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UPDATE:
Rotary Hurricane Relief Funds and Efforts
(Includes new information as of September 30, 2017)
Here is a summary of the three Rotary Foundation Donor-Advised Funds that will provide Hurricane relief from the recent storms.
Puerto Rico (Hurricane Maria), a new fund has been set up:
Account name: Puerto Rico Recovery Fund
Account #614.
Hurricane Irma: (Impact on Caribbean and Florida): Hurricane Emergency Relief Fund
Account #296.
Hurricane Harvey: Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund (Texas/Alabama region)
Account #608
Here’s how to donate to any of these three funds, which will be distributed under the direction of the Rotary districts involved in each region,
You can contribute by check or wire transfer or online with a credit card at the following link. You'll need to provide the DAF account name and number listed above. If you would like a credit card receipt, please check the address box to share your address with Rotary.
In addition, our district clubs are working on new communication channels to funnel more specific support to clubs in Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. We will be sharing more information on these specific efforts in the coming weeks. Thank you for caring, and for making a difference in lives of neighbors who have been badly disrupted by these three hurricanes.
Dave Underhill, District 7780 Governor
Community Development Month: The Key is Collaboration.
As we are finishing up our club visits, I’ve been struck by many joys and differences among our forty Rotary Clubs. Despite this, two things have been constant: the Rotary values that tie us all together, and the leverage we get from collaboration.
Two current examples frame this observation about club collaboration. Last week, we signed off on a grant application for a clean water project in Guatemala. This global grant application now advances to the Rotary Foundation for review and (we hope) for funding. It reflects the hard work of many folks, including Westbrook-Gorham Club President Bill Chadwick and his team, Global Grants coordinator Mae Bradshaw, and our District Foundation Chair Marty Helman. This grant application draws on the support and passion of 14 Rotary Clubs who have partnered to donate to the planned project. District-designated Foundation funds would then be added to the project, subject to the Foundation’s approval, of course.
I’ve been working with Rotary Grants for some years, but this was the first time as a District Governor I had been empowered to “sign off on” an application, and as I did it, I got a thrill and a vision.
The thrill was with the power of Rotary: fourteen different clubs coming together, each with a bit of money to invest in a community far from here, to help people most of us may never meet. The vision is of a group of mothers with their children at the community’s first drilled well, getting clean water and making supper. Even from 3,500 miles away, I see them smiling.
The other early collaboration story on my mind right now isn’t necessarily bringing me smiles yet, but it’s bringing hope to many of our communities right here in New Hampshire and Maine. The Rotary Recovery Initiative, focused on partnerships among our clubs with agencies specializing in substance misuse disorder, is the start of tackling a problem that may seem insurmountable. This collaboration will lead to solutions, mentoring, training, coaching, and hope. Be sure to read more about this, including the Save a Life Training program, elsewhere in this newsletter.
The Power of One – one Rotarian, one Club, one Project – gets multiplied with the special Rotary leverage that depends on collaboration. The Rotary Foundation makes money available, but the ideas and the passion begin with you. Thanks!
World Polio Day, October 24
Thirty years ago, this same kind of vision of “doing the impossible” turned into PolioPlus and the campaign to end polio everywhere in the world. We’ll be celebrating the latest milestones this month on World Polio Day, and this will include live-streamed events from Seattle. One local Rotarian will win a trip to join in these events – if you gave to PolioPlus between July 1 and September 30 this year, you are eligible. We’ll announce the winner within a few days of this newsletter, once the donors are finalized and the drawing is held. Many of our clubs will be commemorating the month with “Purple Pinkie Projects” and other ways, to remind our communities that we are “this close” but our work is not yet done.
Hurricane Devastation
The unusually severe hurricane season is not over. The Gulf Coast got slammed by Hurricane Harvey, then many islands along with Florida were struck by Hurricane Irma, and now Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean face long recovery challenges from Hurricane Maria. We care, we want to help, and we’re reaching out to partner with districts affected by these storms.
I’ve already shared information in email form about how to give to hurricane relief efforts through Rotary. Here it is again: the money goes into Foundation funds that can be drawn from by Rotary districts in the affected areas. I’m gratified that so many of our clubs and members have already donated to these funds. Will you join us?
