Westbrook Community Clean Up Day – Saturday May 5, 9AM-1PM (come at any time during this window and stay as long as you can). Start at Riverbank Park or 192 Brown St (Community Policing Center). City provides gloves, bags, safety vests, and other tools. Wear closed toed shoes. Bring water and some friends! For more information or to register 591-8135 or email recycling@westbrook.me.us
The Locker Project - Note change of time for rest of School Year due to elimination of early release. Fresh food and baked goods distribution at Westbrook High School in the cafeteria. Two or three volunteer needed for each of these upcoming dates. Approx 1:45-3PM each time. Sign in at front office and go to cafeteria. Wednesdays April 25, May 2, 16, 30 and June 13. First event at Westbrook Community Center will be June 27. Help lay out food on tables and interact with the kids to encourage them to take items. You will be a welcoming presence, making sure people know they are invited to take food. Everyone is invited to bring food home with them. This a great way to de-stigmatize free food distributions, particularly in the case of fresh food that would otherwise be wasted. If you can help on any of these dates, please contact Christine Johnson. For more information, or to donate, visit their website: mainelockerproject.org
NEW!!! Princeton Elementary School Literacy Project - Books are being collected for the library at the Elementary School in Princeton ME in Washington County. Books will also be given to students in Grades 1-8 for their personal use. A week long Literacy program will engage the students in active reading for one week in July. Gently used donations are welcomed. Classics are encouraged as well as series. The goal is to collect up to 800 books. Please bring donations to any meeting between now and July 17.
CLYNK for Literacy - Ongoing - Don't forget to keep filling those bags to help fund the children's books we ask our speakers to sign for the Baxter and Walker Libraries. Extra bags are always available at our meetings. If you have been working on filling a bag for a very long time (6 months or more), please consider returning it and starting a new one. Thank you for your ongoing support of this fundraiser!
Donate to our Club's Charity through Amazon Smile – Ongoing - If you order items from Amazon.com, even if not very often, you can help Westbrook Gorham Rotary Club Charities. Go to http://smile.amazon.com/. Search for our Charity and select it. You may need to login to your Amazon account before being able to finalize your selection. Then, when you shop Amazon.com (always starting from http://smile.amazon.com/) a portion of every purchase will be donated to our charity.
Can Tabs for Ronald MacDonald House – Ongoing - Let’s keep collecting those can tabs so we'll have a big donation in the spring. Watch here for a date to bring in your collection!
Henry Saunders' 90th Birthday Party - Saturday June 23, 2018, 11AM- 3PM, including social, light lunch & cake cutting. 15 Long Point Rd, Standish, ME. Casual attire. Bring your swimsuits, lawn chairs, towels, and sunscreen. Come enjoy the lake views and pebble beach. Members who know Henry are welcome to attend. RSVP to Henry's daughter Leslie McManus. 105 Otter Dr Standish ME 04084 207-642-3057. If you have picture or a story to share, please send them along with your response. A scrap book is being made to present to Henry. Please no gifts.
Westbrook Together Days - Friday-Saturday June 1-2. Food, music, parade, fireworks, and family fun!! Vendors are being asked to sign up by May 6 at http://westbrooktogetherdays.com/vendors/
Gorham Community Night at the Ball Park - Thursday, July 12, 2018. The Portland Sea Dogs, AA Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, take on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, AA Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:00 PM. Ticket $9 Gorham Night at Sea Dogs
Westbrook Community Night at the Ball Park – Wednesday, August 15, 2018. The Portland Sea Dogs take on the Trenton Thunder, AA Affiliate of the New York Yankees at 7:00 PM. Ticket $9 Westbrook Night at Sea Dogs
Community Food Drive - Hannaford Drive a Saco Biddeford Savings parking lot- Saturday August 18, 10AM-2PM. Contact Sarah Hutchins to volunteer.
There are lots of upcoming opportunities for networking, sharing, and learning with Rotarians from across our District. Also featured are some fun fundraisers being held by nearby clubs.
Party with a Purpose 2018 - Fundraiser of Portland Sunrise Rotary - Wednesday May 16, 5:30PM at Dimillo’s - $30 - Raising funds for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. Live and silent auction. Tickets are available at the door as well as on line at https://fundraising.mmc.org/mccp/rotarysocial
Mid-Coast Maine’s Got Talent – Friday May 18, 7PM Crooker Theater, 116 Maquoit Rd, Brunswick, Adults $12, Seniors & Students $10, Families $30. Benefit Brunswick Rotary Club Charities
8th Annual Pizza Challenge and Silent Auction - Fundraiser of Sebago Lake Rotary Club - Thursday May 24,5-7PM. In front of Smitty's Cinema, 795 Roosevelt Trail, Windham
5th Annual Touch a Truck – Fundraiser and Family Fun Event of Scarborough Rotary – Saturday June 2, 10AM-2PM, Scarborough Downs - 90 Payne Road - Scarborough, ME $5 person/$20 family. Get up close and personal with Fire Trucks, Police Vehicles, Bucket Trucks, Tractors, Heavy Equipment, Delivery Trucks, School Bus, Book Mobile and so much more. Concessions available and other vendors - Pony Rides, Music, Face Painting and more.
