West Bay Rotary Club Meeting November 13, 2014

Guest Speaker:  Deb Hitchings spoke about the Shield’s Mission Project.

Shield’s Mission project is a program through the Congregational Church in Camden that assists the needy in Knox County and residents of the CSD who do not qualify for assistance programs

 

The Shield’s Mission is a referral base program only.  Referrals can come from social workers, medical/health care community, clergy, a private citizen etc.   It was started in 2002 after a gift was given by church member, Dorothy Shield.   She left a quarter of her estate to the Congregational Church and it was decided to give this gift back to the community in the form of the Shield’s Mission Project.   Over the last 12 years they have gifted over $250,000 to the community.

 

What Deb has learned about doing this project:  People can fall into ruin and desperation very easily.  Poverty is invisible.  People don’t ask for help easily.  It doesn’t take a lot of money to make a difference.   Barriers to getting help or getting out of poverty:  Not havingan  education, lack of transportation, and high upfront costs of gaining housing, to name a few.

For more information about the Shield’s Mission Project go to:  http://www.camdenucc.org/content/get_involved/shields_mission.asp

 

Buckets on the table:  Camden Food pantry

Skip Bates:  requesting donations for the Camden Food Pantry.  They really need egg cartons.

 

Rotary information By Ron Hall:   Ron grew a mustache!  Ron talked about the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program:  The program ended in 2013 but he highlighted four West Point Military Academy graduates, who were awarded these scholarships to further their post-graduate education.  The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program was to further international understanding and peaceful relations among people of different races, nationalities, ethnicities, and religions while pursuing a program of study at an institution of higher education in a foreign country.   The Rotary Peace Fellowship is the current scholarship with a similar mission.

 

Peter Burke:  Christmas by the Sea Parade 12/05/14 – the Duck will be in parade and is looking for a driver.  Karen Hansen offered to connect with Interact.

 

EREY by Jane LaFleur:   Humanitarian Grant options 

District Grants - District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs

in your community and communities abroad. Each district chooses which activities it will fund with these grants.

Global grant - Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable

outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. Grant sponsors form international partnerships that respond to real community needs.

 

Proposal for next year’s Slate of officers:  Proposed, moved and seconded by the majority fo the membership

President:  Lisa Sojka

President Elect: Peter Burke

Vice President:  Mick Mickelson

Treasurer:   Kristin Lindquist

Secretary:   Sandy Cox

 

Christmas party:  12/9/2014 at Cappy’s.   No Yankee Swap this year, instead the donations can be given to help the Hospitality house.  Talk with Barbara Heard about attending.

 

Karen Hansen:  Interact Club update - 45 members (15 boys).  Meet every Wednesday at CHRHS.  The club is doing a project for the Barbara Bush Center and Ronald McDonald house in Portland.  Does anyone know of a bus company that would be willing to donate a bus for the ride to PTLD so she can take a number of Interact members to Portland?

 

Christmas Trees:  Terry Bregy – sign up to sell trees!!!!   We will also be selling Chad Place Maple Syrup. 

 

Our district Rotary Foundation Committee recently announced that there is $5000 remaining in this year’s budget which is available for distribution.

However, any grants need to be submitted by November 30.  Both Etienne and Debbi Hitchings presented two grants that the International Committee membership approved: 

 

Etienne: Type 2 Rotary Grant to build 20 cement block stoves through Masons on a Mission in Guatemala.  It would require a $1000 commitment from West Bay,  from our international committee budget with a $1000 match from the District and $1000 from promised personal contributions of a few of our members.    Total Grant Package - $3000

Debbi: Type 1 Rotary Grant to provide food and fuel to the 190 Orphans at the Litiking Orphan Garden in Lesotho…through Qholaqhoe Mountain Connections.  It would require a $610 commitment from West Bay, from the International Committee budget District would match with $250 for a total grant package of $860

The club membership moved and the majority of the membership seconded the motion to approve these two grants.

 

Susan Dorr:  Mentoring thru the Knox County Homeless Commission

Lisa Dresser reminded us that “Down the Shute” is getting started for 2015!

 

Next week’s meetings:

Sunrise Club:  Bruce Malone will be speaking next Tuesday morning at 7:30.

West Bay Club:  Jane LeFleur:  Community Institute and Friends of the Community