened to be the choir director. She asked me to play piano for a piece that the choir was singing and that started my lifelong career as an accompanist!

After England, my father was offered a job at UNH and we settled in Durham where I stayed through high school graduation and then college. Since then I have lived in Boston, York, Dover, back to Durham, Rochester, and finally back to Dover where we plan to stay!

4. My Hobbies:

I love to read, swim, crochet, walk the dog, go to theater in Boston and NYC with my husband of 34 years, and watch movies.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

I am primarily a piano teacher and professional pianist for church, choirs and musical theater.

As part of the “Million Mask Challenge”, the Rotary Club of Dover NH distributed and delivered 3,000 masks to the Dover School Superintendent of Schools, Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, Community Partners NH, SOS Recovery Community Organization, Triangle Club, The Doorway, and Wentworth Home so that they can share with their employees and clients as they come through their doors in order to be safe.

There is plenty of work to be done to help others in our Dover Community and Rotary makes it easy!

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

I have been a Rotarian for 11 years. I joined Rotary in Utica NY at the urging of my financial advisor, Catherine McEnroe, who is still a member of that club.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

It was in Utica that I developed a passion for reading to first and second graders once a week in a program that was developed long before I came on the scene. At one time 60 Utica Rotarians participated, but by the time I got involved it was less than a dozen and finally was terminated. We would have continued it forever, but due to a state wide change in education policy, all “extraneous” enrichment offered by non-school personnel was severely cut back or terminated just as I was leaving Utica to head to the NH Seacoast in 2013.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I live in Dover after 17 years of living in Utica and 17 years before that in Salem MA where I met my late wife, Mary. I was born in Ithaca NY and stayed there for all of 6 months, not too many memories of life high above Cayuga’s waters, I’m afraid. After that my life was a whirlwind of changing residences, Oak Park Illinois, the Bronx, Johnson, Cranston, and Providence, Rhode Island all before I was 7. I did end up in Providence from the 4th grade through graduating from Brown University with a degree in Anthropology. Next it was 5 years in Rochester NY as an anthropology grad student and a staff announcer for WBBF-FM a commercial classical radio station. When it went under on Valentine’s day 1976 with me as the last on air announcer [I played Haydn’s “Farewell” Symphony], the local public radio station WXXI picked us up.

4. My Hobbies:

My hobbies include the two “s”s, singing and sailing. As a tenor I never have a problem finding a spot in a community chorus or small ensemble. During the pandemic I have been exploring the wonders of virtual performance! Until I came to Seacoast NH I’ve always had some sort of a sailboat. Not sure if I’ll venture down that path again, but I’m severely tempted every other week. Pre-pandemically I indulged in my passion by volunteering as crew on the gundalow “Piscataqua” handling lines four times the diameter of what I had been used to on my 21 foot sloop. When I was in my 50s and academic jobs were drying up yet another time, I retooled as a Museum Director thanks to a magnificent program at Framingham State. The thrill of my life was becoming Museum Director/Manager for the Shako:wi Cultural Center of the Oneida Nation of New York. At last I had found a niche that matched my skills and talents and was of use to the public!

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

I’ve been retired since 2009 and a widower since early 2015 so have had time to devote to one of my first loves – writing. I have been writing poetry since my teen-aged years, but have been more disciplined about it in the past five years writing at least one poem a day. My “The Mary Poems” appeared in 2016 and I have some of my individual poems published in print an online.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

Something my fellow Rotarians might not know about me is that when I was a pre-adolescent I was a student at Christopher Wren School in London England. As the sole Yank, I was encouraged to provide entertainment to my mates at Christmas, so I played a mock guitar and sang “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” to the whole school at the Christmas Pageant, successfully to my surprise. More to the point, the education I got in the short time I was in First Form [=7 th grade here] was so intensive I didn’t have to crack a book to get an A in almost any subject after I got back to the States until the 10 th grade although I had been only a fair to middling student in “Merry Olde” [as we jokingly called England]

7. Final words:

My final thought is that the fellowship, sincerity of purpose, and follow through on community service projects that Rotary provides has been a source of comfort to and purpose for me ever since I joined back in Utica in October of 2009. I still can’t think of a better way to stay in touch with the pulse of our community here in Dover and to be afforded the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of all of our citizens. It is an honor to be part of a pragmatic outfit that lives up to its ideals.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

20 years

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

Shortly after I joined Rotary, I found out that I was expecting my first child. I loved sitting with Doc Wilson who gave me tons of advice for my new baby. Ozzy was one of my first visitors in the hospital (he volunteered at WDH and made me promise to call the volunteer office to let him know). Gary D. shared some very special parental advice with me that I cherish. They were all there for this very special part of my life.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I live in Dover but grew up in Concord, NH. I like to say that Dover is just like Concord but with better access to the ocean. I love being part of the Dover community.

4. My Hobbies:

I love to ski, sit on the beach, walk my dogs, take photos, and travel. I won’t say I am a runner but I do enjoy the Dover Race series, have plans for Reach the Beach in 2021 and I get killer splat points at Orange Theory. Pre-covid, I spent a lot of time cheering on my kids from the sidelines, working concession stands or driving to every sport field or band show in New England.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

I am the CEO of Community Action Partnership of Strafford County and celebrated my 10th anniversary this September. I can honestly say that I look forward to going to work each day with an incredible team.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

I went to Space Camp. After the Challenger, a school in Scottsdale, AZ raised money to send two students from Concord to Space Camp. I was chosen to attend with another student from Concord. I was in 7th grade. It was my first plane ride and we went without parents! It was an incredible experience to be one of 400 kids with only 13 females at camp. The work of STEM is so incredibly important for rising middle school students, especially girls, in our schools.

7. Final words:

There are incredible opportunities to be engaged with Rotary and flexibility depending on where you are in your life. I appreciate the support from my fellow Rotarians over the years and connections I have made. I look forward to another 20 years.

This week I have the opportunity to interview and learn about our Rotarian, Ken Plante.

Sit back, relax and let’s learn about Ken.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

Ten years or so.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

Hands on projects. They are a great opportunity to get to know other members. See you at the shredding event on Saturday.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I grew up in Somersworth and moved to Dover with my parents in 1980. Elaine and I live on Back Road in Dover.

4. My Hobbies:

Cycling, golf, skiing, cooking. I also enjoy working in the yard when I have time.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

I own and operate Tri-City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Tri-City Subaru.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

You probably didn’t know that I’m a Dead Head. I spent many days and nights of my misguided youth seeing the band in concert. Fortunately they have their own channel on Sirius radio so I can still catch a show.

