October is Economic and Community Development Month
Globally, more than 74.5 million young people (ages 15-24) were unemployed in 2013. Equipping people with skills improves their employment options.
Skills and leadership development is an important component of youth employment and poverty reduction. Youth leadership development can contribute to lifting individuals out of poverty by improving access to work, increasing productivity, and fostering sustainable economic growth. However, ensuring that skills development opportunities are accessible to the underserved communities and translated into livelihood improvements remains challenging. Expertise and leadership development are important in reducing poverty and creating a more productive workforce.
Skills development can occur in formal, informal, and on-the-job settings. These trainings should help individuals become fully and productively engaged in employment opportunities or job creation. The trainings should reflect the changing demands and opportunities of the community’s economy and labor market. If trainings are being hosted for the purpose of creating jobs, the skills development program should be designed with a local network (apprenticeship, internship, mentoring, etc.) to support the training.
During the assessment process, involve major stakeholders when identifying how to overcome traditional and cultural barriers and lack of access to program participation. Trainings should align with trainees’ interests, needs, and expectations. They should be flexible and accommodate the community’s settings. Training implementation and materials should be in local languages. Using local experts is as important as involving marginalized community members (disabled people, ultra poor, female heads of household, etc.). Private-sector stakeholders should be involved in developing and conducting skills training programs to ensure trainings are relevant and develop mentorship relationships between the trainers and trainees.
Kenneth King and Robert Palmer, Skills development and poverty reduction: a state of the art review (2007)
http://circle.winrock.org/circle_English/Chapter%204.pdf
DISTRICT HISTORY
Bill Drapeau of the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay, NH shared “his” story/memories of Camp Sunshine!
Last Month’s District History Request:
I would like to receive stories from our many members about their experiences in Rotary projects, and this month we are going to focus on Camp Sunshine. I told you “my” story which was lengthy and it is now up on the District History page under Camp Sunshine. I want to post “your” story there as well.
If you were there that weekend, PLEASE Share your “story” with me and the District.
I got one reply last month from Bill Drapeau from the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay, NH.
See his story below.
Friday, September 2, 2016 10:36 AM Bill Drapeau wrote:
“On Sept 7 1997 some 250-300 Rotarians turned out at Camp Sunshine to put siding shakes on what is now the main building. In Sept 1999 about 100 turned out to side the two family bldgs. And stain the main bldg. In 2013 (I think) during the year (Getting old) Peter Johnsons wife’s term. About 30 or 40 showed up to do a relandscaping project. I can get the dates in Question if needed. Any questions please call me at 603 659 7992. After 1997 my wife and I have been heavily involved with C/S. I have served on the Board of Directors for the past 7 years I would be willing to answer any questions. Bill Drapeau Durham Great Bay.”
I emailed Bill and he sent me additional information as follows:
“I should also mention that on 4 occasions 3 or 4 members of DGB came up to C/S with me to do volunteer work Three days was given cutting down and chipping dead trees. The fourth time it may have been 6-9 members who spent the days pruning, weeding etc.”
“The trips and work were the result of my being on the bd (Board of Directors) and a member of DGB (Durham Great Bay). Current members. John Belcher, Rich Whitney, Ric Erickson, Tom Crosby. Former mbrs John Ramsay, Henry Brackett, Art Bradbury. (Late) Bob McDonough. Best I can remember.”
THANK YOU BILL FOR SHARING YOUR MEMORIES! PLEASE note that as the result on one Rotary Service Project, Bill Drapeau continued his work with Camp Sunshine, became a member of the Board of Directors and got others involved from his club to continue going back to work. “ROTARIANS ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE!”
This Month’s District History Request:
As this year is the 100 Year Celebration of the Rotary Foundation I am going to ask you to share your stories of any District Grant you have been involved in. District Grant money is money that has been donated to The Rotary Foundation and comes back to the District’s three years later, and is used for many different things by the District & District Clubs. District Grants is just one of the ways this money is used. It does not matter how big or how small your grant was or how it was used, PLEASE share with us how you got involved in this Grant request, why and how it benefited the recipients. This District has done hundreds of grants over the years and there are a lot of stories out there so PLEASE share them!
PLEASE send your stories to me at mawilliamspdg@comcast.net along with your name and the name of your Rotary Club. The names of all those who share “their Grant stories” will be in next month’s newsletter and their “stories” will be posted to the District History under a related page for everyone to read. If you have any District History information, please share it with me so it can be posted to the District History page on your District’s Website.
