“Are you keeping busy?” This is the query from friends who knew my days of teaching over 250 students a week. I wonder if anyone asks Senator King or President Biden the same question. They are both a bit older than I am.
Now I hear: “How does it feel to be finishing up as District Governor?” Perhaps my answer should be: “I don’t think about it. I’m too busy!”
Sitting in a club meeting in Rochester, I was struck by how much I had learned in the role of DG. Two weeks later, sitting in a room with Ukrainian and New England climate change experts, I came to terms with how little I knew about this subject. I took notes like a college freshman trying to make the dean’s list. This was a chance to learn and grow.
As I sit here writing two months before I hand the gavel to my good friend Marion, I am feeling grateful for all I have learned, all the Rotarians I have met, and the opportunities to learn that will continue with being a Past District Governor.
Meanwhile, I will join District 7780 Rotarians for a full schedule of events of all sizes and types. I will close out April by visiting with the Ukrainians hosted by the Saco Clubs, next week a Cinco de Mayo Dance Party in Exeter on May 5, followed by the Around the World Flight to End Polio on May 6, and a free concert in Deering park with Don Campbell and his band to raise awareness of the Fentanyl Crisis on May 7. You are all invited!
A giant shout-out to the nine Assistant Governors in District 7780. Although I have often said that AG is the best job in Rotary, I had no idea what a huge help these dedicated Rotarians are to the District Governor. Thank you, Melissa, Gregg, Maryna, Dennis, Kathi, Fran, Carolyn, Lorraine, and Michelle.
I look forward to celebrating our year in Rotary on Bailey Island on June 10. Please register online here.
We are People of Action. We follow the four-way test. We help the world. Go get ‘em!
By Aileen Dugan, Co-Chair District Vision Committee, PP Portsmouth RC
For more information, contact Aileen by email or phone 603-502-4005
On Saturday, April 1, 29 members of the South Portland Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club attended the first District-sponsored club Vision event, post covid. Members of the District Vision team included PDG Dick Hall of the Portland Rotary Club, PP Aileen Dugan of Portsmouth Rotary Cub and Co-Chair of the District Vision Committee, PP Cleo Villaflores of the Portsmouth Rotary Club, and PP Michele Bois-Gilbody of the Freeport Rotary Club and District Trainer. The team remarked the SPCE was one of the best clubs they have ever facilitated. Members were enthusiastic and eager to collaborate with each other and they brought a high level of energy to the event. The ideas shared were excellent.
Those involved shared a favorable impression of the event, commenting that it was “honestly better than anticipated." They felt it was very worthwhile to hear from all club members equally, learn of their passions, and enjoy the discussions that came from the ideas shared. Post Covid, it also brought a lot of members together to check in and learn about each other.
If you don’t know much about the process, here’s a brief rundown: our Rotary District 7780 has a District-level Committee of professionally trained facilitators that works to guide clubs through a process called Visioning. This process leads to developing a long-term strategy for Club health and growth, called Vision to Plan.
By: PDG Carolyn Johnson, Foundation Sub-Chair Global Grants, Yarmouth RC
Join us on Saturday, May 6, as D7780 welcomes Rotarian Pilots Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels as they launch the trans-Atlantic leg of this amazing flight to promote and support Rotary’s mission to eradicate polio. John and Peter will embark from their home Rotary Club in Iowa City with a goal to fly around the world in a single-engine 1977 Cessna T210M. During their 90-day voyage, they will travel more than 25,000 miles, visit more than 20 countries, and land in more than 40 locations - hosted by Rotarians all along the way. The costs of the entire flight are entirely self-funded by the pilots. How can you be a part of this historic flight?
1. Come to the Hangar Party! On Saturday, May 6 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. please join us at Port City Air, Pease Air Base (Portsmouth, NH) to meet the pilots, see their plane and equipment, and learn more about their amazing adventure! Tickets are $50 per person including a delicious BBQ buffet and live music by Hobson’s Choice. Purchase tickets here.
Note that, for security reasons, tickets to the Hangar Party must be purchased in advance. Purchase tickets online no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 5.
2. Bring a friend to the Hangar Party! What better way to show "Rotary in Action" than by sharing our mission to eradicate polio? This is a family-friendly event.
3. Want to do more? Contribute to the D7780 fundraiser to support the Flight to End Polio. D7780 is committed to raising $20,000 toward polio eradication. 100% of your contribution will go to Rotary’s Polio Eradication effort, is fully tax-deductible, and will be matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation That’s right, a $100 donation = $300 toward Rotary’s Polio Eradication effort. Donate here.
Polio eradication has been a primary focus of Rotary for over 35 years and continues to be a major initiative. While the end of polio may be near, no child anywhere is safe until every child has been vaccinated.
On April 20, 130 members and their guests gathered at the festively decorated Elks Club on the waterfront in Portsmouth to celebrate a huge milestone for the Portsmouth Rotary Club. Past Presidents Cleo Villaflores and Neal Ouellett chaired the committee, and they were instrumental in creating a fun and celebratory atmosphere geared towards members past and present, with dancing to live music by Yellow House Blues Band. Delicious food was provided by Great Circle Catering. The weather gods shined upon us with a bright, sunny spring day. Event planning was coordinated by Love Affair Event Planning’s Emily Gross. Decorations were coordinated by PP Aileen Dugan and Betsy Scott.