7. Final words:

You probably didn’t know that I’m a Dead Head. I spent many days and nights of my misguided youth seeing the band in concert. Fortunately they have their own channel on Sirius radio so I can still catch a show.

Welcome to our newest Rotarian, Cara Swike of SOS Recovery Community Organization.

Cara has had the opportunity to share her story and join in our Rotary Club of Dover NH projects, events and fundraising.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

I have been in the Dover Rotary Club for 38 years and served as President from 1996 to 1997. For the last three years I have also been the Assistant District Gover-nor with primary District responsibility for the Dover, Rochester, So. Berwick, and Durham Great Bay Rotary Clubs.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

There have been so many in 38 years but four occasions stand out. I remember the construction and dedication of the Rotary Garden at Henry Law Park during my term as President. This was one of the first large projects we did af-ter becoming successful with our bingo fundraiser. The Garden seemed to set the stage (yes, pun intended) for other large projects like the Rotary Arts Pavilion, the flag pavilion and Kerry Forbes Memorial, Park Street Park and countless other pro-jects and donations large and small most with excellent LINKAGE to the efforts of our Rotary club.

I remember the Rotary Drill Team led by our wonderful deceased member Rev. Dave Slater. There were about 15 of us in business suits and briefcases marching in the Christmas Parade doing intricate (??) marching maneuvers and exchanging briefcases. The crowd loved it. I also am thankful for the opportunity to give the keynote address at both the 90th and 95th Anniversary celebrations of the club. It required me to review the club’s amazing history of Service above Self and made me proud of the impact the club has made for what is now approaching 100 years. Few organizations can claim such a record of service.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up.

My wife Vi and I have lived in Durham for 47 years. I consider myself a resident of Durham and a citizen of Dover. Vi and I have been married for 51 years and have two wonderful children and two grandchildren.

I grew up in Peabody, Mass. and attended the public schools. My family was a typi-cal Ozzie and Harriet middle class family with my father being a business executive and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. After Peabody High, I attended Tufts University and the best thing that happened to me at Tufts was I met my future wife, Vi, who was also a Tufts student one year behind me. We were married in 1969. Tufts was extremely difficult for me and in my Freshman year I went to the admis-sion office to ask if I was an experimental admission ! As time went by, Tufts really prepared me well for Law School at Boston University. I graduated from BU Law in 1971 and thereafter we moved to New Hampshire, bought a house, passed the Bar exam and started work as a freshly minted attorney.

4. My Hobbies:

I enjoy traveling by land and by sea. My wife and I have visited every continent ex-cept Antarctica. We particularly enjoy the Far East. Our favorites are India and the Taj Mahal, China and the Great Wall, Egypt and the Pyramids, Africa and the Serengeti, Cambodia and Thailand.

I also enjoy playing golf and cruising on my small boat on Great Bay. I enjoyed rid-ing horses with my wife in the Dover Christmas parade until recently when horses were not allowed.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

I practiced law from 1971 until my retirement in 2014. In the beginning, I was a gen-eral practitioner and handled both civil and criminal cases but this all changed in 1981 when I represented Dover Rotarian Kerry Forbes when his housing project was denied in Dover despite the fact that it completely complied with the law. The planning board listened to the neighbors and not the law. The denial was promptly overturned in court proving, in fact, that one could fight city hall and win.

Thereafter, developers and municipalities became my constant clients seeking ap-provals usually for large projects and advice on planning and zoning issues. It was a difficult practice in that my clients were very sophisticated and demanding and hear-ings were conducted at night and trials in the daytime were frequent. My major cli-ents were Walmart, Home Depot, McDonalds, Market Basket, Liberty Mutual, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Huggins Hospital etc., as well as significant residen-tial real estate developers. I appeared before the NH Supreme Court about 40 times and also appeared countless times in lower courts. On the municipal side I assisted many cities and towns, the most memorable of which was the representation of the Town of Newington relative to the transition of Pease AFB to civilian uses.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

For over 20 years I sang in church with the St. Thomas More folk group in Durham! My goal in life was to be a major league baseball player. The closest I came was in my senior year in high school when I pitched against Tony Conigliaro who later be-came a star for the Boston Red Sox. There were about 15 major league scouts in suits at the game. The first ball Tony hit off me was an easy ground out to third base. His next time up he hit a ball off me that is still in orbit ! The Red Sox chose Tony and not me!

7. Final words:

The imposition of COVID-19 restrictions has made it clearer to me than ever, that Rotary is all about person to person contact with likeminded Rotarians dedicated to doing good for the less fortunate. ZOOM is no real substitute for the personal side of Rotary. Hopefully, when the virus is defeated, we can get together and return to spreading the good news of Rotary to others and renew doing strong, community based projects.

This week I have the opportunity to interview and learn about our Rotarian, Rebecca Johnson.

Sit back, relax and let’s learn about Rebecca.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

I think maybe 3 years.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

I love hanging out with the folks at Bingo, both rotarians and non-rotarians. I always get a laugh or two and go home with the awful music from the computers stuck in my head. The back to school program is another one of my favorites. I enjoy the direct and tangible impact we are able to make with that program.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

My husband, Dog Wyatt, Cats Oscar and Damien, Chinchilla Dash, a dozen or so chickens including our Rooster, Goliath and I live in rural South Berwick. We love our quiet little homestead. We have a little cape, a blacksmith shop, lots of bee hives and a large garden where I grow lots of flowers from Spring to Fall. I grew up in Barrington.

4. My Hobbies:

I live and work my number 1 hobby, which is working with plants and flowers. I grow them, care for them and use them to create art. When I'm taking a break from flowers (which isn't a lot), I like to spend time with my husband and pets. Eric and I go to lots of concerts, movies and theatre productions and can't wait to get back to that again. We love to travel and stay at interesting air bnbs along the way.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

I am first and foremost a small business owner. This means that I am the accountant, customer service, creator, sales person, delivery person and custodian. I love it! Flowers are my passion and I'm lucky that my passion is also my career.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

You can make it to Bangor, ME from Dover, NH in 1hour and 15 minutes or from Harrisburg, PA to Dover, NH in 6hrs and 20 minutes if you let me drive.

7. Final words:

I think my final words will be something like "look out for that tree!"

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

I had joined Dover Rotary two years ago in July of 2018 at the recommendation of our gracious neighbors Noreen and Frank Biehl.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

As a “newbie” within Rotary my favorite moments are probably yet to come, maybe pulling the ace of spades again with a winning ticket. Seriously though, I mostly enjoy the camaraderie within the Club and I’ve met many great and dedicated vol-unteers. I believe giving back to our community and helping the less fortunate, be it senior visitations, planting and mulching our Park gardens, delivering food, helping with Rotary Bingo or making worthy contributions are all rewarding moments. I be-lieve providing school back packs and recognizing “students-of-the-month” were my favorites.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I’m a Midwesterner, growing up in Nebraska and Illinois, living and working in Chi-cago before my company transferred me to New Jersey and subsequently to Mas-sachusetts in 1972. I finally settled in Newburyport where I met Lorrie. We had lived there for 45 years until relocating to Dover about four years ago.

