The Transformation Project Open House - On Thursday January 27, 5-7 PM, at 907 Main St in Westbrook, the location of new transitional housing for youth moving from Longcreek back into the community. The open house is being held in collaboration with the Downtown Westbrook Coalition.  The Transformation Project’s mission is to provide community-based opportunities for young Maine offenders to discover their potential and purpose for their lives, with a vision of seeing lives transformed and communities restored. DJ's Cafe and event center will be opening on the first floor of this location later this year.  For more information, see the story in the American Journal last week: http://news.keepmecurrent.com/youth-re-entry-housing-to-open-in-march-the-transformation-project-will-hold-an-open-house-for-the-public-next-week/

 

Donate to our Club's Charity through Amazon Smile – 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.

 

CLYNK for Literacy – Ongoing - Keep those cans and bottles coming! Drop off your filled CLYNK bag at any Hannaford. Thanks to those who have contributed bottles so far to help purchase books that we will donate for each speaker.  If you need more CLYNK bags, will be available going forward from our January 24 meeting. 

Accept the Foundation Challenge Match- The match challenge for donations made to the Rotary Foundation has been renewed for 2016-2017. The club will match any donation to the Rotary Foundation, dollar for dollar up to $100 in that member’s name.  For folks who newly sign up for Rotary Direct (automatic monthly payments from credit card or bank account) the club will add a one-time $25 donation to the Foundation.  If you have not yet made a donation in the 2016-2017 Rotary year, please consider accepting this challenge!! To donate on line, go to https://my.rotary.org/en/rotary-foundation

 

 

In April 2016, a group of 18 adults from the congregation of FBC Westbrook traveled to Guatemala to work with children in poverty.  They spent their week in a rural AMG school in the town of Oratorio painting, prepping meals and working with children. AMG Ministries provides nutrition, education, access to healthcare, employment skills and more to more than 8,000 children in centers throughout Guatemala.

 

The third-world poverty the team from FBC experienced firsthand opened their eyes to the opportunity made possible through child sponsorship. The group came home sponsoring 10 children. That number has grown to 22 Oratorio children now sponsored by families in the congregation. The church sees the Oratorio work as its sister school and is committed to a continued relationship and providing life-changing sponsorship for as many children as needed. There are currently 14 children needing sponsors.

 

 

Last month, Scott Linscott returned to Guatemala to use his skills as a professional photographer to help AMG better tell the story of the work being done there. Their philosophy is: A hand up lasts longer than a hand out. They want to be sure their work is sustainable, a goal they have in common with Rotary funded projects.

 

Scott told us that 25% of children growing up now in Guatemala will not be able to read or write. Only $200 per child per year is spent on education in Guatemala vs $8500 per child per year in the US. In some areas, there is disparity of education between boys and girls.

 

Many homes are very modest, built of cinder block and pressed plywood. Open cooking stoves are common, especially in rural areas, presenting a health problem for women and young children. Agriculture is a big part of the economy, but produce represents income to the family so children of farmers are not fed their own produce. 

 

For more information about child sponsorship visit https://goo.gl/EQ6kL7 

 

Another trip to Oratorio is planned for April 2018.  Contact Scott Linscott at scott@linscottphoto.com for more information.

 

   

L: Scott holding a woven table runner purchased in Antigua,

but likely woven in a mountain village.

R: Scott Linscott with Jason Beever

 

As of January 3, $560 has been donated to Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club Charities in member of Paul Emery.  If you were planning a donation and have not yet had a chance to write that check, please do so before our next board meeting.  With the approval of Paul's wife Pat Emery, we will be working with My Place Teen Center to identify a way we can use these donations, with additional funds provided by the club, to best help MPTC and provide a fitting tribute to Paul.