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June 2018 - ISSUE 12
 
Upcoming Events
Beyond Borders Dinner Zones 24-32 in Toronto
Jun 24, 2018
 
RI International Convention 2018, Toronto
Toronto
Jun 24, 2018 – Jun 27, 2018
 
Districts 7780-7930 Special Toronto Event Night
Second City Theatre
Jun 25, 2018
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
 
Portland Seadogs
Hadlock Field
Aug 19, 2018
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
 
Rotary Zone Institute Montreal PQ
Sep 18, 2018 – Sep 22, 2018
 
Rotary Zone 24-32 Conference, Montreal
Montreal, PQ, Canada
Sep 20, 2018 – Sep 22, 2018
 
Finance Committee 6PM
Sep 24, 2018
6:00 PM – 8:09 PM
 
Pre-PETS PE Training #1
Husson University Southern Maine Campus
Oct 22, 2018
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Pre-PETS PE Training #2
Husson University Southern Maine Campus
Nov 27, 2018
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Finance Committee 6PM
Dec 10, 2018
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
 
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Click here to view it online.
 
 
 
District Governor's Newsletter
June 2018
 
 
June is Rotary Fellowship month.  It’s also our time to look back briefly, and ahead joyfully, at the successes and plans of our leadership teams around the Clubs and in our district. 
 
 
"The Fab Five" with RI President Ian Riseley
 
Pictured left to right:  DG Dave Gardner - District 7930, DG Eric Denu - District 7850, RI President Ian Riseley, DG Karin Gannfey - District 7910, DG Dave Underhill - District 7780, and DG Lincoln Ehrlenbach - District 7850
 
We’ve just concluded a most-successful five-district conference, the 2018 Rotary Summit at Mount Washington.  We had nearly five hundred Rotarians in attendance for the full weekend, and at the peak attendance Saturday there were over 625 including Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Rotary Youth Exchange members from Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Quebec.  What an inspiring three days!
 
District 7780 was extremely active at the Summit.  One hundred forty Rotarians from our district took part, with over 75% of our Clubs represented.  At our district meeting we presented twenty-five Clubs with the Pyramid of Peace Governor’s Award:  http://rotary7780.org/Stories/pyramid-of-peace-awards
 
We had fourteen of our Past District Governors in attendance. 
 
 
 
I am extremely grateful for the hard work and support of the Summit steering committees and teams, and want to particularly thank our own representatives on those teams who made it such a great event.
 
Wrap a Smile’s Terry Hodskins of the Wells Club was recently honored with a Paul Harris Fellowship at Portsmouth Rotary. Terry founded “Wrap A Smile” 17 years ago.  She is stepping down after coordinating the delivery of over twenty-four thousand quilts to children, primarily in connection with worldwide Rotaplast missions. Ann Demeranville of the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club is taking over the coordination of the Wrap a Smile program. For more about Terry's work and this wonderful program, visit the Wrap-A-Smile page http://rotary7780.org/SitePage/wrap-a-smile
Our district meeting approved the annual report of the finance committee, and we also adopted bylaws revisions:  http://rotary7780.org/sitepage/annual-business-meeting-2018/
 
We celebrated the return of our Kakamega Kenya cultural exchange team, who laid out a great vision of projects we might explore as a result of their new Rotary connections and learnings. http://rotary7780.org/Stories/kenya-cultural-exchange
 
Their trip was supported by your Rotary Foundation dollars through a district grant.
 
President Ian Riseley, in his keynote speech Friday, told us he felt multi-district conferences may be the way of the future in Rotary.  The great focus on service, inspiration and fellowship we had in Bretton Woods speaks well to that vision. It was a weekend that clearly met its mission: to create positive impact through caring service, powered by you.
 
(photos by Amber Eastty Photography)
 
Our clubs and members are proud of the many ways we serve our communities and the world.  This Rotary year has flown by:  we have planted seeds, from the literal (2000 trees in the ground to the figurative (our Rotary Recovery Initiative, properly addressing substance misuse disorder as a disease prevention and cure challenge for Rotary, and engaging over 15 Clubs in education, recovery coaching, saving lives with naloxone rescue techniques, and job-training.)
 