When PDG Sheila Rollins led the Rotary Foundation Group Study Exchange team to Nigeria in 2013, a major part of the trip involved working with the children at the Jada school for the handicapped. At that time, Sheila promised to return and bring the school books in Braille.
Last month Sheila was able to make good on that promise – and so much more.
The District 7780 team delivers medical supplies to the internally displaced persons camp in eastern Nigeria.
Sheila, joined by AG Claudia Frost and PDG Marty Helman, spent a week in Nigeria. They delivered the Braille books as well as other books collected by Kersten Kirshner. Thanks to the generosity of their clubs (Bridgton-Lake Region, Brunswick and Boothbay Harbor) they were able to deliver $2000 worth of mosquito netting, plus toys, nursing supplies, toothbrushes/toothpaste and more for the children who have so little. The team took time out to monitor the progress of two Rotary Foundation grants now underway between clubs in our District and Nigerian District 9125. One of these grants will bring clean water to the Jada school; the other will provide services to the village of Sauka, and many (if not most) of the clubs throughout our District have been part of one or both of these grants.
Children at the Jada school use sign language to say, "I love you!"
The District 7780 team also visited a camp for internally displaced persons who have been forced out of their homes by the terrorist group Boko Haram. In the short time they were in country, they were interviewed six times by local and national TV. It seems that the Nigerians were amazed that American women would venture to places which were recently the hub of Boko Haram activities. But the team was at all times surrounded by local Rotarians who were committed to their safety and the furtherance of humanitarian partnership between our two Rotary districts. As a result, the team is in discussions with the local Rotarians about a Rotary Foundation grant to help out at the camp for displaced persons – stay tuned!
End Polio Now
POLIO UPDATE
First of all - kudos to us. Last year, our District came in third in overall giving to Polio Plus and fourth in per capita giving out of the 20 districts in Zone 32. Congratulations on a job well done! But let’s not rest on our laurels as much remains to be done.
Monday, October 24 is World Polio Day and you can watch a live streaming event on your computer at endpolio.org. This year the broadcast will originate from the Center for Disease Control, one of Rotary’s partners in the effort to eradicate this terrible disease. Last year’s stream was filled with information and inspiration. Watch it if you can - I’m sure it will be very well done.
Meanwhile on Saturday and Sunday October 22 and 23, there will be a number of activities around the district to raise both money and awareness about our number-one priority as an organization, End Polio Now. In Portsmouth/Kittery, the third annual "Bridge the Gap to End Polio," sponsored by the Seacoast Portsmouth Rotary Club will take place. For more information or to register, go to http://rotary7780.org/event/bridgewalk-kittery-portsmouth/
On Saturday, October 22, the Bridgton Lake Region Rotary Club will sponsor a bridge walk on the causeway at Long Lake in Naples. It will begin at 9:00 AM and, although there is no formal registration, donations and pledges are requested. For more information, contact the club.
Other clubs in the Oxford Hills area will be visiting schools in their towns to raise awareness amongst students about polio. Young people today are not old enough to have any idea about polio and what a devastating disease it has been.
The Oxford Hills Rotary Club will will be holding a "Road Toll" to raise money for Polio Plus on Saturday, October 15th.
The South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club is planning to celebrate with visits to area lighthouses for individuals who bid on the chance for a visit at last spring’s District Conference. The York and Ogunquit Rotary clubs raised money to fight polio last summer with outings at the Ogunquit Playhouse.
Crutches 4 Africa
6TH CONTAINER TO BE LOADED
District 7780 will be loading their 6th 40-foot container of mobility devices with a destination of Uganda in November. This is done in conjunction with Crutches 4 Africa. We collect and send to Africa the following devices:
Crutches
Canes
Walkers
Wheelchairs
Boot walkers
Velcro knee braces
Baby joggers
We need additional wheelchairs, boot walkers, knee braces and baby joggers for the upcoming shipment. If you have any of these needed items, we could use them. Or, if you are like most Rotarians, you may be asking what can I do to find these items. Wheelchairs can be found at nursing homes because when a resident leaves, the family often times does not know what to with the wheelchairs and walkers. Consider calling your local nursing home to inquire about wheelchairs.
Additionally, if you would like a speaker about the collection process and or the distribution process, please give me a call or send me an email.
ROTARY AWARDS-A Great Way to Recognize Service Above Self
Rotary awards are a visible way to recognize outstanding contributions to our clubs and communities. They also serve to retain and recruit members. Below, you will find a brief description of RI Awards with 2016 nomination deadlines. For the two awards that must be nominated by a district governor, please forward any suggestions you have directly to District Governor Marge Barker.
