banner
Governor’s Message December 1, 2021
By: Dick Hall
District Governor 2021-2022
 
December is Disease Prevention and Treatment month on the Rotary International Calendar, and what better time to thank all the Rotarians in the district who are helping with the vaccination efforts in Maine and New Hampshire.  Many Rotarians with medical training are giving shots and many others are volunteering at vaccination location.  It addition, many are involved in spreading the message about the importance of vaccinations.  As I write this, I just learned about the new Omicron variant, which may cause us to slow our return to “normal,” whatever that means any more.  Thanks to all who have continued to provide service to your community and to the world, even while facing the challenges of Covid.
 
Hopefully all clubs are well on their way to nominating and electing leaders for the future.  It is critically important that we have our leaders in place so there can be continuity from year to year.  Thanks to all who have served and thanks to those who have agreed to serve in the future.
Read more...
District 7780 Rotarian Marty Helman Elected to Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees
By: Dick Hall,
District Governor 2021-2022,
Portland RC 
 
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Marty Peak Helman has been selected to be a member of the Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2022. This means that Marty, a member of the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club, will serve on the 16-person Board that manages the business of The Rotary Foundation, which is the charitable arm of our organization that funds service activities globally. The RI president-elect nominates the Trustees, who are elected by the RI Board of Directors to four-year terms.
Read more...
District Governor Nominated for 2024-2025
 
By:  Dick Hall
District Governor 2021-2022
RC of Portland
 
I am very pleased to announce that Bob MacKenzie has been nominated for District Governor for the Rotary year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
 
Bob’s Rotary career includes;
  • Joined the Kennebunk Rotary Club in 2007
  • Club President 2014-2015
  • Kennebunk Club Board of Directors
  • Kennebunk Club Vice President
  • District 7780 Recovery Initiative, Committee Chair, past 11 years
Bob MacKenzie is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, currently serving as Chief of Police with the Kennebunk Police Department (KPD). Chief MacKenzie began his law enforcement career in 1988 with KPD and rose through the ranks, being promoted to Chief of Police in 2008.
Read more...
FOUNDATION REPORT - SHARE your IRA
By: Sarah MacGillivray,
District 7780 Foundation Public Image Coordinator
Bath Sunrise’s Satellite Club: Pine Tree State e-club
 
SHARE your IRA
You worked hard for your IRA!  Now Rotary International has a way you may put your IRA to work doing good in the world through tax-efficient donations to The Rotary Foundation.  There is a new initiative that is launching around Zone 32, a way to share your IRA with the world through Rotary. The 70+ initiative is our Rotary Zone-wide effort to encourage Rotarians to consider the benefits and opportunities of a charitable gift via their IRA.
 
How to SHARE your IRA
Starting at age 70 1/2, the IRS allows individuals to make a tax-free distribution or qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from their IRA directly to a charity of their choice. In the years after you turn 72, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD), which is required annually when you reach this age.
Read more...
BRIDGTON-LAKE REGION ROTARY CLUB
SPONSORS GLOBAL ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIP WINNER
By: Carol Madsen, District Newsletter Editor,
Public Image Committee Member, RC of Bridgton-Lake Region
 
Each year, Rotary International awards up to 50 fully-funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of its seven peace centers. This year the candidate Cassandra Varanka, sponsored by Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club, was one of these 50 winners. Chosen from some 600 applicants across the globe, Cassandra will study at the University of Queensland's (Australia) Rotary Centre for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution starting in early 2023. This Centre is part of a global program to advance research, teaching, practical training and knowledge on issues of international relations, conflict resolution and peace-building. It offers a tailored Master's Degree in International Studies, aimed at potential world and community leaders, designed to have a practical effect on addressing international and regional conflicts.
Read more...
RESETTLEMENT OF AN AFGHAN FAMILY – UPDATE & CALL TO ACTION
By:  Jen Fullmer,
RC of Biddeford-Saco
 

In October’s District Newsletter, I provided a brief overview of the story of my Afghan friend, Hakim.  We finally received confirmation that he and his family will start arriving in Maine over the next three weeks.  In my October article, I mentioned that there would be an opportunity for Rotarians to help this family…and there is!  Rotary District 7780 has a fantastic opportunity to provide critical support for this immigrant family, aligning with the criteria outlined under Rotary’s Promoting Peace area of focus.