We have built Pyramids of Peace, with our clubs doing local projects in each of Rotary’s six areas of focus.  You recorded your volunteer hours and dollar contributions, better to tell Rotary’s story to the public.   What was the sum of those project efforts as of the end of April?
 
Rotarians donated nearly 35,000 volunteer hours this year.   We raised nearly one million dollars for our local projects, and received another million dollars’ worth of in-kind donations.  Those numbers continue to grow, and they will help us to tell the Rotary 7780 story to our communities in New Hampshire and Maine.  They also position every one of our clubs to qualify for the Rotary President’s citation, by reporting their results in Rotary Club Central before June 30.  The Power of Rotary is solidly rooted in our local Rotary Clubs.
 
We have embraced a strategic plan for our district and its Clubs, setting a clearer growth pathway to become a 2000-member district in five years.  This plan reflects our commitment to improving the ways collaboration, leadership development, public image and technology will support our Rotary Clubs.  We updated our protection policies to assure that all Rotarians, and all community members we serve, are treated with respect.
 
We are completing a three-year campaign to strengthen our support of the Rotary Foundation, and we have raised over $4 million in new bequests and major gifts since the 2015-2016 Rotary year began. 
 
Best of all, we have invested in our people, in our communities, and in our future through strong leadership training, succession planning at the local and district level, and by sharing the joys of our Rotary service with the many thousands of Maine and New Hampshire residents who count on us.  
 
I am proud of our 40 clubs and their Presidents, with whom I have now been partnered for three years.  I am in awe of the diligence and hard work of our Assistant Governors and our entire district leadership team.   Every one of these volunteers gives it their best, balancing family and work with Rotary service.  Thank you!
 
At the end of June, as I pass the baton forward to DGE John, DGN Andy and DGND Peggy, I am grateful for their support and yours during this journey.   You are Making a Difference, and there’s still a lot to be done – let’s keep it going!
 
 
Polio Plus Update for June
 
 
This month, I am very happy to bring you good news. As of May 22, (the latest figure I have access to) there have been no new cases of wild polio virus in Afghanistan. The total there remains at 7. Only one case has been reported in Pakistan in March. In 2017, we ended the year with 22 cases of wild polio virus in two countries (14 in Afghanistan and 8 in Pakistan), while in 2016, we had 35 cases in three countries (12 in Afghanistan, 19 in Pakistan, and 4 in Nigeria.) We are definitely making progress.
 
Again this year, Rotary clubs in District 7780 have come through spectacularly in their support of the End Polio Now campaign. The cumulative club Polio Plus giving goals this year were $53,072 and, as of May 26, actual contributions were $53,633.58.
 
Ten clubs have donated at least $1,500, the amount the Foundation asks clubs to give if they can (Bridgton Lake Region, Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Oxford Hills, Sanford-Springvale, Sebago Lake, South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, Westbrook-Gorham, and York.)  An additional nine clubs clubs have met or exceeded their club goals (Bath, Bath Sunrise, Bethel, Biddeford-Saco, Freeport, Fryeburg, Kittery, Saco-Bay Sunset, and South Berwick-Eliot.) Based on their pattern of past giving, I am confident a number of other clubs will meet or exceed their goals by the end of the year. We still have 4 clubs that have yet to give, and hopefully they will come through. Like last year, we should have 100% of our clubs contributing to this major cause.
 
This is my last Polio Plus Update as I am finishing my 3-year term as Polio Plus Subcommittee Chair on the Foundation Committee. It has been an honor and a pleasure for me to serve in this capacity and I am very grateful for PDG Sheila for appointing me to this position (and for PDG Marge and DG Dave for letting me continue.)
 
Jeff Slaton of the Saco Bay Rotary Club will be taking over and I’m sure he will do a great job. The End Polio Now campaign is something I care very deeply about and I so look forward to the day when we can declare victory and Polio is indeed gone from the face of the earth.
 

