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.
Dover Rotarians gathered in May, with hand rakes and shovels, to turn the Rotary gardens at Henry Law Park into a flowering showcase in the center of the city.
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.
Take 5 minutes out of your day to learn about all the amazing things Dover Rotary does to improve the lives of kids, families and individuals in Dover and around the world. Rotarian Kathy Fink collected the photos and wrote the script, produced and edited by Aidan Allen.
Dover Rotary donated $1,000 to Dover's 911 Memorial Project at their Nov. 18 meeting. Photo: (l-r) Retired Fire Chief Perry Plummer, Rotary President Cathy Beaudoin, Former Mayor Bob Carrier, current Mayor Dennis Shanahan and Police Chief David Terelmezian Ter
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.
Over thirty community members joined Dover Rotarians for a successful project making mittens for the unhoused on Saturday, Dec. 13 in partnership with Abby Lamothe, founder of Seacoast Sweet Stitches.
A young woman from south Dover said she noticed the flyer in town and thought she could do her part to help others during the holidays and learn to sew at the same time. Another family with young children cut up old sweaters to be used for mittens and other volunteers cut strips of donated fleece for the die cutting team to create the 3-piece mitten sections. Lamothe provided instruction, encouragement and enthusiasm during the two-hour session.
The event was part of Dover Rotary’s Gifts of Warmth projects chaired by Rotarian Jim Munro.
“I was pleased with the great turnout at this busy time of year and glad to be making a difference for people suffering through this frigid weather.”
Munro also thanked Lamothe for sharing her time and talent to bring warmth to our needy neighbors.
All supplies were donated, including yards of fleece, a die-cutting system and sewing machines (for those with some sewing ability). Leftover bits and pieces of fleece would be used by volunteers at the Hope Memorial shelter to make dog beds.
Lamothe said, “Nothing goes to waste.”
In addition to the mitten project, Dover’s Rotary club members hold an annual shopping day in December to purchase over $3,000 in hats, gloves, coats, toiletries, tarps, and other necessities for the unsheltered, distributed by Strafford County Community Action.
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!
A team of Dover Rotarians purchased over $3,000 in clothing and supplies to keep our unhoused neighbors warm this winter during our annual Gift of Warmth shopping trip to Ocean State Job Lot.
Ocean State Job Lots generously gave Rotary a 30% discount on all items which will be distributed to Community Action Partnership of Strafford County and
NH Mutual Aid Response Fund.
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 100th 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.
Rotary garden crew plants mums and preps garden at Henry Law Park for fall activities.
(l-r) Top row: Becky Crowley, Cate Rafferty and Cathann Potvin
Bottom row: Noreen Biehl, President Cathy Beaudoin, Gary DeColfmaker, Harry Cheney and Ram Ramdev (missing from photo Gregg Dowty)
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.
Local Rotarians fill carts with healthy snacks for Dover’s elementary school children
(l-r) Nick Pellmen, Harry Cheney, Phil Rinaldi, Maggie Sinclair, and Ram Ramdev (missing from photo Gregg Dowty).
Dover Rotary announces new president and board members for 2025-2026
Dover Rotarians welcomed Cathy Beaudoin as president at a brief ceremony during their first meeting in July. A well-known Dover resident, Beaudoin served as Director of the Dover Public Library for 21 years before her retirement. Her extensive knowledge of Dover’s history is apparent in documents and scripts she has authored for local texts, reenactments and tours of the city.
Beaudoin was chosen by the Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year in 2019 for her multiple contributions to preserving the City’s history and currently serves on the City’s Cemetery Board and works as a docent at the Woodman Museum.
A graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, UNH and Simmons College, Beaudoin has been a Rotarian for four years. “I’m very excited to serve,” she said, “along with very knowledgeable Board members to support the Dover community through service and donation projects that benefit us all.”
At her inaugural meeting, Beaudoin thanked immediate past president Harry Cheney for being a “shining example of joy” during his presidency and outlined her plan for the coming year. Her goals included following the Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo’s theme of “Unite for Good,” increasing membership, and convening a summit of Dover non-profits to look for synergies and duplications to better serve the Dover community.
Joining Beaudoin on Dover Rotary’s Board are officers: Gregg Dowty, Treasurer; Marion Cheney, Secretary; Harry Cheney, Immediate Past President; and Directors: Elizabeth Fisher, Rob Gagnon, Cindy Imbro, Steve Pappajohn, Nick Pellman, Phil Rinaldi and Jay Stephens.
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.
Rotarians Gary & Deb DeColfmacker had the honor to present the Rotary Club of Dover NH annual scholarships at Dover High School for the twenty-fourth year! In addition, this year's recipients of $1,500 scholarships included Jack Wagoner (pictured above), Rachel Bachrach, Nathon Bigelow and Addison Menninger. During the award ceremony, they had all the members of the Interact Club stand and be recognized as well.
Each year, our club distributes over 200 dictionaries to each of the 3rd graders in each of the Dover elementary schools.
The kids had so many questions of us about the dictionary and loved that we shared the longest word in the English language.
Can you guess what that word is? Hint. It has 1,909 letters and is a form of protein.
When teachers and administrators recommend a “Student of the Month,” there are certain qualities that are frequently mentioned, and this student checks the box on all of them.
This month’s “Student of the Month” shows intellectual curiosity and consistently strives to do the very best she can. As a top student in the grade, she is still humble and knows that there is more to learn and models exemplary study habits in each class.
In addition to being a top academic student, this student is kind, accepting of others, and will work with and help any peer when partners or groups are needed. She displays a maturity beyond her age through her demonstration of integrity and honesty, and she does so with a calm and relaxing demeanor.
Thank you, Imogene McKinney, for being such a great role model to your peers and congratulations on being the recipient of March’s “Student of the Month.”
Rotarians and Gibson Bonner's family celebrate his announcement as Dover Middle School Student of the Month for February. Gibson Bonner received from his teachers. They said he takes tremendous pride in his school community and appreciates the little things in life. He takes in all that school has to offer and seizes learning opportunities. He is thoughtful in his work and always takes his time to do his best. Likewise, he is extremely supportive of his classmates and is a quiet leader. He is extremely deserving of this Student of the Month award because he is so compassionate and hard-working, and he truly makes our school a better place.