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January 2019 - ISSUE 7
 
Upcoming Events
Rotary Leadership Institute - Marlborough, MA
Courtyard Boston
Jan 26, 2019
7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
 
Mid - Year Leadership Dinner
Fireside Inn & Suites
Jan 28, 2019
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
PE Training #4
Freeport
Feb 09, 2019
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Grants Management Seminar
Deering Memorial Community Center
Feb 25, 2019
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
 
International Committee Meeting
Sable Oaks Marriott
Feb 28, 2019
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
 
Rotary Leadership Institute - Concord, NH
NH Technical Institute
Mar 16, 2019
7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
 
Hampton Rotary's 50th Anniversary Celebration!
Mar 23, 2019
 
Interact Conference
Mar 23, 2019
 
Finance Committee 6PM
Husson University Southern Maine Campus
Mar 25, 2019
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
District Training Assembly
York County Community College
Apr 06, 2019
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
 
Having trouble viewing the Newsletter?
Click here to view it online.
 
 
 
JANUARY GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE
 
Happy New Year!
 
Time is passing fast! I’m going to miss serving as governor when my term ends on June 30. Sue and I particularly enjoyed celebrating the holidays with so many of you. Thank you for your kind invitations!
 
As we think about resolutions for the New Year, I hope each of you will resolve to bring in at least one new member. That’s a resolution you can keep!  For those of us for whom Rotary has meant so much, bringing in a new member is the least we can do!  And what a gift to the new member!
 
Here is a quick rundown on some of the key dates for the remainder of the Rotary year:
 
January 28 - Mid-Year Leadership Dinner at Fireside Inn in Westbrook, ME (for club presidents, presidents-elect, vice presidents, assistant governors, and our past, present and future governors)
 
February 2 - Oxford Hills’ 35th Anniversary Celebration!
 
March 7-9 - NE PETS (training for our presidents-elect and assistant governors in Framingham, MA with 7 other districts)
 
March 23 -Interact Conference in Oxford Hills (March 30 snow day backup)
 
March 23 - Hampton’s 50th Anniversary Celebration!
 
April 6 - District Training Assembly at York County Community College
 
April 13 - Bath Sunrise’s 30th Anniversary Celebration!
 
June 15 - Bath’s 100th Anniversary Celebration!
 
June 21 - Pre-District Conference Service Project (clearing invasives) at Ft Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth, ME
 
June 22 - District Conference, “RotaryFest,” Ft Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth, ME
 
June 23-26 - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at Camp Hinds, Raymond, ME
 
June 25 - District Changeover Dinner at RYLA, Camp Hinds, Raymond, ME
We also have a strong contingent from the district attending the International Convention in Hamburg, Germany, June 1-5. It isn’t too late to register, http://www.riconvention.org/en/hamburg/register.      
 
Let’s get back to possible resolutions!  Here are some thoughts:                  
 
Resolve to attend RotaryFest. Fun, free, family, food, music, beautiful, kite flying, face painting, corn hole games, awesome photos of the incredible Portland Head Light, beautiful family pictures, wonderful pictures with fellow club members and Rotarian friends, networking, promotion of individual club projects and fundraisers, tours of the Fort, sharing ideas and best practices, programming focused on grants clubs have received and important initiatives and service, including our opioid initiative, Crutches4Africa, and much more…. Pick and choose which events you will attend, or just sit back and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the company of friends….
 
Resolve to help your club with leadership and succession planning, particularly in accepting leadership roles and in helping the club build on this year’s successes in future years. Consider asking for help in visioning and planning.
 
Resolve to attend the District Training Assembly (where you will learn new things, share expertise and ideas, and network with Rotarians from throughout the District)
 
Resolve to learn the needs of your community, and to find solutions through which Rotary can help meet those needs.
 
Resolve to send as many students to RYLA as your club can send, and consider experiencing RYLA first-hand by attending the District Changeover Dinner at Camp Hinds.
 
Resolve to contribute within your means toward the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, and/or the other programs through which Rotary International does so much good with so little administrative expense.  Consider making contributions through Rotary Direct, joining the Bequest Society, and participating in various other ways of giving.  If you would like to establish a Family Foundation, our Foundation Committee will explain how you can do it with minimal paperwork (and less money than you might think) through a Donor Advised Fund.  For more information on giving opportunities, visit www.rotary.org, then GIVE at the top right of the screen, and DONATE on the next screen.
 
Resolve to make new members feel welcome, and to help them understand what Rotary is all about, what your club does for the community, and how they can become engaged.
 
 
Let’s also remember that January is Rotary’s Vocational Service Month.
 
To me, vocational service means a number of things.  For one, it means maintaining the highest ethical standards ourselves in our occupations and, as the 4 way test instructs us, in all we think, say or do.  We must set an example for young people and others.  If not Rotary (and the other great civic organizations), then who?  As former Ambassador Andrew Young told our Atlanta Convention, “Rotary is the glue that holds civil society together.”
 
As we highlight Vocational Service this month, we also recognize the worthiness of all honorable work.  We do not exalt one profession or trade over another— rather we celebrate the contributions of all who work to make our lives better.
 