Tree Planting Initiative
 
They came-they gathered and they planted!
 
 
 
Members of Rotary District 7780 (Mid-Coast, Western & Southern Maine and Coastal New Hampshire) have successfully completed the installation of over 2500 sapling trees throughout the New England District.  The trees were purchased from the Arbor Day Foundation, in Lincoln Nebraska and shipped to Freeport, Maine mid-April, just in time for “Arbor Day.” 
 
Each of the 40 clubs in the district worked within their local communities to find the best areas to plant the trees yielding the greatest benefit. Red Maple, Sugar Maple, White Spruce and Red Oak were the varieties chosen. Several clubs in the district also partnered with local Girl and Boy Scout Troops, Interact Clubs, Nursing Homes, Schools and Organic Farms and Nurseries to ensure the best start for the saplings.
 
“This was a wonderful project for our district to take part in,” stated Michele Bois-Gilbody, district coordinator for the project, “our clubs were energized and so excited to be involved in planting these trees-it was truly a gratifying experience.”
 
The world is certainly a more beautiful place because of the efforts in district 7780 and in the words of Warren Buffett; “We are sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree.”
 
 
 
District 7780 Trip to Kenya
 
 
Team Kenya visiting with Mama Dorothy on her farm
 
On March 28, six delegates from District 7780 boarded Turkish Airlines in Boston to fly to Istanbul and then Nairobi. The focus of the trip was the Kakamega Orphans Care Center where we would live for a week to listen and learn.
 
We were greeted by singing children who then escorted us to our rooms while carrying our bags and chatting happily. Some were shy and others were bold. Some giggled at us and some just smiled.
 
Over the next week, we drove to farms, walked through mud and other squishy material, witnessed the growth of lands and people, and were treated to homemade meals of rice, beans, ugali and kale. We experienced warm mornings, late afternoon thunder showers, and comfortable evenings. Although none of the six of us were friends before the trip (with the exception of Tom and Catherine Wilbur) our common experiences made us fast friends with respect for each others talents and life experiences.
 
The first sound of the day was the call to prayer from a mosque that was close enough to hear, but became a sound to sleep through as the days continued. After the morning rooster welcomed the day, there was the chatter of the girls and the running and jumping down the cement stairs outside our bedroom doors. On weekdays, the girls ate breakfast and ran off to school. If we were still in bed, we were treated to Anna, a singing angel who mopped all the common floors - top to bottom. Her voice was clear and lovely and her dresses were always made of a lively color. Anna had a smile for all of us and would do anything to help us. All of the children had chores which included washing their own dishes and clothes and cleaning the building.
Read more...
 
Wrap a Smile
TERRY HODSKINS HONORED
 
 
Aileen Dugan of the Portsmouth Club honoring a surprised Terry Hodskins with a well-deserved PHF
 
Wrap a Smile’s Terry Hodskins of the Wells Club was recently honored at Portsmouth Rotary. Terry founded “Wrap A Smile” 17 years ago.  She is stepping down after coordinating the delivery of over twenty-four thousand quilts to children, primarily in connection with worldwide Rotaplast missions.
 
 
Terry Hodskins on the left, with new director of WAS, Ann Demeranville
 
Ann Demeranville of the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club is taking over the coordination of the Wrap a Smile program.
 
District History for June
 
Still working cleaning out old files! So for the next few months, there will be a quote out of some old club newsletters that I came across where I did a make-up. So here we go down memory lane! 
 
The quotes below were in the May District Newsletter that I had taken from two different clubs newsletters!
 
July 7, 1988 Newsletter, from “CLUB NOTES – Michael J. Asselin will take over as club treasurer beginning July 1st. This last minute change comes about when Mart Hart accepted a position outside our area.  Best of luck, Mike.”
 
August 1, 1990 Newsletter – “This week our program will consist of a trip to Stephens Memorial Hospital and a tour of that facility as conducted by Chuck Frost.”
 
