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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

Rotarians recognized for contributions to the Foundation

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.

Rotarians visit Sandy Hill Light Show

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 Rotary fills backpacks for Back to School project

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 Rotarians attend Marion Cheney's DG Changeover

Dover NH Rotarians congratulate new DG Marion Cheney at Changeover Event

Rotary Gardeners Beautify Dover

Message from Marion Cheney - our District Governor

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!

Dover Rotary Welcomes New Members

Happy to celebrate new members in our club!

David Barnes with President Megan K.

Brian Hanson

Getting together

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.

Rotary celebrates DMS Student of Month

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!

Rotarians support Don't Trash Dover Cleanup

Dover Rotarians join with community members and Don't Trash Dover to clean up Henry Law Park.

Dover Rotary honors student of the month

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.

Rotary Club of Dover donates $1,000 to bring the healing gift of music to hospitalized children

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.”

Rotary participates in Festival of Trees

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.

Kids Closet donates to elementary schools

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.

Dover Rotary welcomes Theresa Robison

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.

Rotarians enjoy UNH musical

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.

Rotary Garden ready for winter

We were up and at the Rotary Gardens to remove the flowers and plants as we prepare the gardens for the cold weather. Look for us again in the Spring

Kid's Closet supports local school children

Members of the Rotary Club of Dover including Gregg Dowty, Melissa Lesniak, Jonathan Nichols, and Nick Pelman presented $5000.00 in gift cards as part of the Rotary Club of Dover - Kid's Closet project.

The gift cards were presented to Dover High School staff members including Principal Peter Driscoll, Social Worker Donna Berchulski, Director of Guidance Carolyn Schwarz, and Guidance Counselors serving students throughout the school.

Last week, members of the Rotary Club of Dover including Gregg Dowty, Melissa Lesniak, Jonathan Nichols, Noreen Biehl, and Nathania Sitiwatjans presented $3500.00 in gift cards as part of the Rotary Club of Dover - Kid's Closet project.

The gift cards were presented to Dover Middle School staff members including Mary Calhoun, Joan Breault, Charles Antwon, and Caitlyn Fogg serving students throughout the school.

Dover Rotary & DHS Interact hold Shred event

It may have been a little cold, yet the Dover High School Interact students partnered with the Rotary Club of Dover to host our 3rd Annual Rotary & DHS Interact "SHRED IT" Shredding Event!

We greeted those looking to shred their documents and then thanked them for supporting the Interact fundraiser to help 15 girls through the Heifer International program to be able to attend school.

Thank you to EVERYONE who volunteered, donated the snacks, and dropped off their documents to be shredded

Dover Rotary donates $10,000 in gift cards to DHA

(l-r) Rotarians Phil Rinaldi, Gregg Dowty and Noreen Biehl present gift cards to the DHA team: Tim Granfield, Board Chair; Michele Bourasso, Family Self Sufficiency Specialist; Roxanne Osgood, Family and LIHTC Housing Specialist, Becky Daniels, Housing Choice Voucher Specialist and Exec. Director Ryan Crosby.

Students participating in the Seymour Osman Community Center’s After School Program at Dover Housing Authority will receive gift cards to purchase school clothes and supplies thanks to a donation from the Rotary Club of Dover, NH. The program will provide Walmart and Target gift cards for approximately 100 elementary, middle and high school students.

DHA Exec. Director Ryan Crosby was grateful for the donation. “Thank you very much—and please pass our thanks along to the entire Dover Rotary membership for the generous contribution of $10,000 in gift cards. This is an amazing opportunity to help our neighborhood children.”

Rotarian Gregg Dowty noted the Rotary Club of Dover has donated supplies and gift cards for several years to DHA and recently funded another program to provide snacks for needy students in all of Dover’s public elementary schools. “We are currently working with Dover school officials to determine where other needs exist and how our Rotary club may contribute. Our goal is to help students learn in every way possible.”

Dover Rotary plants mums in garden at Henry Law Park

Rotarians Jim Munro, Noreen Biehl, Gregg Dowty and Beth Fischer plant mums in the Rotary Garden at Henry Law Park in downtown Dover. Beautiful Day!

Dover Rotary Welcomes New Members

The Rotary Club of Dover President Megan Keil welcomed our newest members, Nathania Sitiwatijana of TD Bank and Jonathan Nichols of the Woodman Museum to the club (above) and Michael Day of the Woodman Museum ( below) Doing Good. Very Good.

Great Day for Annual Golf Tournament

The Rotary Club of Dover NH beat the rain and hosted its Annual Dover Rotary Golf Tournament on Monday, June 27, 2022.

This year's tournament supports our Scholarship Program and new Vocational Training & Tools Grant.

Thank you to all who sponsored, volunteered, and played

Thank you - Golf Tournament Sponsors

Only a few days left to sign up and play at the beautiful Cochecho Country Club in Dover, NH

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this year's annual Charities Golf Tournament on June 27, 2022. Haven't signed up yet? Visit our golf website to register:

https://dover-rotary-charities-annual-golf-tournament.perfectgolfevent.com/

Dover Rotary Golf Sponsors 2022

Major Sponsors ($1,500 level)

Shaheen and Gordon
Gateway Retirement Solutions
Eastern Bank
First Seacoast Bank

Beverage Cart ($275)

Tri City Autos
Bank of NH
Profile Bank

Closest to the Pin ($250)

Harvey Bernier
John Hopkins (Bellamy Fields)

Hole Sponsors ($175)

Edward Jones / Nick Pellman
Community Action Partnership / Betsey Andrews Parker
“Thank you for your service” from Bob Lapoint – Korea & Phil Rinaldi – Viet Nam.
RBC Management / Rob Boulanger
Jim Munro
Wyskiel, Boc, Tillinghast and Bolduc
Keller Williams Coastal Realty / Melissa Lesniak
Harvey Bernier
R.M. Davis
DF Richard
Bank of NH
Raiche & Co

Donations

Harvey Bernier $75
Robinson, Boesch, Sennott & Daly P.A./ Andrea Sennott $150

Rotary Club of Dover, NH

What we do!!!

We donate close to $100,000 annually to:

Community Giving Grants
Scholarships
Vocation Training & Tools Grants
Rotary Garden at Henry Law Park
Milk & Eggs Program
Shoe & Boot Program
Back to School Program
Homeless Program
Special projects & more!

How do we do it?

Volunteering at Bingo
Annual Golf Tournament

And we have fun!

Hands-on community projects
Weekly - Wednesday lunch meetings – fellowship & learning about our community and the world around us
Monthly - Together on Tuesdays

Everyone welcome!

Visit doverrotary.com