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February 2017 - ISSUE 8
 
Upcoming Events
Pre-PETS
Husson University #105
Feb 11, 2017
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
 
FYI: Maine School vac Feb 20-24
Feb 20, 2017
 
World Peace Day
Feb 23, 2017 – Feb 25, 2017
 
FYI: NH school vac week Feb 27-Mar 3
Feb 27, 2017
 
PETS (President-elect training seminar)
Sheraton Hotel
Mar 09, 2017 – Mar 11, 2017
 
RLI
Mar 18, 2017
 
Club Foundation Chair webinar
Mar 29, 2017
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
District Training Assembly @USM
Apr 08, 2017
 
Four Way Test Contest Submission Deadline
Apr 15, 2017
12:01 AM – 11:59 PM
 
FYI: Maine school vac Apr 17-24
Apr 17, 2017
 
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DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MIGHT QUALIFY?
 
February Rotary recognizes Peace and Conflict/Resolution Month.  While we celebrate the intention of this month through all that we do, I wonder if you know someone who might qualify for a Rotary Peace Fellowship. 
 
Each year, Rotary funds some of the world's most dedicated and brightest professionals to study at Rotary Peace Centers. Through training, study, and practice, Rotary Peace Fellows become leaders and catalysts for peace and conflict resolution; many go on to careers in national governments, NGOs, the military, law enforcement, and international organizations like the United Nations and World Bank.
 
Applications for the 2018-2019 Rotary Peace Fellowship program are now being accepted.  The deadline for applications is May 31.  In turn the District has until July 1 to recommend any applicant (s),
 
Eligibility requirements:
Applicants must also meet the following requirements:
                       
•    Proficiency in English; proficiency in a second language is strongly recommended
•    Strong commitment to international understanding and peace as demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
•    Excellent leadership skills
•    Master's degree applicants: minimum three years of related full-time work or volunteer experience, bachelor's degree
•    Certificate applicants: minimum five years of related full-time work or volunteer experience, strong academic background
 
Eligibility restrictions:
Rotary Peace Fellowships may not be used for doctoral study. And the following people are not eligible for the master's degree program:
           
•    Active Rotary members
•    Employees of a Rotary club or district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity
•    Spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in these categories
•    Former Rotary members and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of their resignation)
 
 
                                                                                                                                              
 
 
 
 DISTRICT HISTORY
 
 
 
 
 
 
Terry Hodskins, Wells Rotary Club
submitted her story of how
Wrap-A-Smile started
 
 
 
 
 
Last Month's District History Question
There is no specific history request for this month.  I would love to see and put on the District History page anyone’s stories about projects, grants or trips that you have taken to help others around the world.  Local projects are also welcome.  The Rotarians in this district do so much good and should be so proud of what they do to make this a better world.  Often times if you don’t “Toot your own horn” no one else will.  PLEASE share your stories for everyone to see.
 
 
Terry Hodskins shared her story:
 
“Wrap-A-Smile was started in 2001 while Terry Hodskins of Wells Rotary was at a Board of Directors meeting in when our dear friend Bridget Burns was telling about her trips with Rotaplast and asking our Club for funds to help support the missions.  During her presentation she mentioned that when a child comes out of surgery, they were wrapped in plastic “chucks”.
 
Terry is a quilter.  When she heard that she heard no more of Bridget’s presentation.  All she could think of was these children need to be wrapped in a warm quilt made from love.  She went up to Bridget after the meeting and asked her if she would be willing to take some quilts on her next mission.  She said she would love to take 10 – 12 quilts.  Asked how many surgery were complete on a mission Bridget said about 90-100.  “I want each child to take a quilt home with them” said Terry.  Bridget's reply was “You can't do that.”  “Yes I can, I am a redhead and a Rotarian” says Terry.”
 
Please go to the District History Wrap-A-Smile page to read the rest of Terry’s story please read their brochure and see a copy of the label that is put on each blanket.
 
Read more...
 
District 7780
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
 
 
May 19-21, 2016
Rockport, ME
 
This year’s District Conference setting at the beautiful Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME will undoubtedly be a memorable experience for all involved.  This 230 acre historic resort along the scenic rocky coast of Penobscott Bay will be host to a very informative and motivational conference with the focus being on a critical issue facing us in New England and across the United States: Heroin.  The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) calls it, “a crisis of historic proportions” as it is revealed that 44 people a DAY die in the United States from opioid overdose. 
 