How to Contribute:
Two Rotary Foundation donor advised funds have been set up to accept donations for disaster relief and recovery in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria:
Hurricanes Irma and Maria Account name: Hurricane Emergency Relief Fund Account number: 296
You can contribute by check or wire transfer or online with a credit card. You'll need to provide the DAF account name and number listed above. If you would like a credit card receipt, please check the address box to share your address with Rotary.
In the coming weeks we’ll have more information about specific campaigns to help specific areas, and we’ll be encouraging our clubs to partner with Rotarians in those districts.
Leadership Opportunities
The deadline for any district Rotary Club member interested in applying to be a future District Governor, or to be on our Finance Committee, is coming up fast. The application window closes October 15. Full details can be found on the home page of our district website, on the left side in the box marked “nominations.” www.rotary7780.org.
Four Way Test Contest
This year you can send three local candidates to the districts mid-level competition for a single fee, and the winners there will advance to the finals at our District Assembly in April 2018, where we will offer a grand prize of $750 and smaller cash prizes for runners-up. Look for details soon from our district literacy co-chairs Kerstin Kirchner and Terry Hodskins.
How are you doing with that Pyramid of Peace?
We hope every club is building toward the Governor’s Award this year…at least one project in each area of focus, documented with service hours and fundraising numbers that have been entered in Rotary Club Central.
2018 Rotary Mount Washington Summit, May 4-6, 2018, our five-district conference will feature up to one thousand Rotarians and a keynote address by Rotary International President Ian Riseley. More info coming soon. It’s an event you will not want to miss!
Thank you again for the warm welcome and many kindnesses as Linda and I have made the rounds of your clubs this summer – and now, with foliage, golf and winter sports on the horizon, we look forward to returning. Enjoy this beautiful season, and thank you for your Rotary service. You ARE Making a Difference.
DG Dave Underhill
District Leadership GET INVOLVED!
Are You Ready to Play a Leadership Role in Rotary?
Interested in becoming District Governor? Want to join the Finance Committee? Not sure what it involves or what it all means?
It’s up to all of us to manage the volunteer leadership of our Rotary District – but stepping into the unknown has its challenges as well. If you think you would like to be considered for one of these jobs now or in the future – or just want to learn more about the roles – check out the Nominating Packets on the District website homepage, and contact Nominating Chair Marty Helman at martyrotary@gmail.com for more information.
But don’t delay – nomination deadline is coming up October 15!
--Marty Helman, District Nominating Chair 2017-18
Rotary Zones 24 & 32
2017 INSTITUTE
In just 3 weeks an amazing program is taking place at the Zone 24-32 Institute in Hartford, CT. Okay, what is a Zone Institute? A Zone Institute is basically a large District Conference that brings together all Districts from Zone 24 (all of Canada) and Zone 32 (New England). There will be over 500 Rotarians in attendance.
A special program is being offered this year called Rotary Now which is targeted for Rotarians between the ages of 25 and 40 years old. At this program the participants will have an opportunity for:
Special Session with RI President Ian Riseley (he will be spending an hour with just the Rotary Now group)
Get your hands active with a service project helping an organization in Hartford
Meet fellow Rotarians in their demographic
Attend Zone plenary sessions and listen to the likes of:
RI President Ian Riseley
General Secretary John Hewko
First woman in Rotary Sylvia Whitlock
Learn more about networking in Rotary and Rotary Means Business
Learn about what Philanthropy looks like in the future
Strategic Planning that you will be able to bring back to your club/ District
When: Thursday, October 19th @ 6pm – Saturday, October 21st
Where: Hartford Convention Center
Cost: $250
Special pricing for the hotel blocks is scheduled to expire on October 1st so please take advantage of this now.
Don’t miss this experience that will increase leadership skills, expand your professional network, and shape the future of Rotary.
Additional information: contact Drew Kessler – dkessler@mtb.com or (845) 461-3883
District Vision and Planning Committee
"VISION TO PLAN" WORKSHOP
The District Vision and Planning Committee is hosting the 10th in our series of “Vision to Plan” Workshops on Thursday, October 19th, 2017. We will continue our focus on Club LeadershipDevelopment, and will add a new focus area: Inter-Club Collaboration. Skills developed at these workshops benefit all as Rotarians, as well as in other personal activities.
