Home Page | District 7780

Welcome to Rotary District 7780

District Governor: Peggy Belanger

District Governor's Message February 2021

Peggy's Bio

Happy Birthday Rotary!!

Like many other Rotary Districts, we celebrated World Understanding and Peace Day on February 23, 2021, Rotary's birthday. Our celebration this year was virtual with some great speakers - Brenda Cressy, Trustee of the Rotary Foundation; Rebecca Crall, Area of Focus Manager for Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention; and Shannon O’Rourke Kasali a 2016 Rotary Peace Fellow and Founder and Executive Director of Books for Congo, a non-profit organization that creates libraries and promotes reading in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Watch the celebration here: https://youtu.be/9cnathYoHNQ

Million Mask Challenge Round Two!

In January the District received Round II of the Million Mask Challenge, more than 100,000 face masks and for the first-time children’s face coverings. Once again, all through the generosity of New England Rotarians and the Rossi Foundation, Rotarians are able to continue to distribute free protective facemasks to community groups that request them.

Recovery Forum January 14 - Video available

The Rotary 7780 District Recovery team presented a live forum:

Rotary 7780 progress report - Community responses to ACEs

January 14 at 6:30 PM via Zoom

Video is now available at this link:

https://vimeo.com/500851823

Preparatory materials (background about ACEs) at this link:

https://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000050088/en-ca/files/homepage/pinetree-rotary-forum-aces-background-info/Rotary-Recovery-Forum-ACEs-Overview-January-2021.pdf

Featured speakers included Governor Peggy Belanger, District Recovery Chair Bob MacKenzie, Pinetree Institute Executive Director Larry McCullough, along with three Rotarians who have completed the initial training on ACEs awareness. Brittany LaShier of Kennebunk, Cate Rafferty of Dover, and Moe Sullivan of Portsmouth briefed us on the training and how they are "paying it forward" by training others in their disciplines. Thirty people participated in the master-trainer education, which was funded by the district committee along with seven of our Clubs. Matching funds were provided by Kennebunk Savings Bank Spotlight Fund and the Maine Community Foundation.

Learn more about next steps for your Rotary Club on addressing adverse childhood experiences (indexed as an ACE score, often referred to as "ACEs"). Get new information about how positive community responses can help those with childhood trauma experiences. You are welcome to use this video for a Club program or to invite any of the panelists to speak at your Rotary Club.