We will have a multi-faceted panel discussion consisting of experts in the field of substance use disorders and recovery, law enforcement officials and Rotarians to speak on the current status of the crisis, available resources, and as to what clubs within our District are already working on as it relates to the prevention of substance use.  In addition we will hear what we as Rotarians can do and become a major proponent in the fight against heroin and substance use disorders.
Read more...
 
Polio Update
 
I think many of you know or have heard about the "Purple Pinkie Project." In countries where polio is still a threat, when a child is given the two drops of polio vaccine, one of the polio volunteer workers paints the nail on the child’s little finger with a purple dye so that other Polio Plus workers will know that this child has already been given the vaccine. Rotary and Interact Clubs around the world have turned this into a way to raise money and awareness regarding polio and Rotary’s campaign to erase it. Has your Rotary Club or Interact Club held a Purple Pinkie Day event? It’s pretty easy. All you need is some sort of purple marking material (nail polish, a crayola washable marker, or even gentian violet). Print up some posters and flyers, set up the table, get your markers and some dollar bills for change, and most importantly while marking those pinkies talk about polio and all we are doing to eradicate it. A $1.00 donation will pay for two drops, enough to immunize one child.
 
On Monday, January 30 at the Mid Year Dinner in Portland, our DGN and his vice presidents, our DGE and his Presidents-elect, our DG and her presidents, PDGs, and  guests had a chance to get their pinkies marked. For $1.00 they could get the basic purple mark. But for a mere $5.00 the got a very stylish purple nail with two small white drops representing the life-saving dose of vaccine administered by Rotarians and our health worker partners. We managed to raise $156 ($468 with the Gates match) to fight polio and had lots of fun doing it.
 
If you haven’t done a Purple Pinkie project yet, why don’t you give it a try?
 
Four-Way Test Speech Contest
IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED???
 
It sure is if you are a Rotary Club that has a high school in your town!
 
The first prize of the Four-Way Test Speech Contest has been named in honor of Cynthia Moran-Laux. Cynthia was known for her excellent community service in her town, Bethel, ME. She served as President of the Bethel Rotary Club and partner of District Governor 2005-2006, Robert Laux. Cynthia was a speech pathologist and had a heart for basic education and literacy. She raised funds to construct a library in Vietnam, delivered book supplies to libraries in Cambodia, and participated on two Rotaplast missions; these are just view examples of the many projects Cynthia was involved. More important, Cynthia truly applied the Four-Way Test as a guidance in her professional and personal life decisions.
 
The following cash prizes will be awarded:
 
First Place $750
Second Place $500
Third Place $250
 
Eligibility: Any high school student, grades 9-12, in a town represented by a Rotary Club in District 7780 (public, private, home-schooled, online). Previous District First Place Winner are not eligible. You can find more information at the following link: Four-Way Test Speech Contest Manual
Read more...
Read Across America
MARCH 2, 2017
 
 
 
 
RYLA is one of the greatest movements in District 7780
BY PHIL GIORDANO
 
RYLA is a movement within Rotary District 7780 that goes beyond the confines of a four-day experience.  There is a bond to service connected by increased confidence that propels the individuals that are associated with RYLA into current moments of creating positive change.  RYLA is a year long and even a lifetime endeavor.  2017 represents the 27th group of campers that will participate.
 
Every June camp ends with campers leaving with their parents & guardians with hope and optimism of what their lives can accomplish.  New skills of listening, team building, public speaking, bring confidence levels up.  Friendships forged in the process of extending comfort zones and reflecting in a way that allows for deeper understanding of various paradigms.   Letters are sent in from both parents and students saying that the experience has been eye-opening and transformational.
 
 
Read more...
 
Giving in the 21st Century
 
Giving to The Rotary Foundation is always great, but giving electronically is even better.  Through Rotary Direct, you can determine the frequency and the amount of a gift given monthly, quarterly or annually.  (Find out how on rotary.org.) Alternatively, hitting the “donate” button on either rotary.org or 7780rotary.org is easy on you, and less expensive for the folks at Headquarters to manage.  Of course, checks are always appreciated, but managing funds transfers by paper checks is so … 20th century. Giving online is faster, less work for the Club Treasurer and the data can always be followed on-line. 
 
So give anyway you are most comfortable, but remember that your dollars go furthest when you give online!
 
 
Foundation Grant Training, Now Online!
 