We will continue our work to help clubs in sharpening the annual planning process. The training will benefit new and experienced club leaders, committee members, and new Rotarians who are looking to make a difference. All clubs, whether visioned or not, are welcome.
Event Details
Workshop (6:00 - 8:00 pm):S. Portland Housing Authority, 100 Waterman Dr. South Portland, Maine. The Housing Authority is located just over the Casco Bay Bridge and right around the corner from the Snow Squall.
SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time based) objectives and goals will be discussed and developed in breakout sessions. The skills developed will help lead to stronger and more engaged clubs.
Optional Social Hour (4:45 – 5:45 pm): This is a well attended meet and greet of participants before getting to work. Snow Squall Restaurant, 18 Ocean St, S. Portland, ME 04107 (207-799-0811) Cash bar and appetizers are available. Located just around the corner from the event location.
The registration fee of $10.00 covers a light meal and supplies. The fee can be paid at the door or in advance. Make checks payable to District 7780 and mailed to:
Tony Wagner - 11 Todd Road - Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107
Sorry to relate that we had a new case of Polio appear in Pakistan and we are now up to 11 cases total this year: 6 in Afghanistan and 5 in Pakistan. The bright side is that we are still down from last year when we had 25 cases in September 2016 and a total of 37 for the year. We are definitely making progress but the numbers remind us that we have to keep up our efforts. Polio will never be eradicated without the work and financial support of each and every one of us.
Donations are rolling in this year - thanks very much to all of you. So far in Rotary year 2017-18 clubs and individual Rotarians have donated $13,491. And we know that many clubs and individuals make their donations toward the end of the Rotary year. Speaking of donations, the drawing for the trip to Seattle for World Polio Day later this month will be held on October 5 and the winner will be promptly notified. I write this before the end of September so the final figures are not yet in but next month I hope to have a report on how many Rotarians contributed at least $25 to Polio Plus and thus were eligible for the drawing.
Finally, several people have asked about whether it makes a difference where they make their polio donation on the Foundation website. Donors have a choice in making their donation:
1. The PolioPlus Fund, or
2. The Sam F. Owori Memorial to Polio
It makes no difference! Donations to either go to fight polio, and the donor receives credit toward a Paul Harris Fellowship.
The Rotary Foundation
ROTARY FELLOWS STRIVE FOR PEACE
The Rotary Foundation offers 100 fellowships each year to study peace at the graduate level. Graduates of this program are currently working in the non-profit sector, at the UN, in government and in teaching and the law, and they are changing the way we think about the work of Rotary. Do you know someone who wants to change the world and could benefit from this program? Check out the fellowship program on the Rotary website and contact Marty Helman, who would be glad to present about Rotary’s centennial of peace programs at your club.
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI)
CALLING ALL ROTARIANS!
Want to learn more about Rotary?
Attend RLI (Rotary Leadership Institute)
WHY?
RLI is open to any and all Rotarians. It is not just for club officers. It is to help all Rotarians have a better understanding of the big world of Rotary and what it does outside of our own clubs. Meet members from other clubs, districts and learn the potential for service around the world.
RLI is a recommended unofficial affiliate of Rotary International, but not an official program of R. I. There are three parts offered Part I, Part II, Part III plus a Graduate course. However, parts must be taken in order as each part builds on the previous one.
When and where are the courses held?
Courses are held at various locations throughout the year in New England and further if you want to travel to accommodate the Rotary clubs in the member districts. Any Rotarian may take a course in any location. All courses start with registration at 7:30am. Classes are from 8:00am to 3:30pm. The registration fees can vary from site to site but they all cover the same thing – course workbook containing session program agendas, and course outlines and materials plus breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks.
What are the teaching methods?
The Institute believes in course sessions with as much discussion/participation as possible. Lectures are strictly limited. Course methods include discussion groups, role-playing, problem solving workshops and creating projects. Everyone participates during the sessions.
The Graduate Course subjects this year are Diversity in Rotary (AM) and Rotary and Ethics (PM). Your day will be split between these two topics.
If you want to stay local the first one coming up that is fairly close to our District is on . . .
