Sunday, October 16 12:30 to 3:30 pm Putnam Park, Peterborough, NH
Grand Monadnock Rotary Club is sponsoring its fourth annual Community Recovery Fair and Community Walk for Recovery.
Join us and help destigmatize the ways communities think about Substance Use Disorder, viewing SUD as the disease it is, not simply a criminal justice problem.
The public should know that recovery from Substance Use Disorders (SUD) is possible and happens all the time. In fact, 10% of the public reports having had substance misuse issues in the past that they have overcome to rejoin the mainstream as fruitful members of society. Nearly as many still suffer from SUD, an illness of the body, mind and soul that can be treated with care and support.
This year’s focus is “Reach Out and Help Someone!”. Our three keynote speakers at 1pm will advise people on how they can approach others with Substance Use Disorders in effective and supportive ways:
The first speaker, Sarah Desaulniers from Reality Check, is a specialist in prevention and recovery that works in the schools and will talk about how parents can work with their teens and young adults.
The second speaker, Megan Zehr from Keene Serenity Center, is a professional recovery coach and also works with people with addictions in the jails.
The third speaker, Anena Hansen with Reality Check, directs programs for workplace support for staff with SUD to help people with problems while still in the workplace.
This is going to be a great program. In addition to the speakers, ten regional agencies involved in all stages of recovery from intake and direction to counseling to ongoing support and reintegration of people in recovery will be on hand to meet the public, answer questions about recovery support in the Monadnock Region, and offer advice for appropriate levels of service for those suffering from Substance Use Disorders.
You’ll find them listed along with other information when you click Read More below.
At 2pm walkers leave for an easy 3-mile Community Walk for Recovery to Adams Park and back along Union Street to show community support for those doing the hard work of recovery.
More broadly, SUD includes reliance on any substance that pushes the brain’s pleasure centers to overstimulation to the extent that people no longer make decisions in their own best interests.
In NH, during the pandemic alcohol use rose by 30%. Many forms of drug use are up. In 2022, drug related deaths In the United States reached a record 107,000, twice as many as all the soldiers that died in the Vietman War. In New Hampshire, we are bucking the trend, we had a 11% reduction from 2018 to 2021.
Support for SUD involves helping people break out of despair, isolation and alienation to return to a productive stable life with a place to live, a job to support themselves, and a community to belong to.
I hope you’ll join us, or consider making an online donation to the Grand Monadnock Rotary Charitable Fund athttps://grandmonadnockrotary.org/donateto support this effort.
On June 21, 2022, Jennifer Kiley, CTE Director at ConVal, attended the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club meeting and discussed the amazing programs that the Applied Technology Center has to offer students from ConVal, Mascenic and Conant high schools. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/DOSKGGFXUv8
Region 14 Applied Technology Center, Conval High School
On June 14, 2022, Vanessa Palange spoke about the role of NH Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Watch the meeting recording here https://youtu.be/ducNvqiMLtA.
NH Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
On May 24, 2022, Jimmy Smith spoke at the Grand Monadnock Rotary meeting to discuss what Peterborough was like in the 1950s and 1960s. Take a look at the meeting recording here https://youtu.be/wpsNcM5wJdw.
On May 17, 2022, Dave DeWitt spoke at the Grand Monadnock Rotary meeting to discuss 3D printing and modeling. Dave discussed how he works with the local schools to help teach kids how to use TinkerCAD to build models and then print them on a 3D printer. He discussed how the kids learn about various aspects of engineering without even knowing it and how they are able to learn and use their problem solving skills to build various things. Check out the presentation here https://youtu.be/DzrHJEuLDfY.
