2013-2014 South Portland-Cape Elizabeth

District Governor Carolyn Johnson presenting the Significant Achievement Award
to The Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth
at their June 11, 2014 club meeting.

L to R Mike Soucy, Lisa Thompson, Rick Towle, DG Carolyn Johnson, Rob Soucy,
Tony Wagner, Ellie Speh, Kathy Cotter, Alec Livingston, Scott Irving

Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth
 Nomination by District 7780 Governor Carolyn Johnson

The City of South Portland, ME determined that its parks in the winter were a significant local problem.  The Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth addressed this need by partnering with the city to establish a winter festival to introduce or encourage residents to a variety of winter activities, including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and skating.  The centerpiece of the weekend was the dedication of a permanent skating rink in one of the parks.  This rink, which is larger than Olympic size, will be available for skaters of all ages for years to come.  A number of retired professional hockey players attended the dedication and conducted a clinic for the youth of the community.  The rink was made possible through a donation to Rotary from a local business that had partnered with Rotary in the past.  The project showed how government and private business, together with a local civic organization, can work together for the betterment of their community. 
 

More than two-thirds of the club members were directly involved in the project.   Members planned the project and supervised various activities (skating, snowshoeing, skiing, wagon-rides, scavenger hunt, on-ice games).  Rotarians also involved local businesses and other community organizations in the effort, including Rotarians and Lions working together to put on a community pancake breakfast.  Rotarians contacted local businesses to invite them contribute to be involved in the festival.  Rotarians and Interact students from both South Portland and Cape Elizabeth high schools placed over 200 luminaries leading to Mill Creek Park and led a walk past local businesses to the park on the opening night of the festival.   Local businesses provided free hamburgers, cupcakes, coffee and other treats.  One of the businesses sponsored a band.  A local radio station broadcast from the event.  Other activities included s'more making and a chicken wing eating contest.  All of these activities were coordinated by SPCE Rotary.

This was a big project for the club, particularly coming soon after the club's major annual fundraiser, selling Christmas trees at Rotary corner in Mill Creek Park (as it has done for more than 50 years).  Although the project was big, it energized the club and everyone was proud of its success.  The club raised more than $43,000 for this event and the construction of the ice rink.  $8000 was raised for the Winterfest weekend event.  The cost of the rink is $17,250 and an equal sum was made available to purchase equipment for maintenance of the rink.

After hearing of the success of this project, at least two other district clubs are considering how to construct  similar rinks in their communities. 
 

The Winterfest event concluded in February, but the rink will be available for years to come. This effort also resulted in donations of equipment to the City to help it maintain the ice, thus helping to ensure the sustainability of the rink. In addition to the rink (located at Wainright Field), the donated equipment and expertise learned in maintaining the rink has helped the city maintain another ice rink on the pond at Mill Creek Park.  The ice looks its best ever!

This project was carried out by a single Rotary Club - the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, though it worked closely with the city, and it invited local businesses and other organizations (including the Cape Business Alliance and South Portland Cape Elizabeth Buy Local) to become involved in the festival.  Rotarians from other clubs attended the event to show their support and members of the South Portland Sunrise Rotary Club helped staff the events, including help at the luminary walk and pancake breakfast.
 

This project was a huge community event for the towns of South Portland and Cape Elizabeth.  It brought together service organizations and businesses for the benefit of the residents.  The event, which is anticipated to become an annual occurrence, is an example of how many organizations, ages, and interest groups can celebrate community together.  In addition, the completion of the ice rink and other outdoor winter opportunities will contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of the residents of these towns.  This project assisted the city in transforming previously underutilized open spaces (parks) into safe activity areas during the long Maine winters.   Certainly, as the coordinators of the event and project, Rotarians reinforced their significance and interest in supporting an active, healthy community for all residents.
 

Respectfully submitted

Carolyn Johnson

Governor, 2013-14

District 7780