Why does the club only give $1,000 to the PolioPlus Campaign
George Abendroth
Strategic Plan – Did a strategic plan around 2011-2012
If anyone has a copy of that plan, please forward to George.
Membership Data Updates – We have local, district & Rotary International Goals. We didn’t have a very successful go around on updating information. We need to get Club Runner up-to-date. We are trying to get information current – the info doesn’t get shared anywhere except RI & west Bay.
Event Reporting – Gathering information for events. We need to capture the details of events/activities for the club. Did we raise $$ -Did we spend $$
Website – Please provide detailed updates to George. Updated upcoming speaker section – will try to keep that updated. Charitable Foundation form has been updated for the spring.
Committee Pages – We encourage all committee areas to provide details for their sections.
Interact – George is now the advisor to Interact from West Bay. 12 in the group – trying to recruit new members. 9 Interact students that are interested in participating in the polio walk. Planning a Safe Passage Guatemala trip. Currently involved in the Window Dressers project.
Charitable Foundation – Mary Sargent & Kim
We have $9,000 available to give – we have two applications so far – we have plenty of money to distribute. October 1 is the deadline.
International Convention Booth – Etienne – no update on the convention booth. Sent in the application, we will find out if they accept later.
Rotary Direct – EREY for the Polio fundraising. Visit Rotary.org – donate section. Make one time or quarterly or monthly updates. Automatic deductions are available.
Presidents Project
Peter Burke – still have $2,600 left from the Presidents Project - $300 to Susan’s Yucatan Project. $500 to Midcoast Recovery Coalition. $500 One Less Worry. With balance of $1,300 to the Hospitality House. Would like to hold the money and use it to focus on a project that we are working on.
Recognition to Joe & Ginny Ryan and Stuart & Marianne Smith.
Stuart & Marianne – Joe will hand deliver to Stuart & Marianne.
Hospitality House – Thursday, October 5 – New client moving in – may need another person to assist with move in.
Youth Exchange – We send a student & that country sends a student back. If you know of any students that want to do this or if any members want to help out, please see George.
Tiki Time – Friday, October 13 – details forthcoming.
Tomorrow night – 9/29, The Dressers, 5p
Mark Coursey
Marks son electronically archived the financial materials – We are looking for all paper information.
PAWS puppy path – sign up sheet next week
Jim Potter – Entrepreneurship
Kicked off 17th annual class last night – runs through October 16
Tuesday is the deadline to sign up for the year-end dinner at the Samoset on Friday, June 29. Let George Abendroth know if you want to go and haven't yet registered.
Buckets on the table are for the Knox County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
Mik introduced our speaker Melissa Bellew, new Executive Director of the YMCA, who is also a Rotarian. Originally from Kentucky, she is retired from the practice of law, including criminal practice. She has been a Rotarian in Kentucky, New York and now Maine, and is a member of the Rockland Rotary. She worked for a YMCA in NY at the largest Y in the country, and in Schenectady/Troy. She moved here in February, and the Rockport Y is the second-largest in Maine, behind Portland's Casco Bay Y. Their finances need to cover expanding access to programs to those who are less fortunate. YMCA HQ is in Chicago. A focus is on programs like LiveStrong, which a partnership with the LiveStrong foundation in Austin, TX, a 12-week donor-funded personal training program for up to 10 cancer survivors, and includes a family membership, for 90 days. Jump-Start your weight loss is another focus, 8, 10 or 12 weeks involving personal trainers and guidance for healthy choices around nutrition and exercise. Pedaling for Parkinsons is the third focus, a Cleveland Clinic neurology program, to involve Parkinsons patients pedaling 3 times a week, now proven to reduce tremors. The Pen Bay Y will be the training Y, the first Y to have the program in Maine. These are the evidence-based initiatives on which the Y is focusing. Youth Development is another area the national office is promoting. Summer camp started yesterday at the Y, and there are 1400 children involved at the 5 camps this summer. Another expansion is child care, infant care in Rockport and Rockland, and in Lincolnville will be new, serving Hope and Lincolnville, at their school. There are 17 Y's in Maine, and they work to keep their fees comparable.
Bob Rubin mentioned Christmas Tree sales, which have been ordered, and is looking for a volunteer with a plow or snowblower to help with lot clearing when the club is selling trees in December.
Leamon Scott has more posters for the Maine Boats & Homes show, see him if you want one to post at your business or in the area.
Jim Potter reported on the awarding of scholarships at the CHRHS graduation this year. Etienne has gone to Toronto to set up the booth on stoves at the International Convention.
Kristen awarded EREY stickers for the current year reflecting participation in foundation giving at the $100 or above level.
Susan Dorr announced they have wrapped up their projects for the year and encouraged people who have been on the committee to stay on the committee. She wants the club to consider other opportunities to address crisis situations around the globe and in our country.
Joan Lemole does not need any more old Rotarian magazines, but encourages people to ask places that have waiting rooms if they would be willing to have a Rotarian magazine in their waiting room, and then let Joan know.
RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Award, a weekend program akin to an international outdoor experiential program for people age 21 to 35, needs nominations. Let Mik know.
Next week's speaker is Tom Peaco from the Penobscot Bay Chamber.
George Abendroth is circulating a sign up for Rotary t-shirts. There’s a year-end dinner on Friday June 29 at the Samoset for which people are also asked to sign-up.
Buckets on the table are for the Knox County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
Today’s speaker, Rich Ash, on technical theater at CHRS, the Noises Off production. He’s been teaching for 40 years, starting in New Zealand, then Medomak Valley, and now CHRHS, and he brought several members of the student body and a member of the alumni. He shared a slide show of the making of the set for the latest production, including making a stage, which needed to be able to turn 180 degrees between scenes. Swivels, brakes and supports, with staircases for a second story, 7 doors, trying to reuse as much of prior scenes as possible. Art department people lend a hand as well. This year’s show included a 3-course dinner (with scenes in between courses) to give time for the extensive set changes. He shared slides of the night sky creation. Students design the set, and they do not have plans provided for them. Engineers have been called into service for help. In some years, set pieces have been sold to other schools. Current and former students talked about their experiences in scene design and construction.
Mik welcomed Kevin Abendroth as a new member, proposed by his father, George Abendroth.
Leamon Scott announced the boat show plans are underway, and has posters for the event showing West Bay Rotary as a sponsor.
Etienne shared EREY stickers. He also mentioned Peace Centers, in places like Duke, Bangkok, Brisbane, Upsala, and from our district 2 people have been sent to study conflict resolution.
Kristen Lindquist is organizing a trip June 23 to Monhegan, taking the 10:30a but from Port Clyde. People need to get their own boat tickets and if they want to stay overnight, reservations on the island.
Next week's speaker is the new YMCA Executive Director, Melissa Bellew.
Buckets on the table for the month will be contributed to the Knox County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
Sherry Cobb, Area Interfaith Outreach, spoke regarding Hunger in Knox County. She came to speak about the Backpack program, which is focused on feeding children on the weekends. AIO is the Food Pantry in Rockland that serves all of Knox County and also provides emergency assistance with heating costs, up to $300 per year per household.
