District 7780 - Archive (Dec 18, 2004)

Well, it’s been a busy October and November in the District for your talented yet humble Governor and First Lady. In the past two months we’ve made 13 Official Visits, attended several District Conference committee meetings and then held our District Conference; the Foundation Seminar; attended the five day Zone Conference in Cambridge Maryland; attended two Foundation Committee meetings, a District Finance meeting, a thank you celebration given by the town of Litchfield, a Bethel 30th celebration, a farewell dinner to the GSE team at Spring Hill, a South Berwick Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, and planned and held the Governors’ Council Meeting.. Whew!! Needless to say, when you consider that every day at home means four to six hours of answering E-Mails, filling out surveys, tracking down clubs who don’t report attendance on time or have overdue balances due to RI, and preparing for the next visit or meeting, there is little personal time left let alone time to write a monthly District Newsletter. So that’s our excuse for not having written a Newsletter since the first of October, and we’re sticking to it. As things begin to slow down after the middle of December we intend to get back on a monthly schedule.

The highlight of October was the terrific District Conference at the beautiful MBNA Conference Center in Northport. On Thursday night, we were entertained by the District youth exchange kids. The hit of the show was a young man from

Romania

who was a very good accordion player. He hadn’t seen an accordion in a month and didn’t have his instrument with him. One was found for him and could he play! Frankly, I’ve never been much of an accordion fan but I changed my mind after hearing him. I loved every second of his performance.

The GSE team from

Turkey

was the nicest group of people you could imagine. Bright, personable with a good command of English, they delighted everyone who were lucky enough to meet them, not only at the Conference, but as they visited clubs around the District.

Every event including the speakers and breakouts right to the sunrise service overlooking Penobscot Bay Sunday morning, was terrific. The young and talented ladies, Ms. DiGiulian and Ms. Bailey, sang and performed their way into everyone’s heart. Their performance as part of the District 7780 cheerleading team at the Saturday night black tie dinner dance had to be seen to be believed.

We thought rain was going to ruin everything, but the sun came out Saturday afternoon revealing the spectacular scenery that those of us who were involved in the planning at the facility had seen before. So many people have come up to me since to say how much they enjoyed the Conference; those who have gone to several have told me it was the best one they ever attended. Having been to several, I have to agree. By the way, pictures and a complete story on the Conference are now posted on the www.rotary7780.orgwebsite.

Brad Jett video taped the Conference and is in the process of editing. There were some sound problems in a couple of segments that have to be fixed, but when they are, the plan is to offer a CD available for a nominal fee for all interested.

If you missed the Foundation Seminar on November 20, you missed a good one. We had three Zone Foundation Coordinators as breakout speakers. They have years of experience in leading discussions and speaking on the Foundation. Roland Gagne, our District World Community Service Chair, talked on his recent trip to

Armenia

and explained how clubs can easily adopt a WCS project. In fact, he has several in the backlog that don’t even need money, just people to volunteer to help do the paperwork, make phone calls etc. It was gratifying to see several people come up to him afterwards to offer to help.

The highlight of the seminar was the featured speaker, Nicolas D’Onofrio, a 28 year old Exchange Student from General Pico, La Pampa, Argentina who attends the University of New Hampshire with a major in Communications. He spoke of his humble childhood and how his dream was to come to the

to study. When he heard that the local Rotary Club sponsored Exchange Students, he applied, never thinking a youth from a poor background could ever hope to be accepted by an organization full of “important, powerful people” such as there were in that Rotary Club. The rest of his talk centered on how grateful he is for all the opportunities he has had, and how strong his desire is to give back to people less fortunate than he. He took 30 minutes reminding us that the subject of his talk was what Rotary is all about.

At the Dover Club, at the meeting during the week of Armistice Day (11/11), the Dover Club asked all the veterans in the club to stand up, and they list them in their weekly newsletter, the “Bing”.

Kathy Wright of the Ogunquit Club collects stuffed animals for the Rotoplast kids. They get sent along with the “Wrap-a-Smile” quilts with the medical teams that go on the trips. Speaking of Ogunquit, the Rotary Club manages the Senior Meals Delivery Program, and members volunteer as drivers.

Once again, PDG Elias Thomas is making an NID trip to

India

Jan 2 through 19. This is his fourth visit, and they will visit the Taj Mahal among other places. The cost is quite reasonable. Anyone interested in joining the group should call Elias..

The Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotary Club has its own program on Foundation giving, starting now and culminating on Feb 22, 2005, which is "write-a-check day". It is a build-up process which includes special bulletins, talks at the meetings, giving out the Centennial book to Paul Harris Fellows, using points to bring certain members up to $1,000, etc. Their goal for 2005 is 50-55 members at $100 each. Their Foundation Chair, Doug Tigert, an expert in marketing, believes completely in the Foundation and does a terrific job for them.

