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Meeting Information
Camden West Bay
We meet Thursdays at 7:30 AM
First Congregational Church
55 Elm Street
Mailing address is PO Box 1033
Camden, ME  04843
United States
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Russell Hampton
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Stories
February 15, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Chris Finn, John Nappa, Storm Warriors
Buckets on the table are for the Interact Club's trip to Safe Passage in Guatemala this spring.
 
Chris Finn at Storm Warriors International He is the Director of Global International. He lives on Cobb Road, 
 
A Storm Warrior is someone who commits a selfless act of rescue. It's a 501(c)3 in Camden . Chris was the skipper of a medical ship in Micronesia. He worked in medical imaging and worked for Harvey Picker's father's company in medical imaging, then working at Fuji. He was involved in Rotary providing a x-ray machine for the ship.
The organization is a media organization that provides media services to humanitarian organizations and projects. He used the example of The Center for Grieving Children and Just Love, addressing human trafficking in Maine.  He shared an introductory video. He drew the parallel between "service above self" and selfless acts of rescue. They do not charge the organizations for the product. Chris is in charge of the development efforts to raise funds through donors to do this work and give the media products to the organizations. They do fundraising, training and recruitment to involve volunteers in this work. Their goal is to raise awareness of the humanitarian work being done around the world. 
In 2018 and 2019 they are focusing on Maine. Their work abroad in places like India has been fruitful, but expensive. He introduced John Nappa, the Founder and Executive Director and author if the book Storm Warriors and What Longfellow Heard, by video and then in person.  He has a background in TV and film making and he uses his story telling skills now for social impact. He talked about the history of the invention of the lifeboat in England and stories he read about them and the area where the lifeboat began. Building a list of organizations doing humanitarian work was the beginning of Storm Warriors. 
They identify organizations that are deserving and worthy,to provide media services to them. Their donors see their contributions as a way to amplify the needs of these organizations.
They welcome recommendations for organizations, volunteers and financial support. Their website provides a nomination form for those wishing to suggest organizations to receive their services.
Joan Lemole was inspired by the Ellsworth Rotary wheelchair project and wants West Bay to get involved. She spoke about a wheelchair project. In 2019 500 wheelchairs will go to Bolivia and Ecuador for people with Cerebral Palsy and other mobility challenges, and she's suggesting our club get involved. She's planning a dinner at the Penobscot Language School and other ways the club can get involved in the next year. 
Trina has completed her Red Badge program and received her blue badge.
Mik had a presentation to Jane Lafleur of an additional Paul Harris Fellow pin.
Ray Fink spoke about the booth at the Business Expo April 11 for WBR, to include membership and sponsorship benefits and will be looking for volunteers.
Steve Dailey thanked everyone for help with the Toboggan Nationals, resulting in about $4600 to give to the community. Etienne reported that the Chili Challenge raised about $2200 including sponsorships. 1st place Chili was Quarry Hill, and Etienne has 16 quarts of leftover chili in his freezer. The club agreed it should go to the Hospitality House.
April 21 is the Ewaste date, and Tom Albertson will be looking for volunteers.
There is a Bon Voyage Party for the Masterson's from 5-7 on February 20th at the Waterfront, where there will be appetizers and a cash bar.
Shawn Doll from Big Brothers Big Sisters will be next week's speaker.
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February 8, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Randall A. Liberty, Warden, Maine State Prison, retired Kennebec County sheriff and Command Sargeant Major, US Army (RET)
George Abendroth would like to hear from committee chairs with a list of their members. He also announced that Ken Gardiner married his office administrator last weekend and is probably hiring!
Our speaker has been in law enforcement for about 36 years. He was a soldier in active duty and guard and got involved in corrections in 1984. He was in mountain infantry and became a drill sargent and taught military science at West Point, and served in Iraq. He developed a deep appreciation for the marines, and worked in several police departments, finally in Kennebec County for 26 years, and now as warden sees some of the offenders he was involved in prosecuting. The public safety mission of the prison includes rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. The leading causes of incarceration are substance abuse, mental health, learning disabilities, poverty and neglect. An $800 a day addiction problem drives addicts to steal, and they end up in jail. The de-funding of community mental health programs has resulted in the jails becoming defacto mental health resources. His own father got his GED at the Thomaston prison, an example of under-education resulting in criminal behavior and incarceration. Poverty results in many having trauma, and resulting behavior that can lead to incarceration.
