With spring in the air, I know we’re all getting fired up about our warm weather projects and fundraisers…golf tournaments, races and so forth and that’s great! Just make sure that you set aside the time to attend our District Conference. This year’s Conference Theme is, “Tell Your Story and Change the World”. The Conference is our opportunity to unwind and celebrate the accomplishments of our District, our Clubs, and our members and to engage with some truly extraordinary speakers and presenters including RI Director Julia Phelps, RI Trustee Michael McGovern, and motivational speaker David Lee. There will be a dance performance / lesson and live music, a karaoke/talent show and a skit performed by our RYLA members as well as the winner of our Four-Way Test contest. Don’t forget the Assistant Governors’ Billiards - Ping Pong – Croquet Triathlon and the silent auction, too. And you’ll never forgive yourself if you miss Friday night’s entertainer, Fred Garbo. There’ll be plenty of plenary sessions to boot so you can get up to speed on Peace & Conflict Resolution, Human Trafficking, District Vocational Team from Argentina, and Youth Service. There is golf literally right across the street and it’s all set in a lovely, semi-wooded old-fashioned resort on Highland Lake in Bridgton, Maine. Come early on Friday and participate in our Service Project with the Lakes Environmental Association and tour their brand new facility.
It’s all happening June 10th through 12th which is closer than you think! So sign up now while you’re thinking about it.
This month’s District History question: While we are thinking about new clubs, how many clubs have had multiple club sponsors besides Saco Bay Sunset? What were the clubs' names? Who were their sponsors? How many clubs have been started since July 1, 2000? How many have been terminated or have left the district?
Check out the District History Family Tree Page for the answers.
Send your answers to me at mawilliamspdg@comcast.net along with your name and the name of your Rotary Club. The answer will be in next month’s newsletter along with the name of the person(s) to give me the correct answers, along with their club name. If you have any District History information, please share it with me so it can be posted to the District History page on our District’s Website.
Marie A. Williams
District Historian
There were no guesses in April!
Last month’s question: District 7780 has another new club this year. This is a three part question - What is the new club’s name, when were they officially chartered by Rotary International and who was their sponsor(s)?
The Answer is:
The new Club’s name: Saco Bay Sunset
They were officially chartered:March 1, 2016
Their Sponsor(s): The Rotary Club of Biddeford-Saco & The Rotary Club of Saco Bay
"House of Friendship" - District Conference June 10-12.
"WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CLUB!!!"
Our annual District Conference is fast approaching on June 10th - 12th, at the Tarry-A-While Inn located in Bridgton, Maine. See Details at www.rotary7780.org under calendar.
Tony Wagner and Rich Welchel (co-chairs) welcome you to set up a club table at the
"HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP" for the conference.
YOU CAN FEATURE INFORMATION THAT:
1. Features a new or innovative fundraiser, or local/international service project.
2. Promotes networking with other clubs.
3. Addresses your success with membership retention and development.
4. Highlights this year's RI theme, "Be a Gift to the World".
5. Features your work with RYLA, Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Fellowship, Youth
Exchange, Literacy, Foundation Support, or other initiatives.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOUR CLUB WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE YOUR WORK, OR PROMOTE COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT FOR YOUR CLUB'S ACTIVITY, WITH OTHER DISTRICT CLUBS.
MORE DETAILS WILL BE SHARED LATER ON.
This can be a great opportunity to promote your Club and network with others. Leveraging with other clubs can be a great way to achieve success!!
Spring is starting to unfold in all her glory and clubs are gearing up for RYLA. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is celebrating 25 years in District 7780 this year. We have expanded the camp to include 144 campers, along with 45 previous campers (same as last year) as facilitators on the RYLA Staff. RYLA is an integral component of District 7780 Youth Services development. We need your help to deliver the interactive transformation program.
There are a few ways to be involved:
Help recruit new students to attend. Students must be finishing their sophomore year in high school as of June. Each club can give scholarships to up to 12 students per high school.
The $300.00 scholarship is just that, a SCHOLARSHIP. Promote participation for what it truly is, a Scholarship to a Leadership Development Program. Great asset on a college application.
Helping out at Camp:
Saturday May 14th at 8:30 – 4:30 Camp Hinds Clean-up Day. Bring rakes and clippers; we have some trail work and painting of the RYLA shed to complete.