Nomination forms and guidelines, as well as a comprehensive list of awards, can be found on the RI website, www.rotary.org, in the My Rotary section under the learning & reference tab, subheading awards.
Vocational Service Leadership Award Deadline: November 1
Who can nominate: Current District Governors - NOMINATION FORM
This award is given to Rotarians who have used their occupation to make an impact in the community, demonstrated integrity in their profession and in Rotary, and undertaken at least one of six activities outlined in the award guidelines that we outline in the nomination form. District 7780 has had one recipient, Jim Godbout in 2012-2013.
Service Award for a Polio Free World Deadline: November 1
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to our polio eradication efforts. Each year, we give up to 10 regional service awards per WHO region to worthy recipients. We also give 10 international awards to people whose work has had widespread impact.
District Literacy Project
GETTING TO KNOW 3R'S
September is Basic Education and Literacy month, and Rotarians of our District celebrated the September 8th global observance of the 50th International Literacy Day with a service project at Ruth's Reusable Resources (3R’s) in Portland, Maine. The company’s mission is to provide all students in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts with a variety of school supplies that is needed to succeed in school. In other words, since 1994, 3R’s has been putting business surplus to use in our local schools, and it is working. On average, a school invests $1,500 and can potentially receive a $45,000 - $65,000 value of school supplies and equipment.
On September 17th, 35 Rotarians from 16 clubs showed true commitment and great enthusiasm by volunteering their time at 3R’s. Rotarians sorted markers, sharpeners, recycled undesirable stuff, put office supplies that just arrived a day earlier in the warehouse, and restocked popular items in the teacher store. A project that truly demonstrated the passion and promoted the ideal of education and literacy.
During this project, we all were students who learned something about 3R’s vision and mission, fruitful literacy club projects, or just something new about an individual who had alike compassion. The service project was a great success due in large part by the Rotarians’ efforts and the fabulous time of fellowship.
On behalf of Ruth, her staff, and volunteer team, thank you for sharing your time, energy, and enthusiasm.
Completing a Circle of Friendship with Lac Megantic
It has been three years since the horrific train accident in Lac Megantic, Quebec. On July 6, 2013 seventy-four rail cars, most of them oil tankers, were part of an unattended run-away train that rolled downhill and jumped the track in the center of town, resulting in explosions and a fire that killed forty-seven people and destroyed most the town center. Rotarians in our district, led by Biddeford Saco Rotarians, responded to this tragedy. Every club in our district participated and contributed to an effort to bring comfort and support for the people of Lac Megantic. At Christmas that year, a delegation from several clubs delivered teddy bears to every primary school student, held a holiday bazaar where parents could select Christmas gifts for their children, contributed to the local food bank, and hosted a community dinner.
That year, at our district conference, we planned to honor with Paul Harris Fellows the first responders who so bravely fought to save the town and rescue residents. We were pleased that Ann Marie Dagenais, of the Salvation Army, and key to providing relief to families for months after the accident, attended that year’s conference. We had invited representatives of the fire department and EMTs who helped coordinate our mission to Lac Megantic, but that was not to be. Understandably, emotions were just too raw for the first responders to be able to accept any acknowledgement at that time. But many of us hoped to continue the relationship with the community and to one day thank the first responders.
In August, we were able to do just that. Roland & Paula Gagne, Paul & Carol Deschambault (Biddeford Saco) and Carolyn & Peter Johnson (Yarmouth) traveled to Lac Megantic. Chief Lauzon hosted us, showed us the “new” town, shared the stories of hope, and proudly escorted us along La Marche du Vent, a beautiful walkway that stretches from the site of the explosion to the sports centre and serves as a guide for understanding a town in the process of reinventing itself. The main street has been relocated, the Musicafe - where most who lost their lives died - has been rebuilt, and the town, which was physically divided by the fire, is is now reconnected by road and walkways.
At the end of our visit with the Chief, we presented two Paul Harris Fellows - one for the firefighters and the other for the EMTs. These honors, we said, were from D7780 Rotarians to acknowledge and thank the first responders for their continuing commitment to keeping the community safe every day.
It was an emotional day, and one of hope. It was good to reconnect with the community and with Chief Lauzon. It was inspiring to see how the town is rebuilding and returning to normalcy. And it was a proud day for Rotarians to continue our commitment of service and friendship.
Foundation Speakers for Foundation Month!