They have a voucher desk and a food pantry. 3,200 families have been served since October, including over 8,000 people. 35% of households have children, 40% have at least one senior citizen. Many are having to choose whether to pay for food, utilities, rent or medical care. The rate of food insecurity is increasing and Maine's is higher than the national average (16.4% versus 13%). In Maine food insecurity has grown 20% in 10 years. Many of the people they serve are working families so they have hours beyond their 9:30a - 12p Monday-Wednesday-Friday weekday hours to accommodate them. They see that demand goes down in the summer when employment rates are at their highest due to the tourist trade. She also spoke about Community Investors of Knox County which is an on-line resource for people who want to help families in difficult straits. You can visit them on Facebook or write to knoxcommunityinvestors@gmail.com. Their coalition of organizations vetting the requests include United Midcoast Charities, who is also the program's fiscal sponsor. They get one request a week.
The percentage of children whose families qualify for free or reduced lunch are 50% at Oceanside Middle and 64% at South Elementary. Camden schools are 23%.
The weekend backpack program started 3 years ago, and they put the packs together on Thursday morning and distribute them Friday. Food distributions from Good Shepherd Food Bank are delivered to Knowlton Van Lines, then distributed by truck to each of the food pantries every month. Weekly volunteers pack more than 350 backpacks in about 35 minutes and they are then distributed to the various schools. In addition to the 17 schools they now serve in year three of their program, they hope to expand to Appleton, Hope, Lincolnville, Camden Middle and Medomak Middle Schools. FMI or to make a donation visit www.knoxadoptabackpack.org, and their mailing address is AIO, PO Box 113, Rockland, ME 04841. $225 per child per school year is the cost of a backpack.
Tonite is the awards night at the CHRHS graduation and Jim Potter will be attending on behalf of the club. Kevin Abendroth is a proposed new member.
Doug Curtis from the Rockland Club came to speak about the DG's visit to Rockland for the Rotary year-end combined club event, and the Wheelchair project in Bolivia and Ecuador. Joan updated that we have $1000 from the International Committee and over $900 from the dinner, and a total of more than $3000 for the project from the West Bay Rotary Club.
Friday June 29 2018 is the annual dinner at the Samoset, and there is a sign up being circulated at meetings. $35 per person, 6p reception, 7p dinner.
Ira Mandel spoke about the Recovery Coalition, and is seeking financial and volunteer support. He had sheets for people to complete and sign to indicate their support.
Leni Gronross and Kristen Lindquist are coordinating a Saturday June 23 joint Camden/West Bay club trip to Monhegan. There is no sign up, but people should join the 10:30a boat from Port Clyde (Monhegan Boat Line, you can buy tix on line) returning at 4:30p unless you want to stay overnight, which you will also need to make arrangements to do. See Kristin for details.
Rick Ash will be next week's speaker.
Bruce Peel will be organizing for the Chili Challenge at the Windjammer Festival over Labor Day weekend, and will have announcements coming up soon.
Deb Fink shared a video of March activities including Mark Masterson's last meeting, PETS training, Brew Fellowship, Habitat work day, Duck Derby Planning,
Etienne Perret recognized several members for their participation in EREY, Every Rotarian Every Year, support for the Rotary Foundation.
Mark Coursey has a sign-up sheet for Special Olympics at CHRHS
Light post painting is being planned for the weekend of the 18th of May.
Peter Berke announced Habitat is having an auction at 16 Bayview, $35 per person auction this Friday.
Peter is looking for volunteers for the weekend slots to sell tickets this weekend at Camden National at Hannaford Plaza and at French and Brawn. He's also looking for volunteers for the day of the event, May 26 at 11:30a. He has sign up sheets and you can get in touch with him outside meetings, too. He has flyers and road signs as well as magnetic car signs.
Audra Caler-Bell, Town Manager, was a no-show for our meeting's presenter.
Jan Campbell told a story about a dream as a child of having a green MG and the story of a man who drove a Miata when it's engine head melted, and how when he brought it into the shop and she bought it for $250 and her shop rebuilt it. This was how she discovered her passion for the business of car repair. She bought the business from former West Bay Rotarian Steve Dixon, and she decided eventually to do the Giving Back program involving $5 per oil change which has amounted to $25,000 in giving to community organizations. She believes that the business of car repair involves educating people about what's going on with their car and safety. She started the Sisterhood of Automotive Knowledge, which is a car care clinic. This year it's May 24, the same night as the Penobscot School Dinner to support the Wheelchair Project.
Tom Albertson reported that Ewaste went very well, and thanked everyone in the club who helped. He said around $4,000 was raised.
Mary Sargent indicated Smile Train has recognized Rotary gifts.
Etienne announced progress in the Grants sought by the club for One Less Worry and Friends House.
Joan Lemole is encouraging members to contribute their Rotarian Magazines for distribution in waiting areas to help raise awareness and promote membership in Rotary.
Joan is also planning the dinner at the Penobscot School on May 24 to support the 500 Wheelchairs to be sent to those in need in impoverished areas.
Yachting Rotarians are meeting tonight at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, hosted by Dan Bookham.
Buckets on the table are for the District Wheelchair project.
Kristen Lindquist introduced Don Reimer, a life-long birder from Warren. He leads field trips for birding and coordinates the Christmas bird counts in the area. He writes a regular column in the Free Press on birding. He considers himself world famous between Damariscotta and Belfast, Maine. Don Reimer talked about owls, including Snowy Owls which were prolific a few winter's ago. He shared slides with Snowy Owl images from the area. They favor areas with barrens, where they can hunt. Owls gravitate towards airports and they are relocated to safer areas. Great Grey Owls don't nest in Maine, but do come to Maine. Adults are almost 3 feet tall, but scrawnier than their Snowy cousins. There are only 4 species of owl that nest here, the Great Horned, Barred Owl, Long Ear and Sawed Owl. You know Rotarians have strong stomachs! Despite being a breakfast meeting, we were treated to many pictures of owl pellets, which are the regurgitated, undigested animals eaten by owls. And owls hit by cars, lying dead in the road still clutching their prey. The Maine Owl Survey program took place from about 2002 for ten years, and participants tried to find places with varied habitat at least a mile apart. He did an area between Somerville and Palermo. They would survey the weather, vehicle traffic and other environmental conditions of the places where they would listen for owl calls and record that information and the calls at each place, playing a tape of owls calling, too, to prompt the owls to answer.
Susan Dorr shared slides from her recent trip to Mexico and 5 water fountains that Rotary has provided to communities in the Yucatan near Valladolid. 4 of them were provided through District grants.
Deb Hitchings spoke about the 3 African students in Lesotho, including Nsebo, whom the club has sponsored for many years.
Tom Albertson reminded us that Ewaste is Saturday, 9a - 2p at the old RES site on West Street in Rockport. Volunteers are meeting Friday afternoon at 3:30 for setting up cones and planning.