Maine has the lowest percentage of incarcerated adults in the US, 132 per 100,000. 50 juveniles are incarcerated at Long  Creek Youth Development. 11 inmates are in Restrictive Housing, which is the lowest percentage of inmates in the nation.
There are about 300 staff with over 1,000 inmates at the Warren facility, which has been open since 2001 after the closure of the Thomaston prison that was established in 1824. The cost of incarceration per inmate is about $42,000. 
He believes strongly in partnerships with community stakeholders, innovated use of best practices, creating clear success for offenders and unity of vision. 
He talked about Doris Buffett's $2M gift to help former inmates get a college degree through University of Maine at Augusta, which reduces recidivism significantly. They also teach mindful meditation and yoga and certifying yoga instructors. They also do artwork and have it displayed at Kathryn Matlack's Art Loft, which is therapeutic. As a military and law enforcement PTSD sufferer himself, he appreciates the Veterans Pod to help those inmates, and Restorative Justice work within the prison, as well as a Recovery Pod.
The prison has a Liberation Program, Hospice, Agriculture through cooperative extension where they teach a master gardener program and a recycling program.
Planning includes vocational development, including vocational/tech school collaboration in welding, agriculture, warehouse operations, culinary arts and digital arts.  His vision is to spend less money through rehabilitation for the long term, instead of costly incarceration and recidivism during a lifetime.
New songbooks have been ordered with 12 new songs and will be available soon.
Ron Hall is having back problems, and seeing a neurosurgeon on Friday, keep him in your thoughts.
Kim Milton spoke about Camden National's Leaders and Luminaries program, and invited people to speak with Mary Sargent if you think a member of the board should be nominated. 
Snowbowl parking for this weekend looks good, check with Steve Dailey if you're not sure what time you signed up to cover. Bruce Peel said the Chili Challenge needs just a few more volunteers for Saturday.
Next week's speaker is Chris Finn from Storm Warriors International.
Read more...
February 1, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Hayden Anderson, Maine Humanities Council
Buckets on the Table are for the Shields Mission Project.  
Kristen's husband Paul Doiron, vice chair of the board of the Maine Humanities Council, introduced Hayden Anderson. Hayden grew up in NH, and attended Rotary meetings with his grandfather when visiting his grandparents in New York. 
MHC is the state affiliate of the National Endwoment for the Humanities and with a staff of 11 in Portland, with a volunteer board of directors from across the state. It is one of the many state and territorial humanities councils in the US. The vision of the council is the communities of Maine transformed by the power and pleasure of ideas.  Their operating budged is $1.25M, about half paid through the NEH.  
NEH turned 50 a few years ago. The NEH was statutorily created during the Johnson administration citing ideals like democracy demands wisdom and vision, and being masters of technology and not enslaved by it. It encourages critical thinking, wrestling with big ideas.
MHC works in partnership with public libraries including reading groups gather to read and talk about books together. They also bring speakers to public libraries to speak on various educational topics, partner with adult education to build literacy skills, gives grants to organizations around the state on a small scale. They are kicking off a veterans book group program in Thomaston this spring, inviting veterans to gather for conversation and sharing. It started in Portland and has been in Augusta, Bangor, and other cities around the state. They read things like Homer's Odysee.  They plan to meet at the Knox Museum and will be free of charge for veterans. 
In 2017 MHC also did a series on race and policing. Mainehumanities.org is their website.
The next board member is the 7th at Quarry Hill at 7a.
Camden Bowling challenge has been cancelled for the time being.
There is a football pool with 14 slots still open.  See Sandy about slots that are $10 each. 
Noel Cox was recognized for bringing children's books to the Knox County Jail for departing inmates.
Leamon Scott announced a new annual sponsor making the total 11 sponsors for our 5 events, Edward Jones Investments being the newest. 
Parking cars at Toboggan Nationals/Snowbowl parking, lead by Steve Dailey, is coming right up, the weekend of February 10.
Chili Challenge at the Sea Dog is progressing well, 8 restaurants and maybe a 9th providing chili. Etienne still needs volunteers for between 3:30 and 8p on Saturday of Toboggan Nationals. 
Mark Masterson asked all who participated in last weekend's Habitat work day to stand and be recognized.
Tom Albertson announced E Waste on April 21. He would like input on adding Cash for Clothes to the shredding, ewaste and drug disposal stations.
Randall Liberty from Maine State Prison will be our speaker next week.
Read more...
January 25, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Shelly Butler, PAWS Animal Adoption Center
 