Who can tell me the name of one or both of these two clubs?  Once the winners are announced, I will provide the old newsletters to the club if they want them.
 
John Griffin from the Rotary Club of Oxford Hills, got one, August 1, 1990! 
 
August 1, 1990 Newsletter – Oxford Hills Rotary Club newsletter.
 
July 7, 1988 Edition – “Portsmouth Rotary Club Weekly Log”.   Michael Asselin has been a member of the Portsmouth Club since September 1982 and is a Past President.  I guess no one in Portsmouth read the District History Trivia Q&A for May. 
 
Here are the quotes for June from two more newsletters from my past – one is a tricky one and the other should be a snap:
 
August 10, 1988 Newsletter -  2ȼ Sale Treasurer Len Strait reported that gross sales were $9,806.13 – expenses were $1,955.22 leaving a net of $7850.91 – the most we have ever netted in the 14 years we have had the sale.
 
September 22, 1988 – “Our speaker last week was President Rick Merschdorf sharing his experience at the Rotary International Convention this spring.  Helen and Milt Chauner, who live in Wayne, Pennsylvania, near to Philadelphia, “took me in tow giving Rick an overview of Philadelphia and environs.”
 
Let’s see if anyone reads the District Newsletter all the way through!  Both answers are not so easy this month!  Can you tell me the name of either of these clubs?
 
Send your answers to me at mawilliamspdg@comcast.net with your name and your club name.  The answers will be in the July newsletter.
 
 
Marie A. Williams, PDG
District 7780 Historian
 
 
The Rotary Club of Bethel
TREE PLANTING PROJECT
 

The Bethel Club partnered their tree planting project with 7th graders and their families from the NorthStar program at UMaine’s 4H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond. These trees were planted along the Town of Bethel’s River Pathway. The NorthStar initiative focuses on connecting area youth to caring community adults while offering outdoor adventure and travel opportunities. 

 

 

THIRD ANNUAL MAY DAY 5K RACE

The Bethel Club celebrated its Third Annual May Day 5K Race on May 12th.

 

Pictured here L-R are Bethel’s PE Mike Steven, Rumford’s Joe Sirois who ran in the race, White Mountain’s Mike Peterson who helped us on the course, Bethel’s newest Rotarian Lucy Abbott, and Bethel’s Race Founder, Kevin Finley.

CARPORT SOCIAL
 
 

The Bethel Club took a break from all its projects and events this spring and celebrated with a Carport Social at the home of President Michele Cole.

 

 
The Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco
PORTLAND SEA DOGS - JUNE 24TH
 
The Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco would like to invite other Rotary Clubs to join us on Sunday, June 24th, for a Rotary club outing at the Portland Sea Dogs. The tickets to the game will be $26, which will include food (Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, BBQ Pulled Chicken, Veggie Burgers, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Sea Dog Biscuits and bottomless fountain drinks.)
 
Feel free to invite family and friends to the game as well. 
 
The link to purchase your tickets for the game for the group outing is below. 
 
 
We hope to see everyone there!
 
 
The Rotary Clubs of Biddeford Saco and Saco Bay
CLUBS DONATE TO TOOLS4SCHOOLS PROGRAM
 
 
The United Way of York County is pleased to announce that both the Rotary Club of Saco Bay and Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club recently donated to the organization’s annual Tools4Schools program.
 
This United Way of York County project provides more than 1,000 free backpacks full of school supplies to students prior to the start of the school year. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunch are eligible to register for backpacks.
 
Donations from the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club of $1,600 and the Rotary Club of Saco Bay of $250 will support close to 40 filled backpacks for local children and youth. “Starting the school year with a new backpack and with the tools needed to fully participate in the classroom is essential,” noted Barb Wentworth, United Way of York County’s President & CEO. “With community support, such as these two Rotary Clubs, the Tools4School project ensures that local kids get that great start and that the financial burden for families is lessened.”
 