Saturday, November 18, 2017 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Lewiston-Auburn College
51 Westminster Street, Lewiston, ME
Offering Parts I, II, III, & Graduate
$90.00 registration fee which includes materials, breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks.
To initiate course registration, please go to www.rlinea.org and click on the highlighted site name that you wish to attend on the left hand side of the page. This will automatically take you to that site’s registration page. It is strongly recommended that clubs pay the registration fee for its members to attend. The course registration cut-off for any site is 5 days prior. So the Saturday classes have a Registration cut-off of the Monday before at midnight. The RLI Registrar will respond to you via email within 24 hours of registration.
I have started adding some individual club history to the District Website. We have started with the Club Presidents from day one of your club through 2017-2018 Rotary year. Send me the list of all your club presidents’ names and the date they served. We have 40 clubs and it would be great to have all 40 clubs and their past presidents listed before all that information is lost. This could just be the start of developing the information about our clubs on the District website. The Club Presidents’ names and dates of service for the club’s listed above will be posted on the District History pages by the time you read this. Who will be the next club(s) to be added?
WE HAD ZERO CLUBS ADDED THIS MONTH!
We still have SIXTEEN Rotary Club pages with their club presidents all listed with their dates of service from the start of the club, plus yours truly added any DGs from those clubs and their charter dates. Out of these sixteen clubs that were chartered in 1915, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1939, 2 in 1960, 1969, 1974, 2 in 1983, 1986, 1987, 1996, 1998, and 2016, we have the oldest and the youngest clubs in the District who have responded!
Check them out – On the home page of the District Website CLICK on About Us; CLICK on District History; CLICK on Rotary Clubs of District 7780; CLICK on the Rotary Club name that is light blue and it will bring you to that club’s page and you can see the list of their club presidents. THANK YOU to the sixteen clubs for providing their information!
This Month’s District History Request:
Is anyone out there? We are still looking to add some individual club history to the 2017-2018 Rotary year. Send me the list of all your club presidents’ names and the date they served through the current Rotary year. We have 40 clubs and only 16 clubs have provided me with the information. Who out of the remaining 24 clubs will be the next ones to have their own page under the District History page? It would be great to have all 40 clubs with their past presidents listed before the end of this calendar year. This could just be the start of developing the information on our clubs on the District website. WILL YOUR CLUB BE THE NEXT ONE ADDED OR WILL YOU BE THE LAST CLUB ADDED!
PLEASE send your club presidents’ names and dates of service to me at mawilliamspdg@comcast.net along with your name and the name of your Rotary Club. The names of all those who share “their Club presidents information” will be in next month’s newsletter and “the listing their club presidents and dates of service” will be posted to the District History on the appropriate club page for everyone to read.
If you have any other District History information, please share it with me so it can be posted to the District History page on District 7780’s Website. I know it is out there, I just need someone to take the time to SHARE it with me so it can be shared with everyone in the District!
The Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset recently hosted a Crutches 4 Africa www.crutches4africa.org work detail in Biddeford, ME. Rotary club members from Saco Bay Sunset, Saco Bay, and South Portland-Cape Elizabeth teamed up to prepare 800 sets of crutches for shipment, with a retail value of over $30,000. They will be loaded with other items into the SEVENTH "Crutches 4 Africa" shipping container leaving Maine for Africa on November 18th. Dennis Robillard is the Saco Bay Sunset President and Rotary District Chair.
Pictured left to right: Paul Smith, Mike Collard, Phil Hatch, David Lourie, Bill Souter, Tony DeBarros, Ethan Wickham, Jesse Souter, Tony LeBlanc, Diane LeBlanc, Tony Wagner, Israel Collins, Dennis Robillard, Leo Menard, Tina Wilson, and Chase Walker.
Crutches, walkers, wheel chairs and other mobility items are collected year round in Maine and New Hampshire. Contact Dennis for information on drop off/collection of items, and for Dennis to speak at your club at (207) 468-0443 or risc@maine.rr.com
Volunteers are needed on Nov. 18th for loading the container. Please consider helping, and let Dennis know if you can make it.
The Rotary Club of Westbrook-Gorham
SEPTEMBER RECAP
During the month of September, the Club was proud to recognize eight members and friends as new or advancing Paul Harris Fellows of the Rotary Foundation.
