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.
The Rotary Club of Dover, NH, offers opportunities for our members — and those interested in making a difference — to get involved. Through meetings, social events, and volunteer projects, our members learn about the issues facing our community and communities all over the world, partnering with local, national, and global experts to exchange ideas about potential solutions and to draw up action plans to respond. Along with these opportunities to serve, members also are able to regularly network, resulting in lifelong friendships and business connections.
Our club is a proud part of this community and of Rotary International. Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million members who believe that great things happen when dedicated minds come together. We are community and business leaders representing different professions, experiences, and perspectives but with a shared desire to connect with others to address the challenges affecting our community and communities around the world.
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 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 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 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 NH had the opportunity to visit and share time with the residents of Wadleigh House in Dover. While there we shared stories of our families, our occupations, and the fun we have all had as we get older. Many thanks to the staff who helped us to celebrate Valentine’s Day in to Catherine for sharing her love of music and her guitar.
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 headed out to deliver the “Gift of Warmth” as we partnered with Community Action Partnership of Strafford County & the Dover Fire Department as we supported their Homeless Outreach Program with over $1,000.00 in warm gloves, hats, head warmers, protein bars, and Dunkin’ Donut gift cards. We started with a project idea from fellow Rotarian, Jim Munro and it turned into an overall effort of all our Club members. Grateful for the opportunity to help keep our community warm in the Winter months.
To aid the Garrison Players' need for new sound equipment, the Rotary Club of Dover provided a donation of $1,780. Pictured is Carol Bitov from Garrison Players, Gregg Dowty and Tom Dunnington from Rotary.
Started the day with about 35 third graders at St Mary’s Academy as Betsey and myself talked with the students about how important it is to have their own dictionary.
Through the Rotary Club of Dover, we provide these dictionaries in all of the Dover elementary schools. Oh, look who joined us and cheered with the kids. Miles the moose.
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