Peter Berke has Duck Derby volunteer sign up sheets, and said there were 7 prizes and 8 sponsors for the race on May 26.
Mary Sargent will preside at next week's meeting in Mik's absence.
Gary and Roberta Walker are going to fund two Paul Harris Fellow's to be given to non-Rotarians selected by the Community Service Committee starting in the next Rotary year.
Next week's speaker: Paul Sampson will be speaking about small woodlots.
6p Thursday May 24 is the dinner to support the Wheelchair Project at the Penobscot School. See Joan Lemole for tickets
Brian Robinson spoke about Evergreen Home Performance making buildings perform better, which can be a challenge with some of the nation's oldest housing stock. By "better" they mean safe, healthy and comfortable. They have the means to analyze and diagnose issues that impair optimal heat, air and moisture conditions of the home.
Thermal loss is analyzed, which is related to R-Values, directly proportionate to the heat efficiency of a building. They also analyze the movement of air within the house. Ice dams and icicles are evidence of heat escape, can result in unhealthy moisture inside from leaks and drywall damage. He shared examples of some of the projects they have undertaken for clients in the area to improve the insulation and moisture control, including blow-in insulation, seal and insulating the duct work, attic, spray foam and vapor barrier for the basement walls, perimeter drains, sump pumps, all with minimal impact on exterior or interior views. He referred to these as efficiency and comfort retrofits. They evaluate the most substantial improvements, based on the client's desire for comfort and/or energy-saving/efficiency measures. Tax credits for 2018 work are uncertain, but have been available in the past.
Tom Albertson spoke about E Waste scheduled for April 21, which is being promoted on Facebook, and he has a sign-up for volunteer opportunities. Banners are going up. Special projects in the morning will be moving tables from the Rockport Boat Club and temporary road signs, greeters; shifts are 8:30-11:30 and 11:30 to 2:30p. There will be shredding, electronic waste, cash for clothes and prescription drug disposal. Midcoast Solid Waste will be doing paint disposal in June.
Peter Berke shared some video footage from his recent helicopter ski vacation to Canadian Rockies, in the Cariboos, British Columbia. The trip was a gift from his brother.
Peter Berke is planning the Duck Derby for May on Saturday the 26th. Bangor Savings, Allen Agency, Camden Law and Atlantic Painting are sponsors already and he's looking for more. Florida trip, jewelry from Etienne Perret, hotel stays, gift cards and other prizes are being secured, and a duck counting party is coming up. Tickets will be available at the Business Showcase on April 11 at the Samoset, and we'll start selling tickets after EWaste.
Leamon Scott said members will receive via email a promotion of the sponsorship opportunities, with $150 and $250 opportunities, and would like us to share prospect names and contact information with him.
Mark Coursey announced a community service opportunity on Friday May 11 to help with Special Olympics at CHRHS at shifts starting around 8a, and he has sign-up sheets at the club.
Joan Lemole is working on a project with Ellsworth to send 500 wheelchairs to Bolivia and Equador and will be a dinner at Penobscot Language School on Thursday May 24 and donations may also be made to the West Bay Rotary Charitable Foundation.
Etienne, Mary Sargent and Mik will be going to RI Convention in Toronto and have voting rights.
Next week's speaker is from the Salmon Federation.
Buckets on the table will support the Interact Club's Safe Passage trip.
Bruce Peal introduced the speaker, who is his cousin and a resident of North Yarmouth. A volunteer-run lending library for musical instruments, approx. 70, from woodwinds to brass, strings, percussion and keyboards. A cello, oboe, french horn, trumpets, trombones, violins, bassoons, oboes, and tuba are included in their instrument inventory.
Most requested is fractional violins, which are used for young children to begin learning the violin. They work with area band directors who know which children are looking for instruments and may not be able to afford rent or buying one. Only about 25% of their inventory is loaned currently.
After initially focusing just on providing instruments, they moved into instruction and work with adaptive situations, and have shifted back to just instruments.
Often older people who had previously played an instrument bring theirs in for reconditioning and for the exchange to use. It is expensive to recondition instruments, which is where their fundraising is largely dedicated. It started as an experiment but the program is now in its 8th year. They find that kids often change their minds, so making the program lending, rather than selling or giving the instruments to kids works best. The program makes playing an instrument more affordable for those with economic challenges. Children have to certify that they would otherwise not be able to afford to rent or buy an instrument. He gets to visit the band directors and the kids and sees the music programs growing and vibrant. The instrument is theirs to use for 2 years or longer, if necessary. Reeds, mouthpices, strings are generally the student's responsibility to replace. They want to get more students to apply, and have not seen any from Knox County. Their website is www.theinstrumentexchange.org.
Deb Fink shared slides of activities of the club over the past few months.
The club is sponsoring Lindsey Lowe for a short term exchange program to go to Poland. The project involves no financial commitment from the club. PETS training is this weekend in Quebec.
April 11 Business and Community Expo from 2-7p at the Samoset.
Next week is the Club Assembly, and Mik encouraged people to attend.
Memberships is working to find new ways to attract members. Chair Joan Lemole would like to recycle Rotarian magazines as part of their efforts and asks that members bring those to meetings to give to her.
Community Service had to reschedule, and will meet next week at Quarry Hill, check with Mark Coursey for details.
Peter Berke is working on lining up sponsors for the Duck Derby.
Thursday May 24 there will be a Mexican-themed dinner to raise funds for the Wheelchair project at the Penobscot School.
A member of the Rockland Rotary came to promote their Bass Derby April 21.
Mike Pierce announced that the Interact club is close to reaching their fundraising goal, Monday night at the Drouthy Bear there will be an auction and refreshments event at 5:30p.
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.
Buckets on the table are for the Interact club's trip to Safe Passage this spring.
Shawn Doll is the special events manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters (BB/BS) Mid Maine. Shawn is from Bangor, went to UMO, worked for MBNA then Bank of America, and had served on the BB/BS board. The organizations matches "littles" with "Bigs" in 7 counties across Maine with 9 staff that oversee the matches between mentors and children, who are often severely disadvantaged and live in unstable home environments. 92% of kids are facing some level of poverty, truancy and general lack of guidance and trust. Last year 739 kids were in matches in Maine. As of July 2017, Gwendolyn Hudson is the new Executive Director. Over 200 kids in Knox/Lincoln/Waldo county area. Staff meet monthly with matches and has had no reported instances of child safety. Golf for Kids Sake and Bowl for Kids Sake are their two major events that raise about $350,000 each year. It involved 22 events over the 7 counties. He provided some materials including stories about the kids and infographics about their events and program impact. Their goal is 1000 matches. The kids that participate are selected through a guidance counselor or parents who apply for a child they think would benefit through the program. Each match costs about $1000 a year for the organization. Successful matches are those that last more than 12 months.The current rate of matches lasting 12 months or more is 60%, but it was 18%. They recently were recognized as having hit all six of the metrics BB/BS uses to measure effectiveness of an affiliate.
Rotary is celebrating its 113 anniversary tomorrow.
