As we prepare for the Holidays, the Rotary Coub of Dover welcomed, “Songfest” with the Garrison Players Showstoppers. We enjoyed a lovely group of singers - showcasing solo/duet numbers, followed by sing-along. Great way to get into the Holiday spirit 🤶
The Rotary Club of Dover recognized another Dover Middle School student at our monthly Student of the Month presentation. The DMS team teachers were very proud that another student has shown positive qualities to be recognized as student of the month. This student is a role model for other students each and every day. This student comes to school with a positive attitude and makes the best of the hard days. When they walk into a classroom, or pass an adult in the hallway, they greet them with a "good morning" or a "hey, how are you doing today?" You can tell just from a few minutes of conversation with this student that they lead with compassion, despite the challenges they have faced. This student is also curious, asks for help as well as offers it, and always puts in their best effort to learn in all of their classes. When this student is asked to collaborate with another student, no matter who it is, they turn to them and ask them for their thoughts, listens, and works with them to come up with a shared strategy or solution. We are very proud to recognize James Gould as the DMS student of the month. Congratulations!
The Dover High Interact Club hosted the 1st Annual Purple Pinky Project. They held the event to promote awareness to Polio and how it has affected so many over the years. With the continual Rotary support to eradicate Polio, this project was geared toward raising money to support the Rotary efforts. The students raised $350.00 at the recent fundraiser and Rotary Club of Dover Rotation, Phil Rinaldi matched the $350.00 to bring to total of $700.00 that the Interact Club raised.
All done in less than an hour by the Rotary Club of Dover Rotarians and one of our DHS Interact student and her mom.
The Rotary Club of Dover was honored to present the Dover Middle School - Student of the Month award to 5th grader, Kayla Nguyen. The teachers had the pleasure of getting to know this student since they came to Dover Middle School in 5th grade. Watching her develop social skills has been remarkable to watch. She is active with their ESOL peers and have been pivotal in making students who have transferred in to our school feel welcome. She is always the first to greet a new student and so quick to make sure everyone has someone to sit with at lunch. In class she is kind and respectful and quick to participate and further class discussion. Kayla continues to be a ray of sunshine that graces Dover Middle School’s halls and it is my pleasure to nominate her for student of the month.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Apr. 27 to recognize partnership between Dover Rotary and City of Dover in honor of Parks & Recreation Director Gary Bannon.
Past President Noreen Biehl honors Gary Bannon for 34 years of service to City of Dover and partnerships with Dover Rotary.
Dover Mayor Bob Carrier presents a cake decorated with symbols of Gary's work on parks and recreation for the City of Dover.
The Rotary Club of Dover was honored to present another Student of the Month award to Dover Middle School 5th grader, Jasmine Hassey. Jasmine is a kind and caring student and well involved in her school and helping other students and teachers. She is one to always ask if she can assist them when they need help in studies or with opening a door. The Rotary Club surprised Jasmine as she and the other students of her team thought that the Rotary Club was there to make a presentation about Rotary. It was fun to see her smile as her parents were there to congratulate her, as well as her twin brother Sabastian. Congratulations Jasmine!
Photo: (l-r) Rotarian Melissa Lesniak, Jasmine, Jasmine’s mom, dad, and twin brother, Sabastian, and Rotarians - Cate Rafferty, Nick Pellman, and Gregg Dowty
At recent Rotary Club of Dover NH club meetings, Past President & Treasurer Phil Rinaldi received a PHF +3 pin from Jim Munro and Pres. Kathy Fink. Also recognized were Past Presidents Nick Pellman and Megan Keil. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. Rotary established the recognition to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions. Thank you for supporting Rotary.
It was a warm night for hot chocolate, friends, and lots of lights. With over 40 of us, including Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Exeter, NH and Rotary Club of South Berwick/Eliot, we all had a fun night out as part of our Together on Tuesdays each month. Amazing. Beautiful. Delightful. Breathtaking.
Dover Rotarians filled 65 backpacks with school supplies and distributed them to kids at the Seymour Osman Community Center along with an ice cream smorgasbord.
Dover NH Rotarians congratulate new DG Marion Cheney at Changeover Event
CREATE HOPE IN THE WORLD
I’ve thought a lot about Hope since RI introduced this year’s theme at the RI Assembly in January. At first it seemed somewhat elusive – a little hazy and out of reach until I met Marek Wsiclo, my counterpart from Krakow-Wawel Poland. He found hope in Rotary, in Poland, in the Ukraine and in New Hampshire.