Rotary is a global network with 1.2 million members. Around the world local clubs take action to create lasting change. Supporting education is a key priority for many clubs.
Please contact Jason Ketterick (jketterick@buildcommunity.org) for more information about how to register for a backpack or support this annual school supplies distribution event in your community!
 
About United Way of York County
United Way of York County improves lives by mobilizing people and resources! United Way of York County makes every dollar you give do more right here in your community. To learn more about United Way of York County, visit www.buildcommunity.org or call 207-985-3359.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Brunswick
MAY RECAP
 
The Brunswick Rotarians have been very busy in their community. Midcoast Maine's Got Talent hit a home run on May 18, raising money for the Community Fund and also encouraging local talent to take the stage. On May 19, Brunswick Rotarians came out in force for the Bike Rodeo where they inspected and registered bicycles, fitted and gave away helmets, and taught bike safety to kids of all ages. The local police, fire department, Midcoast Hospital and other service groups joined in to host the largest group of children in the 15 year history of the event.
 
 
Police mascot McGruff gets a pat on the nose from a young fan
 
The following week found Rotarians volunteering at the Coffin Elementary School, listening to the young readers on May 22.
 
Two days later, the monthly food bank for the town of Harpswell attracted many food-insecure families and Rotarians ready to hand out food that comes in the big Good Shepherd Food Bank truck.
 
 
Brunswick Rotarians help reduce food insecurity in Harpswell
 
Just in case any of us needed a bit more 'service above self,' Rotarians honored the veterans in three of the local cemeteries by inserting flags beside the grave sites in the afternoon. It seems that the service we offered was an opportunity to feel good about the work of Rotary and our part in that work. All the service was done with joy and was fulfilling. Win, win!
 
 

Above left:  Rotarians Patty Biggs and Claudia Frost carrying flags to the grave sites

 
The Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
 
 
On Saturday, May 19th, the Durham-Great Bay Rotary planted 1000 grape vines as part of a community service project for the owner of Flag Hill Winery, that allows the club to meet at his business free of charge.
 
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Kennebunk Portside
THE AMAZING SHAKE
 
Members of Kennebunk Portside Rotary are now keeping track of the hours which they spend in doing volunteer work in Town, a significant part of what Rotary is all about today.

One of the recent volunteer programs for which members Ki and Bill Leffler volunteered was The Amazing Shake, a program at Kennebunkport's Consolidated School, in which the 3rd-5th graders were judged on their social abilities - shaking hands, eye contact, casual chit chat, etc. Each student was judged on how well he or she performed these socializing functions, with one of the 4th graders being judged the most competent socializer - after some strenuous challenges.

In this age, when so many young people have their noses in I Pads and I Phones, inter-personal socializing can go by the boards. Here is an exciting school program (adaptable to all grade levels) to counter such anti-social behavior that Rotarians can encourage in their schools, financial support and volunteer to be among the judges.
 
BREAKFAST SERVED TO "NEIGHBORS"
 
Kennebunk Portside Rotary recently provided breakfast to the “Neighbors“ of the local food pantry.  The club now provides the breakfast quarterly.  In the past, we served up the annual Christmas Breakfast, and it was such a joy for all that we are happy to increase the frequency.
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Portland
DISTRICT GRANT FINAL REPORT
 
Project Title: Portland Rotary Club’s Reading Program at Lyseth Elementary School
 
Briefly describe the project. What was done, when and where did the project activites take place, and who were the beneficiaries?
 
In October, November, December 2017 and March, April, May 2018, Portland Rotarians read and distributed books to all of the K-3rd grade students at Lyseth Elementary School in Portland.
 
How many club members participated in the project? 14
 
What did they do?  One week each month Portland Rotarian volunteers visited the same classroom to read to the students and distribute books for them to take home. We explained that we are Rotarians and volunteers in the community who care about the future of our youth.
 
