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February 2015 - Issue 8
 

 
 
Upcoming Events
Pre-PETS
Husson College
Feb 07, 2015
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
 
World Understanding and Peace Dinner
Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks
Feb 23, 2015
5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
 
Rotary Leadership Institute
York Community College
Feb 28, 2015
7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
 
Northeast PETS training
Framingham Sheraton
Mar 12, 2015 – Mar 14, 2015
 
District Assembly
York Community College
Mar 28, 2015
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
Grants Management Seminar - Portsmouth
Portsmouth Country Club
Apr 08, 2015
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Vision to Plan Workshop
Greater Portland Area
Apr 16, 2015
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
District Conference 2015
Wentworth by the Sea
Apr 24, 2015 – Apr 26, 2015
 
Grants Management Seminar -Westbrook
Westbrook Middle School
May 09, 2015
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
 
Grants Management Seminar - Topsham
Red Cross Chapter
May 13, 2015
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Russell Hampton
Sage
 

 

 
 
Why Attend a District Conference?
 
My first district conference was in 2009 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine under then District Governor, Brad Jett. I went because I was on a panel discussing participation in a National Immunization Day. Barbara and I had such a great time, we have not missed a District Conference since. I think there are several reasons to attend a district conference. First, it is a great opportunity to learn more about Rotary and what’s happening in our district and around the world. It really expands your understanding of what it means to be a Rotarian and enlarges your view of the good work we do to help people. Second, it is a terrific opportunity to make new Rotarian friends. From the first time I ventured beyond the confines of my own club, I have so enjoyed meeting and learning from so many new Rotarians - from the Oxford Hills, to Midcoast Maine, the greater Portland area, Portsmouth and southern New Hampshire. Rotarians are just nice people, and I now count among my closest friends so many interesting folks I have met through Rotary. Finally, a District Conference is great fun. We work hard on all of our rotary projects assisting those in need, but it is important that we have fun doing so. I firmly believe life isn’t worth very much if we can’t enjoy it. So if you have never been to a District Conference or if you haven’t been for several years, make an effort to get there this year. We will soon be sharing more specific information about this year’s event at the beautiful Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, New Hampshire. When I asked PDG Elias Thomas to chair my District Conference Committee, he asked me what my goal was for the conference. I said I wanted people to learn new things about Rotary and to have a fantastic time. I want everyone who attends to say, "Wow, that was fabulous. We have to be sure to come back next year."
 
 
                                   
                                                                                         
 
District History Trivia
February's TRIVIA QUESTION
 
This month’s District History question
 
Which Rotary International Convention authorized a separation of the seventy-two clubs of District 779 into two districts – District 779 and a new District 778?
 
If you can find the answer in the District Website’s History Yearbook pages, send it to me at mawilliamspdg@comcast.net along with your name and the name of your Rotary Club.  The answer will be in next month’s newsletter along with the name of the person(s) to give me the correct answer along with their club name.
 
Marie A. Williams
District Historian
 
Click "Read More" for the answer to last month's trivia question.
 
Read more...
DISTRICT ANNOUNCES SPRING GRANT MANAGEMENT SEMINAR DATES
 
District Foundation Committee Chair Peter Johnson has announced the sites for this year's Grant Management Seminars:
 
                Wednesday, April 8, Portsmouth, NH Country Club, 5:30 pm
                Saturday, May 9, Westbrook, ME Middle School, 8:00 am
                Wednesday, May 13, Topsham, ME American Red Cross, 5:30 pm
 
All are reminded that any club wishing to originate a request for either Community or Global Grant funds must be qualified to do so, and qualification includes, every year, the requirement to have two club members attend one of these three seminars.  Community Grant applications need to be submitted to the district by June 1; Global Grant applications are accepted throughout the year.
 
"Because our members have been paying attention to the need for each of us to support The Rotary Foundation, we will have a record amount of grant money available for 2015-16", Peter noted.  "We have money to award, and nothing would make us happier than to get every last dollar working, but it all begins with understanding process and stewardship, which is what these seminars cover".  "Even better", he added, " if you have an idea – any idea – we strongly encourage you to reach out to me or our district Grant Coordinators:  Penny Jett, pennyjett@comcast.net for Community Grants, and Dalit Wolfe, dgulak@gmail.com for Global Grants, well before the actual seminar dates, as a beginning conversation can be a big assist to simply get an idea moving in a workable direction.
 