Condolences to John Evans whose father passed away this past weekend at the age of 90.

It is becoming clear that one of the most important problems Rotary has is attendance, or more properly put, the lack of same. In rough numbers, there are about 25% of the clubs in our District that are 80% or above, 35 to 40% in the 70% range, and about 25 to 30% have attendances below 70%, a few in the 50% range or below. The overall average District attendance was 70% for July, 71% for August, 74% for September, and with incomplete figures reported, about 74% for October. It is true the numbers are probably skewed low because some secretaries are not getting and counting make-ups from activities that count as make up opportunities (see below), but more often than not, meetings in general are poorly attended. When members don’t come to meetings, fellowship suffers; when fellowship suffers so do project activities. Without fellowship and fundraising, there are few reasons left for a club to exist. When 20% of the people do 80% of the work, and they see half the membership not in attendance, there often is a sense of resentment toward those who are not pulling their share of the load. A few Presidents are beginning to pay attention and are becoming concerned, as several have brought up the subject to me. I doubt this is a problem that will go away soon. In fact, it probably is going to get worse unless clubs begin to do something about it.

At the Zone Institute, I heard two different speeches that touched on club attendance. In each speech, the speaker said something to the effect that we could look forward to some changes in the attendance requirements at the next Council on Legislation. It is unrealistic, they said, for Rotary to expect today’s younger “busy, on-the-go” generation to make the current attendance requirements. Frankly, I found that difficult to understand. We ask each Rotary Club member to attend six out of every ten meetings. Three of those can be at another club. If they make up at another club, they have two weeks on either side of the missed meeting to have it count for that meeting. In addition, a meeting can be construed to mean any activity such as:

You even get credit for a makeup if you go to another club meeting, at the usual time and place, and for some reason their meeting is cancelled. As far as I’m concerned, if you can’t make 60% out of those ground-rules, you either don’t care or have personal or business priorities that simply preclude being a member. What can a club do about poor attendance? I have a whole discussion and set of solutions for this, and I would be happy to meet with any club who would like to get serious about solving this problem.

Several Club Secretaries and Presidents have asked about or do not know about the “85” rule. I quote from the Manual of Procedure, Article VIII, Section 2, subparagraph (b) of the Club Constitution states “A member’s absence shall be excused if the aggregate of the member’s years of age and years of membership in one or more clubs is 85 years or more and the member has notified the club Secretary in writing of the member’s desire to be excused from attendance and the Board has approved.” Such a member SHALL NOT HAVE HIS ABSENCES OR ATTENDANCES USED IN THE COMPUTATION OF THE CLUB’S MONTHLY ATTENDANCE.

By the way, a club can often raise its attendance by simply ensuring members notify the club Secretary that they have attended a Rotary function listed above, therefore should get attendance credit.

By the way, while I’m bloviating, let me discuss meeting etiquette. Do you greet guests with a positive response? I went to a meeting once where guests were introduced and the membership ignored them, didn’t even look over in their direction. At most clubs the members applaud or look over in their direction and say “Hello (name)! If you are introduced as a guest at a Brunswick meeting, the whole membership stands up and sings a song of greeting as they come over to shake your hand. Believe me, you won’t soon forget the experience.

Do you have members who carry their cel phones into meetings? At the District Conference we had a standing rule. If your cel phone rang during a session, you could count on making a $100 contribution to the Foundation. I spoke at one meeting where a member’s phone went off three different times during my talk. Each time he smiled weakly and left the room. Those of you who have heard my talk know that it gets somewhat intense and emotional. How would you like to be doing that talk and have a cel phone go off, not once, but three times? If you have a life or death situation where you must have your cel phone on, for heavens sakes, set it to buzz, or leave it with someone on the restaurant staff and have them come get you if it is an emergency. Or if it’s that important, don’t come to the meeting; but don’t insult the speaker and make a fool of yourself at the same time.