4. My Hobbies:

Besides woodworking, the gym and reading, today Lorrie and I love working on our new home while enjoying the benefits that come from living in such a beautiful set-ting on the river here in Dover. We are also looking forward to traveling again, visit-ing our kids and grandchildren spread across the country, in addition to touring Eu-rope and the Caribbean.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

After graduation I began my engineering career with Western Electric (Lucent Technologies, Bell Labs). Although I had enjoyed my 34 years in engineering and management, it never provided the satisfaction that comes from creating and build-ing things. Having had the opportunity to retire 20 years ago has allowed me to en-joy and enhance my hobbies and volunteerism. While in Newburyport I was heavi-ly engaged in many civic and social organizations. I chaired the Planning Board and the Waterfront Trust. I was president and still am a member and of the Dalton Club, led several historic preservation initiatives and had worked closely with the Mayor and members of the City Council.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

Fate brought us to Dover. We had never considered leaving Newburyport when we had seen this property in Dover from a real estate advertisement on Zillow. A habit of mine was browsing these RE apps checking out historic homes. There was this beautiful drone flyover video on YouTube of the Bellamy River, the reservation and Royalls Cove that spiked my interest, the house not so much. After dinning up in Portsmouth we drove by the property out of curiously. Ironically the agent was there with a couple that had the property under agreement. We stopped by, gave the agent our number then went back to our lives in Newburyport. She called us a week later saying that the agreement fell through and are we interested? Not really, but I gave her a low bid on the property anyway. It was Christmas Eve when we had received her call saying our bid was accepted. After some major home renova-tions, the rest is history.

7. Final words?

Moving to Dover was a decision that far exceeded our expectations. And joining Rotary had put the frosting on that cake. Thank you, Noreen and Frank for introduc-ing me to this great organization.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

I joined the Rotary club of Dover in February of 2018, so that makes it a little over 2 years. I was instantly overwhelmed by the warmth and fellowship offered by the club.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

My most favorite moment was the support I received by the club when I became a US Citizen. Many Rotarians made the trip up to Yarmouth, Maine to see me and cheer on me while I took the oath.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I currently live in Wells, ME. I have lived in York County since I moved to the US from Bulgaria in 2006. I grew up in Bulgaria and moved to the US right after I turned 21. At first it was just an adventure, but soon after my move, I realized that this is where I belong.

4. My Hobbies:

I love being physically active. I grew up playing different sports and if you ask my mom she will tell you that there isn’t a sport that I haven’t tried.

My latest interest are Olympic weight lifting and CrossFit. I also enjoy traveling. I wish I could do more of it and I’m sure I will once we can travel again safely.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:

My current title is VP Residential Lending Officer. I work for Kennebunk Sav-ings Bank, and I have worked here for 8 years. I did not go to school for bank-ing or even anything related to banking, but somehow a small leap turned into a career. I started working at the bank as a teller and moved through many posi-tions and promotions to where I am today.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

I am afraid of heights, terrified of spiders, and I can use nunchucks.

7. Final words:

I love being part of the Rotary club of Dover. Being so far away from my family is often hard. I have felt welcomed and cared for since my first meeting with the club.

Thank you to Jim Munro for introducing me to the club and to all of you Rotari-ans for making it feel like family.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

I joined Rotary around 2001 not really knowing what it was at the time. I was hoping to network in the community since I was new in my career and someone suggested I check it out.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

In my first month or so as a Rotarian I was roped into being the chair of the Roches-ter Rotary Club’s 2nd annual horse show. I was maybe 21 years old, knew nothing about horses, and was in over my head but in spite of it all we pulled it together and made it work! All contingencies were prepared for except for it snowing on us in the middle of May on the day of the event!

I always enjoy reading to the kids at the local elementary schools and helping with the literacy programs.

I also enjoy any chance I get to have my kids get involved with the hands on work, whether it is for the Senior Visits or weeding the Rotary Gardens.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I grew up in Dover and still live here! I did live in Rochester for several years but we are back and here to stay.

4. My Hobbies:

Lately, my hobbies have changed a bit due to Covid. I’ve always been a gym rat but now I am doing more outdoor activities like playing tennis or taking hikes with my wife and kids.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment

After starting a career in banking while still in high school, I grew into my role as a Financial Advisor for the last 17 years or so. I work mostly with local families helping them manage their investment portfolios to prepare for or live in retirement.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

While in high school, I saw that there was a local bank who was interviewing for an internship position for a high school student. My guidance counselor said “No way Pellman, get back to class!”, but I bought my first suit and tie at Goodwill and showed up on the day of interviews anyway. Somehow I got the chance to meet with the interviewing team, parlayed the unpaid internship into a paying job, and the rest is history! It didn’t exactly pass the 4-Way Test at the time, but it all worked out!

7. Final words: I joined Rotary at first for all the wrong reasons, thinking it was more of a business building program like the Chamber of Commerce. I quickly realized that wasn’t at all what it was about, but I had a few amazing Rotarians take me un-der their wing and show me what “Service Above Self” truly means and I fell in love with it. I don’t know of a better way to help the world in big ways and small while making friends along the way. It has been tricky juggling work, kids, and Rotary during the pandemic.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

Noreen: joined September 1988

Frank: joined November 1982

2. Our favorite Rotary moments:

Noreen - digging in the Rotary garden and watching it grow, installing the Rotary Pavilion sign at the top of the building where it can be seen far and wide, painting the gundalow with Cate and other Rotarians, listening to Rotary stories around a burning barrel selling Christmas trees, ringing the bell at the first and last meetings of an amazing year as president, the Children’s Library project, reading to kids, shoveling mulch in the rain, stuffing backpacks, our 95th Anniversary event, giving Phil the mirrorball, receiving my Paul Harris Fellow, reading the scholarship appli-cations and being convinced the future is in good hands with the next generation.

Frank - freezing on the tarmac of parking lots loaded with trees for sale and stoking the burning barrel to keep Rotarians warm, being president of two clubs, inviting Durham Rotarians to assist with bingo, returning to the Dover Club and Thirsty Tuesdays.