JOIN A VOLUNTEER TEAM TO SAFE PASSAGE!
 
 
Come make a difference at Safe Passage, the literacy support organization that changes lives for children who live on the Guatemala City dump.  A week-long volunteer trip is being planned by the Weymouth, Massachusetts Rotary Club, to support a Rotary Foundation grant supported by the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club. 
 
The trip will run Saturday, May 2nd to Sunday, May 10th.  Sunday, May 3rd will be a Historical tour of the city of Antigua, established as the Capital City of Central America by Spain in 1524.  Please Google Antigua – UNESCO for more info.   Monday through Thursday we will be working in Guatemala City with the children at the Safe Passage educational sites.  Friday we have a cultural tour of the surrounding area of Antigua.  Saturday we will join the Children of Safe Passage on their annual Excursion (field trip).  Sunday May 10 we return home.  Please visit the SafePassage.org  -  Home page “Get Involved” tab, see Support Teams for more detailed info.  The cost for the week will vary due to Airline ticket pricing but is expected to be from $1,200 to $1,500 for transportation, food and housing, not including personal expenses. The team will consist of students, parents, Rotarians and non-Rotarians.  We are asking for a $200 deposit to reserve your spot on the team.
 
Please contact Stephen Certa by e-mail scerta@comcast.net or phone 781-710-5279.
 
We welcome you to take a few steps out of your comfort zone and make a difference for the children of the Guatemala City Dump. But hurry! Steve needs to confirm the team in the next few weeks.
 
Foundation Factoids
 
Did you know?

The “Plus” in PolioPlus. The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa virtually skipped Nigeria --  the country suffered only 19 confirmed cases and eight deaths.  A significant factor in the good news has to do with the infrastructure created by Rotary and its partners in the fight against polio:  Once the first Ebola case was detected, Nigeria mimicked its own polio response process and set up an Ebola emergency operations center which involved all the polio partners as well as Nigerian doctors trained in epidemiology through the work and financing of Polio Plus. Over the next days and weeks, an estimated 26,000 households were personally visited to check for Ebola.  That number may seem monumental, but not to those of us familiar with the scope of polio eradication work and the number of households visited on any National Immunization Day.
 
 Move over, Fulbright!  The Rotary Foundation is one of the biggest funders of scholarships in the world.  In 2013-14 (the most recent year for which data are available), The Rotary Foundation funded 175 Global Grant Scholars and 474 District Grant scholars, plus 90 Peace Fellows (half in the Master’s program and half in the certificate program).  We’re training the next generation to work in Rotary’s areas of focus, most especially peace and conflict resolution.
 
 What's your favorite Rotary Foundation statistic?  Many clubs in our District share a "Rotary Moment" each week, but often have trouble coming up with good ones ... In response, we plan to create a library of Foundation factoids on the District website.  Please help by sending your favorite Rotary Foundation moment to PDG Marty Helman: martyrotary@gmail.com. 
 
 
Rotary Leadership Institute
RLI
 
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is a marvelous opportunity to learn more about Rotary. Through a series of Saturday all day workshops, Rotarians (both newbies and more experienced members) enjoy interactive sessions led by seasoned Rotary facilitators.

Whether your goal is club leadership or just to know more about how Rotarians do the great humanitarian work we do, RLI is a great way to learn more and make new friends at the same time. 
 
Register now for the Feb 28 session to be held at York County Community College by going to the RLI website: www.rlinea.org or contact Marge Barker @ margebarker173@gmail.com for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
The Hampton Rotary Club is pleased to announce the induction of two new Rotarians into our club during the month of January:
 
Michaela Scott of The Boston Financial Group, and Joe Perusse of Edward Jones.
 
Welcome Michaela and Joe!
 
 
 
Bethel Rotary Club
WHAT SNOW?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Members left to right:  Pres Ellie Andrews, Pres-Elect Kevin Finley, David Murphy, Rick Whitney, Kathy Ruby, Bud Kulig and SaA Scott Hynek
 
As the Blizzard of 2015 rolled across the state of Maine, diehard members of the Bethel Club ventured out for their Tuesday morning meeting on January 27th
 
Hampton Rotary Club
SPONSORS 3RD INTERACT CLUB
 
At its January 6th meeting, President Larry Marsolais presented pins to the Officers and Directors of the newly formed Hampton Academy Interact Club.
 