On May 10, 2022, Chris Nicolopoulos the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department spoke about what this agency does. Chris was nominated by Governor Chris T. Sununu and unanimously approved by the New Hampshire Executive Council. Previously, Commissioner Nicolopoulos served as the President and CEO of the New Hampshire Association of Insurance Agents for five years. You can watch the recording of this meeting here: https://youtu.be/QrDqmDLRDVg
On May 3, 2022, Betsy Small Campbell talked about the story of Creating Friendships for Peace CFP), a 501C-3 that first began hosting Northern Ireland teen pairs from opposing sides of the conflict for month-long summer homestays in the U.S. under the name Children's Friendship Program of Northern Ireland (CFPNI). You can watch the recording of this meeting here: https://youtu.be/6wZMHmb3EMU
On April 26, 2022, Ben Fisk from Ben's Sugar Shack attended the Grand Monadnock Rotary meeting to discuss the maple sugaring industry and plans for his continued growth of his business. There was a great Q and A session, so please watch the recording of this meeting here: https://youtu.be/fjbjyCHvb9o
On April 19, 2022, Ed Walker joined the Grand Monadnock Rotary members and discussed the current status of the new municipal building in Peterborough NH. Please watch the recording of this meeting here: https://youtu.be/wuE6hiHVFco
On April 12, 2022, Eric Swope and Laurie Jameson attended the Grand Monadnock Rotary meeting to discuss the Afghani Refugee Committee and what this group is doing to help Afghani refugees settle in our area. Please watch the recording of this meeting here: https://youtu.be/SljbsAMri6Q
On April 5, 2022, Michael Manjarris from Manjarris Sculpture joined the Grand Monadnock Rotary club meeting via Zoom and discussed the work he has done as a sculptor, building sculpture parks and working with other artists to get their works on display. The Rotary club has been exploring building a sculpture park at Dublin Rotary Park. You can view the recording of his talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZU1P84_N_I.
On March 29. 2022, Jacqueline Roland form Avenue A was the guest speaker at the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club meeting. She discussed the programs at Avenue A and the resources available to kids in the ConVal area. In addition, she talked about the leadership program they did with Friends Forever International with the support of the donation GMRC made to fund this effort. Watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtRQ_IyEaeU
On March 22. 2022, Luca Paris spoke at the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club meeting and discussed the role of the Greater Keene and Peterborough Chamber. He talked about some of the changes the chamber is making and the effort to connect business with community. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdvRErcZBpk
Luca Paris from Greater Keene and Peterborough Chamber
On March 15. 2022, Carol Cleary and Linda Caracappa from End 68 Hours of Hunger joined the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club via Zoom to discuss the program and the needs to help children and families in the ConVal area with food support over the weekend. This program serves Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Hancock, Peterborough, and Temple (all the towns of the ConVal School District). To learn more about the program and to make a donation visit: https://www.end68hoursofhunger.org/find-your-community/new-hampshire/conval-sau-1/. You can also watch the presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ket0CjhtWis
Just imagine the smiles generated when $2,700 worth of Girl Scout Cookies showed up at Monadnock Community Hospital. That generous donation was made by the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club through the Hometown Heroes program run by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains on March 7.
On February 1. 2022, Cyndee McQuire from Monadnock Community Hospital joined the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club via Zoom to discuss the current state of the Covid situation and the hospital's integration with state consortium of hospitals. You can watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__k5iOVTj6U
On January 18. 2022, Katherine Gekas who is a clinical herbalist joined the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club via Zoom to discuss medicinal plants and how to safely use them. You can watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uai-nRARJi0
On January 11. 2021, Jimmie Hinson, from NH Office of Workforce Opportunity spoke at the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club meeting and discussed the services offered by NH Office of Workforce Opportunity. To find out more you can visit their website at https://www.nhworks.org/ or contact Jimmie Hinson directly at 603-419-0995 or Jimmie.R.Hinson@livefree.nh.gov.
This year's Santa's Helpers include Rotary President Greg Robidoux Rick MacMillan, Laura Gingras, and Jim Guy
Grand Monadnock Rotary Club (GMRC) will again distribute gifts to children in need who live in the Monadnock Region. For 35 years, since Operation Santa started in 1986, GMRC has distributed gifts from Santa through elementary schools, non-profit agencies, and town welfare offices. The families are selected by schools and area agencies to receive gifts for their infants to older children.
Santa's Wish Lists are made by the parents for items their children want (toys) and things they need (usually clothing). The gift ideas are not random - children get what their parents identify. Fifteen area businesses set out displays with gift cards on them for employees to review and select the gift cards they wish to fulfill on behalf of Santa. These regional gift-providing corporate Elves and Rotary members then go out and shop for gifts, returning them to Rotary by November 30th for distribution back to the children. Over 220 children will receive gifts this year totaling approximately $100 for each child. In the end, gifts worth over $22,000 will be distributed to parents in time for a very Merry Holiday season in 2021.