Portsmouth Mayor Declan McEachern read a Proclamation to the Club on behalf of the City of Portsmouth. The Club has spent the past year and a half planning many important aspects of their 100th anniversary which happens to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the City of Portsmouth. To commemorate this year's milestone, a group of past and current Club leadership members met and determined that the Club would raise and allocate $100,000 to a variety of projects that would benefit the City and its residents over the next 100 years. The Club worked closely with City Manager Karen Connard and other leaders to identify projects that would embody the spirit of Rotary in our community.
By: Sarah MacGillivray, Secretary, and Public Image Coordinator, District Foundation Committee, Rotary Club of Bath Sunrise
1. If you need to complete the District Grant training, we have an easy option for you. Simply visit the District website by clicking here. There are three short videos for you to watch, and an easy test to complete once you have watched all three. There is a lot of information covered, including some new info, and I’m sure even the most experienced Rotarians will learn something interesting.
2. We are under 70 days away from the end of the Rotary year! This is the busiest time of year for Rotary fundraising and Rotary International has put together Five Great Ideas for Year-End Fundraising that you can use to close out the year strong! Click here to see them.
3. A quick request for club presidents and Foundation chairs. Last month, the Imagine Challenge team sent a link for this survey. We still have a number of clubs that we haven’t heard from, and need to know which clubs completed the PolioPlus Imagine Challenge last fall. Those clubs that completed at least three of the activities are eligible for a Paul Harris Fellowship to award to a club or community member. Please complete the survey or reach out to Brenda Cressey via email.
4. Hello Fellow Rotarians, as we head toward June 30, the end of our fiscal Rotary year, I just want to send a BIG shout-out to all of you for what you contribute and have accomplished. Whether it be your time or your dollars, it all makes a difference in the lives of others you may or may not ever get to meet. Click here for this year's Summary Statistics, or here for RI Finance Facts. With that said, let us please keep in mind that the year is not yet over and your continued good deeds, as well as your donations, are needed more than ever. Our membership numbers are down from last year by 48 members and as a result, so are the annual giving totals at many of our Clubs. The funding you provide today will make a difference to future local projects for our Clubs. We can still reach our Club goals for EREY and sustaining donors. Donate here. Again, thank you for all that you do and please know that by combining our giving with so many others we can truly make an impact and continue to do good in the world.
With all our gratitude,
Your District 7780 Annual Giving Team
Jeff Slaton / Annual Giving
Rotary Club of Saco Bay
PS: You are welcome to reach out to me with any questions.
Thank you, Jeff
5. A good time was had by all at the recent District Training Assembly, and a suggestion was made to share the link to the Jeopardy Game, Rotary Edition that we created for one of the breakout sessions at the DTA. Use it at an upcoming club meeting or social event. Click here and enjoy!
May 2023
Club News
Click HERE for news about projects and fundraisers from around our district.
Bethel
Biddeford-Saco
Bridgton-Lake Region
Brunswick
Dover
Durham-Great Bay
Exeter
Oxford Hills
Portland
Portsmouth
River Valley
Saco Bay Sunset
Sanford-Springvale
South Berwick-Eliot
South Portland-Cape Elizabeth
Westbrook-Gorham
If we missed your club,
please know that your work is appreciated. Please send your stories next month to:
Rotary District 7780 Indigenous Partnership Committee Update
By: Jud Knox, Team Leader, Rotary Indigenous Partnership Committee, Rotary Club of York
The Committee continues to build meaningful relationships with Maine and New Hampshire Tribal community members. Areas of concentration under consideration include a Penobscot Community Healing Garden, support for the Wabanaki in Youth Sciences (WaYS) Program, Indigenous Voices Library and Media collections, and a special event Rotary/Indigenous Cultural Humility Day. These are long term efforts that offer opportunities for equity minded Rotarians. If you are interested in participating with RIPC or are interested in learning more, please contact Jud Knox via email or by phone at 207-251-3210.
-----
STILL NEEDED!
Storage Space for
Toys for Tots Donations
As you know, Toys for Tots distributes toys and other items to less fortunate children at Christmas. The Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset, the sponsor for northern York County, needs your help. We are in immediate need of a space to house the donated items for children. We hope to find a 2000 SF space in northern York County. It does not need to be heated, but easy accessibility would be good. A donated space would be better. Call Leo Menard at 207-229-7525 if you can help!
-----
MORE SURVEYS NEEDED – please fill one out
if you have not yet.
Rotary International believes that exemplifying and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) should be a part of everything we do at Rotary. As a member of District 7780, the District 7780 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee would like to support you in accomplishing this Rotary International vision. All Rotarians in the District are invited to complete this survey. The feedback will be a guide in providing you with resources related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Respectfully,
District 7780 DEI Committee
Carol Marcotte, Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset
Jim Munro, Rotary Club of Dover
Marion Cheney, DGE & Rotary Club Dover
-----
SAVE THE DATE!
District 7780 Celebration
June 10, 2023
Click here to check out this year's location: Bailey Island.
.png)