Sunday June 26th 7:30 – 9:30 RYLA registration: Need 20 Rotarians that will be willing to talk to parents and students. A strong Rotary presence will help promote Rotary to everyone. Campers arrive at 8:00 (but some always get there earlier)
Camp Hinds is in Raymond, Maine: 146 Plains Road - Raymond, ME 04071
Give a Scholarship to RYLA staff members. The cost of RYLA has not increased in years; one way to combat the rising costs or RYLA is to have clubs give scholarships of $300.00 to send one of the volunteer staff members to camp. These staff members work throughout the year preparing for and growing their leadership skills to deliver RYLA to students. Staff members range from HS seniors to college seniors. Thank you to the clubs and individual Rotarians that have already stepped to the plate and helped out.
Make RYLA part of the clubs total scholarship package.
During the week of April 11-15, I had the distinct privilege and honor to serve as your representative to the 2016 RI Council on Legislation. The COL is our rule-making body: it meets once every three years, and is positive affirmation of our grass-roots structure, whereby you, through your district representative, have the opportunity to change our formal rules via "Enactments", or to asks the Directors or Foundation Trustees to consider future policy adjustments via "Resolutions". We considered 181 proposed enactments and resolutions, some arcane, some clarifying, and some quite significant. Here are some highlights:
We approved two key measures to give clubs greater flexibility in their meetings and membership. Both were backed by the RI Board of Directors and passed overwhelmingly after lively debate. The first measure gives clubs greater leeway in when and how often they meet, how often they cancel meetings, and what constitutes a meeting. The second measure grants clubs flexibility to experiment with membership models. Many delegates argued that clubs need the enhanced freedom in order to determine what works best in their communities, with emphasis that "one size does not fit all".
"WE SHOULD NOT LIVE FOR OURSELVES ALONE, BUT FOR THE JOY IN DOING GOOD FOR OTHERS." — Arch C. Klumph, letter to Rotary club presidents, 5 February 1929
The seed for The Rotary Foundation was planted by Rotary President Arch Klumph at the Atlanta Convention in 1917. From the first gift of $26.50, the Foundation's assets have grown significantly, and more than $3 billion has been spent on programs and projects — transforming millions of lives around the globe.
Mark your calendars for November 10 as District 7780 celebrates the Rotary Foundation Celebration. Join with fellow Rotarians, be one of the 100 for 100 new Major Donors or Bequest Society members in celebration of 100 years of Doing Good in the World. Of your $100 dinner fee, $26.50 will go to the Rotary Foundation in celebration of the very first gift to the Foundation of $26.50.
For more information, contact Ann Lee Hussey, District 7780 Major Gifts Chair, at annlee001@yahoo.com
For the first time in its 20-year history, Yarmouth Rotary was pleased to receive 4 – yes, four – membership applications on the same day. Pictured here with original club Charter Members Peter Johnson and David Kitchen are Dr. Michelle Higgins, Rich Young, and Chris Casey. Missing is new member Celena Gervais. Yarmouth has added eight new Rotarians in the past 12 months, and each is already fully engaged and contributing.
Membership Challenge
BATTLE OF THE TITANS
As many of you know President Bowen Depke of the Portland Rotary Club challenged President Bill Hurley of the Portsmouth Rotary Club to a challenge.
“Who could bring in the most new members in their respective year?”
This all happened at PETS last year when Mr. Depke was astounded to find out that his club was not the largest in the District. So, the two Presidents dutifully and enthusiastically visited the “opposing club” at the beginning of their tenures and threw down the membership challenge. Challenge accepted!
Both clubs have been working feverously, scouring their cities for prospective leaders who make the grade; i.e., Rotarians. There have even been rumors of members changing clubs! Scandalous! So, nine months in where do they stand?
At the end of March, the count stood at 18 new members each. That’s right; between the two clubs they have a total of 36 new members in the District. Fantastic! The challenge will end on June 30th when new members inducted and those on 7-day notice will be counted up. Stay tuned, the race is heating up.
Patti Erickson and Jennifer Frederick are 2 new members of the Portland Rotary Club.