Let us remember, in particular, the value of the trades and how many of our young people can follow that path to successful and fulfilling lives. Regardless of our politics, we can point to recent gubernatorial candidate Shawn Moody of Moody’s Collision and how he turned his high school interest in auto body work into a successful and fulfilling career.  Shawn told his story at one of our District Training Assemblies a number of years ago. Let’s re-double our efforts to assist vocational and technical programs in our areas, and enable our young people to allow their talents to shine.
 
We also remember Rotary’s start as a networking organization, even before it became a leading service organization.  Let’s remember those who give so generously of their time in Rotary service and support them in their businesses.  When I needed a new dentist, I found a great one right in my own club.  The same when I needed a new oil burner and a lawnmower. 
 
I adapted the following vocational service suggestions from a list compiled by District 5790:
 
Consider devoting a meeting to examining the second Avenue of Service (Vocational Service), including The Four-Way Test and The Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions. After expanding the awareness of your fellow members, solicit their input on projects within this area of service.
 
Introduce a "mini-classification talk" series in which members can give a five-minute talk on their vocations.
 
Present a vocational award to someone in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining high ethical standards. Promote the presentation within the community, and consider making it an annual event.
 
Invite local experts to present on the vocational needs of the community and develop projects in response to those needs. Possible projects could focus on developing character, providing career information to youth, mentoring small businesses, or organizing workshops that provide employees with new skills.
 
While we celebrate the value of all work, let us also remember the value of leisure.  I’m currently reading a philosophy book by Josef Pieper, entitled Leisure, The Basis of Culture.  I hope you will take time for yourselves among everything else you are doing, pause, and take in the beauty that surrounds us.  We will do that during RotaryFest in June at the incredibly beautiful Ft Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth.  I hope to see you there!
 
John
 
President Elect Training Schedule
 
Session One – October 22, 2018
Focus: Presidential Responsibility  (Husson University 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM  Dinner) 
 
Session Two – November 27, 2018
Focus: Rotary 101 Plus- Social Networking  (Cumberland Club 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM)
 
Session Three – January 28, 2019 – Mid Year Leadership Dinner
Focus: What is your status? (Fireside Inn- Portland 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
 
Session Four – February 9, 2019
Focus: Goal Setting (Freeport Community Center, 8 AM - 12:00 PM Breakfast)
 
Sessions Five and Six – March 6 – 8, 2019 – NEPETS
Focus: Inspiration & Leadership (Framingham, MA)
 
Session Seven – April 6, 2019 – District Training Assembly
Focus: Mandatory Topics  (YCCC-Wells 8:00 AM -12:00 PM)
 
 
Polio Plus - January 2019
 
 
Happy New Year “2019” Rotarian’s of District 7780,
 
 
Polio Learning Center, January 2019:
 
What is Vaccine-Derived Polio?  
 
The oral polio vaccine (OPV) contains an attenuated (weakened) vaccine-virus which activates an immune response in the body.  When a child is immunized with OPV, the weakened vaccine-virus replicates in the intestine for a limited time, thereby causing the child to develop immunity by building up antibodies.  During this time, the vaccine-virus is also excreted.  In areas of inadequate sanitation, this excreted vaccine-virus can spread in the immediate community (and this can offer protection to other un-immunized children through passive immunization), before eventually dying out.  On rare occasions, if a population is seriously under-immunized, an excreted vaccine-virus can continue to circulate (in un-immunized children) for an extended period of time.  The longer it is allowed to survive, the more genetic changes it undergoes.  In rare instances the vaccine-virus can change into a form that can cause paralysis.  This is what is known as a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). This is rare (about one in a million) and it takes a long time (at least 12 months) for a cVDPV to occur.  So the problem is not with the vaccine itself, but low vaccination coverage.  The risk of this occurring is very slight and pales in significance when compared to the tremendous health benefits associated the OPV.  If a population is fully immunized they will be protected against both vaccine-derived and wild polio viruses. 
 
What can be done about Vaccine-Derived Polio?
                                                                                  
 In the past circulating VDPVs have been rapidly stopped with 2-3 rounds of high-quality immunization campaigns.  Over 90% of cVDPV cases were due to the type 2 component in OPV, and because there had not been a case of paralysis from Wild type 2 virus since 1999 a switch was made in April 2016 from the trivalent OPV to bivalent OPV (eliminating type 2) which has removed the risk of cVDPV2.
 
How close are we, then, to completely stopping polio in the world?    
                                     
Type 2 Wild Polio Virus was eradicated in 1999. There has not been a case of paralysis from Type 3 Wild Polio Virus found anywhere in the world since 2012  Only three countries in the world remain—Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria--where polio is endemic. But environmental tests (on sewage) in these countries continue to be positive for Type 1 poliovirus. Recognizing both the opportunity of eradicating polio and the significant risks of possible failure, the plan “The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2019” was developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) of the World Health Organization.  This plan addresses all aspects of polio eradication and exploits the unique opportunity to stop all polio disease once and for all.  It also builds on new tactics and progress on interrupting wild poliovirus transmission and the development of new tools and strategies for managing the risks of vaccine-derived poliovirus.  
 