The 2017 Grants Management training is now completely online.  The modules – three modules that are each about 20 minutes long—will soon be up and active on rotary.org’s Learning Center.  Take then when you like, as you like, where you like! But take them.  One of the requirements for club involvement in Rotary Foundation Grant activity in 2017-18 is for two members of your club to take the updated course.
 
 
Cuban Cultural Exchange
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 28TH
 
 
District 7780 Rotarians are invited to apply to take part in a vocational/cultural exchange with Cuba. The team will travel to the island for about a week during the late Spring/early Summer, probably late May - early June. We are looking for Rotarians with an interest in water sanitation and culture, broadly defined (history, art, literature, music, performing arts, etc.) and in learning more about reestablishing ties between the United States and Cuba. The team will install water filtration systems and provide hands on training for Cubans while doing so. Networking will also be done to establish relationships among the communities that have District filtration systems, in order to allow for best practices to be shared and future install sites to be identified. Spouses and friends of Rotarians may also apply. Rotary continues to make strides in reestablishing a presence in Cuba on an international level and District 7780 will be creating relationships that will be valuable both before and after ties are officially restored. While in Cuba, the team will be immersed in the local culture.  Of greatest importance is an openness and willingness to learn- through first-hand and hands-on experiences - about the rich history and culture of Cuba. It is also key to be flexible and able to adjust to changes in plan. Infrastructure is still such that transportation and therefore travel plans and timing, once in-country may change at a moment’s notice. The team will return to District 7780 to share their experiences at our District Assembly during the 2017-2018 year. This is to be an exchange but will work in reverse from other District 7780 experiences; a guest from Cuba will be attending our District Conference, May 19th-21st.
Read more...
 
Paul P. Harris
1933 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SPEECH
RADIO BROADCAST
 
 
Enjoy!
 
 
 
 
 
                     
 
 
Bath Sunrise Welcomes New Member
 
Please welcome Nancy Carleton of Carleton Realty to our club!  We are excited to add another member this year, and know that Nancy is a great addition to our group.  She was inducted on Friday, January 20, 2017.
 
 
 
               
 
 
The Rotary Club of Bath Sunrise
PDG VISITS CLUB
 
PDG Sheila Rollins visited Bath Sunrise Rotary Club on Jan. 20 and brought another banner for us, as part of last year's Every Rotarian/Every Year 100% Sustaining Member Club. We are honored to receive it.
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Bethel
DISTRICT GRANT PROJECT
 
The Bethel Rotary Club has been busy this winter working on the old Valentine property on the North Road, which was given to the Mahoosuc Land Trust in a bequest.  The MLT office has been moved to the three story residence on the 140 acre property. The Bethel Rotary Club has contributed $1000 and many hours of volunteer labor to convert the workshop area of the property to a nature lab and education room that will support educational programs for the community.  The Bethel Rotary Club's local effort has been supported by a $3500 Rotary District grant that has provided funding for the purchase of material for the project.  The conversion is well underway way with a projected completion date of July 1, 2017.
 
 
(Left Photo) Kellen True and Elijah Laird from the Telstar Interact Club lend their hands to the renovation of the education room at the new Mahoosuc Land Trust offices on the old Valentine property in Bethel
 
(Center Photo) Bethel Rotary member Mike Steven adds a fresh coat of paint to the education room at the new Mahoosuc Land Trust offices on the old Valentine property in Bethel
 
(Right Photo) Bethel Rotary member Steven Smith expertly touches up the corners in the painting of the education room at the new Mahoosuc Land Trust offices on the old Valentine property in Bethel
 
 
The Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco
WINE AND BEER FUNDRAISER
 
 
Matt Simmons and Ken Farley pour some samples
 
The Biddeford Saco Rotary Club held their 11th Annual Wine and Beer Tasting on Saturday, January 28th with several hundred people in attendance.  The event offered dozens of various wines and craft beers to taste in a Rotary wine glass, hors d’ouevres, music and a silent auction.  All proceeds will benefit charitable giving and scholarships within the Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach communities.  Pictured here are Rotarians Matt Simmons and Ken Farley pouring at the beer table along with the overall crowd.
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Bridgton-Lake Region
COMMUNITY KETTLE DINNER
 
On January 12th the Community Kettle Dinner was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bridgton-Lake Region. 
 
 
 
Assisting that evening were the Lake Region High School Interact Club and members of the Bridgton Historical Society.  To add some fun to the evening, the servers dressed in period costumes from the 1800’s!  Homemade beef stew was the entrée cooked by the Rotary kitchen crew.
 