3. Where we currently live and where we grew up:

We grew up in Niagara Falls, NY and met in a bar called the Club; it was a dark and hazy place with sticky floors and a no-name, loud band where college kids gath-ered on Friday nights - some had sideburns and an Elvis swoop, others wore pleat-ed mini skirts and seriously teased hair - some smoked, some drank - perhaps too much - drove home without seat belts to an oddly familiar house (another story for another time) and amazingly turned out to be respectable adults.

One year after we married, we left Niagara Falls to follow job offers and seek new adventures. It was 1968! We drove to Akron, Ohio in an almost new car, stayed a year or so, adopted a dog named Charlie, had a baby boy named Kevin and headed off to , to Des Moines, Iowa. After a year or so, we journeyed back to Niagara Falls, gave Charlie away due to an incident with the mailman and had a baby girl named Shannon. We moved to the Ramada Inn in Dover, NH, with two kids and 22 house plants for three months in the summer of ’76 before crossing state lines to a new home in South Berwick, Maine.

By happenstance, several years later, we drove by a “For Rent” sign at the end of a long driveway to a house on the Bellamy River - it needed a lot of work, the drive-way was dirt, gravel and mush but the view was priceless, so we moved back across state lines to NH. In 1999, the owners decided to build condos on the land and tear the house down. One day we said, “They move houses don’t they?” and we did. We cut it up into three sections, hired a house mover and hauled it, one section at a time, a half mile north onto a lot covered in Queen Anne’s Lace, scrappy trees and broken bricks from an old Dover brickyard. After 20 years of renovation it is still a work in progress but one we are blessed to enjoy.

4. Our Hobbies:

Noreen: I create things … sourdough bread before it was a 2020 pastime, ginger-bread houses gardens, pencil sketches, painting (walls), dresses, drapes, boat cushions, slipcovers, face masks with matching scrunches for nine year girls, and writing a novel that may never get published unless I stop revising it… someday soon.

Frank: I build things … re-assembled pieces of a house into a home with new plumbing, electric, bathrooms, kitchens, stairs, decks, docks and floats, an up and down closet in a stairwell and an elaborate and not always functional television an-tenna system that Noreen doesn’t fully appreciate. I also golf occasionally, have re-ceived enough Prime-swished packages to secure the viability of Amazon delivery systems well into the future and watch Fox News frequently which Noreen doesn’t fully appreciate either.

5. Our Business Professions or Current Working or Non-Working Environments

Noreen: I’m a graduate of UNH and Simmons College with degrees in non-fiction writing and communication management, worked as a reporter for Foster’s Daily Democrat followed by a 30-year career at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital retiring in 2016 as VP of Community Relations. I’ve also authored a history of WDH in addi-tion to my unpublished novel, The Spokesperson, and occasionally free lance as a writer for a variety of projects.

Frank: I’m a graduate of the University of Buffalo and Golden Gate University with business degrees, managed Human Resources for Firestone Tire & Rubber, Dun-lop Tire & Rubber and Davidson Rubber/Textron. Now retired, I plow snow in the winter and water grass that refuses to grow in the summer.

6. Something our fellow Rotarians don’t know about us:

We have an amazing family, a son Kevin and his children 24-year old Derek, and 28-year old Alisha, and a daughter Shannon and her daughter, 9-year old Saman-tha.

We love to travel and every five years on our wedding anniversary in August we travel someplace special. We’ve climbed the Grand Canyon, traveled via train from Toronto to Vancouver, motored around Alaska, toured Southern France, Italy’s Amalfi coast and Portugal’s Algarve. On our 50th we visited the Southwest, looked for aliens at Roswell, watched bats fly out of the Carlsbad Canyon and marveled at the beauty of the White Sands, the Painted Desert and Arches National Parks. Will we ever travel again?

7. Final words:

Eleanore Rosevelt once said, “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” Our Rotarian friends, past and pre-sent, have left so many footprints in our hearts - we are truly grateful.

Let’s sit back and learn more about Jim.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

I originally was a member of the Rotary Club of Salem NH/ Methuen MA and was a member for about 10 years. I have been a member of the Dover Club since 2014.

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

Everything about Rotary is important to me. I love how we can pull a project together quickly to address a pressing need in the community like the Homeless outreach project we did last winter or the Read Aloud project we tried to do in response to the Covid Crisis. I also really enjoyed the time us senior Rotarians spent digging holes and building the CAP playground while freezing on a wet november day. I also get great enjoyment from our fellowship events like Thirsty Tuesday and most recently our sports car ride to see the Lupins in bloom. When I was in my former club we provided and cooked meals for the annual Special Olympics basketball tournament. That was a 3 day event and we had a ball. Basically I like to do any event that allows and encourages fellowship with our Rotary family.

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I lived in Massachusetts where I learned to drive for almost 60 years. I’ve lived in Dover since 2013

4. My Hobbies:

I enjoy film photography using my collection of plastic and antique cameras. I’m a life long learner and love to learn new things. I play the Penny Whistle moderately well and have been learning with very limited success to play the fiddle. Since Covid I’ve done a lot of gardening and landscaping along with some DIY projects and I have even started baking bread!

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment

My business is MG Print and Promotions which I started in 1986. I sell promotional products, apparel and printed materials of all kinds. I’m semi retired which gives me the luxury of servicing my long time clients and has freed me from the chore of chasing down new clients.

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

I can’t imagine. I’m pretty much an open book. I’m a child of the 70s and still hold the values that I developed then close to my heart. I’m an avid Beatles fan though I’ve never had a chance to see any of them live. I’m married to Pam my high school sweetheart. We have to adult children, Alison who lives in Dover and Andrew who lives in Epping. Lily, our granddaughter drives me crazy and brightens my day at the same time.

7. Final words:

When I first joined Rotary a mentor told me that “Rotary will change you if you let it” He was right. It makes us better people and better citizens.

I had the pleasure of interviewing another of our Rotary Club of Dover Rotarian, and our Rotary Club Sergeant of Arms, Kathy Thurrott Lijoi.

1. How long have you been in Rotary?

1 and 1/2 years

2. My favorite Rotary moments:

The Guatemala trip with Kevin and the students, it was a life changing experience for myself and it was amazing to see through the eyes of 10 very special young ladies

3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:

I was born in Brooklyn, raised in northern New Jersey, raised my family in Vermont and moved to NH 7 years ago

4. My Hobbies:

I love to travel - there are so many places to see and I really need Covid to take a hike

My true love is being Nonnie to my 4 grandchildren - I absolutely love being a Mom but this part of life is so so much better. I am fortunate that they are right here in Dover.

I am a ski bum at heart and as I get older, I find the thrill of the easier trails is enough for me! I enjoy being on the mountain with my grand kids.