PETS training March 16 - 18 in St. George's, Quebec
April 11 will be the Business Showcase and WBR will have a booth. Stay tuned for more planning and volunteer opportunities.
Mary Sargent wants to be sure that local organizations know that April 1 is the deadline for applying for funds from the WBR Foundation.
She also needs someone to coordinate the greeter scheduling for the 2018/2019 year, and Barbara Heard volunteered.
April 21 will be the annual Ewaste project that Tom Albertson is coordinating again. Electronic waste, shredding, drug disposal and cash for clothes will all be participating. He will be looking for help with publicity and execution, they'll be meeting next Tuesday 2/27 at 7:30a at the Bagel Cafe.
Peter Berke is organizing Duck Derby for 2018. They are looking for sponsors, past and new, gifts and prizes.
Tuesday morning, February 27 will be the International Committee's meeting.
Many tributes to Mark Masterson were shared, and he bid the club farewell as he and his wife head to the "low country" area of South Carolina.
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.
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.
The buckets on the table this month will benefit the Shields Mission Project.
Trina Kuykendall (pronounced "Kirkendall")gave her Classification Talk. She is a Laboratory Manager at Nordx. She is from central Illinois and moved to Maine almost 9 years ago, accepting a quality control position at Pen Bay, and since moved into management of the laboratories at Pen Bay and Waldo in Belfast. She studied biology and medical technology at the University of Illinois, and then an advanced certificate of Business Administration. She's worked in both the for profit and non profit sector as well as internationally and has moved around looking for new challenges. For a time she worked for an outdoor outfitter. She considers herself a scientist. She believes in always looking for new challenges and enjoying the journey. She believes her life purpose is to find a sustainable joy in life, through gratitude and compassion. She had her own version of three truths and a lie. She has piloted a glider, donefree -all parachuting and raced a hot air balloon, despite a fear of heights. She came to Maine on an Outward Bound trip on Hurricane Island, and then spent a week at the Whitehall and after spending a month in Maine somewhat disconnected, decided she wanted to move, and then started beading jewelry, and glass artwork. She had completed life coach coursework when in Illinois and had worked with businesses dealing with staff issues, and in career change, and believes in ongoing education. She has developed her own vision statement and helping her subordinates do the same. She gets satisfaction out of witnessing people do things they didn't think they could do.
Ron Hall had EREY recognition to give to Tom Chester and Trina Kuykendall.
Etienne Perret received a new Paul Harris award with 3 rubies indicating his multiple gifts of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
Mik shared that a group outing with the Camden Club that Barry King is moving is still being planned for February 2.
Leamon Scott reminded us that the Chili Challenge is February 10 at the Seadog, and is looking for sponsors.
Steve Dailey is circulating a sign up sheet for parking on February 10 and 11 for Toboggan Nationals.
Peter Berke has a group meeting Friday afternoon to talk about plans for the Duck Derby.
There is a Habitat for Humanity work project January 27 from 8 - 12, a duplex rehab work project, insulation, sheetrock or painting, being organized by Mark Coursey.
ADG David Wells, Ellsworth Rotary, Wheelchair Project
Buckets on the Table are for the Shields Mission project.
Speaker David Wells, Ellsworth Rotary PP, current ADG for 7790, PHF shared a video about the wheelchair project that he first saw at District Conference. He shared a presentation about wheelchair projects from 2015 to the present, to address the need to improve basic mobility for people in the world. 3% of the world's population have mobility challenges, and half do not have access to wheelchairs.
Missions involve training of volunteers by physical therapists, and their first trip was to Panama where they took 100 chairs. He shared stories of some of the people who received them, the mechanics of wheelchairs, the afflictions and accidents that result in people needing help with mobility to participate in family, school, work and daily community activities. They also brought school supplies and clothing to help other impoverished communities. They went to Belize, providing wheelchairs at a senior home and around the community. For many people, they are otherwise confined to bed, or a hammock or staionary chair, 24 hours a day. The group also went to Honduras to distribute wheelchairs. He shared that an average of 10 people are impacted by one person receiving a wheelchair. While on these trips they were able to visit other Rotary projects, like a well in Panama, raising of laying and meat bird chickens at a school. In March they will visit the Dominican Republic with 125 wheelchairs to La Romana. A shipping container can hold 125 wheelchairs that are manufactured in Asia.
Mary Sargent presented the contributions to area organizations from the West Bay Rotary Foundation.
Camden Area Christian Food Pantry; One Less Worry (feminine hygiene and toilet paper); Megunticook Rowing; Look for Helpers, an organization that helps people like police understand how to communicate and interact with autistic people and other non-verbal people by providing trainings and books to police and first responders; Knox Clinic, providing uninsured adults and children with health and dental care to support the dental program; and Midcoast Recovery Coalition. The next deadline for grant applications is April 1, and the application is available on the westbayrotaryofmaine.org website.
Ron Hall recognized people for participation in EREY, Every Rotarian Every Year; Tom Chester, Bill Hartman, Jane Lafleur and Tim Lawson.
Peter Berke announced the planning for Duck Derby beginning. There will be a planning meeting soon.
Deb Fink shared a slideshow of photographs of club activity in December. https://youtu.be/2l1ykELhFNU is the link to view.
Steve Dailey has sign up sheets to cover the time slots for parking on February 10 and 11.
Chili Challenge plans are coming along, and people can sign up to help serve chili.
Buckets on the table this month are for the Shields Mission Project, an outreach program of the Congregational Church, to work with needy families often helping with rent, transportation and heating assistance. Healthcare and dental assistance is also often needed, and helps people who do not have the funds to address them.
Mik introduced Ara Lovely, a life counselor in Owls Head. He's a native of Presque Isle, and practices Transactional Analysis counseling. The work he does is to help people as individuals and within organizations to better know themselves and to better relate to one another. In the 70's he was working as a pastor in Portland and became trained in TA after going through TA. It was at that time he engaged around his own depression and discovered he would rather be a counselor than a preacher. He also trained many others to be counselors, too. He empowers people through the language they use to empower one another.
Mik related that the Camden Club is organizing a bowling challenge with West Bay on Tuesday, January 30th, at Pt. Lookout, and Barry King will be organizing West Bay's participation.
Kristen Lindquist shared that we raised more than $225 for the school year for the backpack program to sponsor one child.
Mike would like several more people to volunteer to take notes at meetings for the weekly bulletin.
Steve Dailey is organizing parking at the Snowbowl over the Toboggan Championship weekend in February.
Saturday, January 13, 2017 a Habitat build project is being planned by Mark Coursey.
The international committee is sending 8 students from Watershed and 4 students from CHRHS to go Camden Conference.
Bob Rubin is convening a meeting to review the Christmas Tree Sales, at Zoot next Thursday January 11 immediately following the regular meeting,
New week's speaker will be on the Rotary Wheelchair project.
Buckets on the table are for the AIO Food Pantry Backpack program has a goal of $350, and we are $60 short of the goal.
Jim Potter, chair of the Vocational Service Committee, introduced two of the three vocational scholarship recipients for this year.