Education and employment are Hakim’s number one priorities for his family.  As such, I am requesting funding to purchase four laptop computers.  This would provide one computer for each adult professional in his family and his high school aged son. Hakim’s oldest son, middle son, and daughter will need computers to do all the online preparation to work on US certifications in their professions and his youngest son will need it for school.  Estimated cost of each laptop is $800, including windows and security programs, for a total of $3200. 

Read more...
POLIO CORNER
Two drops, Two Countries,
Two Cases

Originally presented 11/12/2021
 

Ann Lee Hussey created produced an excellent program to help us all understand where we are with the eradication efforts and through personal videos, we heard how polio affected the lives of those in the district.

Video highlights include:

  •  Together End Polio (40 seconds)
  •  Brenda Cressey, Ogunquit - Susie (2:02 minutes)
  •  Moderator PolioPlus Chair Ann Lee Hussey, Portland Sunrise
  •  Deborah Heath, Brunswick Coastal (1:26 minutes)
  •  Polio - This is the Story (1:30 minutes)
  •  Keynote: Michael McGovern, South Portland-Cape Elizabeth,  IPPC Chair (15 minutes)
  •  Rotary Inspires Leaders - (2 minutes)
  •  Anna-Kristina Sawtelle, York (8:47 minutes)
  •  Speaker: Ann Crocker Chair, Post Polio Support Group of Maine (10 minutes)
  •  Reid and Patty Byers, Portland (3:30 minutes)
  •  Discussion
  •  Julie Forbes, Bridgton-Lake Region (5:21 minutes)
  •  Closing Ann Lee Hussey
Club News
Here is news about projects and fundraisers from around the district.
 
Clubs in this Month's News
Bethel
Bridgton-Lake Region
Brunswick Coastal
Damariscotta-Newcastle
Dover
Kittery
Ogunquit
Oxford Hills
Portland
Portsmouth
River Valley 
Sanford-Springvale
So. Portland/Cape Elizabeth

If we missed your club, please know that your work is appreciated and honored, and send your story next month to:

  In Memoriam
RC of Hampton
 
District Updates
Jack Schraeter to Finance Committee 2022-2024
I am very pleased to announce that Jack Schraeter of the Portland Sunrise Club has been nominated as the Area representative to the District Finance Committee for a three year term starting July 1, 2022.  Jack's Rotary severely redacted resume includes:
  • Joined Portland Rotary Club 1985, serving on multiple committees
  • Transferred to Windham Rotary Club, again serving in multiple capacities, president 1997-98
  • Transferred to Rotary Club of Casco Bay (now Portland Sunrise), again serving in multiple areas
Read more...
District Calendar
Presidents Social
Bruno's
Dec 07, 2021
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
 
District 7780 Recovery Initiative
Dec 09, 2021
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
 
Presidents Social
Sebago Brewing
Dec 09, 2021
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
 
Finance Committee Meeting (5:00 PM!)
Zoom
Dec 13, 2021
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Governor Track Meeting
Dec 20, 2021
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Assistant Governors Meeting
Dec 22, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
 
DEI Committee Zoom Meeting
Dec 27, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
NE PETS Committee Meeting
Jan 08, 2022
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
 
Foundation Committee Meeting
Jan 11, 2022
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
 
DISC Committee Meeting
TBA
Jan 13, 2022
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
 
International Cafe
ZOOM
Jan 15, 2022
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
 
InternationalAssembly-Day 1
Jan 17, 2022
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
 
International Assembly-Day 2
Jan 18, 2022
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
 
International Assembly-Day 3
Jan 19, 2022
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
 
View entire list
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile