View changeover video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OT9QyCoah_e5CebTbsHwfM0c3ZShM4HS/view?usp=drive_link

Dover Rotary’s newly inducted president is a recognized business leader, a passionate volunteer, and a fierce pickleball competitor ready to lead the club’s community service initiatives locally and world-wide. 

Rob Gagnon began his presidency of the Rotary Club of Dover, NH, on July 1, not long after he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Business Development, at Piscataqua Savings Bank with 30 years in retail and business banking, and hands on community volunteering.

A former resident of Dover, currently living in Portsmouth, Gagnon has managed to bridge his interest in both communities, praising Dover’s openness to new ventures and opportunities. 

“I feel connected and I really like what Dover’s doing,” he said.

Gagnon believes in Rotary’s moto of service above self and sees a strong club that supports both the Dover community and international projects with dedicated members willing to work hard. 

“I’m humbled to see the amount of work we do in the community as well as on outside projects working with other Rotary clubs,” Gagnon said. “When I met other presidents-elect during training, I realized Dover’s Rotary club was looked at very highly in our District, and people knew about us and our success.”

As a business development executive, Gagnon sees opportunities to increase membership by offering options such as business memberships and companion clubs.

A business membership would allow more than one employee to attend meetings, join projects and participate in teamwork. The concept of a companion club, also being implemented in other Rotaries, provides for an alternate club as part of the home club that holds meetings after the regular workday, usually in the early evening that mixes fellowship with work projects.

 “The idea of a companion club is a place for people to get together who can’t make midday meetings - young families, people working day jobs,” Gagnon said. “It’s about keeping people connected, doing service work.”

In addition to membership goals, Gagnon is interested in expanding Rotary’s fundraising strategies to include the potential of community partnerships, sponsorships and grants to fund programs such as its Milk & Egg fund, scholarships, Shoe & Boot project, plus gifts of warmth and nourishment and more for the needy in the community. 

Thanks to bingo and other donations, Gagnon said the club is financially sound but needs to consider future funding challenges.

“We have some reserves and we are doing well,” he said.  “We can take our time to get things in place, to build the materials and stats we need to show other people what we plan and how they can participate.”

In addition to Rotary, Gagnon has two active sons, a 13-year-old and a college freshman, he regularly volunteers with the Seacoast Community Lunch and is always ready for a pickleball challenge (his version of golf).

Joining Gagnon on Dover Rotary’s Board are officers: Elizabeth Fischer, President-elect; Gregg Dowty, Treasurer; Marion Cheney, Secretary; Cathy Beaudoin, Immediate Past President; and Directors: Rod Bryce, Kathy Fink, Cindy Imbro, Steve Pappajohn, Nick Pellman, and Mike Schulenberg.

As part of its Vocational Training & Tools (VTT) financial assistance program, the Rotary Club of Dover, NH, recently distributed grant certificates to 18 students during their Signing Day ceremony at Dover’s Regional Career & Technical Education Center. Each grant provides up to $250 to help students cover the cost of tools and necessary equipment to support the vocations of their choice. 

VTT committee chair Jim Munro, several Rotarians, families and fellow CTE students, attended the ceremony on May 13 at Dover High School. 

“We are pleased to recognize the hard work and training demonstrated by CTE students as they begin their careers in a variety of trades and professions,” Munro said.

Signing Day is similar to events for athletes signing letters to colleges to play sports, or high school students celebrating acceptance to college. The students, who have successfully secured the first step to their future by committing to employment, sign letters of intent, according to Karen Webster Liaison and CTE Work-Based Learning Coordinator.

CTE students have chosen to maximize their high school experience with career training and industry recognized certifications and will accept full-time positions directly after graduation in June. Dover’s CTE center offers programs in building construction, electrical technology, NJROTC, welding, automotive technology, health sciences, culinary arts, cosmetology, business and more. 

In order to qualify for Rotary’s grants, individuals need to live or work in Dover, NH and submit receipts for their career-related tools/equipment to be reimbursed by Dover Rotary. 

Welcome to our newest Rotarians!
Membership Committee chair Steve Pappajohn inducted three new members at a recent meeting: Kendra Lewis, Suzanne Weete and Jen McNeil.
 We look forward to sharing the good we do in 2026!

Photo: (l-r) President Cathy Beaudoin, Kendra Lewis, Suzanne Weete, Steve Pappajohn (in back), Gregg Dowty, Jen McNeil and Cindy Imbro.

Membershp chair Steve Pappajohn leads talk on benefits of being a Rotarian. Many have so much to give, but don't know where or how to do it. The Rotary Club of Dover could be that great opportunity. We love sharing what we do, and the impact we have on our community!

As part of a campaign to highlight its decades of community connections, the Rotary club of Dover, NH, recently installed a photo collage marker in Henry Law Park adjacent to Rotary Gardens.  Designed by Rotarians and installed by the city, the sign displays a list of ongoing Rotary programs valued at over $150,000 per year. 

According to Rotary President Cathy Beaudoin, 2025-2026, this project originated from a suggestion by one of our members, “Ram” Ramdev, who hoped to make the community more aware of Rotary’s service projects throughout the years.

“It’s great to see the marker project come to fruition. It’s a bright, contemporary look at the good works of our Rotary today emphasizing years of community involvement,” Beaudoin said, adding, “We are grateful to Superintendent Mark Colonna and his team of city workers for their assistance installing the marker and Sundance Sign for their craftsmanship.”

Photos capture Rotarians involved in community activities along with photos of completed projects at sites around town. The sign also features a summary of Dover Rotary’s history taken from a speech delivered by Rotarian Malcolm McNeill at the club’s 100^th anniversary.

Dover Rotary has also installed banners at the park and at the train station, inviting anyone interested in learning more about its activities and membership to visit its website at https://doverrotary.com.

Community volunteers gather around hundreds of bags of non-perishable food to celebrate the new HVAC system installed at the End 68 Hours of Hunger building in Dover thanks to a donation from Dover’s Rotary Club. 

Thanks to our Dover Rotarians & friends - Ram, Frank, Cathy, Mark, Beth and Bob for coming out on a recent Saturday morning to fill over 8 bags with litter in just 60 minutes.