My first glimmer of understanding that kind of hope began in a breakout session at the Assembly when Marek saw I was from New Hampshire. His eyes lit up and he said, “I know people in New Hampshire.” That’s just the beginning of this story.
When the war broke out in Ukraine four Rotarians from the Plymouth, NH Rotary Club decided that doing “nothing” was not an option. They made a trip to Poland and connected with District Governor, Piotr. Starting in March 2022, they learned that the best way to help would be to raise funds and send them to a trusted partner in Poland. With the support from Rotary Clubs, the media and NH’s Common Man Restaurants, they were able to raise $2.3 million. Thanks to their tireless efforts, they were able to purchase over 700 tons of food, sleeping bags, a bloodmobile and the list goes on.
This group of four remarkable individuals focus on the most innocent of the population, the kids, to help them first and foremost with basic needs. Children throughout Ukraine are being sent to live in “Safe Houses’ in Western Ukraine and Poland. This measure was taken to prevent them from being stolen from their families and sold to sex traffickers and endure horrific conditions. How’s that for Hope!
Little did I know that meeting a Rotarian from Warsaw, Poland in Orlando Florida to learn about a group from Plymouth, NH, would ignite a desire to have a group of 4-5 Rotarians in our district travel to Poland in the Spring of 2024. These Rotarians will have the opportunity to view projects, visit with Rotarians and learn about the possibility of collaborating on potential programs. This is just one example of how Rotary’s creating real, hands-on hope.
I am looking forward to serving our district in 2023-24. I encourage our clubs to collaborate with other clubs and communities when you are planning service projects and fundraisers.
Thank You for this wonderful opportunity and I look forward to creating even more hope in our world!
Happy to celebrate new members in our club!
David Barnes with President Megan K.
Brian Hanson
Looking to build friendships and fellowships through Rotary? We have FUN when we gather together at the Rotary Club of Dover’s Together on the 5th Wednesday.
The Rotary Club of Dover presented the Dover Middle School Student of the Month award for April to 8th grader, Kennedy Blair.
Here is just one of the overwhelming comments from the school: This exceptional student is a member of Student Council and consistently attends meetings and advocates for others. She is a strong leader and genuinely wants to make a difference. She is smart, empathetic and sweet. She is very deserving of this honor!
Dover Rotarians join with community members and Don't Trash Dover to clean up Henry Law Park.
Congratulations to Cam LaChance, Student of the Month for February at the Dover Middle School. He was recognized by members of the Rotary Club of Dover. Cam started the Card Club to get his fellow students involved and actively participating in a fun activity during COVID. Sharing in his achievement award was his mother and grandfather. Congratulations on an award well deserved.
The Rotary Club of Dover, NH presented a $1,000 check on March 9, 2023 to Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group to support their Ukulele Kids Club, a registered charity dedicated to bringing the healing gift of music to hospitalized children. The check was presented by Dover Rotarian Cate Rafferty at the weekly Rotary gathering at the Dover Bingo Center. Rafferty noted the funds will benefit kids and their families in difficult situations by proving the therapeutic effect of music, as well as ukuleles the children can bring home.
Accepting on behalf of the Ukulele Kids Club, June Pinkham, one of the organizers of the Southern NH Ukulele Group, said, “I have witnessed first-hand how music therapy soothes patients. I’ve seen how it relaxes them and makes them more receptive to treatment. It’s amazing. We are honored to accept this generous donation on behalf of the UKC.”
Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Dover decorated a 6 ft. tree in December as part of the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Festival of Trees silent auction fundraiser. This year's theme was "Games" - both old and new - including Uno, Monopoly and bingo ornaments and the amazing Trivial Pursuit topper.
The Rotary Club of Dover distributed the club’s Kid’s Closet healthy snacks to all the local elementary schools so the teachers can have them on hand for the students in their classrooms.
Looking forward to continuing our partnership to help the kids in our schools and in the community.
Welcome to our newest Rotarian, Teresa Robison to the Rotary Club of Dover. Teresa was officially admitted by Past President, Jim Munro and and pinned by next year’s President, Kathy Fink. We’re delighted to have you, Teresa, especially as we celebrate our100th Rotary year in 2024.
An amazing night out with our fellow Rotary Club of Dover Rotarians and their guests to see the musical, Bye Bye Birdie with music director and Dover Rotarian, Kathy Fink.