Hampton Academy is the third Interact Club to be sponsored by the Hampton Rotary Club, and it joins the Winnacunnet High School and the Seabrook Middle School clubs.
 
Hampton Rotary supports the youth in their community and recognizes them as future leaders.  The WHS club has been active for several years, and the SMS Interact Club was sponsored in 2014.
 
PRESENTS PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARD
 
At Hampton Rotary’s Annual Holiday Party held this past December, President Larry Marsolais recognized club member, Karen Kulberg, as a Paul Harris Fellow.  Her PHF pin, badge and certificate were presented to her by our District Governor, Lawrence Furbish, which we were honored to have attend the evening along with his wife and fellow Rotarian, Barbara Sutcliffe.
 
Karen joined the Hampton Rotary Club in August 2008.  She has served on the club’s Board of Directors as a Service Director in 2011-2012.  She has shown a great
passion for the RYLA program, and has been our club’s chairperson for the past several years, which she has done an amazing job.
 
During the evening, it was also announced that Karen will once again be serving on the Board of DIrectors in 2015-2016.
 
Congratulations Karen!
 
Top Picture:  Karen Kulberg is pinned by DG Lawrence Furbish
 
Bottom Picture (from left to right) Rotary Foundation Director Sandy Buck, Club President Larry Marsolais, PHF Karen Kulberg, and District Governor Lawrence Furbish 
 
Portsmouth Rotary Club & Friends Forever
RECEIVES $45,000 GRANT
LAUNCHING UGANDA CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING
 
Members of YPO, a non-governmental organization in Uganda whose youth leaders will be trained under the new Rotary District Grant program in partnership with Friends Forever.
 
Rotary International’s District 7780 has received a $45,000 Global Grant from the Rotary Foundation to advance a new program in conflict resolution.
 
Portsmouth Rotary’s international service chair, Bob Herold, and Friends Forever executive director, Steve Martineau, made the joint announcement this week.  The program will bring young Uganda leaders to the United States for a “train the trainer” educational program, aimed at mediation and peace building in Uganda. 
 
The program is a partnership among the two Seacoast organizations, the Rotary Club of Kajjansi Uganda, and a non-governmental agency in Uganda, Youth Passionate Organization (YPO).  Friends Forever, based in Durham NH, has been an international leader in community reconciliation programs since 1986.
Read more...
Portsmouth Rotary Club
NOTIS RECEIVES PAUL HARRIS AWARD
 
By Suzanne Laurent
news@seacoastonline.com
 
Dec. 18, 2014
 
PORTSMOUTH – The crowd cheered and shouted “Opa!” as Nancy Notis was named as the recipient of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award at the Rotary Club of Portsmouth weekly luncheon Thursday at the Portsmouth Country Club.
 
“Opa” is a Greek word used to express joy.
 
And Notis, a past Rotary president, was joyful after her former colleague at radio station WHEB, Cliff Taylor, announced her name. Her gracious smile widened as she saw family members and current colleagues from Portsmouth Regional Hospital approach the front of the room.
 
Pictured:  Cliff Taylor, a Paul Harris Fellow and past president of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, announced past president Nancy Notis was the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award at the club's weekly luncheon Thursday at the Portsmouth Country Club. Photo by Suzanne Laurent
Read more...
TREE SALES NET OVER $46,000
 
With Rotary magic, in four short weeks....poof, they disappeared!
 
Portsmouth Rotary’s volunteers sold 1600 trees, 400 wreaths and 800 ornaments, raising the largest amount in the forty-plus year history of the project.   The club fundraising “net” exceeded $46,500….all of which is returned to the Seacoast community in the form of scholarships and grants to non-profit needs.
 
 
Portsmouth Rotary member Basil Richardson displays special wreaths created by Janice Wood’s committee, which pre-sold holiday wreaths to area businesses. This one element of the tree and wreath sale raised over $4,000 net dollars for the club’s charities.
 
 
 
GUEST SPEAKER - January 6th
 
Sheila Rollins, District Governor Elect, attended the River
Valley Club Fellowship Meeting on January 13th, and brought along a very impressive young lady to speak to us.
 
