DGE Marion Cheney and DG Claudia Frost Celebrating at Foundation Gala, Nov. 4, 2022
ASK!!
Rotary is 118 years old and in that time, traditions - both official and ceremonial - have spread throughout the world. Rotary itself has grown from four Rotarians to 1.4 million members. Why would any of us think that we know everything about Rotary? If you joined Rotary during the time of COVID, everything could seem new and strange.
Here are some questions I have received lately.
Who should attend the Midyear Dinner?
Club Presidents, Presidents-Elect, and Vice-Presidents have an opportunity to meet with District Governors to ask questions and receive information at the Midyear Dinner. This is also an opportunity to mingle with other club leaders. Most of our clubs are comfortable with reimbursing the officers for their registration which includes dinner. Partners and spouses are welcome as well as Past District Governors and District Executives. Everyone is welcome to attend the Peace Concert without registration.
Dr. Susan Black from the Brunswick Coastal Rotary Club has been selected by the Rotary International Board of Directors to receive the 2022-23 Service Above Self Award. This award is considered Rotary International’s highest honor to bestow on a member. Dr. Susan Black’s 54-year career as a family doctor became the good fortune of Rotary as Dr. Black took on the sick and the poor. She joined the Rotary Club of Johannesburg South Africa in 1990. She had the heart of a Rotarian whether she was tending to AIDS victims in South Africa or serving women and children in the Lowell Massachusetts Hospital and Community Health Center.
In case you missed it in December’s newsletter, our District is auctioning a special print by RI president Jennifer Jones’ brother, Darren Jones!
“Imagine One's Dream” a limited-edition print, signed and dated by Darren Jones, a Chicago artist, and brother to Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, is being auctioned to support OUR Rotary Foundation. "Imagine One's Dream" is offered by District 7780 through an online silent auction continuing through most of February. The top bidder will be announced on Rotary’s 118th birthday, February 23, 2023. Proceeds will be designated for the Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus fund.
By: Sarah MacGillivray, Secretary and Public Image Coordinator, District Foundation Committee, RC of Bath Sunrise
The Foundation Committee once again has wonderful news to share, including the fact that our Foundation pages on the District website pages have been updated! We hope you will find the new pages more user-friendly and filled with helpful information.
This month’s article includes:
1. Ron Smith, a member of the Fryeburg Area Rotary Club, and our District's Major Donor Chairperson gives us a wonderful explanation of the different Rotary Foundation Funds for you to consider when making a donation to OUR Rotary Foundation, which helps us all to "Do Good In the World!"
2. Exciting news was shared at January's International Cafe, by our very own Trustee, Marty Peak Hellman.
3. If you haven’t done so yet, there is still time to register for the Rotary Foundation Basics 101 training, on Tuesday, February 7. The training will be held via zoom from 7:00-8:00 pm. Click here to register.
4. The Rotary Foundation Annual Report is posted and is a good read! Click here to see for yourself.
By: Emma Bodwell, DISC Chair, DGN 2025-26, RC of Bridgton-Lake Region
and Bill Dunn, DISC Member, ADG, RC of Yarmouth
I will be in Columbia at the Rotary Project Fair when you read this article with others from the District. We will have more to tell you about the opportunities presented in the next newsletter and the next Café on Saturday, March 4 from 9:30-11:00 am.
On January 21 about 25 Rotarians attended the latest International Café. Andy Johanson and Wendy Axelrod of District #7430 talked about Rotaplast and their District’s funding of and participation in missions providing cleft lip/palate repair in developing countries. They would welcome the participation of District #7780. Dave Underhill noted that the Portsmouth Club funded a mission in 2019. Bill Dunn said that the District needs a Rotaplast Ambassador (a role he left ~10 years ago) to coordinate District efforts and would welcome a volunteer to take on this role. Andy & Wendy mentioned the Wrap-a-Smile quilts they bring on missions, and Marty Peak Helman noted that Wrap-a-Smile was started in District #7780. For more information, feel free to contact our presenters directly. Wendy Axelrod, email or phone at 215-837-6198, and Andy Johanson – email.
The Rotary Indigenous Partnership Committee (RIPC) is alive and active! We are fulfilling our mission to build trusting relationships between Rotarians and the Indigenous Peoples of New England and Canada, and we are keeping our vision in front of us.
To continue our mission of understanding Tribal perspectives; learning Indigenous People’s histories, cultures, beliefs, and issues; and listening to Tribal member’s concerns and hopes, RIPC members will be attending the world premiere of Wabanaki Stories at the Merrill Auditorium on Saturday, February 4 at 3:00 p.m.