Here is one for Club Presidents. How much time do you give your speakers? I ask for 30 minutes because I have found that is what I need to get my message across. Some speakers, I’m sure, need less time. Do you ask the speaker in advance what he needs, and then ensure he gets it? At one breakfast meeting I spoke at, I had asked for 30 minutes but the meeting went on and on. Finally I was introduced at 7:50. I naively asked what time did they go to, 8:15 or 8:30. (I couldn’t believe my good fortune that I might actually get 40 minutes) The audience (the few who were left, many had scooted by that time) literally broke up in laughter. The answer was 8:00. With no prior warning, after having been assured I would get 30 minutes, I had to create a new talk that would fit 10 minutes. Here is the point. Unless he is running for office or is a fundraiser, the speaker is doing you a favor. You need him a lot more than he needs you. You asked him to do you a favor by having him on your program. He may have had to get up early to drive 45 minutes or more to make your meeting. By cutting his time in half, you are insulting him. The world out there is full of people who speak at Rotary Clubs, and they communicate. When the word gets around that that is how you treat speakers, your pool of potential speakers will shrink dramatically. Not a good idea when you are trying to increase attendance by having better programs. I bring this example up because it didn’t just happen to me by accident. Muriel met one of the members at a different meeting a few weeks later, and he said that the club does that to speakers all the time.

And speaking of scooters, (weren’t we?) this is a new experience for me because I come from an evening club where we might have one or two members who leave the meeting early, but at practically every breakfast or lunch meeting I’ve seen, there have been several. Some have the style and grace to leave before the speaker is introduced, but you would be surprised how many simply get up in the middle of the speech and walk out. Virtually none give the speaker the courtesy of an apology beforehand, letting him know that he has to leave early.

Many people have heard me differentiate between a “Rotary Club Member” and a “Rotarian”. Most club members (including me) are the former. Here is an example of the latter. It is an E-mail from Jeff Martin, Rotarian and Doctor in the Windham Club, reporting on his latest trip to the Dominical Republic, and I quote in part:.

That’s all for this month. For those of you who I won’t see soon, I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or just plain Happy Holidays, and to all, a great and giving New Year.

In accordance with the RI Bylaws, RI President Glenn Estess Sr. has declared the following seven candidates who face no opposition to be the official directors-nominee from their respective zones: Yoshimasa Watanabe, Kojima, Okayama, Japan (Zone 3); Ian Riseley, Sandringham, Victoria, Australia (Zone 8); Örsçelik Balkan, Istanbul-Karaköy, Turkey (Zone 10); Kjell-Åke Åkesson, Hörby, Sweden (Zone 16); Donald L. Mebus, Arlington, Texas, USA (Zone 26); Michael K. McGovern, South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA (Zone 31); and Milton O. Jones, Dade City, Florida, USA (Zone 34).

Portsmouth Rotary's "Friends Forever" project was chosen by the Rotary Zone 31-32 Honors Committee as an "Outstanding Accomplishment" by a Rotary Club, individual, or District over the past 100 years.

Friends Forever is a peace project targeted at two of the most troubled nations in the world: Northern Ireland and Israel. From its start in 1986, it has provided life-altering experiences to just under 1,000 teens from both sides of the "divide": Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland; Palestinians and Israeli Jews in Israel.

In the words of a highly respected youth worker in Belfast, Northern Ireland, "Friends Forever" builds bonds of trust and friendship in just 2 weeks that take us 2 years any other way"

At the same time, it has enabled numerous adult friendships and attitude changed amongst parents in both Northern Ireland and Israel, as well as tremendous increases in understanding and hope for suppporting Rotarians and their families here in the US.

Exactly two months have passed since I wrote my last article for the Lobster Trap District Newsletter. So let me tell you what’s been going on since then. The mallards are back for their cracked corn. The leaves have fallen and the Governor is in the process of serious raking. Thanksgiving has come and gone. Hope you had an awesome one. During the heavy rain/windstorm that evening, our dingy broke away from the float. At low tide the next morning Governor Bob retrieved it in our cove nearby. Yes, he is still lobstering.

In early October we drove to Clinton, CT, and saw the Governor’s two granddaughters, and then onto Port Washington, MD, for a two-day reunion with past military friends who have a seven year old yellow Lab and a three month old Chihuahua.. Seeing them together is quite a sight, but think of this – our friends also have over 1000 pieces of Belleek china. I was overwhelmed thinking of my two lonely pieces at home. GOOD MEMORIES - Smithsonian Air and Space Museum located near Dulles Airport, the new WWII Memorial on the National Mall, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and a delicious dinner in Alexandria, VA, where I lived so many years ago.

Cambridge, MD, was next for the Rotary Zone Institute - great fellowship and renewed many friendships. On my birthday, it was dinner with other District Governors and First Ladies at a well-known restaurant in St. Michaels. One DG at our table said that he only tells Club Presidents the date he will be at their meeting. Otherwise, more than half will be absent when he speaks!