The goal continues to be that no child will ever again suffer the terrible effects of life long polio-paralysis.
Posted by Dr. Paul Nelson / District 5670 Kansas, USA
 
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, and thank you for your support thus far toward Polio eradication.
 
Jeffrey Slaton / Polio Plus Coordinator
Rotary Club of Saco Bay / District 7780
slatonjeffrey@yahoo.com / 207.608.3131     
 
 

A Call to Action for All District 7780 Rotarians and Guests

The opiate epidemic is sweeping across our country and devastating our communities.  Maine and New Hampshire experienced 901 drug-induced deaths in 2017.  Our communities must work together to make a difference and help fight this epidemic. 

Be prepared to save a life and give hope to those in recovery by attending

this Opiate Epidemic training event brought to you by the Rotary District 7780 Recovery Initiative Committee in partnership with the City of Portland Public Health Division’s Overdose Prevention Project.  All are welcome to attend.

Recognizing and Responding to an Opiate/Heroin Overdose

Hosted by Rotary Club of Portland, Maine

Thursday, January 24, 2019 (Snow Date:  2/21/19)

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Maine Medical Center Dana Auditorium

22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME

Parking is available on Bramhall Street or in the Maine Med parking lot on Chadwick Street

  • Learn about the Opiate Epidemic and Substance Use Disorder
  • Learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose
  • Learn how to perform first-aid, including administering Naloxone (the drug that reverses the effects of opioids)
  • Help reduce the stigma of Substance Use Disorder

To RSVP, please email Chief Bob MacKenzie, Kennebunk Police Department, at rmackenzie@kennebunkmaine.us or call 207 604-1339

 

 
Rotary Short Term Youth Exchange Program (STEP) Update
 
  • Six clubs have decided to participate, so far.
  • Posters and applications are in 10 schools
  • Application deadline extended to Jan 31, 2019
  • It is not too late for clubs to join in.
 
What’s so great about STEP?
 
  • It’s affordable: Students and their families pay travel expenses and modest fees for administration and insurance.
  • It’s simple: Local Rotarians promote the program and help students and their families apply. Rotary’s Eastern States Student Exchange (ESSEX) arranges the matches, and the families make their own travel arrangements.
  • It’s for everyone: Anyone aged 15 to 18 1/2 is eligible.
  • It’s flexible: There is no set schedule for travel. Families decide everything for themselves.
  • It’s powerful: These summer exchanges are life-changing.

 

For more info: 
 
Kathi Perkins, 207-253-1778 kperkins1@myfairpoint.net (Westbrook Rotary) or
Dick Hall, 207-749-9186 dickhall@maine.rr.com (Portland Rotary).
 
Rotaract Service Project
 
Hello Rotarians, Claudia Frost and I returned last week from our fact finding mission to Puerto Rico. We traveled the entire island to see firsthand the scale of the disaster. I am sad to report that there is still an incredible amount of rebuilding to be done and many families are traumatized and lack proper resources to prepare for the next hurricane season. Among other things, many of the homes we saw lack roofs or have only temporary plastic coverings. Now, in another repercussion, Puerto Rico plans to close 265 schools following this calamitous natural disaster that exacerbated the island’s financial woes.
 
The good news is that in our travels we met with many Rotarians and Rotaractors about the upcoming Rotaract mission. Everything is moving forward with the Rotaract project except for the date. Due to Puerto Rico’s extended Christmas holiday that runs through the middle of January, the next available opportunity will be spring break in March.  I will be personally returning to Puerto Rico in January to follow up and finalize the Rotaract arrangements.  
 
As a result, the deadline to contribute has been extended to January 15, 2019.  If you would like to make a donation, you can use either the “GoFundMe” page or donate directly. If you want to donate directly please call Sheila Rollins, 207-956-3786 or wwwings@megalink.net.
The Rotaractors are grateful for all those who have already donated to this important mission. We have raised over $3000.00. We still have a long way to go to make this mission a reality. We estimate that when all is said and done, their airfare and lodging will total approximately $10,000.00.
 
Please ask your club to consider making a donation to ensure that this project will become a reality and to honor the sincere efforts of these young Rotaractors. The Rotaractors are anxious to share their vision of this project with your club. Please contact me directly to schedule a presentation.
 
The reality is that destruction in Puerto Rico remains and families are still recovering from devastating effects of hurricane Maria.
 
Can you help make this project a reality?  Here’s the link:
 
 
Yours in Rotary,
Sheila
 
Sheila Rollins
Rotary District Governor 2015-16
District 7780 Rotaract Chair 2016-2019
207-956-3786 Cell
207-583-6074 Home
 
District History for January 2019
No one got the answer for this one!
 
December History Question
 
Okay, we are down to the last two decades 1980 – 1999.  Which clubs were chartered during this time?  Which decade had the most new clubs?  Think about Rotary’s history when you answer this last question for this timeframe.  Which club was the first one in the district to charter with women?
 
The answers are as follows:
 
Ten clubs joined Rotary between 1982 and 1989.  Seven clubs joined Rotary between 1990 and 1998 that are part of District 7780.
 