Monetary donations to help purchase unfilled Operation Santa requests may be sent to Grand Monadnock Rotary Charitable Fund, PO Box 354, Peterborough, NH 03458-0354, or donate online - click on "Donate" in the banner above or go to https://GrandMonadnockRotary.org/Donate.
GMRC is interested in hearing from you about your interest in the community and how to be involved in the important work that Rotary does.
Submitted by Pegg Monahan, member, Grand Monadnock Rotary
Operation Santa Celebrates 35 Years of Gift Giving
On November 9. 2021, Gene Jonas from Hungry Bear Farm joined the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club via Zoom to discuss local farming and the importance and value of local resources for food.
For more information about Hungry Bear Farm and what Gene has been up to, refer to this link: https://hungrybearfarm.com/
On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, Bethann Clauss joined the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club meeting via Zoom to discuss the services that MAPS Counseling Services provides to the community.
To learn more about MAPS, please visit their website at https://mapsnh.org/.
On October 26, 2021, the Grand Monadnock Rotary club was visited by Adam and Josh from Nuttin Ordinary which is in the same building as where the club meets. Adam gave an overview of what has been going on with the company and then we were given a tour of the Nuttin Ordinary facility by Josh and Adam.
On October 12, 2021, Margaret Nelson from the River Center spoke at the Grand Monadnock Rotary meeting to discuss the current things the River Center is doing along with their extensive list of volunteers. Margaret also said the River Center is always looking for new volunteers and needs help with volunteers that can assist with tax returns.
On September 21, 2021, Mariam Raqib from Afghanistan Samsortya join the Grand Monadnock Rotary club via Zoom to discuss how Afghans can be supported now and also how she supports needed environmental revitalization in Afghanistan. She discussed her background in Afghanistan as a young child and how and why she started this organization to help rebuild the environment with new trees and clean water.
Join the third annualCommunity Walk for Recovery, sponsored by Grand Monadnock Rotary:
Date: Sunday, October 17th, 1 pm – 3:30 pm
Walkers: register and leave Putnam Park between 1 pm and 2 pm for a 3-mile walk to Adams Park and back
Visit regional leaders in Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for answers to your questions, referral resources, and help for you and those you love.
Listen to our Keynote speaker at 3 pm.
Goals for the Community Walk For Recovery include:
Reframing the issue of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) as a Public Health crisis and an illness that can be overcome with treatment and support,
Raising funds to support regional Prevention, Treatment and Recovery programs in schools and in the communities around the area
Raising awareness of the Prevention, Treatment and Recovery options from regional leaders and agencies on the front lines of the SUD crisis, and
Destigmatizing public discussion of treatment and recovery and building public support to welcome people in recovery back into the mainstream with jobs, housing and a sense of belonging to a community that cares about them.
Come walk with us at Putnam Park! Visit the exhibits and learn about regional Prevention, Treatment and Recovery. Meet others who share your goals and celebrate the fact that people can and do recover from SUD with appropriate support and treatment. See you on 10/17!
On August 31, 2021, Brian Beihl, Deputy Director of Open Democracy, attended the Grand Monadnock Rotary club meeting to discuss how business & civic leaders can play a role in a vital democracy without being partisan, and at the same time encourage younger workers to stay, keep employees engaged at work but also engaged in the community, and make sure our election system works for everyone.
A poster for 'A Healthy Democracy is Good Business' states, "When everyone can participate in our electoral process, and they are properly and fairly represented, our government and economy work better for all." Civic and business leaders play a critical role in helping to defend our freedoms, and by doing so, can help keep our democracy and economy strong.
The nonpartisan Open Democracy, founded by Dublin's Doris "Granny D" Haddock, advocates for "an equal voice for all," whether that is equalizing the voice of the voter with that of special interests, making sure voting districts are created with a fair, nonpartisan & transparent process, or by making sure that everyone has the freedom to vote.
Brian also leads the six Open Democracy Teams around the state as they engage with local, state and federal governments on democracy issues. He recently moved to Alton Bay, NH, but was a 35-year resident of Antrim, where he was a business and community leader for many years, and citizen of the year in 2013. He also was a Scoutmaster, chair of the Mt Monadnock District of Scouts BSA, and served on the Daniel Webster Council, among many community roles.
On August 24, 2021, Ed Walker, Peterborough Fire Chief, discussed the new proposed Peterborough fire station and municipal campus planned for Elm Street.
