Newsletter - Archive  Mar 11, 2009

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Rotary Club Business and Member News

March  11, 2009

Opening:

Pledge              Mark 

Prayer               Amos

Song                 Arthur

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

Warren Smith   Guest, Japanese-English Technology

       Rick Langis      Guest, Federal Savings Bank

Announcements:

Ric               Our Cairo project cannot be funded yet due to the economy's  

                    effect on The Rotary Foundation's matching funds.  We'll know

                    after the Trustees' meeting next month how long we have to

                    wait.

Pres John    There will be no meeting next Wednesday

Stephen       Jud is still experiencing some discomfort, but would like to get

                     get some reading material.  Barbara asks us to hold calls.

Pres John     Presented our short order cook, Deb - expecting to give birth

                     to a son next month - gifts from the members.

Bill D             Presented $120 to the Polio Fund from the sale of bluebird

                     houses.  More are in the truck.  Bill promises the bluebirds are

                     returning!

Henry           Praised the Leadership Institute he recently attended.

Stephen       Asked members to recommend additional places that the "Used

                     Cell Phone" collection boxes could be placed.

                     Stephen also called for member nominations for the Golden

                     Oar award.

Happy Bucks:

Arthur           UNH Women's Hockey Team and great skiing last weekend.

 Brian           Crutches are gone.

Joe P            Is a single dad while wife is away, and he's now retired from

                     government position in Exeter after nine years in office.

Richard        Good job by scholarship committee, and congratulations to

                            Henry on his election to Oyster River School Board.

Stephen        Has another granchild on the way, and best wishes to Henry.

Bill D             Congraulations to Henry

Amos            Split emotions of Oyster River/Lebanon (alma mater) hockey

                     contest

Henry            Best wishes to Jud

Program:

Club Forum, Scholarship Program.

The scholarship committee has revised the terms which will guide the awarding of scholarships by the club.  While the new guidelines limit the awards to a maximum of $8000, President John pointed out that the committee will need some flexbility for the near future as we have made $1000 awards to some students and have told them that their scholarship can be renewed if college GPA and community service warrant.

There was a discussion of the need for the committee to be responsive to this situation.

Brian moved that there should be an $8000 cap but that the committee should deal with the possibility of renewing scholarships.  Frank seconded the motion.

Dan questioned the current policy of awarding equal numbers of scholarships to ORHS and NHS due to the minimal membership from Newmarket.  He offered an amendment to the motion before the club to state that three scholarships would go to ORHS students and one to a NHS student.  Joe P. seconded the motion for discussion purposes.  Numerous members spoke in opposition to the amendment.  The amendment was voted down by the club.

A vote was taken on the main motion which passed.

Frank moved that the board adopt a plan to transition over the next few years.  Joe P. seconded the motion which was passed.

Ric felt that ORHS could be doing more to let the students know that our scholarships were available.  He suggested that the scholarship committee

"spread the word" themselves.  Several members spoke to this issue.

Ron, acting for the scholarship committee, changed the introductory paragraph of the guidelines to allow the committee to deal with the situation discussed above  The scribe received the following final statement of policy from Ron R:

 "The Durham-Great Bay Rotary Club annually awards up to $8000 in scholarships to graduates of Newmarket and Oyster River High Schools. The amount of scholarship dollars to be awarded in any one year shall be set in that year's annual budget for the Club but shall be no more that fifty percent (50%) of the total funds budgeted for community charitable giving.  Usually the scholarships are divided as evenly as possible between Newmarket High School and Oyster River High School.  The Scholarship Committee shall determine the number, size and renewability of individual scholarships awarded in any one year, subject to budgeted funds and the terms and conditions of this policy."

Megabucks:

No big winner this week

Upcoming Programs:

Mar 18     No Meeting (Charter NIght, Mar 20)

Mar 25     Colleen Fitzpatrick, Community Organizations Active in Disaster

Your Scribe: Don