How many non-Rotarians benefited from this project?  324 students in 17 classrooms
 
 
What is the expected long-term community impact as a result of this project?  Third grade reading scores are a good predictor for a student’s success throughout school and beyond. Through this initiative during the school year along with a summer reading program at one of Portland’s food sites, we are providing books for students to take home and hopefully work on their reading skills.
 
If a cooperating organization was involved, what was its role?  Portland Rotary partnered with Lyseth Elementary School and UMaine School of Law. Lyseth’s volunteer coordinator arranges the classroom assignments and orders the books. Law students read with the Rotarians in the classroom.
 
Lyseth Elementary School hosted a school celebration to thank the readers.  The message below from Lyseth School Community Coordinator Sylvie Montello describes the event perfectly:
 
“The celebration was amazing.  All students Kindergarten thru 3rd grade gathered in the gym.  Our readers were seated in a special area on the main floor.  Our Principal addressed them by quoting Dr. Seuss.  Linda Whittum, a 2nd grade teacher had 2 of her students read their thank you notes.  Grecia Caraballo, our 2nd grade Spanish Emersion teacher had her 2 students read their notes in Spanish while she translated.  Our music teacher led the students in our School song & I closed the gathering by stating that we have 42 volunteers to read and they provided over 2000 books to our students.”
 
 
Describe the publicity that Rotary received from this project.  Although the TV and local media were invited to the Lyseth volunteer recognition event via press release and follow up calls, they did not attend.  Photos were not submitted to the Portland Press Society pages due to photo release permissions and submission guidelines, though, photos of the events were shared via Portland Rotary Club’s Facebook page.
 
Portland Rotary submitted an op-ed piece to the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram.  Sarah Collins, assistant editorial page editor, Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, replied to the submission with some valuable feedback in terms of additional content. Rotarians were encouraged by the feedback and will resubmit when a communications committee forms to address this type of opinion piece.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth
CLUB RECAP
 
The club is gearing up for its annual golf tournament on June 22nd, and Tournament Director Peter Grace is looking for more foursomes.  We welcome teams from our sister clubs across the District.  Also upcoming is our annual Vocational Awards.  Lexi Leddy is leading this effort that will recognize an unsung hero in four Avenues of Service: Public service, Human services, Education and a general category.
 
 
Pictured above:  Peter Grace, Tournament Director
 
Meanwhile Past President James and Nancy Clayburgh led a successful used clothes collection drive. The initiative benefits the Echo Thrift Shop in Durham, an organization that gives away clothes to needy college students. James also led the Rotary Plant-A-Tree campaign for our club. Some 200 hopeful “trees” (glorified twigs, really) will be placed all over the seacoast. Before and after pictures were encouraged.
 
Meanwhile Bill Hurley’s branch of the Crutches for Africa campaign seems to be collecting mountains of devices for that program...The club raised more than $700 in pocket change, which went to buy books for our sister charity, The Ritchie McFarland center.
 
 
Bill Hurley and Joe Cunningham 
 
Some 25 club members attended the District Conference at the Mount Washington. We are especially proud of our own Governor Dave. He seems to have been a prime mover in bringing an amazing 650 Rotarians to the venerable mountain resort. There, President Ben was presented with the Pyramid of Peace Award. Later, he thanked all of us for doing the hard work that made the recognition possible.
 
 
Read more...
 
The River Valley Rotary Club
Rotarian recognized as "Volunteer of the Year"
 
Congratulations 🎉to one of our own Fellow Rotarians, Joe Sirois, and his wife Anne Wood for being recognized as “Volunteer of the Year” by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce.   Presented at the Chamber Annual Dinner held at Black Mountain, Thursday evening, April 26, 2018.
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Sebago Lake
8TH ANNUAL PIZZA CHALLENGE
 
The Sebago Lake Club sponsored it's 8th Annual Pizza Challenge on May 24th.  A great event to be had by all. 
 
 
The winners of this year's Best Pizza choice is The Beacon, a new pizza restaurant in the Raymond Mall, Raymond, Maine.
 