Looking for a speaker to help celebrate Foundation month this November? Look no further than these great speakers and topics:
Polio Plus – Lawrence Furbish, lkfurbish@mac.com. Rotary’s landmark project to wipe out Polio.
Bridgton-Lake /Interact build a toilet block in the Dominican Republic -- Mody Botros, mody@abouttimegraphics.com. District grant helps club and Interactors do a project in the DR.
Creating a mobile clinic out of a 40-ft container – John Dennen, johndennen@gmail.com. John’s latest project in South Africa is designed to bring a clinic to the community, rather than the opposite.
Guatemala Literacy Project – Carolyn Johnson, cfj2@mac.com. How a sustainable project to bring books, a curriculum and teacher training is changing the way a nation schools its kids.
Vocational Training Team and a new oncology clinic in Uganda – Rob Horowitz, rwhorowitz@hotmail.com
A little club makes a big difference at the local food bank – Bob Reed, reedart@sover.net.
A project to help internally displaced people in Nigeria – Sheila Rollins, Claudia Frost, Marty Helman. The three just returned from Nigeria where they met families displaced by Boko Haram. It’s early days yet, but a grant will soon be in the works. Sheila: wwwings@megalink,net; Claudia: frostyc @comcast.net; Marty: martyrotary@gmail.com
Cuban water project – Rachael MacDonnel, rela@optimabank.com. A District grant and club project is growing into a District-wide project, and is making Rotary friends in Cuba.
And as always …
The ABCs of The Rotary Foundation and how and why your club can get involved – Marty Helman, martyrotary@gmail.com.
Sanford-Springvale Rotary inducted three new members recently. Pictured left to right are the new members and their sponsors: Lawrence Furbish, new member Pam Buck, Sherry Simonds, new member Shawn Babine, new member Railene Griffin, and Elias Thomas.
Portsmouth Rotary Club continues to grow and has welcomed two new members, Lindsay Hery and Donna Harvey.
The Rotary Club of Wells
CHANGE OF MEETING LOCATION
Beginning Monday, September 12, 2016 the Wells club will hold their meetings at York Community College, 112 College Drive, Wells, Maine. The meeting will be in the community room located on the first floor. Meetings are every Monday at 7:30 am with a breakfast served for $9.00.
The Rotary Club of Bridgton-Lake Region
HOSTS BREAKFAST FOR AUTO CLUB
On Thursday, September 15th, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club along with other non-profit organizations hosted a continental breakfast for the Glidden AAA Auto Tour as they drove through Bridgton.
Bridgton-Lake Rotary Cont'd
SERVES DINNER FOR THE COMMUNITY
A great show of teamwork was displayed on Thursday, September 8th as the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club worked alongside employees of Norway Savings Bank’s Naples and Bridgton branches to prepare and serve a delicious Italian dinner for the community.
The Rotary Club of Brunswick
CLUB PURCHASES AND BUILDS PLAYGROUND SET
WITH HELP FROM DISTRICT GRANT
With the help of a District Grant, our club bought a playground set from Lowe’s (who gave us a big discount and waived shipping costs) and assembled it over the weekend of 27-28 August.
The playground is at the Tedford Shelter, a shelter for homeless families in Brunswick. Under the leadership of club President-Elect Ash Richards, a large crew of Brunswick Rotarians finished the assembly by 5:15 pm on Sunday, in time to watch the kids swarm all over the set.
This is exactly the type of project for which all Rotarians should be proud. A lot of hard work, but it was all worthwhile.
The Rotary Club of Ogunquit
COLUMBIAN FEEDING PROGRAM
The Ogunquit Rotary club has successfully completed their International District Grant titled "Colombian Feeding Program." Three of our Rotarians recently returned from Colombia, where we were invited to attend the inauguration and ribbon cutting ceremony. This project was supported by 9 Rotary clubs in our district and raised close to $34,000.00 to supply two elementary schools with modern kitchens and open–air patios, which is feeding hot lunches to 150 children. The Colombian government supplies all the food. This project was somewhat unusual since we had real support from Peace Corps volunteers who researched the needs for these projects and they remain living in the villages and will continue to evaluate the improvement in children’s health.
This month, Ogunquit Rotarian George Wilson has been invited to go to Washington, DC to give a speech and Power Point presentation to both the Colombian Embassy personnel and to the National Peace Corps staff and other returning Peace Corps volunteers. The most rewarding news we recently heard from the Colombian school superintendent was, “that school attendance has increased 30% since we initiated this feeding program,”
That makes it ALL worthwhile.
