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.

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.

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.

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.