On September 12, DG Dave Underhill was at the club for the annual District Governor visit. He presented new Paul Harris Fellows to President Bill Chadwick, Secretary Mike Foley, and VP Deb Shangraw, PHF+2 to Woody Beach, PHF+2 to Cliff Plummer, and PHF+5 to Christine Johnson.
Pictured left to right: DG Dave Underhill, Bill Chadwick, Mike Foley, Deb Shangraw, Woody Beach, Christine Johnson, Cliff Plummer, AG Tony Wagner
On September 26, PDG and District Foundation Chair Marty Helman spoke to the club about Rotary’s long history of promoting and building Peace. She helped present PHF+1 to Foundation Chair Steve Rand and a new Paul Harris Fellow to Karen Reilly, partner of member Henry Saunders.
Pictured left to right: Bill Chadwick, Karen Reilly, Steve Rand, Marty Helman
Westbrook-Gorham Rotary cont'd
CLUB LEADS WATER PROJECT IN GUATEMALA
Westbrook-Gorham Club President Bill Chadwick has been visiting other clubs lately.
That’s because he is turning his passion to help a community in Guatemala into a multi-district Foundation Grant. Bill has raised close to $14,000 from a total of 12 District 7780 clubs. With the District DDF match and money from the World Fund, the total budget for the Global Grant is $51,463.
Way to go, Westbrook-Gorham!
The Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth
CLUB REPAIRS BUG LIGHT
Members of the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club, donated part of their Labor Day weekend to do repairs, cleaning, and maintenance on Bug Light in South Portland. The club has maintained the light for the city of South Portland since 1988. Club President at that time, Jack Roberts, started the work to restore the lighthouse, replace the lantern with a solar powered system, and have it open for special occasions.
Working on the Light are (l-r) Rotarians Michael Geneseo, Mark Leasure, and Tony Wagner (on the ladder). Wagner coordinated today’s effort. Also working today were Dan Davidson (photographer) and Alec Livingston. (photo courtesy of Rotarian Dan Davidson)
Club Rotarians, led by Jack Roberts, Tom Meyers and Tony Wagner, have been working on replacing the decorative castings for the past 1.5 years. New molds and castings were made at a cost of $9,500 and Rotarians have spent at over 100 hours of labor on planning and installation.
Club Rotarians offered tours of Bug Light on Saturday, September 9, during Maine Lighthouse Day.
The Rotary Club of Sebago Lake
"TON OF LOVE" FOR THE WINDHAM FOOD PANTRY
Rotarians Mark Morrison and George Bartlett with Shaw's Store Manager Mark Libby stand in front of a nearly full bus at the Stuff the Bus event on Sat. Sept 23rd.
Over 2,000 lbs of food and toiletries were collected for the Windham Food Pantry over the 4 hour event. One woman filled a whole cart just for the drive, a school teacher from Raymond Middle. Another gentleman from Hannaford, had come to Shaws to pick up something on sale when he saw the signs and ended up buying nearly $200 worth of diapers, paper goods and laundry soap, which filled the back of the bus. The food pantry helps serve the needs of over 589 families in the region.
Final total of items just sent by the food pantry. Drum roll please . . . 2,229 items! Including 327 toilet paper, 710 diapers, 117 paper towels and 94 cans of tuna. All items the pantry said they needed desperately.
The Rotary Club of Sanford-Springvale
LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES
Sanford-Springvale Rotary celebrates Literacy month by assembling four Little Free Libraries during our breakfast meeting on 9/14 . . .
. . . and having directors and staff from Goodall Memorial and Springvale Libraries speak to the club on 9/7.
The Rotary Club of Saco Bay
LOBSTER BAKE
Friday night, September 8th, the Rotary Club of Saco Bay prepared a lobster bake for the 300 plus participants of the annual New England Parkinson’s Ride. The folks who organize the Parkinson’s Ride provide the lobsters and corn, but our club provides everything else (butter, coleslaw, plates & utensils, chicken, etc.) via donations. The Parkinson’s Ride sells tickets to the lobster bake to the participants and in turn donates any profit from this to our club (approximately $1,000.)