5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment

I am a Information Technology expert with almost 37 years in the industry - I started as a software developer and have worked in many industries. For the past 20+ years I have been working in the call center business with a concentration on work from home.

I am currently consulting for a company out of south Florida (remotely) and I am a stakeholder in a start up a remote call center that will be doing Covid Tracing

6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:

I am an avid walker and participate with my friends in major Breast Cancer walks throughout the USA. We have completed four Susan G. Komen 60 mile events, six Avon 39.3 events and countless 5k's. If you include the training miles and the actual walks, each of us has walked over a thousand miles to raise awareness and money to help find a cure.

The reason ...I am a breast cancer survivor and thriver and on July 17th I will celebrate my 23rd anniversary with no sign of disease.

7. Final words:

I am really happy that I joined the Dover Rotary, it has been a fabulous experience in many ways - new friendships, being able to give back to the community, and so much more. Joining helped me find a group of hard working, caring and fun people!

Many stopped and others honked as they drove by while our Rotary Club of Dover NH was in downtown Dover at our annual Rotary Gardens Planting Day. Every Fall, we take out the old flowers and plants and know that the gardens will look fabulous again in the Spring.

Thank you to our Rotarians who joined us as we planted and mulched the gardens so those that live, work and play in Dover can enjoy this year. It is a project that our club looks forward to and cannot wait to see the gardens as they begin to grow.

We hope that you will love the gardens as much as we do!

Rotary District 7780 connected with 32 Rotarians as we were able to come together on Zoom. with updates from our committee chairs through our Club Assembly, sharing our success of our first Rotary Story Time with local kids in our community, and giving Happy Stories instead of Happy Bucks as we move through the change in our lives and in our community.

We are grateful for our Rotary Club of Dover and look forward to next week’s Club Zoom meeting.

We would like to thank those that have joined the Rotary Club of Dover as we host Rotary Story Time. Recently, our Rotarians were excited to read one of our favorite books “In my Heart” by Jo Witek to kids of all ages.

Click on this link to join in on our Zoom Story Time Meetings: https://zoom.us/j/5097735825, and to join in via phone only call 646-558-8656

Please share with your family, friends and other organizations on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons from 4:30pm-5:00pm so we can get the word out about this great way to interact with the kids while they are at home. Everyone is invited to sit back and relax during this time on our Story Time Zoom meetings and enjoy a fun story.

The Rotary Club of Dover is reaching out to others and organizations in our community online through Rotary Story Time for kids of all ages on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30pm-5:00pm while we are all staying at home at this time.

Everyone is invited and welcome to enjoy a story. Join us by clicking this Zoom link. https://zoom.us/j/5097735825.

The Rotary Club of Dover welcomed our newest Rotarian, Naila Aslam of Dover Eyecare at our recent Club meeting. Our club looks forward to you getting involved with the Rotary projects and being a part of our community.

If you were not able to attend the The Children's Museum of New Hampshire 21+ mini-golf last evening, you can attend with your kids and grandkids from 12:00pm-5:00pm today and have fun whiling getting the opportunity to see what the Children’s Museum has to offer!

Be sure to checkout Hole# 4 that the Rotary Club of Dover NH decorated to share our Rotary Garden project

On Friday afternoon, the Rotary Club of Dover NH visited with the residents of The Residence at Silver Square - Dover, NH to share stories Who we are and where we came from. It was great to hear the journeys and adventures many of the residents had during their lifetime and how they arrived here in Dover. We played trivia from the 1950’s and 1960’s and Learned that they knew the answers much more quickly than we did. As you can see, they loved our gift of warmth with the Rotary fleece blankets.

The Rotary Club of Dover was honored to attend the Rotary District 7780 with our Rotary Club of Dover NH World Understanding And Peace Dinner with so many of our fellow Rotarians.

Each year, the Rotary Foundation awards a number of Peace Fellows. These are full scholarship Masters Degree programs that are awarded to young people around the world to attain their degrees in a field of study that will help bring peace to the world. The degree programs are offered at different universities around the world that have been designated as Rotary Peace Centers.

In 2010 Rachel Davidson was a Peace Fellow in Argentina. She has since become an attorney focusing on immigration law and specifically defending and supporting the rights of youthful immigrants. At this week’s dinner, Rachel shared her story of defending young immigrants in NYC and at the southern border. She told of the horrors that motivate people to immigrate and worse, she told of the horrors they are experiencing under our current administration. She told us of how laws passed by our congress to protect youthful immigrants have either been ignored or convoluted by ICE, CBP and the immigration courts. She also told of the abuse she dealt with personally from agents of our government for merely representing her clients at the southern border.

This is not just news from CNN or FOX. This is a first person account from a brilliant young woman who deals with the problem on a daily basis. This needs to stop, as we are tired of hearing people say, "I don't mind immigrants as long as they come here legally." These people are trying to come here legally and our government has made it nearly impossible.

”We are not Republicans or Democrats. We are Humans”

Congratulations to Rotarian, Betsey Andrews Parker as she was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow Award for consistently exemplifying the club’s Service Above Self ideals and always working with a smile and laugh. Betsey is the CEO of Community Action Partnership of Strafford County and is there for those in our community that need help and assistance everyday.

The Dover Middle School was where we were celebrating 7th grader, Sana Kahn as she was selected as the Rotary Club of Dover NH - February Student of the Month. This award is given to a DMS student who shows love, kindness and compassion to others in school and our community.

Sana Khan’s presence at Dover Middle School is a joy as she embodies so much of what we educators strive to instill in our students. She is a commitment to academic excellence, a dedication to the cultivation of high personal values and the conviction that they can make a difference in their community.

Her desire to assist others is evident both at school and in the long-term goals she has set for herself. In the classroom she can be seen time and time again acting as a gentle guide and support to students struggling with a concept or assignment. With regard to the future, Sana hopes to work in some capacity within the medical field, a choice that would be a natural extension of her personal gifts.

Sana Khan truly radiates love and goodness in a way that is seldom encountered in one so young. In her own unique way and with a lighthearted shining spirit that endears her to everyone she interacts with, she serves as a positive role model for her peers and a source of pride for her teachers.

Congratulations Sana as you show “service above self” in so many ways.

The Rotary Club of Dover NH and River visited with the residents at Bellamy Fields as part of our travels to the many Senior & Resident Communities in Dover. Everyone had so much fun with the “oldie but goodie” trivia questions and being able to pat our Rotarian, Doug’s dog, River. The residents love their new Rotary fleece blankets.

The Rotary Club of Dover NH welcomes Bob Dawber of Triangle Club as our newest member. Being a member will allow Bob to get involved with the community and help him to get to be a part of the greatest Rotary Club in the Universe! Please help us to welcome Bob.