1982 York
1983 Sebago Lake Region
1983 Oxford Hills
1983 Freeport
1986 Wells
1986 Durham Great Bay
1987 Kittery
1988 Portland Sunrise
1989 Bath Sunrise
1989 Saco Bay
1990 Seabrook-Hampton Falls – turned in their charter in 2003
1990 Kennebunk Portside
1990 Brunswick Coastal
1991 Bridgton-Lake Region
1994 Fryeburg Area
1996 Yarmouth
1998 Seacoast Portsmouth
 
Which decade had the most new clubs? – 1980’s. 
 
Which club was the first one in the district to charter with women? – Kittery. (Yours truly was one of those Kittery Charter women.)
 
 
New History Question for January 2019.
 
You now have the years that all the clubs in our district joined Rotary.  Which calendar year or years had the most new clubs chartered?  How many clubs were chartered in that year or years?
 
This one should be really easy if you read all the District Newsletters!
 
Send your answers to me at mawilliamspdg@comcast.net with your name and your club’s name.  The answers will be in the February newsletter.
 
I want to wish all of you Happy Holidays and a Very Happy and Healthy New Year!
 
Marie
 
Marie A. Williams, PDG
District 7780 Historian
 
Welcome New Rotarians!
 
On December 11th, the Rotary Club of Kittery inducted Susannah Goodwin, the fourth new member to join the club this year. The club started the 2018-2019 Rotary year with 20 members. Special recognition goes to club member Melanie Tromblee, who sponsored both Susannah and Keith Doucet this year. Susannah is flanked by Melanie (left) and Club President Dave as the "Welcome to Rotary"" is read. Brian Gruhn and Dave Fazzina were also  inducted earlier in the 2018-2019 year. We are growing!
 
 
 
Michelle Buxton and Mark Harrison DDS became new members to the Exeter Rotary Club.  They each bring tremendous talent to our club.  Mark is a Paul Harris recipient for the work  dental work he offers to the children in Dundee, Republic of South Africa.  Michelle is an expert in computer technology and marketing.  We are delighted to have them join our club.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Dover welcomed our 5 newest Rotarians, Roderick Bryce, Kathi Lajoi, Maria Ayer, Michael Cate and Yulia Rothenberg. We continue to grow our friendships and fellowships In our community.  We welcome you to the Rotary Club of Dover.
 
NEW PLACE, NEW TIME!
OGUNQUIT ROTARY NOW MEETS AT BINTLIFF'S OGUNQUIT RESTAURANT
 
 
The Rotary Club of Ogunquit, again, is a lunch-time club. After several years of meeting over breakfast at the Beachmere Inn, the members decided that noon on Friday is preferable. Our new home is Bintliff’s Ogunquit Restaurant, a popular Main Street eatery. Co-owner and executive chef Norm Hebert, highly regarded on the culinary scene of New England, enthusiastically welcomed us to our new home. Along with changing to a new meeting time and place, the club has modified its meeting schedule. We now meet twice a month for lunch on the first and third Fridays. In addition, the club holds a social meeting on the Thursday after the first Friday, usually at the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce. When you are nearby, please stop in and join us for lunch! https://bintliffsogunquit.com/
 
 
The Rotary Club of Bethel
DECEMBER RECAP
 
 
This group of Rotarians gathered to fill 25+ boxes with complete turkey dinners that were distributed to needy families throughout our area.


Cri-Cri Gorycki from Gould Academy presented a $125 donation raised at one of their events to benefit our Christmas for Children program.
 


At our December 18th meeting, the Bethel Rotary Club recognized Telstar High School November Students of the Month.  At the same meeting we presented scholarship checks to Gaelen Boyle-Wight and Rachel Brower, two of our June 2018, scholarship recipients.

 


Rotarians Lucy Abbott and Dave Fraher braved the cold to collect donations for the Christmas for Children program. Bruce Powell and Pat Roma also collected donations for our program that provides nearly 100 local families with funds to make Christmas morning more joy-filled for their children.
 


On December 11th, the club hosted nearly 90 local senior citizens at an Annual Holiday Luncheon.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Damarsicotta-Newcastle
CLUB COMBATS FOOD INSECURITY
 
 
There were smiles all around as Damariscotta-Newcastle distributed checks to Farms at the Y, Twin Village Foodbank Farm and the Ecumenical food bank in our continuing work to combat food insecurity.
 
 
ROTARIANS ASSIST WITH ASSEMBLING FOOD PACKS
 
 
PP Lorraine Faherty and Rotarian Laura Fortman (newly appointed as Commissioner of Labor by Governor-Elect Janet Mills) assisted the Food Bank with assembling the weekend food packs for 40 students at Great Salt Bay and Medomak schools.
 
 
CLUB CELEBRATES 94 YEARS
 
 
The Damariscotta-Newcastle club celebrated their 94th birthday this month with a breakfast (yes, there was cake) party. Joining the festivities was Chip Griffin of Boothbay who spoke of the friendship between our two clubs as we were their sponsor. Damariscotta-Newcastle was sponsored by Augusta in 1924. Led by Wilt Jones and Lorraine Faherty, club members strolled down memory lane both locally and nationally since 1924. We are looking forward to our 100th party!
 