P.S. As of April 6th the count stands at 18 plus 2 on 7-day notice for Portsmouth and 18 plus 3 on 7-day notice for Portland. That’s a total of 43 with 3 months to go. Sources say Portsmouth is not deterred by the momentary blip of success enjoyed by the Portland club…
The Rotary Club of Biddeford Saco
ROTARY AND SCHOOLS COLLABORATED TO HOST
RED RIBBON AWARENESS WEEK EVENT, APRIL 25TH - 29TH
It is no secret that opioids and heroin are a serious issue in our communities. In fact, every $1 spent on the prevention of drug misuse saves $7 in treatment; therefore, the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club’s Red Ribbon Committee is focusing their efforts on preventing young people from slipping into the devastating grip of drug misuse and addiction. Working in conjunction with school educators from Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Thornton Academy the Rotary’s Red Ribbon Committee hosted multiple events during Red Ribbon Awareness Week, April 25-29, including a community-wide presentation encouraging individuals and families to reflect upon current trends in drug use and what the community can do to promote healthy behaviors.
“Our goal is to serve as a catalyst to mobilize communities, educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities” stated Red Ribbon Committee Co-Chair and Rotarian Jim Godbout. “We all recognize drug misuse is at epidemic proportions in our country. It costs our country billions of dollars each year through tax dollars, so we are all affected directly or indirectly. I applaud the schools for working collaboratively together and with our Rotary Club, and I invite everyone to join us in a culture of change from acceptance of drug misuse in its many forms to all community members living lives of health, wellbeing, and joy.”
In addition to the community-wide presentation, each school planned activities for their students throughout the week of April 25th, including: a performance by Maine Inside Out Group, daily drug fact announcements, a “natural high” game of dodge ball with staff versus students, simulations of drunk driving, a mock fatal accident, a viewing of “Point of No Return”, and a school-wide speed game of Jeopardy put on by the Natural Helpers.
“This has been a great partnership between the Rotary Club representing the business community and the educators of Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Thornton Academy,” stated Biddeford High School Principal Jeremie Sirois. “Having all the school administrators and educators working together allows us to have a larger impact with substantial results on reaching our youth and changing the culture. We will continue to work together planning curriculum and presentations that can be mirrored throughout all the schools.”
The Rotary Club of Exeter
“SOWING & WATERING THE SEEDS OF ROTARY IN CUBA”
“There’s good news and there’s bad news…” Became a phrase 11 Rotarians from District 7780 became very familiar with during their recent trip to Cuba. Poor water sanitation, transportation issues, missing toilet seats, stray animals, very little communication with the outside world and concerns of contaminated food. Sound like a fun trip? Actually, it was and most of the travelers would even go as far to say that it was a life changing trip. On a trip led by the Exeter, NH Rotary Club supported by a District 7780 Grant ,members from Bridgeton, ME, Exeter, NH, Kittery, ME, South Portland Cape Elizabeth, ME and Yarmouth, ME toured the western part of Cuba for seven days in early April. Out of sheer coincidence the trip coincided with the 100th anniversary of the chartering of the Havana Rotary Club which was the first non-English speaking Rotary Club to be established. Leading the trip was Exeter Club International Chair; the Rev. Mark Pendleton, who attended seminary in Cuba and has since maintained close connections with friends on the island and has led several church groups over the years. Mark’s connections allowed for the group to install three water filtration systems and send three additional systems into the countryside to villages the team did not have enough time on the trip to reach. Medical supplies were also distributed to two medical clinics and one senior center. The trip took the travelers from Cardenas, to Varadero, Limonar, Bolondron, Amarillis, Ceinfuegos and back to Havana. The good news/bad news part of the trip was the fact that one must be very flexible in Cuba. Vehicles broke down or became unavailable. There were time delays and uncontrolled changes in plans. After a day or so the team learned to roll with the punches and in almost every case something would turn out better than the original plan.
ROTARIAN VISITS SITE OF CLUB'S PROJECT IN BIKANER, INDIA
Cornelia Stockman has recently returned from her second visit to India. She spent several days as a guest of the Rotary Club of Bikaner, located in western India near the Pakistan border. She was there to celebrate the conclusion of a $34,000.00 USD Rotary International Global Grant, which provided desks and benches to 14 Bikaner schools whose school children would no longer need to sit on the floor to learn.