The River Valley Rotary Club
GUEST SPEAKERS
Mike and Wanda Worthley, with the Roxbury ATV Club, were the guest speakers at the River Valley Rotary Club Fellowship luncheon on September 11, 2017. Their club has raised thousands of dollars for both private individuals and public organizations, and today they gave our club a presentation on all the good work the ATV club does in raising funds in the community, which are too numerous to mention.
After 15 years of volunteering they announced that this is their final year as board volunteers to the club. However they will remain as members, but feel it is time to pass on the responsibility to others. There are approximately 200 members in their club!
They pride themselves that they helped to get other ATV clubs like Oquossoc, Mexico and Peru started. The clubs are responsible for approaching land owners to allow ATV access and then developing, maintaining and improving approximately 175 miles trails through out the counties. Most recently, they held a land owner's appreciation day and got members together to clean up the Roxbury area!
Seen in the photo left to right are: Randy Therrien, River Valley Rotary Club President, Mike and Wanda Worthley, Roxbury ATV Club President and Treasurer, Patty Duguay, Fellow Rotarian, her husband Dave Duguay, Former River Vally Rotary Club President!
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth
SEPTEMBER RECAP
Beloved former Club Chaplain Gordon Allen was laid to rest in the ancient church yard next to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth. Gordon, who passed away last December, had been rector there for 20 years. Several Rotarians, including Club President Ben Wheeler, were on hand to witness the brief committal ceremony for Gordon’s ashes.
The William Cash Committee distributed monies to support the Pan Mass Challenge, Pease Greeters and the White Island Light House project. Former Club President Ted Alex took a boat load of volunteers to that remote island in his boat Alexandria. By the way, the White Island lighthouse will be the 2017 Portsmouth Rotary Christmas Tree ornament.
Also approved was $1K dollars to go to Hurricane Harvey relief and more money to Buddy Benches at elementary schools.
Several club members were expected to help out with the Richie McFarland Center’s “Touch a Truck” fundraiser. We couldn’t be sure whether the adults would be more excited than the kids to climb aboard the firetrucks…Our Basic Needs Committee is partnering with the Ritchie McFarland Center this year.
Programs for the month featured T.C. Cummings, a retired Navy Seal extreme warrior and Melissa Paly, Great Bay-Piscataqua Water keeper. But the guest who had us in the palm of his hand for 30 minutes was Rico Petrocelli. The former 1967 Red Sox All Star shortstop gave a funny and captivating account of the Impossible Dream year that happened a scant 50 years ago. Rico stuck around to sell and autograph many copies of his newly updated and very entertaining book Tales from the 1967 Red Sox Dugout.
The Rotary Club of Portland
VETERANS' APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
Portland Rotary will be hosting its 3rd Annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, November 10, 2017, at 12 noon at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland.
Guest speakers this year will include Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Army Veteran and Vice Chairman of Veterans Count Joe Reagan, which is the philanthropic arm of Easter Seals Military and Veterans Services.
The Kennebunk Rotary Club held "Save a Life" training on Saturday September 9, 2017, with about 30 Rotarians who learned how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, how to render first aid including compression-only CPR and how to administer Naloxone, the drug which reverses the affects of opioids, such as heroin. In attendance with Kennebunk Rotarians was news anchor David Charns of WMTW, who trained alongside Rotarians and joined in the discussion with the presenters and showed segments from WMTW's series, State of Addiction. Kennebunk Police Chief and Rotarian Bob MacKenzie partnered with Portland Public Health in order to train the Rotarians in an effort to combat the opioid crisis sweeping across our nation. Chief MacKenzie states "Rotarians have much to offer our communities, and once trained we can help save a life and offer hope in recovery".
District 7780 Recovery Initiative meets regularly to discuss ways in which Rotary can play a vital role in fighting the disease of substance use disorder, formally known as addition. Save a Life training is only one way Rotary can make a difference. The Red Ribbon Committee of Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club is another excellent example. The Red Ribbon Committee exists to mobilize the community to encourage healthy and thriving behaviors without the influences of illegal drugs and other misused substances. Rotary District 7780's Recovery Initiative has more in store to offer clubs and their respective communities should there be an interest for clubs to work on prevention, treatment, recovery or a combination thereof. If any clubs would like further information on the Save a Life Training please contact Bob MacKenzie at rmackenzie@kennebunkmaine.us, or 207-604-1339. The training can be offered for free in York and Cumberland counties thanks to a grant Portland Public Health was awarded, but there are potential opportunities in New Hampshire and other Maine areas, so please contact Bob to inquire. In addition, if anyone has an interest in joining the Rotary District 7780 Recovery Initiative, please feel free to contact Bob as well.