 
FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES
 
 
Holiday Fun and Fundraising efforts by Damariscotta-Newcastle included our first annual Festival of Trees, which raised $2,200, (special thanx to ADG Bob Reed for his help on the final day) and Holiday Collections at the Damariscotta Post Office and Main Street Grocery. Held jointly with the Damariscotta-Newcastle Lions Club and volunteers from many businesses and individuals, the kettles contained about $6,000 for local food insecurity efforts.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Dover
CREATES ROTARY LITERACY HOLIDAY TREE
 
 
Creating this fabulous holiday tree for Dover Rotarians, for the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce 9th Annual Festival of Trees, was not only fun but amazing as we all came together over the past month to plan for our Rotary Literacy Dr. Seuss tree as we gathered books, toys, ornaments, tree topper and tree skirt and the Little Free Library. We worked hard to make this holiday tree a tree that someone would auction on and enjoy. A beautiful holiday tree.
 
 
ROTARIANS RECEIVE PHF AWARDS
 
 
Congratulations to Rotarians Bob Richard, Gregg Dowty, Ken Plante & Jim Munro, as they were presented the Paul Harris Award for their contributions to our Rotary Foundation and their Service Above Self.
 
 
CHECK PRESENTED TO LIBRARY
 
 
At our recent Rotary Club of Dover meeting at the Dover Public Library, our Rotary President, Noreen Biehl presented Library Director Cathy Beaudoin, and Children's Librarian Patty Falconer a check for $25,000.  This money will be used to fund Phase 1 work of the renovation of the children’s library.  Because relationships are at the core of learning for children and play is the work of children, the Family Place Libraries focus on creating relationship and play for children and families.  Working with partners like the Rotary Club of Dover is key in keeping the library active through community outreach and marketing in our community. Our $25,000 donation will cover the cost of new shelving and tables for this area, similar to the handout that we were provided that shows the new design of the upper area of the children’s room, as this project is started and looking to be completed in the spring of 2019. Community members and our Rotarians will be asked to check out the picture books during renovation, and then return them when the renovation is completed.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay
ROTARY DELIVERS HOLIDAY CHEER TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES
 
 
Rotarian's from the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay deliver 150 turkeys, to the Cornucopia Food Pantry at the Waysmeet Center in Durham, to be used in holiday food baskets.  From left to right; Tom Timpone, Will Lenharth, Tom Boisvert, Bill Drapeau, Ric Erickson, Russ Smith, Brian Burke, John Belcher, Gina DeNuzzio, Steve Kniaz and Phil Albright.
 
Over the course of 20 years, the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay has provided thousands of turkeys for local food pantries holiday food baskets. This year is no different.
 
Bill Drapeau, a club member and Sergeant-At-Arms, states that so far this year, the club has raised enough money to purchase nearly 4,900 pounds; over two tons. This equates to 247 (18-20 pound) turkeys. 
 
The club donated 25 turkeys to the Church of St. Thomas More for their Thanksgiving food baskets. With the help of the Durham Fire Department, all other donations were delivered on December 17th, for holiday food baskets. 
 
The annual turkey drive helps four community food pantries. The Church of St. Thomas More in Durham, the Lee Congregational Church in Lee, the Cornucopia Food Pantry at the Waysmeet Center in Durham, and the Newmarket Community Church in Newmarket. Last year, the Durham-Great Bay Rotary provided more than 235 turkeys to families in need.
 
John Belcher, Club Treasurer, stated that historically the club donates approximately 225 turkeys per year.  Over the past 20 years, the club has donated nearly 5,000 turkeys worth nearly $74,000.
 
 

According to the website Feeding America, http://www.feedingamerica.org/, in New Hampshire, 128,910 people are struggling with hunger. Of that, 33,940 are children. That is 1 in 10 adults, and 1 in 8 children. "Charitable programs are unable to fully support those struggling with hunger. The combination of charity and government assistance programs are necessary to help bridge the meal gap."  The Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay, as well as hundreds of Rotary Clubs around the country, takes that mission seriously to help bridge the meal gap for hundreds of families in the Seacoast area that are struggling with hunger and food insecurity.

 

 
The Rotary Club of Exeter
LUMINARIES LIGHT THE WAY
 
 
Once again the streets of Exeter were warmly lit with over 1200 luminaries. The bags were filled with sand and candles on December 20, and distributed on Christmas Eve by several teams of Exeter Rotarians. This is the 25th year the Rotary Club of Exeter has lit up the town, as a way to spread the joy of the season to the residents and guest of our town.  
 
 
 
EXETER ROTARY CLUB AUCTION
 
The Exeter Rotary Club’s 9th Annual Holiday Auction took place on December 7th, at the Exeter Inn. Christmas music played in the background as people talked in excitement of what was to come. The proceeds from this event will go towards high school scholarships and grants to community nonprofit organizations. It was sponsored by twenty local businesses (see below.) The sense of community and the good cause drew new and returning attendees to the event.
 