Shelly became ED of PAWS in May 2016 after years in the YMCA and Camp Sunshine organizations.
 
PAWS was originally started out of a house in the 70's, changed its names in 2012 to Pets Are Worth Saving, built the dog park next to the prior shelter location, moving in 2015 to their new location at 123 John Street. It serves 10 midcoast communities, and has a dog and a cat wing including intake, living, laundry and supply facilities and a medical suite, with quarantine and recovery rooms.  A grant from West Bay Rotary helped to pay for the medical clinic. They are able to provide medical services in-house to the animals in their care.  
 
They host rabies clinics, provide micro chips, nail clipping for dogs and cats, flea, tick and heartworm medications, pet loss support group, dog training, camps, and host community groups for events and tours. All animals are spayed or neutered, given distemper, heartworm and rabies vaccines, deworming, ear cleaning and microchip.  The cost is about $200 per animal, and a cost of $100,000 per year. Only 5% of their revenue comes from the towns served, 10% from adoption revenue, 15% for special events, 55% individual donations, 10% from trusts and estates, and 5% from Foundations and Grants. They partner with Ruff RIders to bring rescued animals in the south to PAWS and it costs $65 per dog to transport them. 
2017 was a record-breaking year for kittens (198) and a 91% adoption rate, doubled the size of their Foster Program, and they have developed policies and procedures for building their resources; Sandy Cox designed an outdoor walking path and the club helped to build the wood chips for the path, They have reduced their debt and are half-way to paying off their mortgage. 
Their goals for 2018 include increasing their adoption rate to at least 95%, grow the foster program, allowing them to rescue more animals from the south, educate kids more about the work of shelters and how they can help through outreach programs.
PAWS hopes we can all refer adopters to the shelter, volunteer, be a dog walker, join a committee, help at an event like Weinerfest, donate supplies like non-lumping cat litter, bleach, postage, become a sponsor or business partner. 
Barry King is organizing a bowling event with the Camden Rotary Club for Pt. Lookout at a time to be determined on Saturday February 3. 
Mark Masterson was recognized for his commitment to the club over the past 14 years as he is moving from the area and leaving the club next month heading to Beaufort, SC. He was given a plaque, and is also trying to re-home 2 cats. 
Sandy is doing another football pool and the club consensus was to make PAWS the charitable recipient. 
Etienne spoke about the booth the the club will have at the Rotary Convention in Toronto in June demonstrating the Masons on a Mission stove building project, and it will cost about $2500 and involve mover 40 hours of staffing of the booth. 
Steve Dailey has just one slot left for parking over Toboggan Nationals. 
Mark shared there will be a Habitat work project this Saturday 8a - 12p 9 Clark Street Thomaston. 
Susan Dorr reported that the International Committee met this week and voted to use $500 for Interact's Safe Passage trip this spring.
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Speakers
Feb 22, 2018
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Mar 01, 2018
IRC Solar Roof Systems
Mar 08, 2018
Tanzania Project
Mar 22, 2018
Mar 29, 2018
Hurricane Island Foundation
Apr 12, 2018
Downeast Salmon Federation
View entire list