During the Zone 31 Centennial Honors Program, Governor Bob had an opportunity to shake hands with RI President Elect Carl Wilheim Stenhammer. “What did you say to him?” I asked. “From one full-blooded Swede to another, best wishes for a successful year!” he said. To myself I thought, perhaps he should have mentioned some of the sayings that are in and outside our house. For example, “Thank God I’m Swedish!”, “Living With a Swede Builds Character!”, “Not only am I Perfect, I’m Swedish too!”, “You can Always tell a Swede, but You can’t tell ‘em much!”, “I’m not Opinionated, I’m Just Swedish!”, and “Parking for Swedes Only, All Others Will be Towed. City Ordinance 2214!”

Then there was the District Conference at MBNA’s breathtaking location, Point Lookout in Northport, ME. It was an outstanding one, and of course the best one I’ve attended! My favorite activity, even with a broken toe, took place Saturday night -- The Global Gala Banquet (what a program). Weren’t those youngsters with the pom-poms terrific? Sherry Rand of the Hampton Club is selling the Pom-Poms. For prices call Sherry at 603 964-3399. Then there was dancing to the music of drummer Eric Andrews’ Band. At the end of the evening, Governor Bob went out on the dance floor and saluted Eric, President of the Ogunquit Rotary Club.

They could have danced all night - Kathy, Judy, Heather and Carolyn, members of the Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club. That Club’s motto is: Lusty Women, Great Looking Men, and all the Food is Above Average. They should change the first line to “Lusty Women and the Swingers!”.

FOR A SMILE At a Kittery Rotary Club potluck dinner, I learned that the wife of one of their members raised a donkey in their home, from ten days to six months old.

I read in the Kittery Rotary Club Newsletter, called the Gateway, a bumper sticker quote that I really relate to – “How many roads must a man travel down until he admits he is lost”.

The best part of the supper was the “special dessert” they cooked up for Governor Bob. Knowing that we have two cats and “Leona Helmsley” is his favorite, a couple of the girls found a recipe on the Internet for a cake dessert that resembles a kitty litter box complete with the appropriate “#2s”. Gambling that the #2s were really Tootsie Rolls, the Governor hesitated not a moment and dove right in with the supplied kitty litter scooper. Below is a picture of President Jeff risking a bite after the Governor had led the way! Only a couple of people were in on the gag, and several women complained of the smell as they spotted the cat box in another room!

After attending the 30^th Anniversary of the Bethel Rotary Club, we stayed at the Inn at the Rostay, since we had First Dog with us and they accept pets. Innkeepers Kathy and Al Thrall are natives of Litchfield. CT, almost my hometown. Kathy, Sgt-At-Arms at the Bethel Club, has a collection of bears which she sells, and Al is Breakfast Chef. If you want a collectable bear and a great breakfast, stop there.

Prayer at every table at the Scarborough Rotary Club – “Be present at our table Lord. Be here and everywhere adored. These mercies bless, and grant that we may feast in fellowship with thee.”

I echo Governor Bob in wishing every one a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Yours in Rotary,

First Lady Muriel

Citation for Meritorious Service Awarded to PDG Tim Placey

The Citation for Meritorious Service is provided to only one Rotarian in each District for Exemplary and significant service to the Rotary Foundation. One Rotarian from each district may be recognized with the Citation for Meritorious Service by the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation each year.

During October's District Conference, this honor was awarded to PDG Tim Placey for his outstanding contributions to our Rotary Foundation; including his donation of $50,000 from his DDF funds to help start the Rotary Peace Scholar program, and the surpassing of his Polio Eradication funding goal of $300,000. Under Tim's leadership, District 7780 raised over $350,000 for Polio Eradication, and that number continues to climb.

The Rotary Foundation's Meritorious Service Award couldn't have been given to a more deserving recipient.

Congratulations PDG Tim!

Effective Tuesday, January 4, 2005, and until further notice, the Rotary Club of Kittery will be meeting at Bob's Clam Hut on Route 1, next to the Kittery Trading Post, while their current meeting location undergoes extensive reenovations. The club will not meet on December 28, 2004.

Traveling to India for his fourth visit, Elias has also arranged for you to stay with local Rotarians in their homes while in New Delhi, during the time of the District Conference.

Experience the sights, sounds and culture and see some of the wonders of one of the oldest civilizations. Special visits to the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Amber Fort in Jaipur, the Red Fort, India Gate and the Gandhi Memorial in New Delhi, stay in a 14^th Century Hill Fort, and a jungle lodge in Khana National Park.

Total package includes round-trip airfare from New York’s JFK Airport, train and bus transportation, hotel accommodations (double occupancy) and some meals.

Requirements include current valid Passport, Visa (which will be arranged prior to departure), your sense of adventure and your heart. Guaranteed to be life changing and life enhancing.

Bethel President Janet Black on Santa Sunday at Sunday River which raised $1770.00