September was a busy month for the Hampton Rotary Club! In addition to working through two of our largest fundraisers, we attended an evening social meeting with our neighboring Exeter and Durham/Great Bay Rotary Clubs, and still had time to host a Blood Drive for the American Red Cross on Sept. 29th! Amid all of that, we were fortunate to add a new member to our club. Welcome to Will Pendleton!
Pictured above from left to right: Donna Abisi, President-Elect and Will's Sponsor, new member Will Pendleton and Bill McGowan, President of Hampton Rotary.
The Rotary Club of Fryeburg Area
HOME TOWN HEROES BREAKFAST
On September 10th, the Fryeburg Area Rotary Club cooked and served breakfast to 87 local Fire Fighters, Police, EMS, and Rescue Personnel. We served breakfast to our heroes and their families. Local restaurants and friends donated ALL the food and paper products, so this could be FREE to anyone coming to breakfast. The response was amazing and they all wanted to know, “Will you do this again next year? This was GREAT!” And I have to say, "We had a great time serving them with lots of laughs that out-weighed the work!"
The Rotary Club of Damariscotta-Newcastle
STUDENTS START SCHOOL YEAR WITH BACKPACKS AND SUPPLIES
117 Lincoln County Maine students started the new school year with new backpacks filled with age-appropriate school supplies thanks to the efforts of the Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotarians, President Elect Jane Gravel and her team at Supplies Unltd (and some of her suppliers) and the CLC Y. The backpacks are provided to students whose parents could not otherwise afford the contents---these youngsters now have the tools they need for a successful term. And the packs include a coupon for free monogram embroidery! Rotarians making a difference for youth!!!!
ANNUAL LOBSTER BAKE
Pictured above: Past President Linda Brunner and Fenway.
Damariscotta-Newcastle held their annual lobster bake, financed by weekly Happy Dollars, on Saturday September 9th. With the traditional lobster, clams. corn, potatoes, onions and hard-boiled eggs steamed in seaweed in a huge fire pit in the rocks at the edge of Clarks Cove, hosted by Past Presidents Linda Brunnerand Dirk Brunner, club members bring beverages, side dishes and desserts to be shared by all. The weather was a perfect sunny, breezy early Fall day, the high tide held off until the feast was ready and once again an annual family-of-Rotary tradition brought enjoyment to all.
ANNUAL AUCTION SUCCESSFUL!
President Rick Topper and PP Lorraine Townsend Faherty welcomed 85 people to the annual Damariscotta-Newcastle Lions/Rotary Auction. More than 70 silent auction and 36 live auction items, including kayaks, canoes, flights over mid-coast Maine, and a 32' cabin cruiser were successfully sold by auctioneer John Bottero of Thomaston Auctions.
CLUB HOSTS BUSINESS FORUM
In late September, the Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary Club hosted a Twin Villages Business Forum, partially funded by a Rotary District Grant.
This event was attended by over 100 people from all over Maine. Topics included: How Social Media is Driving Customers, Business Innovation in Health Services, Developing a Workforce for Maine's New Economy, and much, much more.
Funding for the event came from the club, sponsorships, and an added plus was the Rotary District Grant.
It is hard to share the level of enthusiasm at the event. Having Rotary leading this effort really speaks to the club’s ability to think “outside the box.”
The Damariscotta-Newcastle club’s focus for the past few years has been hunger. Then, about a year ago, the club began some critical thinking about what the key drivers of local hunger are. The concern about local new jobs -- or lack thereof -- proved to be something they felt they could help to at least get the conversation started. As a result, the Forum was initiated by the club and its community partners.
Way to go, Damariscotta-Newcastle RC!
--Marge Barker, Past District Governor
The Rotary Club of Bath Sunrise
PAUL HARRIS PINS AND VIDEO STARS
At our August 4th meeting, all of the members of the Grants Committee were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows for their efforts in 2016/2017. Congratulations to all!
