Sometimes it feels like I just blinked and suddenly we’re halfway through the Rotary year. These months have flown by — but what an amazing stretch it’s been. Every time I visit a club, receive an email about what your club is up to, hear about a new member or a successful project or a spark of collaboration, it brightens my day!! We have a very special district.
As we step into this busy, festive month — I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your energy, your kindness, your creativity, and your heart for service.
🎄 Join Us December 7 – A District Gathering for the Season
By: Aileen Dugan, District 7780 Foundation Chair, Portsmouth RC
Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity when we all come together to make a collective impact. This year, consider making a special gift to The Rotary Foundation. Your support helps fund sustainable projects that create positive change in our communities and around the world. Almost 50% of donations by District Rotarians come back to our District 3 years later, to be used to fund District Rotarian lead projects and our Outreach efforts. This year we funded 18 District Grants to our clubs and their communities. We are the international partner District in 9 active Global Grants in 12 countries. Together, we can continue Doing Good in the World.
Please use the link Giving Tuesday | My Rotaryor simply log on to www.rotary.org and follow the links to donate to our Foundation. Donations may always be made directly through your club or to the District Foundation Committee, c/o Aileen Dugan, 93 Middle St., Portsmouth, NH 03801. Thank you for your generosity.
GRANT HIGHLIGHT
District Grant Awarded to South Berwick-Eliot
For assisting Camp Kita and The Kita Center, which provides a vital retreat for those affected by suicide.
First-year Rotarian Sydney Mosher Menard accepted a $5,000 check from club Co-President Helen Goransson this November at the Kita Center campus in Acton, Maine. The donation, combining a District 7780 grant and club funds, will help update the bunk cabins where campers will stay next season. The Kita Center is becoming a vital retreat for families and friends affected by suicide. Volunteers—including members from South Berwick–Eliot and Sanford Rotary clubs, current Camp Kita attendees, and other generous community members—worked diligently to prepare the camp for winter and the upcoming season. While there is still much to be done, the camp promises to be a welcoming and healing place next summer.
We Need You! Seeking Applications for DG and District Finance Committee
Serving as District Governor is an opportunity for committed Rotarians to bring the same leadership and service to our Rotary District that they bring to their clubs. Now is the time for your club to nominate an outstanding past president to serve as District Governor for 2028-2029.
In addition to service to Rotary, serving as Governor is an opportunity for a Rotarian to grow personally and to gain many new experiences, before, during and after their Governor year. To serve as Governor, a candidate must be ready for the experience of a lifetime and be willing to experience Rotary in a way club Rotarians seldom do!
Longtime member of the South Berwick-Eliot Rotary Club, Dick was a long-standing chair of the club's Rotary Foundation initiatives and highly encouraged people to give via EREY. Always smiling, he led his club in song at every meeting. He had a magnificent voice and had been a member of a men's vocal group. He was a generous donor to The Rotary Foundation and a multiple recipient of Paul Harris awards. He said “It's my goal to give to good causes such that when I'm gone, there is nothing left over”
Donald Grant McClure of Middletown R.I. and Damariscotta was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and community member, loved and respected by all who knew him. He had a warm smile, a quick joke and was an active Rotarian.
District 7780 2025 Philippines Outreach Team—PDG Dick Hall (Portland RC), AG Joanne Landry (Saco Bay RC), and PP Carol Madsen (Bridgton-Lake Region RC)—has been on the road for a few months now. The Team is available and eager to share their experience.
For those clubs still holding hybrid meetings, the Team is often able to bring in partners from the Philippines to talk about their projects and answer questions. To schedule a visit to your club or for other questions, reach out to dickhall7780@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your interest.
By: PDG Peggy Belanger; Chair, Nominating Committee; Kennebunkport RC 