Ed gave an overview of Peterborough Fire & Rescue history and various buildings that have been used over the years. In addition, he spoke about the EMS services it performs in Peterborough and surrounding towns. Ed discussed the plans for building a new municipal campus and how that would benefit residents and Peterborough Fire & Rescue.
There will be a public meeting on Wednesday, September 1st for people to learn more about the project and to get their questions answered.
Peterborough new fire station and municipal campus design
On August 17, 2021, Barry Tanner spoke at the Rotary meeting and discussed plans for a new public charter school in Peterborough, NH named Lionheart Classical Academy. The school will begin as K-5 with plans to add an additional grade each year until becoming a K-12 school. The plan is to open the school in the fall of 2022. The current proposed location will be 10 Sharon Road in Peterborough. Enrollment will be offered through a lottery system and is available to students in the surrounding towns.
On August 10, 2021, the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club invited Louise Danforth (see picture below) from Monadnock Community Early Learning Center (MCELC) to talk about the learning center and some of the challenges during the pandemic. MCELC was selected to serve as a preschool for essential workers by the State of NH and operated during the pandemic. Louise talked about the challenges of operating a preschool during the pandemic and the protocols used to keep children and staff safe. She also talked about the challenges facing preschools now and in the future and proposed initiatives to expand early childhood education.
Louise Danforth is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Monadnock Community Early Learning Center. She also served as Executive Director of the school before becoming Program Director at Monadnock Community Hospital in the fall of 2008.
Judy Watkins from Monadnock Community Early Learning Center was going to join us as well, but she was unable to attend due to last minute scheduling changes. Judy was appointed Executive Director of Monadnock Community Early Learning Center in 2019 and, in NH, has also worked at the Crotched Mountain Foundation and Concord Head Start.
The Grand Monadnock Rotary Club has announced it will hold the fourth Cruz-In event of the 10th year on Sunday morning, August 15th, 2021, at the Depot Square parking lot in downtown Peterborough, between 9:00 and 12:00.
The event is open to all makes and models of vintage or special interest cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. The event is free to attendees, and all are welcome - there is no fee to display a vehicle. So, get your 1959 Mack Truck, 1967 Ferrari Dino 206SP, 1961 Dodge Challenger Convertible, or 1954 Mercury Convertible out of storage, wash and polish it, and get it to Cruz-In.
The event is free for all to attend, and all special vehicles are welcome for display.
For other information about the Cruz-in event, call John Kaufhold at 603-801-8364.
The Cruz-In will take place the third Sunday of each summer month in the Depot Square Parking lot in downtown Peterborough from 9 to 12.
This will be the third exciting Cruz-In event of the 2021 season.
On August 3, 2021, the Grand Monadnock Rotary held its first hybrid meeting after a year plus of having online only meetings. There were 18 people in attendance for the meeting which was held at MaXT Makerspace in Peterborough NH.
Our guest speaker was John Therriault from Monadnock Beekeepers’ Association. John retired in Keene NH after a career in high tech with IBM, Lockheed Martin and Danaher. He began to garden and noticed the lack of honeybees. This led him to research honeybees and pollinators that in turn led to beekeeping. He keeps bees in 5 different kinds of hives, captures swarms and removes honeybees from buildings. He is the President of the Monadnock Beekeepers' Association and an alternate member of the Keene Conservation Commission. John discussed pollinator protection and provided lots of great information about the importance of this and creating environments to support pollinators.
Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest Offers Prize Money to High School Students
The Rotary Four Way Test offers guidance for ethical and honest relationships in our personal and professional lives. All High School students living in the Conval School District are invited to compete in the Grand Monadnock Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest with a top prize of $250!
You must prepare your speech based on the Rotary Four Way Test, showing ALL FOUR (4) of the questions as applied to your life or a segment of society and demonstrate its impact. This is the Rotary Four Way Test:
Topics are up to you. Coaching and gathering feedback are encouraged, but students are responsible for creating and delivering their own speech. Speeches must be between 5 and 7 minutes long and will be delivered over Zoom in late April and early May.
Prizes:
First place: $250
Second place: $100
Third place: $50
Important dates:
Contest Entry Registration closes: Tuesday, April 20th
First Zoom Round to determine top 3 speeches: Tuesday, April 27th, 7 pm
Top 3 Zoom speeches contest for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize: Tuesday, May 4th, 7:00 pm
Confirmation of your contest entry will be sent by email. A Zoom link to the contest and the time slot assigned for your speech will be sent approximately a week before the contest begins.