Ogunquit Rotary Cont'd
BEACH WHEELCHAIR PROJECT
Providing access to the local Ogunquit beaches for those who are sick or in any way handicapped is an important cause that the Ogunquit Rotary Club has supported for many years. For Erin Haye, current President of the Ogunquit club, the cause is especially personal and special. “My mother spent summers in Ogunquit since she was a child until she moved here year round, and she was at Ogunquit Beach at the second ramp every minute the sun was out. There were no cell phones then, but we knew if we needed Mom, that is where we would find her,” says Erin. She recalls the love her mother had for the beach, and when her mom became ill, she was able to continue to enjoy Ogunquit beach because of the presence of beach wheelchairs there. Erin inquired as to whom provided these wheelchairs. When she heard it was the local Ogunquit Rotary Club, she subsequently joined the club and has been an active member to this day.
There are currently 3-4 beach wheelchairs on Ogunquit beach, to be used by anyone who needs one. Each wheelchair costs around $3000, and Ogunquit Rotary club has donated 3 wheelchairs over the last 10 years, as illustrated in the photo above. They have raised the funds necessary to purchase these wheelchairs through the annual Ogunquit Rotary 2 Cent Sale in July, bake sales and various other avenues through the years. In the near future, Ogunquit Rotary will be selling a December calendar, and along with a generous donation from the local Ogunquit Fire Company, profits will go directly to purchasing another beach wheelchair.
For more information regarding this project or Ogunquit Rotary Club, contact Erin Haye at yehaye@yccc.edu or 207.641.3675.
The Rotary Club of Portland
HISTORIC TOUR OF FORT GORGES
On August 25th, the Rotary Club of Portland hosted a trip to Fort Gorges in Casco Bay for a historic tour, conducted by the ED of the Friends of Fort Gorges.
In addition to Portland Rotarians and friends, we were also joined by members of the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Club and the Portland Sunrise Club.
Proceeds from the event will support the cost of a site plan for the historic structure, conducted by the Friends of Fort Gorges.
Portland Rotary Cont'd
CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND EDUCATION
For the third year, Portland Rotarians adopted a summer food site at North Deering Gardens in Portland to distribute food and books to young children. The books were donated by the Portland Rotary, and Rotarians helped address the problem of summer slide in reading levels by reading with the children on Tuesdays and Thursdays following lunch. This service program is part of Portland Rotary's Childhood Hunger and Education (CHE) initiative and was developed in conjunction with the United Way of Greater Portland. This partnership has also resulted in a Public Service Announcement with tips for parents to encourage them to read to their children.
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth
CLUB NEWS
From late August through early September the Portsmouth Rotary Club endured a steady diet of politicians. We heard from Democrats Steve Marchand and Colin Van Ostern, and we welcomed Republican Executive Counselor Chris Sununu and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas. All were running in their respective party’s gubernatorial primary. As it turned out, Van Ostern, a Dartmouth-educated business leader, won in a landslide. Sununu, on the other hand, eked out his victory from conservative challenger Frank Edelblut by just a few hundred votes. Sununu graduated from MIT and is CEO of the Waterville Valley Ski Resort.
The club is hoping to send a large contingent to November’s Rotary Foundation Centennial celebration in Portland. We are also gearing up for the District 7780 October 22 Bridge the Gap to End Polio. The event starts at 9am as hundreds of Rotarians from across the District walk over the new Portsmouth-Kittery Memorial Bridge.
In the meantime, our 5K Cross Country Race in early August netted about $7000. Rotarian Justin Finn directed the effort and subsequently became the club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow. Finn was a former member of our Blue Sky’s program at Portsmouth High School several years back.
Above Right: President James Petersen, PHF Justin Finn, and sponsor Ed Mallon.
Portsmouth Rotary's newest Paul Harris recipient, Justin Finn, is congratulated by Mort Schmidt of the PHF Committee
The River Valley Rotary Club
GUEST SPEAKER AT FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON
Seen in the photo: Bill Theriault, President of Rumford Riders ATV Club and Dave Duguay, River Valley Rotary Club President.
At a recent River Valley Rotary Club Runner fellowship luncheon held September 19th at HOPE Association, our guest speaker was Bill Theriault, President of the Rumford Riders ATV Club, which currently has a membership of approximately 39.
Bill spoke of how the club came to be in 2012, and how he became the first president and is still the club's president. He went on to talk about how they maintain 20+/- miles of ATV and snowmobile trails for the area from the top of Falls Hill in Rumford to Black Bridge in Mexico. This is all with help of grants and donations.