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Damarsicotta-Newcastle
GUEST SPEAKER
 
 
President Bob Topper and Treasurer Bob Stephan welcome Guest Speaker Louis Sell to the Damariscotta-Newcastle Club
 
On January 10th, the Damariscotta-Newcastle Club welcomed Louis Sell, who spoke about the collapse of the Soviet Union: how it happened and its meaning today from the view of a participant. Sell is a 28 year veteran of the US Foreign Service, dealing in various aspects of US-Soviet relations, including six years in Moscow. He has a new book on the subject, "From Washington to Moscow". He has also written about Slobodan Milosevic and the destruction of Yugoslavia. One of the founders of the American University in Kosovo, he teaches at U. Maine Farmington, as well as Coastal Senior College, and lives here in Whitefield.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Hampton
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
 
 
Photo on left:  The canteen is ready for the crowd.  Photo on right: a Donor is prepped to give blood.
 
As they have done for many years, the Hampton Rotary Club sponsored and volunteered for an American Red Cross Blood Drive in early January.  In addition to manning the sign-in table, delicious hotdogs and chips were served in the canteen, along with a wide variety of snacks, juices and water.
 
With the need for blood at a high right now, we were delighted that this Blood Drive exceeded the ARC's goal of 35 units and brought in 40 units for the day!  One donor named Jim was proud to tell Rotarian Deb Marsolais that he was closing in on his next personal goal of donating a total of 20 gallons!  He was also sure to make it clear that this was just his NEXT goal, and there would be many more to follow!
 
So Deb got her calculator out and here's how it breaks down . . .
 
1 Unit = 1 Pint  (which has the potential to save 3 people's lives)
8 Pints = 1 Gallon
20 Gallons = 160 Pints
160 Pints x (3 people per pint) = 480 lives saved by Jim . . . so far!
 
This is the difference just ONE person can make in hundreds of lives!  Thank you Jim!
Read more...
 
The Rotary Club of Kennebunk Portside
CONTINUES PROGRAM FOR 5TH GRADERS
 
Kennebunk Portside Rotary's program for 5th graders at our local Consolidated School continues apace this year with the third trip for the students planned for Monday, February 6 to Bradbury Brothers Market, our one grocery store in Town.  They will be given a tour of the store and hear how it functions as a part of the economic make up of the Town.  In October the students visited the Seashore Trolley Museum where they rode an old trolley out into the countryside, and learned the history of that means of transportation, as well as the extent to which such a museum contributes to the economy of Kennebunkport.  In December the students had an extensive tour of the Nonantum Hotel and learned the importance of a resort hotel to the economy of the Town.  And in April the students will visit a marina to learn how it adds to the economic well being of the Town.
 
After each outing the students return to school and in civics class discuss the significance of what they learned on their outing to the fiscal well being of the town in which they live.  This is the third year of this successful project of the Club.  Next year's students will visit governmental agencies and facilities, with the Town Manager starting off by showing them how a town budget is put together.  This is a project which we think is excellent and recommend that all Clubs initiate in their schools.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Portland
HONORS LOCAL WOMAN
 
Portland Woman Brings Mittens, Hope to Children as Temperatures Drop

 
Lenore Williams, principal of Lyseth School and Joan Steinberg
 

PORTLAND, MAINE (January 20, 2017) — With temperatures drastically dropping across Maine, many low-income families and children are in dire need of hats, gloves, and coats to protect them from the bitter cold.

One Portland woman has taken up her knitting needles to help meet this need for the children of Lyseth Elementary School. Through a collaboration with the Rotary Club of Portland, Joan Steinberg knit more than 100 pairs of mittens for the school, with yarn donated by Rotarians.

Steinberg has been knitting mittens for the past eight years to donate to local children. She has knit about 900 pairs of mittens in total over the course of eight years. She averages more than 100 pairs per year, and takes four hours to knit each pair. If you calculate her total hours knitting using the 40-hour work week structure, she has dedicated nearly two years to knitting mittens.

In honor of her work, the Rotary Club of Portland presented Steinberg with the Paul Harris Fellow Award on December 17th, 2016 to commemorate her generosity and annual effort to furnish mittens to children in need, helping to set up donations, and relaying Rotary’s mission and message to the public.

 

A ROTARY MINUTE BY MATT WOLCOTT
 
SO WHY ROTARY? I GUESS A MORE APPROPRIATE QUESTION IS: WHY NOT!
 
