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.

 

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.