 
The auction offered multiple items including: food baskets, entertainment and fitness packages, kids items, clothing, art and other donations from local businesses around the New Hampshire Seacoast. Many of these baskets and other items were part of the silent auction, while the larger travel and entertainment packages were part of the live auction. Attendees looked forward to the live auction that draws them back year after year. Saturday Night Live show tickets in New York City and a full course dinner at the top of a lighthouse in Newburyport, Massachusetts were among the auctioned items. 
 
During the live auction, the ask in need, was for support of the Exeter Rotary Club “Inspiring HOPE” Scholarship, which is used to educate recovery coaches. Each coach sponsored through this program is assigned a client struggling with substance use disorder. The recovery coach creates a personal recovery plan with the client.  Exeter Hospital started the bidding and matched up to six coaches. The public and Rotarians donated enough to meet the goal of twenty coaches. 
 
In the spirit of the holiday season, along with the holiday auction committee, each Rotarian did an outstanding job finding sponsors, meeting with local businesses, and supporting the event. We are grateful to our many sponsors: Platinum Level: Exeter Hospital Palladium Level: Unitil Gold Level: Autofair Nissan, Foss Motors, Kennebunk Savings Bank, Optima Savings & Trust, R.E. Prescott Company Inc., RiverWoods Silver Level: Tressa & Tim Bickford, ConvenientMD, Edward Jones-Galen V. Nichols, Emanuel Engineering, Hurlbert Toyota, TD Bank Bronze Level: Kathy Flygare, Martin Family Enterprises, Providence Bank, Riddell Law, PLLC, St. Anthony’s Bakery, and Top Terroir LLC.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Hampton
HAMPTON ROTARIANS GREET THE SEASON
 
December has been eventful for the Hampton Rotary Club. On December 1st, Rotarians were participants in the Hampton Christmas Parade. This group of Rotarians assembled a beautiful float, celebrating both the season and Rotary! They spread cheer and candy canes among the crowds.
 
 

December 1st, also started our annual community service project of “ringing the bells” for the Salvation Army.  Members signed up for 2-3 hour shifts each weekend during the month of December. The temperatures may have plummeted, but our resolve remained constant.

Pictured on left:  Deb Marsolais and Jim Westfall.  Pictured on right: Michael Green, Rich Gibadlo, Barbara Lizotte, and Sherry Rand

 

On December 12th, Hampton Rotarians gathered for a well-deserved holiday dinner at the Portsmouth Country Club. Rotarians brought donations to assist the Hobbs House to benefit the Seacoast Youth Hygiene Project, and a special raffle was also held to benefit our Polio fund!

Pictured on left:  DG John LoBosco visits with beloved Hampton Rotarian John Adams.  Pictured on right:  DGE Andy Glazier (center) and Pam Gray (right) pose with Penny Jett

 

 
The Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club
ANNUAL HOLIDAY BREAKFAST
 
Kennebunk Portside Rotary prepared and served our Annual Community Outreach Services Holiday Breakfast. Friday mornings are the weekly pick up from the Food Pantry, and the club serves breakfast before the food is distributed. Service Above Self!
 
 
 
PUERTO RICO 2017 FELIZ NAVIDAD
 
As our American culture rushes toward the gift giving season of 2018, I take inspiration from a 14 year old who organized a Feliz Navidad for the stricken people, in Puerto Rico. This unusual young lady is now a freshman in high school but she was an eighth grader when she organized this enormous community service project.  Andrea Reigosa Collin, you see, was born in Puerto Rico and was sensitized in a personal way by the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria.  Andrea has relatives and friends on the island that have suffered terrible loss.
 
 
So with the help of classmates and the larger community of the local schools,   Andrea designed and researched a toy collection for the children devastated by the losses of the storm. From Sept.28 2017 through Dec. 6, 2017, she collected over 800 toys  for the children.  She organized the transportation of the toys through Fed EX using a non –profit women’s organization called Fundacio Alas ala Mujer, Inc. as the shipping and receiving host.  The plan was to send the toys but Andreas’s parents secretly planned to have the Reigosa Collin Family deliver the toys   personally to the children of Arecibo, Utuado and Peneuelas.  As Andrea told me and our Kennebunk Portside Rotary, ”It was all worth it to see the joy on the children’s faces.””  The tremendous effort of time and the physical labor of packing 800 toys were outstanding, and the American Red Cross noticed.  Andrea was given the “Real Heroes Award” by Red Cross. Our Rotarians were very impressed with her story of service, commitment and love for her Puerto Rican community.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Ogunquit
HOSTS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON FOR SENIORS AND STUDENTS
 
 
Ogunquit Rotarians recently hosted about 50 local area senior citizens and a group of 5th grade students from Wells Junior High School, at its annual Holiday Luncheon at Jonathan’s Restaurant in Ogunquit. We were pleased to be joined by Past District Governors Liz Cullen, Maria Williams, Lawrence Furbish and Elias Thomas, as well as District Governor John LoBosco, his wife Sue LoBosco, and ADG Larry Marsolais. Members served plates of turkey, mashed potato, peas, stuffing and gravy, and then introduced each of the guests at their respective tables. Pastor Jeffrey Patnaude of the Ogunquit Baptist Church led the group in a holiday sign-along. We also were pleased to enjoy a visit from Santa Claus, who delivered a gift box of books for the students to bring back to their classes at the junior high. This event is always a reliable, uplifting start to the holiday season.
 
