Proactive Collaboration with Community Service Organizations -
A Recipe For Rotary Club Success.
A Recipe For Rotary Club Success.
By: Phil Hatch
Club President 2021-2022
Club President 2021-2022
RC of Saco Bay
Engaging in community service projects is a large part of a Rotary club’s DNA. Although worthy community service projects are typically plentiful, connecting the needs of local non-profit service providers to the resources of the local Rotary club can sometimes be challenging. Proactive communication is key.
The Rotary Club of Saco Bay (RCSB) has had a long and successful track record of being able to make that connection. I think there are two primary reasons for that success. First, our Charitable Giving Committee consistently engages in a strong effort to have local recipients of our charitable giving funds come before the club as part of our weekly meeting speaker series. The RCSB has been meeting live with Zoom access every week of the current Rotary year. Speakers usually attend the live meetings and are given approximately 20 minutes to provide background about their organization's mission, including presentation of community service, hands-on project needs. Most organizations attend the live meeting. A mere few have attended the meeting via Zoom. Their physical presence provides an important connection.The second contributor to success is the fact that many of our club members are actively involved in other local community service organizations. Club members are encouraged to bring those organizations’ needs forward. If the RCSB can help, it usually does. In addition to my involvement in the RCSB, I also actively assist in the activities of Age Friendly Saco (AFS). AFS’ mission is to promote and help provide services that help enable the elderly population of Saco to remain in their homes and maintain their normal lifestyle as they age.
As a result of this RCSB/AFS collaboration, many community projects have been completed over the last 5 years. A few examples are:
- Construction and installation of outdoor raised bed gardens located at the Saco Community Center. These raised beds help support a program of planting, caring for, and harvesting vegetables. Younger children from the Saco Recreation Department’s programs team up with older Saco residents to tend to the garden during the growing season. Garden vegetables are harvested when ready and prepared as part of a free community meal to which all are invited.
- Assisting in meal packing/delivery services and food box distribution to Saco’s isolated elderly during the pandemic. Several of these events were held during the pandemic. However, it is likely this activity will continue post-pandemic.
- Using Rotary District 7780 Grant funding, the RCSB was able to purchase internet connectivity devices (Echo Dots, Amazon Firesticks, tablets, etc.) which AFS was able to distribute to Saco’s older “unconnected” population. Equipment was delivered within a classroom-style presentation on how to properly maximize the use of the technology. In-home installation assistance was provided by AFS tech savvy volunteers. The program has been hugely successful in helping many older Saco residents gain access to the internet, helping them remain connected to their community, particularly during the recent pandemic-induced isolation.