District Governor’s Message   By:  DG Bob MacKenzie, Kennebunk RC   Did anyone see where summer went as it seemed to go by in a hot second! Regardless we will look forward to seeing it next year but autumn has arrived and we have much to look forward to as there is most of our Rotary year remaining.   September is Basic Education & Literacy month! As I make my way through the District visiting clubs, I have the opportunity to see the great work you are doing in and around our communities.  Only one example to go along with this month’s theme is I have seen a few clubs that purchase students’ first dictionaries.  One club President said she took this idea on as an initiative because she remembers when she received her first dictionary in school and how much impact it made on her.  So much that she wanted to make this her signature project when she became President in her club.  Well, that was three years ago and that initiative remains and it is now a yearly project the Rotarians look forward to.    The initiative mentioned is only one of many that Rotarians do, sometimes without thinking of the impact that we have.  There is no doubt that there are disadvantaged students who may never receive a dictionary, let alone a book, if it were not for Rotary.  Receiving a dictionary not only has obvious advantages around basic education and literacy, but I would call this a positive childhood experience.  The more positive experiences a child has, it offsets negative experiences and negative experiences have been proven to put our children at risk as they grow.  The more negative experiences, the more likely that child has in alcohol/drug use, mental and or physical health issues, suicide and negative contact with law enforcement.  What changes the impact is positive childhood experiences.  We as Rotarians do create many positive experiences in children’s lives when we give back to our communities in various ways.    I continue to look forward to visiting your clubs and learning of the work you do and hearing all of the positive experiences you are creating.  Know that you do make a difference and you change lives for the better.  Although you may not see the benefits immediately, it pays dividends in the long run!    Read more... The Magic Of Rotary   Our new President Stephanie Urchick Speaks Out!   Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick announced that the 2024-25 presidential theme is The Magic of Rotary and called on members to recognize and amplify the organization’s power to save lives and eradicate polio.   To watch the theme address click the link below:   Click HERE   Prioritizing peace   She urged members to champion Rotary’s Action Plan, find a balance between continuity and change, and work for peace. She plans to host a presidential peace conference in 2025 with the theme “Healing in a Divided World.”   Balancing continuity and change   Urchick also underscored the necessity of balancing continuity and change, both of which animate Rotary’s Action Plan. See this link for a printable page entitled How to Talk About Our Action Plan Read more... UNE Rotaract Activity Highlights Rotaract in District 7780   By:  Carol Marcotte, PhD, Co-Chair, District 7780 Rotaract Clubs, Saco Bay Sunset RC   District 7780 Poland Outreach Club at the Rotary Club Lublin Centrum ARK project   University of New England (UNE) Rotaract Club President Harshil Patel and Past President Brayden have been working for the past five months with their UNE Advisor, Carol Marcotte, Ph.D., on two goals. The first goal was to recruit new members for the 2024-2025 academic year. The second goal is to plan a trip to Poland during UNE’s student spring break in March 2025 to visit Rotaract Clubs and their special projects. Read more... DISC Update   WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE UNE ROTARACT TRIP TO POLAND?   WANT TO JOIN AN OUTREACH TEAM TO THE PHILLIPINES?   Read more...

September 2024   Club News Click HERE for news about projects and fundraisers from around our district.   Bethel Bridgton - Lake Region Damariscotta - Newcastle Dover Kennebunkport Portland Portsmouth Sebago Lake Sanford - Springvale Westbrook - Gorham   If we missed your club,  please know that your work is appreciated. Please send your stories next month to:   rotarynews7780@gmail.com News Critical Partners: Mental Health and the Road to Recovery Click the image for a full sized flyer   District 7780’s 3rd Annual Conference on Recovery for Rotary Clubs and their communities.   By:  Gregg Dowty, Co-chair District 7780n Recovery Initiative, Dover RC   Final plans are being put in place for the exciting upcoming conference on CRITICAL PARTNERS: MENTAL HEALTH AND THE ROAD TO RECOVERY on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Noble High School, North Berwick, Maine from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The conference is presented by the District 7780 Recovery Initiative and has been designed to provide information regarding community programs and organizations in which Rotarians and Rotary Clubs can become involved. The success of this conference must have the financial support of as many 7780 District Rotary Clubs at whatever financial level is possible for each club. And key to our success is for you, the Rotarian, to attend and invite interested community friends. (Registration information is below.)   The conference is designed to equip you, a Rotarian, and members of our communities with the insights, tools, and next steps to drive meaningful change on how communities come together to support those in Recovery from Substance Use Disorder and Mental Illness.  Our keynote speakers will discuss their work in supporting those in recovery and the importance of making recovery sustainable. Read more... District Calendar Kennebunkport RC Sep. 03, 2024 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.   Foundation Committee Sep. 03, 2024 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.   Portland RC Sep. 06, 2024 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.   DG Track Meetings Sep. 09, 2024 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.   Fryeburg RC Sep. 10, 2024 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.   View entire list