The Rotary Club of Dover had the opportunity to attend our District Mid-Year Rotary dinner with our Rotary Leaders, including District Governor & Past District Governors, Assistant & Past Assistant Governors, District Committee Chairs, Club Presidents, incoming President-Elects and Vice Presidents for our 2020/2021 Rotary year. We look forward to continuing to learn from our Club members wants and needs, along from others that have served in past years along with other Rotarians through our Club and District.

Our Club was also recognized for our Club donations to the Rotary Foundation. These donations from our members helps to support and fund projects within our local, national and international efforts.

Congratulations to Braydon Morton a 6th grader at Dover Middle School as he was awarded the Rotary Club of Dover’s - Student of the Month.

Braydon epitomizes how we want our students to relate with others by empathy and compassion. He recently witnessed a bullying situation on the bus. When he heard the taunting, he stood up and addressed the situation by telling his peers to stop. Many students may have recognized the distress the victim was experiencing, but he was the only one to take action. Braydon’s ability to put himself in someone else’s shoes is commendable. His modesty when his actions were shared shows a truly selfless young man.

This award is given to a DMS student that goes above and beyond to be kind and compassionate to others while focusing on projects within school or in the community. We love that we are able to recognize these students each month as we move forward in sharing “service above self”.

Congratulations to Sydney Lane, a 6th grader at Dover Middle School as she was awarded the Rotary Club of Dover’s November - Student of the Month.

Sydney is years above her age when it comes to and compassion. She is a strong and quiet leader. Sydney will befriend all and speak supportively to any person she comes in contact with. Sydney is always willing to go above and beyond and wears a smile 24/7. She has nothing but kind words to speak of someone and can always find the positive in a situation. Her compassion for animals and those less fortunate is unwavering. She always strives to do better and be a better person, which makes others want to as well. In past summers, Sydney has held bake sales and done lemonade stands to raise money to donate to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society.

This award is given to a DMS student that goes above and beyond to be kind and compassionate to others while focusing on projects within school or in the community. We love that we are able to recognize these students each month as we move forward in sharing “service above self”.

Being an adviser at the Dover High Interact Program, it was a goal of mine to get an Interact Community Service program at Dover Middle School. Over the past year, with the help of our President Elect, Gregg Dowty and Dover Middle School Principal, Kimberly Lyons to create the Student of the Month program that recognizes a Dover Middle School student each month for above and beyond based on “service above self” through kindness and compassion to others in school or within their community.

The Rotary Club of Dover held it's first recognition ceremony this week as we honored our September, October, November and December recipients of the Rotary Club of Dover Student of the Month awards.

Remarks by Kim Lyons, Principal, Dover Middle School:

• Program created in partnership with the Rotary Club of Dover Student of the Month program began this school year.
• Selection of Student of the Month is done at a faculty meeting each month, any teacher or staff can nominate someone, then teachers vote.
• Explained process and choreography of arranging for “surprise” announcements
• Excellent way to acknowledge students who are doing excellent things. and how important it is to recognize students who do special things.
• This year’s theme at DMS is “Compassion in Action”, such a powerful lesson.
• Kids receive a recognition certificate and are told why they were selected, and also receive a long-sleeve shirt with Rotary logo, a $25 gift card, and $25 to a charity of their choice.
• The goal was to get DMS involved and being recognized for the student's involvement in their school and the community.

Student of the month recipients were:

September

7th grader Luisa Pelletier – chosen because of kindness to others, and her charity chosen was the Dover Middle School Color Club, a group that gives back to the school.

October

8th grader Carolyn Schultz – a silent leader in school and on the field hockey field, always helping others, and her charity chosen was End 68 Hours of Hunger.

November

6th grader Sydney Lane – always helping other with a smile, and her charity chosen was Hope Memorial Society, formerly Cochecho Valley Humane Society.

December

6th grader Braydon Morton – spoke up on school bus to stop bullying, and his charity was the SPCA dog shelter.

Congratulations to all of our Student of the Month award winners as they are leaders and now able to share with others the importance of getting involved and showing "Compassion in Action."

The Rotary Club of Dover had another fun time as we visited the 3rd graders at Portsmouth Christian Academy.  These students had so many questions and loved that we brought Miles the moose. Grateful that our Rotary Club of Dover can give each student the opportunity to learn without using a computer or cell phone. What did they love the most about their dictionaries?  The new book smell!

Dover Rotarians came together to fill a need in our community as the Rotary Club of Dover heard from organizations that come in contact with those that are without warmth during the Winter and homeless.

Over the past couple of weeks, our club decided to step up and help as we gathered 9 bags of hats and mittens that were dropped off to Community Action Partnership of Strafford County.

This past week our Club reached into our community funds Jim Munro, Pam Munro, Cate Ouellette Rafferty, Noreen & Frank Biehl, Melissa Lesniak and little sister, Kristen shopped yesterday with $1,000 at Ocean State Job Lot, where Store Manager, Dan gave us a generous discount and we had the opportunity to share our shopping with Ruth Griffin, who loved what we were doing for the Dover community.

We were able to help our local homeless people with:

• 15 - headlamps
• 10 - warm women’s hats
• 22 - 10 x 12 tarps
• 102 - protein bars
• 90 (3 cases) - hand & body warmers
• 12 - full coverage balaclavas
• 30 - pairs of men’s socks
• 30 - pairs of toe warmers
• 20 - pairs of women’s socks
• 60 - $5.00 Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards.

It’s about hearing what our community needs are, asking others to help and we get to work to make those that do not have Winter clothing a little warmer.

Rotary Club of Dover Past President, Nick Pellman spent time at Woodman Park School reading to the kids for the Holiday Book Exchange as part of our Literary Program in our local elementary schools.

Rotarian, Ken McCann asked to talk about the program going around the country to honor Vietnam veterans, recently there was 150 people at the Elks and about half were Vietnam veterans.

Each were recognized with a pin and a scroll. Ken had asked Rotarian, Phil Rinaldi if he had received his. When he found out that he had not, he wanted to recognize and present Phil with a framed scroll for his service. Ken read some of the articles on the scroll and presented Phil with his own framed scroll. Thank you for your service.

Congratulations Attachment.png to Jerry Daley as he accepts his Paul Harris award from our Foundation Chair, Jim Munro. It is an honor to recognize Jerry for his contribution to the Foundation as a member of the Rotary Club of Dover and the good you are doing for the world.

This past week, the Rotary Club of Dover had the opportunity to visit the 3rd graders at Horne Street School to teach them about how the dictionary is a tool that they can use to help them learn so much in just 459 pages.