He spoke of the need for funds to be raised to help them not only keep the trails going and for the cost of insurances in order to attract other ATV riders and snowmobiles to the area which in turns helps the economy. The club does fund raising rides for other nonprofit programs or projects.
The Rotary Club of Wells
MONTHLY RECAP
Per usual, the Wells Rotary Club has been very busy. We held our 17th Annual Chuck Cumming Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, September 12 at Old Marsh Country Club:
Golfers register for the 17th Annual Chuck Cumming Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, September 12, 2016
Also, on Monday, September 12, we had the great privilege to host District Governor Marge Barker at our NEW MEETING LOCATION – York County Community College, 112 College Drive in Wells.
DG Marge Barker at the Wells Club meeting – Monday, September 12, 2016
Wells Rotarian Terry Hodskins has been busy embroidering items for her fellow Rotarians.
Above Left: Wells Rotarians Terry Hodskins and Literary Chair Ellen Farber-Libowitz admire Ellen’s new embroidered tote.
Above Right: President Doug Bibber presents Treasurer Amanda Fitzgerald with her new embroidered Rotary apron.
The Rotary Club of Bath Sunrise
BULB FUNDRAISER 2016
All bulbs are large, very high quality Dutch bulbs purchased from Van Engelen Flower Bulb Company.
Don't buy your bulbs this year until you check out Bath Sunrise Rotary's 2016 crop, ready for purchase from end of September to end of October while supplies last from our tables Saturday mornings at the Farmers Market in Bath and in front of Brackett's Market.
To see what is available, check out the 2016 Bulb Fundraiser Catalog in the right hand column under Home Page Download Files at our official website: http://bathsunriserotary.org/.
The Rotary Club of Bridgton-Lake Region
SUPPORT THEIR BOOTH AT THE FRYEBURG FAIR!
The Fryeburg Fair is quickly approaching from October 2nd - October 9th, and we hope our fellow Rotarians around the district will stop in at our Potato Booth sponsored by the Bridgton-Lake Region and Fryeburg Area Rotary Clubs! Get a stuffed baked potato just the way you like it!!
Portland Sunrise Rotary Club
1ST ANNUAL BACK COVE SUNRISE 5K
The 1st Annual Back Cove Sunrise 5K raises funds for the community service projects of the Portland Sunrise Rotary club. To mark World Polio Day on October 24th, this year's flagship cause is Rotary's Polio Plus program.
Date of Race: October 23rd
Registration: 7:15am to 7:45am, race begins promptly at 8:00am.
Start and Finish are in the vicinity of the Back Cove parking lot.
T-shirt with early registration ONLY—registration must be received by October 6th!!
Prizes will be awarded to the top overall male and female finishers.
All funds raised will go to the Polio Plus program and our other projects that benefit our community and the world
The Wells Rotary Club is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity of York County on a home building project in West Kennebunk. Habitat for Humanity is kicking off their fundraising efforts for this project with a Walk to Raise the Roof in West Kennebunk on Sunday, October 2, 2016. The event features a 2.5 mile or a 5 mile walk, dinner and music with all proceeds to purchase building materials for the build in West Kennebunk. We’d love to have other Rotarians from throughout the District join us at this event!
Have Something You'd Like to Share with Us?
Updates and short articles with images or videos, and the names of new members and those who have passed, may be submitted to our Newsletter Editor, Deb Marsolais, at deb.marsolais@comcast.net to be included in our Monthly Newsletter. The District Newsletter is a means of communicating to other clubs in our district; items of interest, upcoming events, fundraisers, opportunities of service, or member news.
Deadline for November'sNewsletter Submissions: October 24
PLEASE NOTE:
As a precaution, unless you have obtained a written consent from a parent/guardian, every child’s face which appears in a picture submitted for the newsletter or website, will be edited so that it is blurred out in the picture. Since there may be situations involving abuse, neglect, custody dispute, etc., and parents wouldn't want their child's picture to appear in public, this is being done for the child's privacy and protection.
If you have a submission for the newsletter or website, and would like to have us post a picture with a child (children) in it, please let us know if you have received a consent, otherwise we will edit it accordingly.
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At the end of our visit with the Chief, we presented two Paul Harris Fellows - one for the firefighters and the other for the EMTs. These honors, we said, were from D7780 Rotarians to acknowledge and thank the first responders for their continuing commitment to keeping the community safe every day. 
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