Durham-Great Bay Rotary - Newsletter - Archive (Jan 13, 2010)

Chip Met with a marketing company to discuss our July 4th celebration. Suggested we need more publicity and should make it a signature event involving other groups. More to come.

Henry Presented a club financial report. Charitable has a current balance of $16.4k, of which $8k is obligated to scholarships and $5k to fireworks. Bill Wilson Fund has recovered from losses of past two years and is now back to $54k.

Pres Rich With Foundation Chair Chip assisting, member Ron was

presented with his first Paul Harris Award. Congratulations!

Special Note: Our server at the Three Chimneys Inn is Lisa. She is engaged to Kevin and the two of them are in the running to win a $40k wedding giveaway by Clay Hill Farm. Please cast a vote for Lisa at www.greenweddinggiveaway.com (click on "Enter Contest" at the top and follow the instructions beneath their photo).

Happy Bucks:

Mark Scooter

Madiha Late buck

Chip Best wishes to Jud P who is undergoing knee replacement

surgery

Visiting with the grandkids over the weekend

Pete Great time at Dallas safari conference

Joe P Second son is now three weeks old

Dave L Good day skiing with Middle Schoolers

George Late buck

Henry Apologies for missing board meeting

Congratulations to Ron on his Paul Harris Award

Bob W UNH Hockey

Pres Rich Lots of geese in the fields each morning

Program:

John LaCourse, Chair, Lee Board of Selectmen

Our speaker was particularly impressed that we said the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of our meeting as his son joined the Marines on Monday and is now at Parris Island.

Settled in 1657, the town of Lee was later named for British General George Lee from the American Revolution. Population has doubled in the 30 years 1977-2007 to 4447. It is not expected that it will see more than 5000 residents over the next 20 years.

Currently, 21% of the land in Lee is protected with a goal of reaching 25%.

Many residents are feeling the pinch of these economic times and the Board of Selectmen are working with individuals each week to develop a payment schedule for past-due taxes. To help with the tax base, new businesses in town include Planet Fitness, WDH Urgent Care Clinic and Walgreens.

New developments:

Old Mill Reserve - turning three old gravel pits into a wetland park. Funding came from the Federal Wetland Reserve Program.

Little River Park - 37 acres off Rt 155. It will take about eight years to complete but will be a recreation area with hiking trails and competition-grade playing fields.

Lee Town Center - a committee was formed to look at developing a Lee Town Center. A site next to Little River Park was decided on. It will include a community center and a new library. The cost of development is quite high, so presently the plan is on hold.

Other issues:

Lee Raceway is proposing to move its races from Friday to Saturday evenings. The Raceway has accomodated Lee's requests in the past, but this change is very controversial.

Town of Lee and State DOT are looking at changes in traffic patterns at the traffic circle to reduce congestion during high-traffic periods.

There are five bridges in Lee, three of which are in terrible shape. Within the next five years, it is hoped that they will be repaired and upgraded.

The Town of Lee has a new website and, in keeping with the Board's philosphy of transparency, the site includes such things as minutes of all meetings and the tax roll.

Very interesting and well-presented talk.

Megabucks:

Ric had the winning ticket but couldn't find the three of Clubs. Pot rolls over.

Upcoming Programs:

Jan 20 John Hassanflug, Banking Today

Jan 27 Stan Swier, Asian Longhorn Beetle Invasion

Feb 3 Brian Fitzgerald, Seacoast Science Center

Feb 10 Tom Ballestero, UNH Hydrological Engineering

Your Scribe: John B.