Anna Saucier has been a member of RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for many years!  She is a freshman at Boston University, and is currently undeclared and pre-med.
 
Anna spoke on the importance of Rotary’s support of the RYLA program and how it builds confidence and teaches leadership skills in the youth who attend such summer camps.
Read more...
River Valley Rotary Club
PRESENTS AWARDS
 
 
 
At their River Valley Rotary Club Fellowship meeting held January 6, 2015, Club President Jerry Cohen presented Club Secretary Charlie LeDuc with Rotary's most prestigious award, "Rotarian of the Year", for his dedication over the years to his position.  Charlie stated, anything he decides to do, he tries to do an awesome job at it!
 
Also, receiving an award was McKenzie Paterson, daughter of fellow Rotarian, Ed Paterson. McKenzie received her first Paul Harris Award for her constant dedication to volunteering and serving Rotary throughout the world.
Read more...
 
SUPPORTS RUMFORD HOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This year, River Valley Rotary Club members pooled together and donated gifts and toiletry items for the Rumford Group Home (home for the homeless), and on December 27th, they sent Santa with gifts for three families!  Seen here are home-made thank you cards and notes from the children and family members of the shelters!
 
Sebago Lake Rotary Club
BLOOD DRIVE COLLECTS 58 UNITS

At a recent blood drive held on January 17th, 58 units of blood were collected with the help of Aimee Senatore and Tricia Zwirner of the Sebago Lake Rotary Club.  Both women donated their blood in memory of deceased Rotarian, Toby Pennels.  Toby received 40 units of blood for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident this past summer, before he passed on September 3rd.
 
Toby was an instrumental part of the success of the club’s huge fundraising efforts with the Sebago Lake Region Ice Fishing Derby held in February, and their famous Pizza Challenge event held in May. The fishing derby, which is being held on February 14th and 15th this year, is being dedicated to Toby as well.
 
A beautiful tribute is available about Toby at the www.icefishingderby.com website.
 
Wells Rotary Club
ROTARIAN ATTENDS ROSE BOWL PARADE
 
Terry Hodskins, of the Wells Rotary Club, attended this year's Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA and got up close and personal with the Rotary International Float.  She states, "It was a fantastic experience...."
 
She also noted that "ROTARY" was spelled out on the float using blueberries ...
 
Maine blueberries perhaps?
 
Click "Read more" to see additional pictures of the float.
Read more...

"THIS IS WHAT PR IS ALL ABOUT"

 
 
Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary Club
KARL'S KIDS
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
       PP Linda Brunner and Mary Berger        Liz Allen and PP Judy Speers 
 
The 8th annual Karl’s Kids Family Fun Ski Race and Auction will be held on February 28th, 2015, at the Sugarloaf Hotel.  Karl’s Kids, named after our club Treasurer Karl Berger who died suddenly in 2007, enables youth in Lincoln County to participate in sports and exercise activities without consideration of their family’s financial situation.  In 2014, the program assisted 350 youngsters with bikes, helmets, sports footwear and clothing, basketball hoops, cheerleading and ballet clothing, adaptive tricycles for pre-schoolers, diving certification, hockey gear, etc.  Karl’s Kids also donated $2,000 to the local Holiday Wishes program to purchase sports equipment gifts.
Read more...
In Memoriam
 
Exeter Rotary lost a great longtime member and friend this past week when Art Richardson passed away.
 
Artemas P. Richardson II, of Exeter, New Hampshire (formerly of Fremont, New Hampshire, Brookline, Massachusetts, Needham Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), died quietly of age related complications at the age of 96 on 18 January, 2015. Friends and family knew him as Art. Many knew him as a talented landscape architect who came into the profession with the generations that  followed Frederick Law Olmsted and other pioneers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a profession he chose almost on a whim, having always had a talent for drawing and an appreciation for how people shape the land. He majored in Fine Arts at Williams College, graduating in 1940 and then heading off to Pennsylvania State College for a second degree in Landscape architecture "because it seemed like a right thing to do at the time."
 
Read more...
 
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 newsletter@rotary7780.org, 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 or opportunities of service.
 
Deadline for March 2015 Newsletter Submissions:  February 22nd (It's a short month)
 
 
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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