Ruby Ianelli is in her first year at UVM, majoring in Bio/Pre Med. She is thinking of a minor in Sociology. She took chemistry, biology and religion, and enjoys being self-motivated. She graduated with a 97.7 GP from high school, and her number of Advanced Placement classes. She loves her roommate and suite mate, and tries to not have expectations that are too defined. She went to Riley school for middle school, then CHRHS, and feels she was well-prepared for college. She is interested in surgery and pediatrics.
Kelsie Merrill is a freshman at Curry College in Milton, MA. She continues her work that she began in high school at Quarry Hill, and experience that helped her decide to major in Nursing. She is a tennis player, went to campus early and it helped her to get established and comfortable. She took chemistry, anatomy, psychology, communications, English and labs for both chemistry and anatomy. She graduated with a 97.19 GPA, and got all "A's" her first semester. She feels her transition was easier than most from taking U Rock classes before she went to Curry. Mary asked her to talk about the Retirement Home Enrichment program she did with 2 other CNA students to raise over $2500 for the Music and Memory program at Quarry Hill, through spaghetti suppers and silent auctions.
Diaper Fund is dissolving for lack of funding support.
Steve Dailey is looking for volunteers to sign up to help park cars at the Snowbowl February 10 and 11, and sheets will be at meetings starting next week.
Bob Rubin announced final figures for tree and wreath sales: $23,870 gross with a net $9,666.46.
Chili Challenge volunteers are needed for February 10, and Etienne announced we have half of the chili needed, the event is 4:30-7:30p at the Sea Dog.
Mike Coursey said January 13 would be another Habitat project in Rockland, a rehab of a duplex, likely inside work. The committee is exploring ways to help the Midcoast Recovery Coalition, President Mik's project. They are looking for people to help be spokespeople in the community to respond to the stigmatism and stereotyping people attach to addiction.
Buckets on the table are designated for the AIO Foodpantry backpack outreach program.
Deborah Fink reported on the holiday party held at the Rogers' house last week where $605 was raised for charity from a raffle of earrings donated by Etienne Perret.
Sheila Davenport introduced a new member, Trina Kuykendall, and Mik inducted her into the club. Trina works at Nordx laboratories at Pen Bay Medical Center.
Mik recognized Gary and Roberta Walker for making gifts to the Rotary Foundation that qualify them for Major Donor Status Level 1.
Kristen Lindquist as treasurer announced a fee increase $1 per week per member for $13 per quarter increase per member.
George Abendroth talked about the web page and calendar, that he'd like feedback about them. He's also the member contact for the Interact Club and mentioned their participation in Christmas by the Sea, Window Dressers, delivering food baskets to families in the area, and Mike Pierce reported that his daughter Ella is contributing most of the winnings from last week's raffle to the Safe Passage trip next Spring. He shared an Event/Activity record on the tables to capture details of events and activities to support goals and metrics recording for the club to report to the district. He listed the many projects in which the club has participated just since the beginning of the July 1 - June 30 Rotary year, and he's been capturing some of the data, but wants to make it as complete as possible.
Mik announced a change in gifts to the Foundation to be recognized immediately instead of at the end of the year.
Bob Rubin reported on Christmas Tree sales. He said the attitude and effort of the club was great, as well as the new gift shop aspect. He recognized Sandy Cox, Terry Bregy, Tim and Lisa Dresser, Barry King, Peter Berke, Etienne, Rodney Lynch, Bruce Malone, who has participated for more than 20 years, Steve Dailey, who unloaded 480 trees from the delivery truck, and has done so for many years, George Abendroth who covered at least 7 shifts, and Deborah and Ray Fink for the hut and marketing. Although the final figures are not available, gross sales are around $23,500. Last year was $20,160, so a good improvement. Net proceeds will be around $8,700 and are projected to be around $9,500 total by the end of the season. 10 trees were donated to the town of Rockport, with 10 wreaths, for economically challenged families. Trees were also donated to Hospitality House and wreaths to the Food Pantries.
Ray Fink brought much of the signage that was in the gift shop, and items that were donated, that contributed over $2200 toward the fundraising for tree sales. He encourages those on Facebook to "like" and "Share" the posts from the West Bay Rotary page.
Mark Coursey reported that the board approved donation requests reviewed in November by the Community Service Committee. $17,000 in requests were received and $7,000 will be distributed to various organizations at a meeting in January. Mary Sargent is seeking a matching grant, that required their grant be made before year-end, so that was awarded today to Ira Mandel.
Etienne provided an update on the Chili Challenge meeting held earlier this week. They are looking for 8 - 10 restaurants to supply 8.5 gallons of chili each, they have 3 or 4 committed already, including Quarry Hill, Marriners and the Sea Dog. The event will be held Saturday February 10 at the Sea Dog from 4:30p -7:30p and will cost $10 for 8 samples.
Jim Potter announced that the 2017 vocational scholarship recipients will be at the club next week.
Mac Pierce provided a piano performance of Angels we Have Heard on High and another non-holiday tune. Lincoln played Joy to the World and Ding Dong Merrily on High.
Suzanne Scott led us on the piano to sing carols, including Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Oh Christmas Tree, Blue Christmas, White Christmas,
and a Maine version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Wednesday the 28th at noon a group will be working to take down the tree lot at Maine Sport. Let Terry Bregy know if you can help.
Terry auctioned off a plate of Christmas cookies that Deborah Fink made. Marty Martens was the high bidder at $30.
Bucket on the table are for the AIO food pantry weekend backpack program.
Members of the CHRHS Interact club attended along with staff from Safe Passage, where the club is planning a trip in the spring of 2018 for a week to volunteer at the school at the Guatemala City Dump. We saw a slide show and heard about the history of Safe Passage, Hanley Denning of Yarmouth, its late founder, and the expansion of the education, nutrition and extracurricular programs of Safe Passage since its founding in 1999. They serve 2000 meals a day, have 500 students in a January - October school year. They also have an on-site clinic, that does physical exams and vision screenings, and have psychologists and social workers on staff. Kids receive reproductive education. Rotary has contributed more than $1M to Safe Passage, including support from PDG Deb Walters and her kayak trip to raise money for the cause. Their full-day program, expeditionary learning and team approach is meant to combat the strong gang culture in Guatemala City.
Bruce Malone reminded us that Mary Sargent will succeed Mik as president, and those who were put forward were Kim Milton for President-elect, George Abendroth as Secretary, Kristen Lindquist as Treasurer, and Ken Gardiner as Vice President. There were no other nominations from the floor, Sandy moved that the secretary cast one vote for the slate, which was approved by the membership.
Trina will be inducted next week.
Etienne announced that at the next Rotary convention in Toronto in June 2018 WBR and Masons on a Mission will have a stove booth that will showcase the work in Guatemala building vented cook stoves in homes.
Mik's project, Midcoast Recovery Coaltion, is soliciting year-end gifts that will be matched by an anonymous donor $1 for $1 up to $10,000 by 12/31/17.
