These past few weeks, I have been astounded by the number of events, projects, services, and social activities our forty clubs have championed. I have often thought about my original presentation in September and October called “Official District Governor Meeting.” I felt like a Baptist preacher as I espoused the good news that a single Rotarian can start an avalanche of goodness. That single voice needs the support of the club to carry its suggestions to fruition. I warned against using the old adage, “We tried that back in '06 and it didn’t work.” I stick by my original thesis, all the important work of Rotary happens at the club level and usually with one or two Rotarians.
Most recently, I witnessed this goodness manifested in my own club in Brunswick. Ed Nolde transferred into the club and found members who supported his passion, Buffalo Bicycles. Built for the rough roads of Africa, Ed found financial support outside and in Rotary. The buffalo on a bicycle was very popular at the Bike Rodeo held in Brunswick on May 20. Thank you, Ed.
Moving to earlier in May, I received a phone call asking for support for a pair of pilots flying around the world to draw attention to the eradication of Polio. Just imagine: “Hey honey, my friend and I are planning a trip around the world in my single-engine Cessna.” Luckily, the two pilots carefully planned, and are now executing a trip around the world.
By: Sarah MacGillivray, Secretary, and Public Image Coordinator, District Foundation Committee, RC of Bath Sunrise
1. As we come to the end of this Rotary year, I wanted to start with another impactful video of thanks from OUR Rotary Foundation.
2. The Foundation Committee met last month and some information was discussed that, as always, made us proud of our District and our generous Rotarians. Carolyn Johnson is the Foundation Committee Global Grants Coordinator, a member of the Yarmouth Rotary Club, and a Past District Governor (PDG). Carolyn shared an update on District Designated Funds (DDF) and the projection of year-end as of May 1 reporting. Click 'read more' below for full details.
3. & 4.) We sent a new incentive to Club Presidents and Club Foundation Chairs last fall. We called it our "Imagine PolioPlus Challenge 2022-23," and we were so impressed with how clubs around the District rose to the challenge! Click 'read more' below for full details on this challenge as well as one focused on Annual Giving.
Following up on the wonderful information about Global Grants briefly highlighted in the article from the District Foundation Committee Connecting the Dots, I'm taking the opportunity to feature a Global Grant with the chance for "buy-in" by other clubs. Please review this letter and reach out if you have any questions or are interested in learning more.
May 20, 2023
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is excited to announce that we are supporting a new Global Grant in Colombia, S.A. We would be honored if you joined us in this worthwhile project.
Rotarians Rick Whelchel and Emma Bodwell recently traveled to Colombia, S.A. to participate in its 8th Project Fair. At this fair, they learned about a new project being promoted by the Nuevo Medellin Rotary Club, called Aquaponics for Youth with Leadership. After the project fair, Emma & Rick traveled to Medellin to learn about this project first-hand.
(Reprinted from the Portsmouth RC Newsletter) Portsmouth Rotary members supported the District 7780 awareness and fund-raising efforts by laying out the red carpet (twice) for pilots Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels. They landed in Portsmouth on Friday, May 5, the first stop on their circumnavigation of the globe for PolioPlus. The district hosted a welcome dinner and fundraiser at the Port City Air hangar, Pease Tradeport, Saturday night May 6 which was a wonderful chance to meet, greet and welcome them. Click here for more information on their journey. Just click the button on the linked website and then enter their aircraft tail number as the flight number: N732WP.
As you all know, the Saco Bay Sunset RC was awarded a Disaster Recovery Grant to shelter women and children from the war in Ukraine. President Carol Marcotte, SBSRC, spearheaded this effort. She is traveling to Poland and Ukraine to visit Rotarians and the Peace Shelter, to see the children, where the grant monies were used to fix the roof so the Ukrainian refugees can live there comfortably. She is so excited to see the families being housed there and the resident Sisters providing hospitality at the convent.
During Carol’s time in Poland and Ukraine, the last club meeting of her term as president will be conducted via a Zoom call and all are invited. Join Carol and her counterpart in Poland, PE Mateo (Maciek) Karczmakczuk of the RC of Lublin Centum, who brought this project together. Due to the help from our District, today the convent of the Sisters of St. Anne in Brzuchowice in Lviv, Ukraine, houses forty mothers, children, and grandparents. Please join us to meet these wonderful people.
Co-chairs of the Silent Auction Committee, George and Patti Rice of the Oxford Hills Club, wanted to remind everyone that the Silent Auction is online again this year at the District 7780 Web Page. We encourage everyone to participate in raising funds for Our Rotary Foundation and to defray Celebration expenses. As Governor Claudia says "BID OFTEN AND BID HIGH!!
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SAVE THE DATE
Building Recovery Ready Communities
Work, Housing, and Prevention
September 21, 2023
Italian Heritage Center, Portland
The District 7780 Opioid Conference Planning Committee, under the guidance of Rotarian and Kennebunk Police Chief DGN Robert Mackenzie, announces their second all-day meeting on Building Recovery Ready Communities, to be held on September 21, 2023 at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. Last year 170 Rotarians and community members from across Southern Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire met for a powerful day of learning as we addressed Substance Use Disorder. This year's program will focus on Work, Housing, and Prevention as we band together to actively support those in Recovery, thereby helping to reduce the escalating tragedy of overdose and death in our district's communities. Mark your calendars. More information will be forthcoming.
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District 7780 Indigenous Partnership Committee Update
We have a suggestion for you:
If truth stimulates you,
If equity intrigues you,
If relationships reward you,
If learning strengthens you,
consider spending a few moments on the Wabanaki Reach website. We all have a lot to learn about our Indigenous Neighbors and there is no substitute for their own voices. And, if your interest was piqued, consider joining District 7780’s Indigenous Partnership Committee. Contact Jud Knox.
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District International Services Committee Update
The final International Café of the 2022-23 Rotary Year will be on Saturday, June 17 at 9:30 a.m. via zoom. Watch for the Zoom link and the agenda in the next two weeks.
The International Cafes have proved to be very popular with about 30 participants each time. A wealth of projects have been presented from within our district and from outside. The value of the Zoom technology, introduced to many of us during the pandemic, has proved to be very useful allowing us to bring in presenters from around the world. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on June 17.
Please reach out to Emma Bodwell if you have an international project in the works or recently completed that you would like to share with the district!
For more information about DISC and/or to express an interest in a presentation for your club or in committee membership, contact Emma.
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