 
Pictured above left to right: Brenda Pennels, Deb McPhail and President, Cyndy Bell

The 50/50 funds were donated to the Toby Pennels Scholarship Fund for Windham High School students. A check for $1,000, which was a donation by the club, was accepted by Toby's widow Brenda Pennels at the event.
 
 
The Rotary Club of South Berwick-Eliot
SENIOR CITIZENS' DINNER
 
 
Many thanks to the club volunteers who helped feed the senior citizens of Eliot who showed up at the Eliot Congregational Church for a yummy turkey dinner with homemade pies for dessert. 
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth
HELPING HOMELESS MAINE VETERANS
 
The South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club, with an emphasis on assistance to help Maine’s homeless veterans, has extended its commitment to a sixth year in cooperation with Maine’s Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) in Augusta.
 
The Club is again working with the VA for the 2017-18 Rotary Year to assist with some of the VA’s unmet needs which include the following recent Rotary donations:
 
• A generator to help a veteran heat a home.
• Numerous Irving gasoline cards to enable veterans to get to medical appointments and job interviews, etc.
• Walmart cards to enable the purchase of necessary household goods, etc.
• Hannaford cards to enable the purchase of foods.
• Numerous combination bedding sets
• 30 cookware sets
• Cost of temporary transportation for a transitioning vet
• 37 coffee pots & filter sets
• 30 toasters
• Work boots required by an employer for a veteran’s job
• Payment of temporary self-storage cost
• 10 microwave ovens
• Cases of laundry detergent
• 21 starter sets of dishes
 
Rotary donations thus far this Rotary year exceed $8100.00
 
Many of Maine’s homeless veterans have difficulty getting to medical appointments, job interviews, and other obligations due to lack of transportation and money. And many, who may be moving to their own transitional or permanent housing are in need of beds, other essential household items and basic necessities including food.
 
The Rotary Club welcomes assistance from non-Rotarians; questions – and donations -- may be coordinated with Rotarian Dan Davidson at 767-4682.
 
The Rotary Club of South Portland/Cape Elizabeth’s president Sue Sturtevant says, “It’s a sad situation when so many of the patriotic men and women of Maine who served our country suffer homelessness and have numerous needs. We want to help and are doing so in cooperation with Maine’s Department of Veteran Affairs.”
 
Additional contacts are VA Transitional Housing Liaison, Susan Whittington, at 623-8411, ext. 4344 or email Susan.Whittington@va.gov or the Rotary Club’s homeless veterans chair Dan Davidson at danprpro@gwi.net or 767-4682.
 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Portland
MAINE OUTDOOR CHALLENGE - JUNE 4 - 6
 
Ready, Aim, Cast: Teams Compete at Maine Outdoor Challenge to Benefit Local Non-Profits 
 
Put your outdoor skills to the test at this year’s 7th Annual Maine Outdoor Challenge held June 4-6, at the L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Center in Freeport. Compete for the top prize, participate in corporate team building, or simply come try a new skill during this round-robin style tournament.  
 
At the Maine Outdoor Challenge, 45 teams will compete for the coveted Maine Outdoor Challenge Bronze Boot Trophy over the course of three days. Each five-person team will be outfitted, receive professional training and compete on ONE of the assigned days for three hours. Teams will be scored on three main events including fly casting, sporting clays, and archery, with additional team-building activities available. Experts and novices are welcome to show off their skills; no equipment or experience is required.
 
Registration is now open for individual, corporate, and fundraising teams. Team registration is $1,000 or commitment to fund raise a total minimum of $1,500. Produced by the Portland Rotary Club and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, all proceeds generated from the Maine Outdoor Challenge will go to benefit community service and youth programs within the two non-profit organizations.
 
Registrations are filling up quickly, so please contact Kris Rosado at Kris.Rosado@morganstanley.com or (207) 771-0843 to sign up.
 
For general information on the event, please contact Lauren Farina at develop@bgcmaine.org or (207) 874-1069 x 236.
 
 
 
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 July Newsletter Submissions:  June 22nd
 
 
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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