Mik reminded the club of the annual holiday party tonight at the Roger's house on Chestnut Street.
Ron Hall recognized Delores Hyssong for her participation in EREY.
Mark Coursey said he would be sharing ideas soon about how Community Service may support the Mid Coast Recovery Coalition.
Terry Bregy said tree sales are going well, and Bob Rubin said we have netted $6500 to $7000 already. Sales this weekend will be crucial.
International Service will be meeting at 8a on Tuesday in the parlor of the church. She reported that the family from the Congo has been provided with winter clothing, and it involved much collaboration in the community.
Mark Materson has sold his house, and is looking for a home for two female cats.
The $1316.50 raffle prize was won by Ella Pierce, daughter of Mike Pierce!!
Buckets on the table are for the Area Interfaith Outreach backpack programs, to provide at least one student with a meal for a year, $225.
Mik introduced Amanda Sprowl to talk about the A Family For ME program promoting foster care through DHHS and adoption. The program is a collaboration of Suprwink and DHHS, the Department of Health and Human Services. This involves a resource family that provide foster care, and potentially adoption. Kinship care is also involved, using family members to provide care for children in DHHS custody. Respite care is also involved, temporary care of kids in DHHS custody, to give resource families a break from full-time foster care, or on an emergency basis. A goal of the program is always to keep siblings together. There is an urgent need for families that can take multiple children who are siblings. There is also great demand for families to provide care of adolescents, and she shared photographs of some of those. There are just under 2000 children in state custody, with many seeking adoption. Drug affected infant births have also increased exponentially in recent years, and usually result in placement of the child.
Mik read a letter from the area that received funds from West Bay impacted by Hurrican Irma.
Mik also related that Carol Coffin of Unity Rotary Club passed away recently.
Deb Hitchings shared a letter from a student at QHC in Lesotho. This is the second student at the high school that we're supporting, a freshman boy.
Mik announced that Trina, sponsored by Sheila Davenport, is being inducted as a new member,
Mik announced his project for the year is the Midcoast Recovery Coalition. They have a $10,000 match for gifts by year-end from an anonymous donor.
Ron Hall recognized Noel Cox as an EREY participation, $100 for the year to the Rotary Foundation.
Terry Bregy reported we need people from 12p-3p on Friday, and 3-6p that day, Saturday from 9-12 and 12-3 to help with sales.
Bob Rubin said gross so far $11,000 and this weekend and next weekend are key weekends. We are $2000 ahead of last year in sales at this point.
Mark Coursey announced that next Wednesday at 7:30a at Quarry Hill the Community Service Committee is meeting.
Deb Fink shared some slides from the Best of the Best event at the Samoset, painting project at the Snowbowl, Rotary Foundation meeting, Water Fountain project in Mexico, Terry's annual Hammacher Schlemmer presentation, a siding project at the Snowbowl, Rotary Leadership Institute, Window Dressers, Gift Shop preparations, Unloading and setting up the Christmas trees at Maine Sport's parking lot.
Ray Fink encouraged people to buy at the gift shop for some great holiday deals.
Paul Rogers encouraged everyone to join the party at his house on Chestnut Street on Thursday, December 14. Donations will be made to
Tuesday December 19 at 8:00a at the Congregational Church the International Committee will be meeting.
George Abendroth encouraged people to let Etienne know ideas of any speakers for the club
Buckets on the Table are to benefit Camden Area Christian Food Pantry
Roy Hitchings focused on the idea of considering not whether people should have access to adequate healthcare, but how to provide it. The affordability issue is probably the overriding issue. He shared the number of countries that provide universal health care, most of the wealth industrialized countries and Cuba. Not the United States. In Germany the system is not run by the government, but involves exclusively non-profit health insurance companies. In places like England, it is run by the government. Some people like the elderly and veterans have single-payer health systems, and about 12% of people in the US are uninsured. Most are working poor US citizens, and more blacks and hispanics are uninsured than whites. Timely access to health care leads to better health. Chronic un-diagnosed diseases result from lack of timely access, which declines in the absence of insurance. 41% of the uninsured to not have a doctor, versus 10% of the insured. Relying on emergency department care is not only expensive, but episodic, and does not provide consistent preventative care. Mortality is higher for people without insurance has been shown to be higher across ages 25-64. Being uninsured results in poorer health outcomes, lacking funds for prescriptions, care for chronic illness like asthma, diabetes, vaccines and higher rate of premature death. He thinks access is a basic human right, supported by the constitution, accepted by major international organizations, makes good economic sense but unaffordable.
He said that those opposed to universal healthcare think the country can't afford it, or that it will deny others. He believes the money is already there, but needs to be spent differently. He said many confuse universal care with single-payer. But he mentioned the case of Germany, and subsidies to make insurance affordable through subsidies.
The moral issue and the cost issue must be resolved to provide universal access. He doesn't think that people understand what lack of access can mean and how it impacts lives.
The thinks that when we see healthcare as a right, not a privilege, we will bring the discussion to not whether we should provide access, but how to do it. The Kaiser Family Foundation, Maine Health Access Foundation, Maine Equal Justice Partners, Mainers for Affordable Healthcare, and the book "Healing of America" by Tom Reid, which he read and convinced him of the need for universal access.
Sherry Cobb spoke about a project with the AIO Foodpantry and the weekend backpack program they have. In 17 schools, every Friday they send kids home with packaged foods involving about 35 volunteers who meet at the Nativity Lutheran church to load the bags for the kids backpacks. This week, 322 bags of food are going home with children this weekend. She reminded us that kids who go hungry can't learn and also have related health issues. Almost half of the children in Knox County are living with food insecurity. 89% of Rockland children are food insecure, down from 91% in 2016.
Ray Fink and Sandy spoke about Christmas Tree sales. Ray addressed the gifts available from the new Gift Shop, including buying an experience at David Jacobsen's glass blowing studio. Sandy demonstrated the Square platform for taking credit card and debit payments After entering the password, which everyone knows, both Bob Rubin's and Sandy Cox's phone numbers are there and they are available at a moment's notice if help is needed. The screen has product icons, including a "Store" icon. David Jacobson will be there Sunday between 2 and 4p.
Terry Bregy said sign-ups are going well, and two slots per member will fill the schedule. He thanked those who came out in the rain on Wednesday to help unload and set up the trees.
November 16, 2017 Meeting of West Bay Rotary, at the VFW on Pearl Street
Bruce Peel grew up in Danvers, went to University of Vermont, and studied Psychology. After work in the social services field, he gravitated toward computer science, worked in programming in several industries, and later earned a masters degree in Statistics. He has worked in industries like healthcare, healthcare research, banking, and when his wife retired from LL Bean, they moved from Durham to Camden and live across the street from Etienne. His interests include skiing, sailing and community service.
Christmas tree and wreath sale will include a gift shop this year and all transactions will take place inside the shed, where the shop will be located. Some slots are still open to sign up.
The December 2 2017 Membership meeting for the District has been cancelled.
Ron Hall awarded a sticker for EREY participation to Tom Rodman.