This past Monday, the Rotary Club of Dover had the opportunity to visit the 3rd graders at Garrison Elementary School to teach them about how the dictionary is a tool that they can use to help them learn so much in just 459 pages. We said that the 3 things they should do when they get their dictionaries, 1st - smell it, 2nd - put their name in it, and 3rd - try to learn to say the longest word with over 1,900 letters.

Congratulations to Caroline Schultz an 8th grader at Dover Middle School as she was awarded the Rotary Club of Dover’s October Student of the Month. Caroline was surprised, honored and grateful that her classmates and family were there to share with her. This award is given to a DMS student that goes above and beyond to be kind and compassionate to others while focusing on projects within school or in the community. We love that we are able to recognize these students each month as we move forward in sharing “service above self”.

At this week's Rotary Club of Dover club meeting, we had the opportunity to learn from Cheryl Saint Amand about the Rotary International Rose Bowl Float whose theme this year is "HOPE CONNECTS THE WORLD".

Our club helped to support this year's RI Rose Bowl Float with a $100.00 donation presented to their RI Rose Bowl Committee. Rotary has had a float in the Rose Bowl Parade for the last 41 years.

Did you know:

• All the floats have to be decorated with organic material
• Purpose – extensive publicity for Rotary
• Organized by a separate organization from Rotary itself
• Floats all put into a park and people may pay to visit floats close-up
• Roses start coming in three days ahead, each one with a water container, have to be put in precisely with no spaces. $3/rose is the cost. Water containers are saved and recycled next year.
• 2018 was Year of the Bunny – Rotary float won the Princess Trophy
• Organizing entity has to raise the money - may ride the float or walk alongside for a substantial donation
• 30 people on the team
• $100 to sit in seating near judges

Clubs and individuals can donate: RoseFloat@RotaryFloat.org

Over the weekend, the Rotary Club of Dover prepared our beautiful Rotary Gardens for the Winter months. Thank you to James for your help in putting the gardens to “bed”.

The Rotary Club of Dover recently granted Garrison Elementary School the opportunity through the SEED program to participate in leadership training. The INspired Leadership Training is comprised of three one-hour coaching sessions for the entire faculty and will benefit all 450 students at GES. “We are so excited to provide this leadership training,” said Melissa Lesniak, President of Rotary Club of Dover. “Thanks to SEED for bringing this unique opportunity to our Club to make a difference at Garrison Elementary.”

Recently, our Dover High Interact and District Interact students had an opportunity that they will never forget. Through their Interact Club they were able to experience a fun and educational weekend as they participated in the 2019 United Nations Day.

When they arrived in New York City they had a few hours to take in the sights of Times Square in New York City, take in dinner and see the musical, Tootsie. Most years the students would attend the Rotary UN Day meeting, but this meeting was not in session, and yet the students gathered to discuss what takes place and the discussions and decisions made during these meeting.

The students also attended the 911 Memorial Where are they we re able to take in the tragic day in which so many lives were lost and so many heroes made. Congratulations to these students as they were chosen from each of their local Interact Clubs to represent District 7780. I t was two days of learning and understanding the impact the students have on rotaries future leader ship as well as the adventures and sightseeing along the way.

At our weekly Rotary Club of Dover meeting yesterday, our Club presented Community Partners NH with a check for $500.00 to help underwrite the scarlet Lewis presentation held earlier In October. Our club is grateful to partner with Community Partners as this was one of many projects and initiatives to come forth in our efforts to focus on Mental Health & Suicide Awareness in our Community.

For more information about Scarlett Lewis and the Choose Love Movement, click on this link: https://www.jesselewischooselove.org/.

A celebration took place recently as CAP - Community Action Partnership of Strafford County - partnered with the Rotary Clubs of Dover, Rochester and Durham-Great Bay to build their new playground through a District Grant. It was a hands-on opportunity for the Rotarians to be a part of the construction and see the final project where the kids have a place outside to play and enjoy.

The celebration included many local businesses and the staff of CAP. Thank you to those that attended and shared the stories of how CAP is a part of our community.

Community Action Partnership ensures the causes and conditions of poverty are effectively addressed and to strengthen, promote, represent, businesses and serve the Community Action Network. They pledge themselves to create an environment that pursues innovation and excellence through multi-sector partnership and collaborations.

At this week's Rotary Club of Dover's Club meeting, Chief Breault of the Dover NH Police spoke on his department and what his staff and officers do everyday to make Dover safe and a city where residents and visitors are proud of. He said that he was grateful for Rotary’s support of many Dover undertakings, especially the Teen Center.

With the Rotary Club of Dover donation, it paid for the floors that means so much more than just having a floor, it provides a safe space for many kids and changes their lives. He is also grateful that Rotary supports organizations that provide recovery and suicide prevention and mental health care. These are vitally important in the community.

Chief Breault presented statistics on the Dover Police department. How many calls they take, how many traffic stops and tickets, and other policing work. He explained how the department moved to having some of the work done by civilians and that they now have 52 sworn police officers and would need 56 to be fully staffed. Crime in Dover has gone down year over year despite the rise in population. His focus is on community policing and data showing the results and engagement.

Police departments have taken on the mantle of being social workers. The officers provide well checks and work with the homeless populations to provide information on available social services. They also take the time to get to know everyone and explain to the public that they police behavior, not people. He also provided information on the drug related overdoses resulting in deaths and overall overdoses. These numbers have gone up from 2008 and are now going down. He is optimistic and thinks that lower number of deaths from overdose is the result of more people administering Narcan. The Police Department’s philosophy is that addiction is a disease and they provide support, not punishment.

The Rotary Club of Dover recently assisted the Dover Parents Music Club Boosters a non-profit organization that will lend support, both moral and financial to the Dover High School Music Department, promote music education by cooperating with the Director of the Music program, and organize and manage the funds available to the music program.

With this donation of $500.00, DPMC will use these funds for their band and Winter color guard show.

The Rotary Club of Dover had the opportunity to make a $500.00 donation to the Woodman Museum as part of our Community Giving Program where our Club helps out those in our community that are looking for assistance of their organization as we want to help them with their projects and needs.

The Woodman Museum was founded in 1916, as a traditional early 20th-century style natural science, history, and art museum with exhibits for all ages. The campus is home to four buildings, which include the Woodman House (1818), the Hale House (1813), the William Damm Garrison (1675) and the Keefe House (1825). The museum’s collection includes hundreds of colonial artifacts, a comprehensive mineral and fossil collection, mounted animal specimens, fine art and furniture, an extensive collection of military history items, local history objects, and much more. The Woodman is open seasonally to the public (from early April to mid-December) Wednesday through Sunday, 10am-5pm.