For questions about entry and the contest, contact GMRC president Harry Wolhandler <Harry(at)Accelara.com>
Messages to the Community from the Recovery Community
Help share our message of hope for those in Recovery and encouragement for those seeking sobriety. Please share this video with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and the rest!
(Video of 2020 Community Recovery Fair by Reality Check)
Messages to the Community from the Recovery Community
There’s a new Rotary club in the region, the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club (GMRC). Rotary clubs are formed of business, professional and community leaders committed to service to our communities and our world. Their tag line, “Serving Our Towns & Our World”, underscores Rotarian’s commitment to improving conditions in the world around them, and the power of community members to help make things happen.
Free Re-Usable Masks Distributed by Grand Monadnock Rotary Club
As we all know, the number of Covid-19 isn’t going away soon. We need to Mask-UP for summer. Rotary has stepped up to make a difference. Grand Monadnock Rotary Club has partnered with the Rotary Club of Plymouth NH and the Common Man Restaurants to distribute 3000 masks free. The distribution will be on July 10, 3 pm - 7 pm and July 11th 10 am to 2 pm at South Meadow School in Peterborough.
Grand Monadnock Rotary Sponsors "Angst" - The Movie
Angst, an lndieFlix documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety, includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps. Screened in schools and theaters around the world, the film and materials provide tools, resources and above all, hope.
Monadnock Rotary Club hosted its first annual Community Walk for Recovery from Substance Use Disorder on October 20, 2019, from Dublin School to Historic Harrisville (3 miles). One hundred people walked and then attended presentations about recovery. The exhibitors were Monadnock Voices for Prevention, The Doorway (Cheshire Medical Center), Phoenix House (Dublin), Monadnock Family Services, Maps Counseling Services, Reality Check, Keene Serenity Center, and Better Life Partners.
Speakers presented information about the community and state efforts including Jay Kahn, NH State Senator; Polly Morris, PRSS-FO, Harbor Homes, Dr. Rudy Fedrizzi, WRJ Public Health Services District. Life stories were told by recovery advocates: Shawn Maguire, Sam Abbot, and Tom Davison.
Financial Sponsors included: Monadnock Rotary District 7870, local Rotarians, Aldworth Manor, All Saints Church-Peterborough, anonymous donors, Rev Sandi Albom, Bar Harbor Bank, Belletetes, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Monadnock Community Hospital, Monadnock Paper Mills/Verney Foundation, Rivermead, Peterborough Rotary Club, Phoenix House, and Yankee Publishing. Donors included the walkers and others who attended presentations. Media supporters included Monadnock Ledger Transcript, Keene Sentinel, Monadnock Radio Group and Silver Direct. This fundraiser is to provide Rotary grants to support front line organizations in the recovery and prevention community.
Grand Monadnock Rotary Club is sponsoring its fourth annual Community Recovery Fair and Community Walk for Recovery.
t 2pm walkers leave for an easy 3-mile Community Walk for Recovery to Adams Park and back along Union Street to show community support for those doing the hard work of recovery.
There’s a new Rotary club in the region, the Grand Monadnock Rotary Club (GMRC). Rotary clubs are formed of business, professional and community leaders committed to service to our communities and our world. Their tag line, “Serving Our Towns & Our World”, underscores Rotarian’s commitment to improving conditions in the world around them, and the power of community members to help make things happen.
As we all know, the number of Covid-19 isn’t going away soon. We need to Mask-UP for summer. Rotary has stepped up to make a difference. Grand Monadnock Rotary Club has partnered with the Rotary Club of Plymouth NH and the Common Man Restaurants to distribute 3000 masks free. The distribution will be on July 10, 3 pm - 7 pm and July 11th 10 am to 2 pm at South Meadow School in Peterborough. 
Monadnock Rotary Club hosted its first annual Community Walk for Recovery from Substance Use Disorder on October 20, 2019, from Dublin School to Historic Harrisville (3 miles). One hundred people walked and then attended presentations about recovery. The exhibitors were Monadnock Voices for Prevention, The Doorway (Cheshire Medical Center), Phoenix House (Dublin), Monadnock Family Services, Maps Counseling Services, Reality Check, Keene Serenity Center, and Better Life Partners. .jpg "Click for more info")
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