Sandy Cox announced that Friday morning a group will meet at 7:30a at Marriners for breakfast then go out to the Snowbowl to finish the siding project.
Saturday the 18th is the assembly phase of the Window Dressers project at the High School, and a few more folks are needed for Saturday afternoon. Let Mike Pierce know if you can help.
The Rogers are hosting the December 14 Holiday Party, heavy appetizers, and if we make it byob and pot luck, we can donate what we might otherwise pay to a charity. At the meeting after Thanksgiving we’ll have sign ups for what to bring.
Susan Dorr said that Kit Harrison, liaison to the Congo family in Thomaston, was in touch and they are working on winter clothing. The family includes 6 children, Mom and Dad, by going to Serendipity, Bubbles and Bean, to find coats, boots, hats and mittens.
This Friday at the Bowditch home, $15, 3 Dillingham Pt., 5p Yachting Rotarians, announced by Dan Bookham.
Next week there is no meeting. Roy Hitchings will speak on November 30, 2017 about access to healthcare.
Ray Fink encouraged us to use “like” and “share” of the West Bay Rotary Facebook posts.
Mik asked Chum Berry to come to the podium to share a thought for the day. Chum shared that his house still doesn't have electricity.
Buckets on the Table are the Camden Area Christian Food Pantry.
Etienne Perret spoke about the Rotary Foundation. Arch Klumpf was the first Rotarian to recognize the need to build a fund to support the work that Rotarians were trying to do. He made his initial contribution in 1917, and the Foundation was formed as an endowment in 1928. Since then more than $3BN has been spent on projects worldwide. The initial focus was on children's health, then international study and world peace, including Group Study Exchange, and now Vocational Training Teams. He shared a video from Rotary celebrating the first 100 years of the Foundation.
He explained the system now of $5,000 District Grants and $30,000 Global Grants, involving Districts raising $6000 for the matching Funds that result in $30,000 or more, as was done by Mike Moore and the water project in Tanzania. The District Grant is a two-page application. The maximum from the District is $2,000 or $2,500. The District weighs a club's contributions to the Foundation in making its grants, and the average per member must be $40, and some clubs do not meet that minimum, but West Bay does.
Rotary has focal areas that include child and maternal health and drinking water. Criterial include the need assessment and sustainability dimensions of the project. Rotary's polio eradication efforts have been tremendously successful. The world is almost completely free of Rotary after years and years of immunization drives in places like India and African countries. Ann Lee Hussey, on her 28th Polio Immunization trip from District 7780 reports there are just a few cases left in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Gates Foundation provides a 2:1 match for gifts to Rotary's Polio eradication efforts.
Terry Bregy shared his annual Hammacher Schlemmer Dillemmer. He receives his Rotary Magazine and the catalog and is conflicted about whether to make a gift to EREY or order some of the frivolous items offered by the retailer. He encouraged all to consider a gift to the Foundation to support their many programs.
Mike announced that we are sending $1000 to North Naples Rotary to help victims of Hurricane Irma.
Dec. 2 2017 Membership Seminar in Waterville, and the Dressers are presenting.
Bob Rubin announced the beginning of Christmas Tree sales later this month at Maine Sport's parking lot. He, the Finks and Terry are the committee. There will be a heater in the shed this year. Sign up sheets are available, and members are asked to sign up for 2 - 3 shifts at a minimum. Ray Fink shared that there would be a decorated gift shop in the shed, including glass ornament classes, alpaca products and other gifts to sell with trees and wreaths. There will be opportunities to meet Lucky the Duck and Santa, too.
Last night's Best of the Best included recognition of West Bay Rotary, where the club also had display.
Kristen Lindquist recognized Terry Bregy for his EREY participation.
Mark Masterson announced that last Tuesday a group went to the Snowbowl and helped fix the siding on the shed by Hosmer Pond, and a clipboard is being circulated for 9-11a toboggan chute related work this Saturday, November 4, 2017. They'll meet at the Bagel Cafe at 8a before heading over to the Snowbowl.
Next Wednesday, the committee will be reviewing grant applications, meeting at Mary Sargent's office at Quarry Hill.
Mike Pierce updated on the window dressers project and the Belfast Build they attended last week. Our build is November 18, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It will involved Interact, the families getting windows and the Camden Club, 10 in the morning, 10 in the afternoon. He'll share a link to sign up.
Next week Ken Gardiner will be the speaker on "You can't take it with you".
Etienne is helping the Farmington Club with a cheese wheel fundraiser.
Buckets on the table are for the North Naples Florida Club in their aid to the victims of Hurricane Irma.
Today’s speaker had a medical issue, and was not present for the meeting.
Sandy had the family of Chuck Decker as his guests this morning. Chuck passed away earlier this month. Mik recognized Chuck as a member of Rotary from 1971. Son Flint, his wife Gail and Chuck’s widow Sally received a commermorative plaque.
Mike spoke about the Polio Walk attended by 88 walkers last weekend, including 20 from West Bay Rotary and members from Belfast and Camden clubs.
District Brew Fellowship at Gritty’s in Auburn from 5-10p tonight.
November 1, Best of the Best Gala with a table sponsored by West Bay Rotary and will include a looping video display about our activities and reaching out to increase membership. Ray Fink is looking for volunteers who would like to help decorate.
Barbara Heard is doing the box top campaign with the boc in the back of the room and it involves General Mills products that include
Today Mike Pierce and 4 others will be going to the Belfast Build of Window Dressers to learn how to build/install inserts. They are preparing for the November 18 Window Dresser project that he’s leading, and he needs 8-10 volunteers in the morning and afternoon shifts that day. Interact kids will be involved, along with folks from Camden Rotary along with our club.
Mark Masterson and Sandy Cox shared that there will be a project Tuesday starting at 8:30 at the Snowbowl, repairing a shed, and again the first Saturday in November, work at the top of the chute.
Jim Potter reported that the Entrepreneur’s class ended this week and thanked the various members who helped to run the classes.
Susan Dorr reported on the most recent meeting of the International Committee, with an update on the family from Congo, whom we helped to buy a car. They are now in need of winter clothing for the family. She and her son are working on that through their consignment shops. She and Peter Berke are headed to the Yucatan again to visit villages with new Rotary funded water fountains and they will share more about that when they return.
Deb Hitchings shared from a newsletter at Qualoque Mountain Connections and the student Nsebo that the club has supported since she attended high school at QMC and now is in the second year of college. Her family is vulnerable and impoverished, and she is doing very well scholastically, and appreciates very much the support of the club to allow her to go to school.
Next week’s speaker, Etienne Perret, is going to share a Rotary Foundation presentation.
Terry Bregy auctioned off a $40 gift certificate donated by Deb Fink’s sister for Lily Lupine and Fern.
December 14, 2017 will be our holiday party, and Jan Campbell is making the plans.
George Abendroth had the trophy the club won from the Lagasse tournament. He also shared that she and Jan are engaged to be married.