Read more about the Woodman Museum at their website: www.WoodmanMuseum.com

The Rotary Club of Dover recently donated $500.00 to Safe Haven Ballet as they raise money that will allow them to offer free trauma sensitive classes for survivors of sexual violence, and uplifting ballet performances to help our community.

Learn more at: www.safehavenballet.org

The Rotary Club of Dover, New Hampshire meets every Wednesday at 12:15 at 121 Broadway in Dover. Visiting Rotarians, guests of Rotarians and future Rotarians are always welcome. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, substance misuse cost the US $600 billion annually in the criminal justice system, insurance and healthcare. Earlier this year,  Seacoast Rotary Clubs of Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Rochester and Durham came together as the Rotary District 7780 Rotary Initiative to bring prevention, education, treatment, support, and recovery in our local communities.

Date: May 13, 2019
Contact: Noreen Biehl, President, Rotary Club of Dover, NH
noreen.biehl@yahoo.com

An educational forum will be held on June 3, 2019 at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Garrison Wing Auditorium, 6-8 p.m. to further awareness of the opioid epidemic and substance use disorders.

Sponsored by N.H. Seacoast Rotary Clubs, this is the fourth Recovery with Hope and Dignity educational forum to highlight N.H.’s new hub and spoke system of care for people suffering with substance use disorders. The forums are designed to discuss treatment and recovery options and educate attendees on how they may one day save a life.

The Rotary Club of Dover presented a check for $250.00 to the Monarch School of New England as part of Community Giving program. The Monarch School of New England is a day school that serves children ages 5 – 21, with significant physical, medical, developmental, behavioral and emotional disabilities. We utilize Applied Behavior Analysis principles in addition to offering one-on-one, social and emotional support.

The Rotary Club of Dover presented a check for $250.00 to Reach for the Top as part of Community Giving program. Reach for the Top Therapy Services is a family-centered pediatric rehabilitation clinic.

Our highly experienced clinical staff of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists and Oral and Motor Therapist work with families to provide whatever it takes to help the child.

Last week, the Rotary Club of Dover had the opportunity to bring in a Russian Journalist Panel to discuss The Friendship Force Club of NH Seacoast program.

A group of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Dover, NH, spent a recent Satur-day morning planting flowers in the Rotary Garden at Henry Law Park. In support of the City of Dover, Dover Rotarians have wielded shovels, rakes and a good dose of enthusi-asm to create a beautiful vista for all visitors to Dover’s summer attraction.

Letter from the President for 2019/2020, Melissa Lesniak, welcome to the Rotary Club of Dover!

Rotary Club of Dover

PO Box 1801, Dover, NH 03821-1801

Rotary District 7780 Club # 6323

Website: www.doverrotaryclub.org

District website: www.rotary7780.org

Rotary International: www.rotary.org Rotary Leadership Institute: www.rlinia.org

2012-2013 Officers & Directors

President: Amy Sharp

President Elect: Matt Sylvia

Vice President: Nick Pellman

Secretary: Marion Cheney

Treasurer: Mark Boulanger

Club Protection Officer: Gary DeColfmacker

Past President: Norm Heine

Directors: Kim Alty, Ken Plante, & Ron Richard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotary Club of Dover

PO Box 1801, Dover, NH 03821-1801

Rotary District 7780 Club # 6323

Website: www.doverrotaryclub.org

District website: www.rotary7780.org

Rotary International: www.rotary.org Rotary Leadership Institute: www.rlinia.org

2012-2013 Officers & Directors

President: Amy Sharp

President Elect: Matt Sylvia

Vice President: Nick Pellman

Secretary: Marion Cheney

Treasurer: Mark Boulanger

Club Protection Officer: Gary DeColfmacker

Past President: Norm Heine

Directors: Kim Alty, Ken Plante, & Ron Richard

 

2012-2013 Officers & Directors

President: Amy Sharp

President Elect: Matt Sylvia

Vice President: Nick Pellman

Secretary: Marion Cheney

Treasurer: Mark Boulanger

Club Protection Officer: Gary DeColfmacker

Past President: Norm Heine

Directors: Kim Alty, Ken Plante, & Ron Richard

Rotary Club of Dover

PO Box 1801, Dover, NH 03821-1801

Rotary District 7780 Club # 6323

Website: www.doverrotaryclub.org

District website: www.rotary7780.org

Rotary International: www.rotary.org Rotary Leadership Institute: www.rlinia.org

 

 

Rotary Club of Dover

PO Box 1801, Dover, NH 03821-1801

Rotary District 7780 Club # 6323

Website: www.doverrotaryclub.org

District website: www.rotary7780.org

Rotary International: www.rotary.org Rotary Leadership Institute: www.rlinia.org

***********************

2012-2013 Officers & Directors

President: Amy Sharp

President Elect: Matt Sylvia

Vice President: Nick Pellman

Secretary: Marion Cheney

Treasurer: Mark Boulanger

Club Protection Officer: Gary DeColfmacker

Past President: Norm Heine

Directors: Kim Alty, Ken Plante, Ron Richard & Sean Fitzgerald

2012-2013 

  Officers & Directors         Rotary Information  

The Community Giving Committee of the Dover Rotary Club is proud to sponsor the Northeastern Ballet Theatre production of Cinderella! The production is directed by Artistic Director, Edra Toth and will take place at Oyster River High School in Durham on April 6th at 7:00 PM and on April 7th at 2:00 PM. The Northeastern Ballet Theatre makes its home at St Thomas' Episcopal Church in Dover. You can purchase tickets on line at: www.northeasternballet.org or call 603-834-8834.  One of the ballet's dancers, Kylee Brown, studies piano with Dover Rotarian Kathy Fink. 

The Rotary Club of Dover is pleased to announce that the Underwriter of their 13th Annual Golf Tournament will be Tri-City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Subaru of Somersworth, NH. The golf tournament will take place on Monday, June 10 at the Links at Outlook in South Berwick, Maine. The cost of the tournament is $125 per player and includes golf, lunch, dinner, snacks, raffle prizes and drink tickets. For more information or to register, contact club member Kathy Fink at pianotchr@aol.com. To learn more about the Rotary Club of Dover and its work in the local community, visit our website at:  www.doverrotaryclub.org.

 Tri-City Dodge is not only a Dodge dealer but also has Chrysler, Jeep, Ram and Subaru. They are located on Route 108 in Somersworth, NH. For more information about Tri-City, visit:  www.tricitycars.com

 In the next few weeks, our bulletin fondly called "BING" will become part of our club website. Be sure to visit the site to see the latest news and stories.

Better late than never!  Here is the BING from February 13, 2013.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has.

2012-2013   Officers & Directors             Rotary Information