I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS BUT FOR ME IT STARTS AND ENDS WITH COTTON CANDY AND ORANGES…BUT MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT.
 
I WAS RECENTLY SPEAKING TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF BOOTHBAY HARBOR WHEN I NOTICED A BANNER IN THE BACK OF THEIR CLUBHOUSE (YES..THEY HAVE A CLUBHOUSE!) THE BANNER READS Good Fellowship, Friends, and Fun! AND I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP FOR MANY OF US WHY WE CHOOSE TO TAKE TIME OUT OF OUR BUSY LIVES TO BE A PART OF ROTARY. Good Fellowship, Friends, and Fun.
Read more...
 
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth
CLUB LOG/JANUARY 2017
 
We opened the New Year with a blessing from Paris Khavari, a local Baha’is leader. He filled-in admirably for our beloved Rev. Gordon Allen, who died just before Christmas. Since then John Rice, one of Gordon’s former parishioners has done the honors.
 
The Club approved $5000 from the Ray Jones Fund to replace 12 windows at the Portsmouth Discovery Center. Ray’s wife Marlene was on hand to receive the Christmas Ornament marked #1. This has become a club tradition. Back in the day, Ray outbid everyone to own the First Ornament. Speaking of Christmas - our Christmas Tree Sales Leader and President-Elect Ben Wheeler earned high praise from James. The net total raised was in excess of $50,000.
 
Rotarians were traveling world-wide during the month. Jon Flagg went to Belize with assist from Leonard Seagren and a Belizean Rotarian. The William Cash Committee funded Past President Ted Alex’s airfare on his Rotoplast trip to Bangladesh. President James journeyed to India on a Rotary NID library project there. 
 
Volunteer extraordinaire Bob Lewis was given a well-deserved Paul Harris Award.
 
 
Left to right:  Mort Schmidt, James Petersen, PHF recipient Bob Lewis, and DG-Elect Dave Underhill
 
Guest speakers for the period included Katy Kramer author of Portsmouth Naval Prison (Images of America Series.) Seacoast Mental Health Center Executive Director Jay Couture and the Concord Coalition’s Chase Hagaman also gave presentations. The Coalition is a nationwide bi-partisan watch dog group established to educate voters on the country’s fiscal health and economic policies.
Read more...
 
The Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth
5TH ANNUAL WINTERFEST KICKS-OFF
 
Although the pond was not yet skate-able this year for the kick-off events of the 5th annual WinterFest on January 27th, once it is open many people will benefit from the warming shelter which was donated and built in 2012 by South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club for South Portland and the Mill Creek Park skating pond.
 
 
CLUB DONATES TO YOUTH LITERACY
 
The Rotary Club of South Portland/Cape Elizabeth has donated $1000 to two local public libraries for youth literacy programs. The club began this ongoing program in 2007. Youth librarians at Cape’s Thomas Memorial Library and the South Portland’s Public Library each recently received a check for $500 from the Rotary Club. The additional materials, chosen by the professional librarians at each library, will provide materials they otherwise would not be able to purchase through normal funding. The money will be used to enhance literacy programs through the purchase of books and materials to promote literacy, reading, and interest in education among young people. Some of the materials will also assist those for whom English is a second language. The Rotary Club also uses this program to recognize its weekly speakers by having them sign a bookplate that goes into one of the selected books and symbolizes a donation of that book to youth literacy by the speaker. Rotary Club president Bill Anderson says, “We have been making this type of donation for eleven years now with a view toward increasing the interest in reading and education among our local students. It is representative of our Rotary club’s service to our communities’ youth and our commitment to literacy initiatives.”
 
Youth librarians Rachel Davis, Thomas Memorial Library (left); and Kim Campbell, South Portland Public Library (right) with Rotary Club checks for $500 for each library
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Bridgton-Lake Region
A NIGHT ON THE TOWN RAFFLE
 
 
   For tickets, contact George Klauber at georgeklauber@gmail.com
 
Lake Region, Fryeburg and Bethel Interact Clubs
RAISING MONEY FOR DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TRIP
 
 
 
In Memoriam
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth
 
Jeff Marple, well-known local REALTOR and developer, passed away on Friday, January 20, 2017 . Jeff would’ve had an amazing 51 years in Rotary on May 1. He will be missed. 
 
 
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 March Newsletter Submissions:  February 21st
 
 
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.
 
Thank you for your cooperation.
 
 
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