Cornelia was impressed with the hospitality shown her by the Bikaner community including members of the Rotary club that cosponsored the project. She was particularly pleased to spend time with Arun Gupta, a former District Governor and primary Bikaner club contact for the original grant application. Cornelia visited five schools where she was treated to special performances by the school children. Cornelia also participated in a Polio National Immunization Day in the New Delhi area.
Pictures (left to right) - 1) Cornelia Stockman with a young member of the Bikaner community. 2) Bikaner Rotarian Arun Gupta and school personnel with the Rotary desks. 3) Cornelia wearing a shawl given her as a gift and holding a painting done for her by a school girl in Bikaner.
The Rotary Club of Portland
5TH ANNUAL MAINE OUTDOOR CHALLENGE
“Portland Rotary and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine are partnering again for the 5th Annual Maine Outdoor Challenge (MOC) being held on June 6-8th at the LL Bean Outdoor Discovery School in Freeport. Teams of 5 will be outfitted and trained by the professional staff from LL Bean and then compete in 4 challenging outdoor activities: Shooting Clay Targets with Shotguns, Archery, Fly Casting and Geocaching. No experience or equipment is needed, as this event is fun for pure novices or seasoned experts. Your team will spend 3 hours at LL Bean’s facility on one of three days, and then all of the teams are welcome back to the ‘Awards Banquet and Lobster Bake’ on the evening of Wednesday, June 8th. There will be silent and live auctions, live music, two special raffles with Fly Fishing and Pheasant Hunting packages, and of course, the presentation of the Bronze Boot to the winning team.
The cost for a team is $1000. You can get more information about the event, the raffles, the lobster bake and sponsorship opportunities at or website: www.maineoutdoorchallenge.com
This is a great event for 5 friends, for a business unit or office management team, or as a client or prospect appreciation activity. If you can’t make the event, consider just attending the lobster bake, or buying a raffle ticket or two. Each raffle only had 300 tickets, so the chances of winning are very high.
Raffle item #1. Fly Fishing Raffle: Sage One Rod and a Tibor Tailwater Reel and a half-day guided River Fly Fishing Trip from LL Bean (over $1500 Value)
Raffle item #2. Bird Hunting Raffle: Berreta A300 Outlander 12-gauge Shotgun, a half-day Group Shooting Lesson for 5, and a half-day Pheasant Hunt with 12 pheasants, one dog and handler.
If you know someone who likes to hunt or fly fish, you need to send them info on these raffles. They will love you for it!!
If you have any interest in or questions about the event, please contact the event chair Kris Rosado at 207-771-0843 or kris.rosado@morganstanley.com”
The Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset
CELEBRATES CHARTER NIGHT
The Rotary Club of Wells
CONTINUES WORK ON FAERIE VILLAGES
Wells Rotarians (and their families) along with the Interact Students and members of the Wells Conservation Commission continued work on the Faerie Villages at the Fenderson Wildlife Commons.
Wells Rotarians pictured above include Barry Wolfson (back row with red hat) and Cassandra Mosher (middle row far right).
ROTARIAN DONATES TIME AT WAREHOUSE
In between working on the Faerie Villages, Rotarian Barry Wolfson donated some time helping to sort donated medical supplies at the Partners for World Health warehouse in South Portland.
The Rotary Club of Westbrook Gorham
CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA
Dave Talbot, who contracted Polio in 1955, 3 weeks before Dr. Jonas Salk announced his Polio vaccination, was treated successfully so he was able to walk and run, but later in his life, succumbed to Post Polio Syndrome where he had to take up crutches again.
Dave was in Africa in 2006 where he witnessed adults and children who crawled on the ground because they did not have access to crutches or braces for their limbs. By the end of that year, Dave had collected 235 pairs of crutches and shipped them to Uganda. He also joined the Rotary Club of Mountain Foothills in Denver, CO. By 2015, Crutches for Africa had shipped over 67,000 units to a long list of countries in Africa which has meant that thousands of men and women no longer needed to crawl through mud, garbage, and sewerage to go anywhere. They were given back their pride.
(Standing, Left to right) Rotarians Jeff Malloy – Crutches4Africa Club chair, Dave Talbot – National Director - Crutches4Africa, Candace Talbot- Crutches4Africa, Dennis Robillard, State Chairperson - Crutches4Africa
WESTBROOK HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT CLUB
Westbrook High School Interact club members were recognized at the Rotary luncheon for their many community service projects. Interact is a Rotary sponsored club for young people ages 12-18, who want to join together to tackle the issues in their community that they care most about.
