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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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Stories
June 7, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Sherry Cobb, Area Interfaith Outreach
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.
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May 17, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
LEAPS of IMAGINATION Thinking through Art
Nancy Frohlic, founder of LEAPS was our speaker. Learning in a context in which teacher and student become passionate about learning, and learning in a collaborative setting supported that. Shared her 2nd grade experience as a teacher and later as school administrator. Teaching is the opportunity to change a child's life, and help them see that they can make the world a better place. She worked in impoverished schools to create learning spaces where children could use their imaginations and build upon the established curricula, including Vinalhaven, using art to teach children to collaborate, think deeply, take risks and appreciate the beauty of the earth.
Upon retirement and moving to Maine from Boston, she used her passion to take action. Her early career involved using ancient Greek culture and art in elementary school. She worked then for 17 years as Head of School on Beacon Hill in a diversely populated elementary school.When she came to Maine she had not set foot in a public school for many years. She went to Thomaston's Laura Libby school and proposed LEAPS of Imagination to integrate the arts, expand arts education, improve thinking skills. The underlying theme is environmental sustainability and social justice. the method involves journaling.  They investigate nature, do artwork and express what is meaningful to them and their passions, connecting self to nature. They have also had the program at the St. George school. They involve the artistic process of critique to learn about feedback. Cushing Community School is another place where LEAPS has had programs. Funding comes from places like the Davis Family Foundation, RSU 13, St. George, Partners in Education for Vinalhaven, about 50% from public schools. A group of 2nd and 4th graders recently visited the Langlais Sculpture Garden in Cushing in a day-long field trip. The program is in its 5th year in 4 schools, 5 programs a year, and continue to feel strongly that they are changing children's lives and shared examples of the art and what the children said about their experiences. 
She brought some examples of the artwork created and there is a blog at leapsofimagination.wordpress.com.
Jim Potter shared the scholarship awards make this year, three will be invited to come speak at the holidays, and several other scholarships were awarded from two other trusts for which the clubs serves as selection committee.
Special Olympics at CHRS had about 15 West Bay Rotarians and about 1500 participants on a beautiful day last Friday.
Etienne recognized EREY donors, for their annual $100 gift to the Rotary Foundation.
Mary Sargent reported on the District Conference recently held and the club got recognition. It was a 5 District meeting. The club was recognized by with the Rotary Foundation Award, 3rd place in the district for per capita giving to the Foundation, participation in End Polio Now, Gold Citation from the DG for dedication to Rotary International.
Mark Coursey had scheduled painting of lamposts on Saturday which is now being postponed until after the Duck Derby.
Peter Berke reminded us that the Derby is Saturday the 26th at 11:30a, and he has a few volunteer slots open for the day of the event.
Joan Lemole reminded us of the Mexican Dinner on Thursday the 24th at the Penobscot School, let her know if you want to go. Deadline is Monday, More information at www. Penobscot.us under cultural events.
Susan Dorr announced a meeting next Tuesday morning of the International Committee.
Next week's speaker is Tom Rodman, McLean Cottage.
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May 3, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Speaker didn't show, Ad Lib
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.
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April 19, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Don Reimer, Owls
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
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April 5, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Brian Robinson, Evergreen Home Performance
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.
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March 15, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Peter Leo, the Instrument Exchange
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.
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February 22, 2018 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
Shawn Doll, Big Brothers Big Sisters
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.
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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.
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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
Jun 14, 2018
NOISES OFF Production
Jun 21, 2018
YMCA Director
Jun 28, 2018
Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce
Jul 05, 2018
Hospitality Industry in Maine
Jul 12, 2018
Experience on the Leopard
Jul 19, 2018
P.E.O.
Jul 26, 2018
Hypnotism
Aug 02, 2018
Club Assembly
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