Maine Outdoor Challenge – Join the Portland Rotary Club during June 4th - 6th and try your hand at some of Maine’s outdoor sporting events. Put together a team of 5 to compete in archery, clay shooting, fly fishing and more. To learn more visit Maine Outdoor Challenge and help us raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Maine. All sporting events take place at the LLBean Outdoor Discovery School.
9th Annual Golf Tournament – Fundraiser of Bridgton Lakes Region Rotary – Saturday June 9, 8AM - Bridgton Highlands Golf and Tennis Club. For more info email George Klauber: georgeklauber@gmail.com
Come join the fun and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the completion of the first Rotary house at 42 Libby Ave in Westbrook. The celebration will be had at the WRVC and starts at 6PM with hors d’oeuvres provided by the Culinary students and tours of the building trades classrooms led by current students. We will also be treated to few words from some special guests who have been involved in the program over the years.
Ground was broken for the first house in the fall of 1957. With rapid progress over the school year, the house was ready for the open house held June 10-12, 1958.
Drawing of 42 LIbby Ave circa 1958
The idea originated with Carl Jensen, the first vocational Director in Maine and one of few in the country to initiate a house building project for school boys. The project was conceived to improve the industrial and vocational program in Westbrook and prevent loss of state funds at the time. Students would build a house, install heating and plumbing, decorate it and sell it. Profits to finance similar projects in the future.
The problem was funding for the materials and securing a lot on which to build. The Rotary Cub stepped in to underwrite expenses and to establish a trusteeship for future construction. They also handled the sale of the completed house and secured a lot for the following year.
“Operation Cape Cod” moved forward with twenty carpenters and ten sheet metal workers. Girls in the home economics program developed decoration schemes and students of the commercial program recorded construction costs. The house was completed on schedule and valued at $16,000. It sold quickly.
Since that time, 44 other homes have been completed. Most have been built on site, although a few modular homes were built at the school and later transported to their final location. During several years in the 1970s, students built the Home and Family Living Center (now Superintendent’s Office) on the grounds of the High School. House 46 is now under construction on Declaration Dr in Westbrook.
House #46 under construction Declaration Dr
We look forward to see you all there to celebrate this signature project. This celebration is open to all members, guests, former faculty of the school, and those in the community who have supported the program over the years.
Our District 7780 has initiated a pilot program for Rotary Short-Term Youth Exchange, for this summer. Short Term Youth exchange involves two high school students and their families who pair up. Student 1 travels to and is hosted by Family 2 for 3-4 weeks. Then the two students travel together to Family 1, where Student 2 is hosted for 3-4 weeks. Then Student 2 goes home. The students/families pay all expenses for travel, visas, insurance and spending money. Host families provide room, food and activities.
A club interested in participating reviews applications and helps select students. The club hosts the students at meetings, service projects and club activities. The club provides support for the family and students, as needed.
The district maintains its Essex membership, provides support for the district committee, and hosts students to a district sponsored activity if it occurs during the exchange time. Through Essex, the deadline is May 1 for applications, but it can be extended a couple of weeks. There are currently exchanges available for Italy, France and Ecuador (Spanish speaker only).
The District pilot is chartered to:
Focus around Portland area (Limited to Portland, Portland Sunrise, South Portland/Cape, Westbrook and Falmouth Clubs)
Students from Rotary Families, including grandparents in the definition
1-3 students
This opportunity is available to Rotarians who would like to sponsor:
your children
your grandchildren
or a family you want to sponsor
More info will come in the next few days via email. If your family is interested in this unique opportunity, feel free to contact Dick Hall (Portland), Kathi Perkins (Westbrook) or Megan Peabody (Portland).
If you have an idea for a speaker or program, please contact Christine Johnson at cejinmaine@gmail.com. We are also interested in ideas for periodic evening meetings, service projects in lieu of meetings, or in-meeting service projects
We are now scheduling programs for August and September.
Here is the list of upcoming speakers and programs:
* 4/24 - Waterstone - Westbrook Gateway Project
* 5/1 - No Lunch meeting. Evening Celebration.
60th Anniversary of House Project
* 5/8 - WHS Interact & Dr Bruce Dyer - Interact Update
* 5/15 - Nancy Gallinaro - Just Love Ministry
* 5/22 - Guatemala Team Report
* 5/29 - Site visit to Idexx - tentative
* 6/5 - Final Club Assembly of 2017-2018
* 6/12 - Anna Turcotte - The Republic of Artsakh
* 6/19 - John Grew - Maine Audobon
* 6/26 - Changeover
* 7/3 - No Meeting -Happy Independence Day
* 7/10 - No Lunch Meeting - Evening Event
See you at the Lobster Bake
* 7/17 - John Lobosco - District Governor Visit - Be the Inspiration
Rotary is about fellowship, as well as service to our community. Even if you must miss a meeting, you can remain engaged by attending Rotary-sponsored events of our club or other clubs like fundraisers, by selling Christmas Trees, by volunteering at our Golf Tournament or our Road Race, or by attending District events or training. Just let our Secretary Mike Foley know when you have participated in any of these activities at mfoley@me.com
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