 
The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
 
Celebrating 35 years of serving the Oxford Hills
ROTARY CLUB OF OXFORD HILLS, ME
 
 
1983 - 2018
 
 
February 2, 2019
Oxford Casino Hotel
777 Casino Way
Oxford, ME
                                                            
Cocktail Hour 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Buffet Dinner at 7:00pm
Cost $35.00 pp    
                                                       
Please reserve by January 25th, at oxfordhillsrotary.org or mail check to: 
Rotary Club of Oxford Hills - PO Box 14 - Norway, ME 04268  
   Contact the hotel directly for room reservations if desired at: oxfordcasino.com or 207-539-6777
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
 
 

The Rotary Club of Oxford Hills would like to say, ‘THANK YOU’ to everyone who bought and/or helped sell our Cabot Cheese Wheels again this year!  It was our best cheese wheel sales yet!  In addition to selling to all our local customers and friends, we also sold wheels to several members of 11 different Rotary Clubs this year!  That’s the power of Rotary!

 

 
The Rotary Club of Portland
ROTARIAN ATTENDS ADDICTION COACH TRAINING
 

Jesse Harvey (right) is a Portland Rotarian and a certified recovery coach trainer with Laurie Quinn from the Philmont Rotary Club in New York (District 7210).

In July, they attended the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery Coach Academy training in Connecticut. Also, they have also been talking to a young Rotarian, Gracie Lynn Besse, a Global Mission Fellow at the General Board of Global Ministries, of the Salem Rotary Club in New York (District 7190), about possibly jointly applying for a Rotary International Grant to offer recovery supports.

 

 
The Rotary Club of Portsmouth
CLUB DISTRICT REPORT
 
There was definitely a “Charlie Brown” aspect to our Christmas Tree Sales this year. After three weeks, and about 1600 of the holiday staples out the door, inventory dwindled down to one lonely balsam fir. A young dad and his two kids arrived on the scene and gave the dejected plant a home. Our volunteer crew had aptly named it “Charlie.”
 
 
Unofficially, we netted out $83,000, according to Joe Bove, about $3,000 more than last year. That also includes sales of wreaths, birdseed wreaths and ornaments (this year’s depicting Prescott Park.) Jon Flagg aptly led the effort. Mort Schmidt, by the way, again paid $100 for Ornament #1 and gave it, as we always do, to Ray Jones’ widow Marlene. Jones came up with the idea to sell ornaments back in the day.
 
It’s been a busy month for the club, starting with Thanksgiving dinner. Betsy Scott and Donna Harvey co-chaired this annual feast. It was their first time, and they did a wonderful job. Some 150 dinners were packed in bags decorated by Greenland Elementary School students. They were delivered by volunteers to communities as far away as Exeter and Newmarket.
 
Back at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church parish hall, at least 180 seated meals were served. Volunteers Mitch Schuldman and Jai Jamal provided music on guitar and keyboard respectfully. Numerous other Rotarians gave of their time and talent.
Just over two weeks later, the club hosted its Annual Senior Holiday Celebration. Reservations had sold out hours after the announcement. There were 180 seniors on hand for the traditional festive meal. Portsmouth High’s Instrumental ensemble played back ground music, and Seacoast Community School Preschoolers performed several tunes. The Rotations led the holiday sing-a-long. Co-chairs for this event were Cindi Shanley and Julia Ghigliotti.
 
 
The club embraced the spirit of giving. Basic Needs donated $25 dollar gifts cards for gas or Wal-mart to Cross Roads House, this year’s charity partner. The committee also gave $1500 dollars each, to Friends in Action and Catholic Charities. The Cash Committee donated another $1500 dollars to Friends Forever. The Child Advocacy Center and PMAC were also recipients of Rotary gifts.
 
Visiting speakers for the period included new Berwick Academy Head of School, Jim Hamilton. Portsmouth Housing Executive Director Craig Welsh spoke as well. Local physician Dr. Tom Clairmont gave us his plan for Medicare Expansion, a program that sparked spirited debate.
 
We said good-bye to two former Club Presidents, Al Bergeron and Art Cole. Art had been a staunch advocate for Youth Exchange.
 
 
The River Valley Rotary Club
WINTERIZATION PROJECT A TOTAL SUCCESS
 
 
Thanks to this years group of volunteers from the River Valley Rotary Club for the Winterization Project. Four houses were completed by November 18, 2018, with eight more to go.  A total of 12 homes were winterized!
 
 
ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER
 
The River Valley Rotary Club held their Annual Holiday Dinner at 49 Franklin Street on Monday, December 17, 2018.

Following all the pomp and circumstance with the awarding of the Volunteer The Year, the Rotarian of the Year, and issuing of Paul Harris recognitions, Roger Whitehouse was given the opportunity to speak about this years “Community Giving Tree” sponsored by the River Valley Rotary Club, in which people and businesses donate gifts or money towards the homeless families at the Rumford Group Home. It is his pleasure to head up such an event where one gets to hear about and see the joy others get in giving to help others. That old adage, “It is better to give than to receive” resonates throughout, not only this club’s membership, but the community at large.  He also shared a Santa story or two with the attendees.