Mik introduced Cameron Gartley of Allen Insurance and Financial, sponsored by the club to attend RYLA this year, and he shared a bit about his experience. He graduated from U Maine with a degree in Psychology, and went to the RYLA in Caratunk about a month ago, at the suggestion of Mike Pierce, West Bay Rotary club past president and President of Allen. The gathering involved a couple dozen professional people ranging from age 21 – 30, including Quebecois from the Canadian part of District 7790, in various careers and with different leadership experience. They did team building exercises, and spent time in nature getting to know each other starting on a Friday afternoon, through the weekend. Language was also a challenge, as not everyone spoke English, or French. He shared that at 10a on Saturday there will be a 5k for Brian Fitzpatrick, at the old RES location, with a raffle and fun activities for kids. Brian has been diagnosed with liver cancer.
Mik Mikkelsen introduced Erin Fogg who works at Good Shepherd Food Bank. She shared about their successes, programs and goals for the future.
Food insecurity is a hidden epidemic in Maine. More than 16% face food insecurity, meaning they lack regular and adequate access to nutritious food. 1 in 5 Maine children fall into that as well, with 1 in 3 in Washington County. Maine is 7th in the country for food insecurity, and 3rd for very high food insecurity. The issues contributing to food insecurity are complex. Hunger is not always about a lack of food, it’s about lack of access. It’s an income issue, related to underemployment, lack of benefits related to employment that cause people to have little money for things that are not fixed costs.
It is a health care and education issue. Hunger impacts health, and also impacts children’s ability to learn. Toddlers who experience food insecurity are five times more likely to become obese when they are older. This is related to inexpensive food choices that provide little nutritional value.
GSFB founded 30 years ago, has a network of 400 partners like food pantries and homeless shelters, works in 130 schools, has 65 farms that are food providers, and 2 redistribution partners. They provide 22 million meals annually to 178,000 Mainers. They receive and distribute food statewide. The model began with food pantries paying a shared maintenance fee to then receive their food allotments. Over time, that has decreased to 15% of their revenue, and they buy food and then give it to the partners, including fresh produce. 81% of their revenue is from fundraising from individuals, businesses and foundations. Their annual budget is about $10M per year, but with the food involved, closer to $50M in value. They are rated as a 4-star charity with Charity Navigator. Their original distribution center is in Auburn, and they are developing a second facility in Hampden.
Though intended to be a temporary relief organizations, they know that the problem is as bad as it has ever been. 2 years ago Feeding America, the national umbrella for food banks, looking for partners to develop a plan to end hunger in 10 years. GSFB was selected as one of the high performing food banks as a “rural model” to participate with a goal of ending hunger in Maine by 2025.
Their goal is to provide nourishing and healthy food to help people learn, grow and thrive. 70% of their distributions are “food to encourage” including 37% that is fresh produce.
Need increased by 50% in the recession that began in 2008/2009, while contributions were decreasing of both food and money. In 2010 they began Mainers feeding Mainers which guarantees revenue for farmers to provide fresh produce on a local basis. They plan to be spending $800,000 with local farmers in the next few years. They needed more space and after a study they found 11M meals missing requiring more space so have purchased the old BDN facility in Hampden and are now raising funds to renovate it to store an additional 10M meals per year.
Their 400-partner network needs to grow to handle the demand as well, and requiring all to become more creative and innovative. Schools and health care facilities are a focus, given they often see people with food insecurity or limited access to healthy food.
Mik indicated about 20 have signed up for Saturday’s Polio Walk. Report to the train station in Belfast at 9a, and shuttles will be provided to Heritage Park where the walk will begin.
Deb Fink shared a video highlighting the club’s September activities, including Windjammer Festival, Habitat, One Less Worry, and Tikki Times.
Kristen Lindquist had EREY recognition stickers for Mike Pierce, John Tohanson, Mary Sargent for their participation in Every Rotary Every Year.
November 4 will be a work day at the Camden Snowbowl, possibly including work on the shed and the chute.
Mike Pierce reported that the Window Dresser project has about 50 inserts for a one-day build on November 18, the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the CHRHS, including the homeowners, the interact kids and volunteers from the club. He’s going to Belfast to learn more on Thursday, October 26 from 1-5, let him know if you’d like to participate.
Etienne announced a Foundation grant seminar on November 4 in Waterville at the Alfond Center. He and Sandy will be attending and if you’d like to go, let them know. It explains the process and what grants are available.
Next week’s speaker is Amanda Sproul, talking about adoption.
Terry Bregy auctioned off a flourless chocolate espresso cake donated by Rick and Sheila Tasker. Lisa Dresser was the successful high bidder.
The Taskers and Mike Moore are returning to Florida, and we’ll see them next spring.
Youth exchange is recruiting for short-term exchange during the summer of 2018, and Heidi Karod is our contact for that program.
Lyman Morse with newest location at former Wayfarer in Camden, where our speaker Robert Light is manager, has various divisions including boat building, advanced composites, which just completed the steeple for the clock tower on the Chestnut Street Church in Camden, metal and plastics fabrication and solar power (technologies and prototyping) used by military and other customers beyond the marine environment, including solar cubes and “living modules”. Their core operation remains boat building and repair. 3% unemployment is presenting them with challenges in the work force area, and they continue to participate in wooden boats, with a Stephens-Waring designed, cold-molded project in the barn in Thomaston now.
Camden’s Lyman Morse location has 850’ dockage, slips up to 55’ moorings, travel lift and boat hoists and now also the Rhumb Line bar/restaurant. 40-47 employees, including 38 full time, 60 or so in Thomaston, so over 100 between the two yards.
West Bay Rotary will participate on November 1, 5:30 – 8p for the Best of the Best celebration.
Ron Hall is having back issues, and having and MRI next week. Chuck Decker is terminally ill, and will be honored for his participation in Rotary since 1971.
Sandy is organizing the Polio Walk 9-11a on Saturday October 21 in Belfast. From 11 – 1 there is a foliage train ride. He is also organizing a Puppy Path for PAWS at the corner of John St. and Simonton Road, 8:30a – noon Saturday. There are sign-ups at the meeting.
Kim Milton announced Tikki Times, which are fellowship times, and Jan Campbell wants people to know one is planned for Friday October 13 at 5p at the Rockland Golf Club, $10 cost.
Bob Mackenzie, Police Chief for the Town of Kennebunk, will speak next week on addiction and substance abuse.
tive Director, Pen Bay YMCA
a Interfaith Outreach
green Home Performance
Tom Albertson spoke about E Waste scheduled for April 21, which is being promoted on Facebook, and he has a sign-up for volunteer opportunities. Banners are going up. Special projects in the morning will be moving tables from the Rockport Boat Club and temporary road signs, greeters; shifts are 8:30-11:30 and 11:30 to 2:30p. There will be shredding, electronic waste, cash for clothes and prescription drug disposal. Midcoast Solid Waste will be doing paint disposal in June.
ument Exchange
hers Big Sisters
erson, Maine Humanities Council
Ara Lovely, Owls Head
mala City
ccess to Healthcare 
n the Rotary Foundation
d Bank of Maine