Pictured from left to right: Pres. Bob Reed, Foundation Chair and Committee Member Jim Atherton, ADG Claudia Frost who did the pinning, Committee Member Jon Huntington, Committee Member Kim Doughty and Pres-Elect Carol Fleming, Committee Chair.
And at our meeting on September 15th, Lonnie Hackett, founder of Healthy Kids/Brighter Future was awarded a Paul Harris plus 1 pin by Pres. Bob Reed, for Lonnie’s efforts in Zambia. Thank you, Lonnie, for being an inspiration to all you touch!
Also at the meeting, Bill Silver (Past Pres Damariscotta-Newcastle RC) shared with us his passion, Gizmo Garden, as Steve Marois videoed his presentation and Lonnie Hackett’s update. BSRC will soon have a video running on Bath Community TV!
The Rotary Club of Bath Sunrise
BULBFEST ANNUAL FUNDRAISER *** THE BULBS ARE COMING!!!!
Every Saturday in October you will find bulbs and more bulbs, of the flower kind, at our booth at the Bath Farmers Market and in front of Brackett’s Market from 9am to Noon. We have some new varieties this year, and as always, they are from Van Engelen in Holland, the best of the best! Mark your calendars and check out our selection before you buy elsewhere!!
FMI or tickets they can contact any OH Rotarian, or George Rice @ 890-3122 or gwrice@myfairpoint.net
The Rotary Club of York
CAR WITH A CAUSE
For more information or to purchase tickets visit our website at: www.yorkmerotary.org
The Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco
CELEBRATION OF SUDS
The beer festival committee has been busy working to set up the 3rd annual Celebration of Suds this year. Again this year, the event will be held in the community room at Pepperell Mill Campus in Biddeford (same room as the wine tasting) on Saturday, October 21st, from 6 to 9 PM.
We are always looking for more brewers, if you know someone at a craft brewer that you would like to invite, please contact Sara Brouillard at sarab@tmren.biz We had a lot of fun last year and a great turn out. Please join us to make this event even more successful than last year! Ticket are available for purchase online throughwww.Eventbrite.com.
Kittery After-Hours Rotary Club
SAVE THE DATE!
The Rotary Club of South Berwick-Eliot
Our beloved long-time member, Steve Sanborn, passed away a little after midnight on September 23rd. He was the Treasurer of the South Berwick-Eliot Rotary Club for many years and a proud Vietnam War veteran, as well as an active businessman in the town and supporter of the local Chamber of Commerce. Mostly, he was his wife Rhea’s rock as she has struggled with surviving multiple bouts with cancer to this very day. Recently diagnosed with cancer, he fought it valiantly but lost the battle.
His favorite saying, whenever he gave his happy dollar with a big smile on his face at our meetings was, “What a great club this is!"
No funeral announcements have been published yet.
The Rotary Club of Damariscotta-Newcastle
The Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary sends condolences to Past President Rev. William Murdoch on the death of his wife, Jane Murdoch, on August 29th. Jane was a part of our family of Rotary and the type of person that people really loved as soon as they met her and spent time with her. Her grace and style were the hallmarks of her personality. She was an active volunteer in many community activities and loved her family and home on the lake.
Have Something You'd Like to Share with Us?
Updates and short articles with images or videos, and the names of new members and those who have passed, may be submitted to our Newsletter Editor, Deb Marsolais, at deb.marsolais@comcast.net to be included in our Monthly Newsletter. The District Newsletter is a means of communicating to other clubs in our district; items of interest, upcoming events, fundraisers, opportunities of service, or member news.
Deadline for NOVEMBER Newsletter Submissions: October 24
PLEASE NOTE:
As a precaution, unless you have obtained a written consent from a parent/guardian, every child’s face which appears in a picture submitted for the newsletter or website, will be edited so that it is blurred out in the picture. Since there may be situations involving abuse, neglect, custody dispute, etc., and parents wouldn't want their child's picture to appear in public, this is being done for the child's privacy and protection.
If you have a submission for the newsletter or website, and would like to have us post a picture with a child (children) in it, please let us know if you have received a consent, otherwise we will edit it accordingly.
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