Also, the night was a night where the some 32 attendees raised $260 to be matched by the club for a local food pantry!

Not only were members from the River Valley Rotary Club in attendance, but members from the Bethel Rotary Club were there in celebration of the night's events and honors.  Plus the club was honored to have the Honorable John A. LoBosco - District Governor 2018-2019, District 7780, from Cape Elizabeth present along with his wife, Suzanne LoBosco.


 
LOVEJOY AWARDED "ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR"
 
 
Club President Paul Doroghazy presented Dick Lovejoy with “Rotarian of the Year” for his undivided and unselfish volunteerism to the community throughout the year.
 
 
RINALDO AWARDED "VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR"
 
 
Pictured above:  Fellow Rotarian Jolene Lovejoy with Jim Rinaldo
 
Jim Rinaldo of Rumford, the former Director of the Rumford Growth Council, was awarded the “Volunteer of the Year” at the River Valley Rotary Club’s annual Holiday Dinner on Monday, December 17, 2018.  Jim was not present for the award.
 
 
SIROIS RECEIVES PAUL HARRIS RECOGNITION
 
 
Fellow Rotarian Joe Sirois was issued another Paul Harris recognition, making it something like his twelfth. Joe has committed to give $1,000 a year to the Paul Harris Foundation.
 
THERRIEN AWARDED PAUL HARRIS CERTIFICATE
 

 
Seen in the photo are: Randy Therrien and Rich Allen
 
Fellow Rotarian Rich Allen was given the privilege to issue a Paul Harris certificate by Tim Placey, Fellow Rotarian and Past District Governor, to a deserving Rotarian who, by his Club Presidency last year, and his many community involvements in giving of his time and energy (unselfishly) exemplifies what a Paul Harris Fellow is all about. Tim Placey, by his own efforts in the organization, accumulates so many Paul Harris points that he can either accept a Paul Harris Recognition or give to another person of his choosing for their contribution to society. Congratulations Randall Therrien, Key Bank Manager and Past River Valley Club President 2017-2018.
 
 
The Seacoast Rotary Club
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS FOR THE ANNUAL TURKEY TROT
 

 
Seacoast Rotary Beneficiaries 2018
 
The Seacoast Rotary Club celebrated its 10th year organizing a 5K race on Thanksgiving morning that has turned into a holiday and family tradition for many people on the Seacoast.
 
The weather may have been low (9 degrees at start time), but the spirits were high this year – probably all the layers the runners/walkers had to wear!  2,000 registered and many joined us on a thank-goodness-it-was-sunny Thanksgiving morning.
 
Single digit temps and 17 mph winds this year didn’t stop the Seacoast Rotary Club’s members and beneficiary volunteers who met at 5:30 AM on Thanksgiving morning, fully layered up in ski gear complete with hand-warmers in all pockets and boots to stay warm as they set up tents on Pierce Island, lined the race course with cones, blockages and water stations. Thank you to our BRAVE sponsors who manned their tables. Our amazing beneficiaries volunteered the night before at bib pick up as well as that morning to set up and help manage the race. 100% of our sponsorship fundraising was donated to two incredible non-profits. A total of $24,400 was given to: Seacoast Pathways and Veterans Martial Arts
 
I’m sure you can guess which food vendor had the biggest line?  VERY glad for the continued support from Dunkin Donuts. (Big Fish Promotions, Glastonbury, CT)
 
We are already planning a few community events for the spring. To learn more about Seacoast Rotary, our upcoming community events and the Turkey Trot, visit www.seacoastrotary.org. Stop in to join us for breakfast – Thursday mornings, 7:30AM at Café Espresso, 738 Islington St, Portsmouth.
 
Follow our Social Media: 
www.facebook.com/seacoastrotaryclub | Instagram & Twitter - @SeacoastRotary
 
 
The Rotary Club of Yarmouth
MAINE'S FASTEST MILE
 
On December 1st, Yarmouth Rotary produced its annual fund-raising foot race, Maine’s Fastest Mile, though the streets of Yarmouth.  That evening, club members served cocoa and cookies to children and parents at the town Christmas tree lighting on the town green.
 
 

President Michelle Higgins and club members Craig Fox and Sarah MacGillivray making cookies with Yarmouth Interactors and members’ children.

 

 
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 February Newsletter Submissions: January 23rd
 
 
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.
 
Thank you for your cooperation.
 
 
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Everyone’s Phone Number at Your Fingertips . . . and Much More!
Have you done the easy ClubRunner download yet?
 
How would you like to have not only your own Rotary Club members contact information but also the entire District at your fingertips? You can and so much more by downloading the new and improved ClubRunner Mobile App. You can also access club and district leadership, stories and events all with just a few clicks. Connecting to them is as easy as clicking on the phone number or email address.
 
You can download it on the AppStore or GooglePlay and be on your way in minutes. Now would also be a good time to make sure that your profile is current, and if you do not have a picture saved, or your birthday listed, considering updating your information now!
 
Reach out and collaborate with other like minded Rotarians from around our district and be the People of Action that your are!
 
 

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