THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM. 

 

Todd Allen introduces Allie Levy, owner of Still Books in Hanover, a new business that opened and thrived during the pandemic. 

 

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88229582283?pwd=aS9Hd3o1cS9ZK0hQL0ZhUHZXSEdxQT09

 

Meeting ID: 882 2958 2283

Password: 254494

 

The Zoom Room opens at 11:45 AM.  As noted above, we will begin our talk promptly at noon, forgoing the Pledge of Allegiance and opening remarks.

 

 

Wayne Gersen introduced Jay Baddams, SAU 70 Superintendent, who used his talk to reflect on the past two years dealing with COVID winds down and expressing his appreciation for the public support the schools received on Tuesday’s election and budget votes. Jay described the work he did to seek consensus on whether or not to open schools, a consensus that was aided by the expertise available to the school district thanks to Dartmouth Hitchcock and levelheaded parents who served on an advisory committee he leaned on to determine the best course of action. He expressed particular appreciation for the efforts of Dr. Stephen Chapman who helped achieve the consensus among parents and educators and for the staff members who worked tirelessly on behalf of parents and students to make changes on the fly when the State mandated that schools close in 2020. Dr. Chapman’s mantra was to act with kindness and community with an eye on the data, a mantra that guided the efforts of the advisory committee throughout their deliberations. 

 

Jay extolled the benefits of keeping schools open, noting that the attendance rates and academic performance as measured by test scores remained high in Hanover and Dresden schools throughout the pandemic. He reported that once masks are no longer required in school, the advisory committee is recommending a “Masks Welcome” approach recognizing that some immune-compromised students may want to retain the option and should not be criticized for their decision to continue wearing masks. 

 

 

Last week’s “Rotarian of the Week”, Dave Bradley, described his experiences growing up in West Swanzey and attending Keene HS where he was a star QB who won the first NH-VT Shrine Game with a touchdown pass in the closing minutes. After graduating from Dartmouth and completing his NROTC commitment, and working a year for Dartmouth, Dave attended Harvard Law School and then joined the only law firm in Hanover, a firm that eventually evolved to Stebbins Bradley. Dave joined Hanover Rotary in 1970 and was especially proud of the role he played in getting the club to invite women to join. Throughout his career Dave was active in politics, serving on the Hanover/Dresden School Board (he wrote the Articles of Agreement for the SAU), one term in the NH House and three terms in the NH Senate. After losing to Warren Rudman in the race for the US Senate in 1980, Dave dropped out of politics. Dave and his wife Anne have three children, 7 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. 

 

 

David Allen announced that we accumulated $25,000 to give to Listen and read a thank you note from them expressing their gratitude for our donation. 

 

Jed Williamson accepted David Allen’s to step up to co-chair the Youth Services area of the club, which includes the speech contest, RYLA, and the student exchange program… but David is still seeking someone to work with Jed on that project. 

 

Len Cadwallader offered a Happy Dollar for the re-start of the Hanover Pancake Breakfast which is scheduled to launch on Green-Up Day this year at a site to be determined. He expressed thanks to Kevin Wenger and Heather Drinan who are heading up the committee to bring the breakfast back to life. 

 

Kevin Wenger offered a Happy Dollar in hoor of his twin daughters who qualified for the NCAA national swim competition as sophomores. 

 

David Bradley offered a Happy Dollar for the relief he felt now that he’s given his speech on his life experience and his experience as a Rotarian.  

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS:  

 

March 16 – Todd Allen introduces Dartmouth computer science professor Peter Winkler who, in addition to teaching at the college, Peter sends out little math puzzles each week for the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath). It's called "Mind-benders for the Quarantined!". Todd recommends signing up and seeing how you can do. 

 

March 23 – Wayne Gersen introduces Nikki Grimes from the Upper Valley Humane Society who will tell us how they’ve fared over the past couple of years. 

 

March 30 – Wayne Gersen introduces the new ED for the AVA Gallery in Lebanon, Shari Boraz, who will share her vision for the direction that non-profit will take in the future. 

 

April 6 – Heidi Postupak will introduce Sylvia Dow, Executive Director for Visions for Creative Housing Solutions

 

April 13 – Dick Podolec introduces Dartmouth President Phil Hanlon

 

I am in the process of fleshing out speakers for the balance of our year (which ends June 30) and the summer. Please email me with any ideas you have for speakers or to determine open dates for speakers you’d like to invite. 

 

Wayne Gersen