(Standing, Left to right) Bruce Dyer - WHS Club Advisor, Brianna Garcia, Courtney Arsenault, Sarah Terrano, Alexandria Phelps, Danielle Breunig. Seated - Morgan Menezes, Reilley Joyce, Letta Oeur, Natalie Merrill
FAMILY CRISIS SERVICES
Jenny Stasio spoke about the developing role Family Crisis Services (FCS), which was founded in 1977, and is the domestic violence resource center that serves victims and survivors in Cumberland County, Maine. FCS provides safe and accessible services to all people affected by domestic violence regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender, age, primary language spoken, or immigration status.
(Standing, Left to right) Jenny Stasio – Director of Operations Family Crisis, Judith Reidman - Rotarian, Chief Janine Roberts – Westbrook Police Department.
The Rotary Club of Bethel
MAY DAY 5K RUN/WALK -Saturday, May 14, 2016
Presented by
Bethel Family Health Center
10 am race start
8 am check in & day-of registration
Start & finish at Crescent Park School
~This event is designed as both a healthy, fun activity
& friendly competition!~
5K race, fun & challenging course in village
1 mile walk, open to all ages
1 mile run for children under 12
Kids = $8 registration in advance, $10 day of event
Adults = $12 registration in advance, $15 day of event
Kids teams of four = $30
Adults & teens, teams of four = $45
Commemorative t-shirts will be guaranteed to the
first 100 registrants.
All proceeds to benefit after school or
enrichments programs for local youth.
We welcome those folks to contact us via this email address to learn more about our Club and on how to become a member.
Our mailing address is:
Rotary Club of Bethel, Maine
PO Box 471
Bethel ME 04217
The Rotary Club of Biddeford Saco
BINGO GAMES SLATED TO ERADICATE POLIO AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY
Rotary International’s Polio Plus Program is Rotary’s most recognized humanitarian program in support of the global eradication of polio, and each Rotary Club throughout the world has joined forces to ensure its success. The Biddeford Saco Rotary Club will be hosting its Annual Bingo Event to support the Polio Plus program and charitable giving on Saturday, May 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Rochambeau Club in Biddeford. Doors will open at 8:00 a.m.
The Polio Plus Bingo Event will consist of the following games: Regular Bingo, Into Crazy-kite, Star Burst – Double Bingo, Regular Bingo Into Check Mark, 2 Postage Stamps, Bonanza (cover all), Regular Bingo Into Letter F, Regular Bingo Into Block of Nine and Crazy T. In addition, 50/50 tickets will be sold at the door and there will be an additional “Winner Takes All” Game.
Advance tickets are now on sale for $20 which includes a package of 10 regular games of bingo and two special games (Star Burst & Bonanza). The “Winner Takes All” game is sold separately. Bingo packages and additional cards can also be purchased at the door.
Must be 16 years old to attend. For advance tickets, call Julie Villemaire at (207) 602-7401 or see any member of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club of Kittery
CHARITY AUCTION FOR H.O.P.E.
The Rotary Club of Kittery
John Nooney was born on July 4, 1917 and died April 16, 2016 just shy of his 100th birthday. He joined the Rotary Club of Kittery on August 14, 2012. He had been a Rotarian in Georgia for over 60 years prior to moving to Kittery. He always had a smile on his face and a welcoming handshake. He was the club’s official greeter. He loved the club’s monthly student of the month recognition and gave to each student of the month a gold dollar and told them not to spend it as it was for good luck! You would see John at our events around the town and he worked at the reception desk every other month when it was the Rotary club’s turn to host the Red Cross Blood Drive at the Lions Club.
After World War II, he started Portasoft Water Co., a successful water conditioning business in New Jersey which he ran with his partner for forty years. John was a regular at the Kittery Recreation Center and was an avid reader. His quotes from something he read were usually his weekly contribution to our Happy/Sad dollars. When he had nothing to say, he would pay a dollar and announce – “Speechless!”
John will be greatly missed by his daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his Rotary family!
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 newsletter@rotary7780.org, 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 June Newsletter Submissions: May 24th
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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