(Reprinted from the Portsmouth RC Newsletter) Portsmouth Rotary members supported the District 7780 awareness and fund-raising efforts by laying out the red carpet (twice) for pilots Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels. They landed in Portsmouth on Friday, May 5, the first stop on their circumnavigation of the globe for PolioPlus. The district hosted a welcome dinner and fundraiser at the Port City Air hangar, Pease Tradeport, Saturday night May 6 which was a wonderful chance to meet, greet and welcome them. Click here for more information on their journey. Just click the button on the linked website and then enter their aircraft tail number as the flight number: N732WP.
After the big event, Peter and John determined there were two critical maintenance issues that had to be addressed, so they ended up staying in Portsmouth until Thursday. President Joanie Dickinson and Rotarian Leonard Seagren co-hosted them at a second dinner, an ad-hoc buffet at Joanie's house attended by 26.
As of Thursday, we are close to the twenty thousand dollar PolioPlus goal for the event, a very ambitious number supported by Rotarians and clubs, including our own Club contribution of $1500 plus the hard work of seventeen Portsmouth Rotary volunteers over the weekend of May 6. To contribute to this effort, contact Carolyn Johnson. It is a privilege to be a member of Portsmouth Rotary, thank you all.
Here is a marvelous photo gallery from our Saturday, May 6 event at Pease, from photographer extraordinaire Don Chick: enjoy!
In addition to all the excellent support and involvement of Portsmouth Rotarians, we could not have made this event so successful without the expertise and energy of Bill DiBiasio (Hampton Rotary) who made all the airfield connections and arrangements. Port City Air donated the hangar space for the event as well as taking great care of the pilots while they were in NH - and assisted in getting the necessary repairs to the plane completed promptly. Dover Rotary contributed purple-iced cupcakes to celebrate ‘purple pinkies’ that indicate vaccinated children. We greatly appreciated Mike McGovern (RC South Portland-Cape Elizabeth) and World Polio Plus Committee Chair, and Julie Forbes (RC Bridgton- Lakes Region) who eloquently shared their experiences and personal commitment to Rotary’s polio efforts. Merrill Rollins (RC Bridgton- Lakes Region) and Hobson’s Choice added a wonderful festivity to the event through their music.