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Speakers
Jul 11, 2017
Jul 18, 2017
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in Maine
Jul 25, 2017
Gorham High School Interact & RYLA
Aug 01, 2017
The New Rotary Year
Aug 15, 2017
Westbrook Downtown Coalition
Aug 29, 2017
District Recovery Initiative
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Annual Lobster Bake
Home of Henry Saunders
Jul 11, 2017
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Board Meeting
WRVC Board Room
Aug 01, 2017
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
 
Board Meeting
WRVC Board Room
Sep 05, 2017
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
 
Annual Golf Classic
Gorham Country Club
Sep 19, 2017 12:00 PM
 
Board Meeting
WRVC Board Room
Oct 03, 2017
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
 
Rotary Links
Rotary International
RI President Home
About Rotary
Joining Rotary
Rotary History
Rotary Foundation
For New Members
     The Four Way Test
      Of the things we think, say, or do:
            First, Is it the truth?
            Second, Is it fair to all concerned?
            Third, Will it build goodwill & better friendships?   
            Fourth, Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Milestones
  • Phil Spiller - Birthday 6/27
  • Becky Albert - Birthday 6/29
  • Woody Beach - Rotary 16 years 6/30
  • Henry Saunders - Rotary 50 years 7/1
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Next Board Meeting
First Meeting of 2017-2018 Rotary Year
8/1 10:30AM at WRVC
All members are welcome at Board Meetings
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Stories
Upcoming Opportunities
 
Summer Lunch Program Kick-Off EventFriday June 30, Walker Field 3-5PM. Come join the fun and learn about the summer food program.  You might even get to blow some soap bubbles with a few kids!  Walker Field is off Brown St near St Anthony’s (St Hyacinth’s). 
 
Summer Lunch Program – Once a week on your chosen day M-F from June 26 through August 23 (no service July 3-4). 11:45 to 1PM. Feeding sitesHigh School, Middle School, Westbrook Point, Intercultural Community Center, and Walker Field. Volunteers especially needed at Walker Field on Wednesdays. If you'd like to partner with other Rotarians to share Wednesday duties, please contact Christine Johnson at cejinmaine@gmail.com.
 
Summer Concerts in the Park - Once again, legionnaires will be selling grilled and other food items at every Wednesday night concert in the park from July 5th until August 21st. Please come enjoy the free music and support your local veterans at the same time.
 
Lobster bake set up – Reminder: Volunteers will meet Sunday July 9 , 1PM at he home of Henry Saunders to ready the area for our annual lobster bake. 15 Long Point Rd, Standish ME. Activities will include garage clean out and table set up. There is still time to sign up for the lobster bake on July 11 - please contact Wayne Lopez at wlopezdds@yahoo.com
 
Ronald MacDonald House - Ongoing - Pat and Cliff Plummer are back and collecting can tabs for RMH. Aluminum can tabs from beverage cans, pet food cans, tuna cans, etc, all are worth money in quantity. Please consider saving your aluminum tabs over the summer and bringing them to a future meeting (Tip: before putting cans in your CLYNK bag, pop off those tabs!). The Plummers have been working on this project for quite some time and would appreciate our help this year.

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.
 
CLYNK for LiteracySecond quarter payout is soon, so return any full bags this week - Keep those cans and bottles coming! Drop off your filled CLYNK bag at any Hannaford (drop off locations can be found at: https://www.clynk.com/locations/maine/ . Thanks to those who have contributed bottles so far to help purchase books that we donate for each speaker.  If you need more CLYNK bags, they are available at each meeting. 
Service Above Self
Congratulations to this year's winners of the annual Rotary Service Award at the Westbrook Middle School,Tanner Clark and Molly Raymo. These eighth grade students were selected by their teachers based on the Rotary motto Service Above Self. Becky Albert and Christine Johnson were pleased to present the awards during the Westbrook Middle School awards and promotion night on June 21. 
 

Tanner is a well rounded young man who is respected by his peers and teachers. He has shown that he is a very capable and attentive student. He has the courage to participate in the classroom and his voice provides leadership for his classmates. He not only is an exemplary student in the classroom he also represents Westbrook well on the track and soccer field. Tanner is the son of Steve Tanner and Marilyn Urbano.

 

L: Tanner Clark, R: Molly Raymo

Molly is a hard working young lady who personifies the characteristic of selflessness. Molly annually makes a trip with her parents to Central America to help the people of Nicaragua. Their family’s humanitarian efforts are a shining example for all. In addition to being selfless she is a talented musician and a dedicated student. Molly is the daughter Steve and Jane Raymo.

The students received certificates to recognize their accomplishments. In honor of these two students, Westbrook Gorham Rotary donated two books to the Westbrook Middle School Library.

Pediatric Care Recognition at MMC
Gift of Life New England, Rotary District 7780, and Maine Medical Center held a recognition reception on June 22 at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital to thank the care givers and other Portland area locals for their work with our two most recent heart patients – Jean Carlos Vasquez and Angel Abrego Quiroz of Panama.  Gift of Life New England was founded by Rotary District 7910 in Massachusetts in 2000.  Since then GOLNE has helped 71 children, including six who have come to Maine starting in 2012.
 
During the event, we remembered the late Paul Emery, Westbrook-Gorham Rotary member, whose passion for helping children first brought GOLNE children to Maine. His wife, Pat Emery, was in attendance and was recognized.
 
Dr John Lombard, Dr Reed Quinn, Ted Shaughnessy
 
Dr John Lombard, Chief of Pediatrics welcomed Ted Shaughnessy, Treasurer of GOLNE, Dr Reed Quinn, Pediatric Heart Surgeon, and other assembled staff and guests.  Ted presented a check for $10,000 to MMCs Foundation in recognition of the surgeries and care provided to Jean Carlos and Angel in Jan/Feb of this year.  Ted offered a few words about the Gift of Life International organization which was founded in 1975 by Rotarians.  Since then, GOLI has helped nearly 30,000 children in 79 countries and now treats nearly 2000 children per year, involving 205 Rotary Clubs in 46 Rotary Districts.
 
 
L: Ted Shaughnessy, R: Elvira Perez
 
As part of the celebration, we were treated to a slide show of the six children who have been helped in Maine – Daisy, Genesis, Jose David, Elian, Angel, and Jean Carlos. Also included were testimonials from some of the mothers and children.  Westbrook resident Elvira Perez, read the testimonials in Spanish. Translations are being made available.
 
 
L: Dr Reed Quinn.  R: Lori Hafner RN,
Pat Emery, Elvira Perez
 
Dr Quinn, who speaks fluent Spanish, was clearly moved by the testimonials and the pictures showing the children living happy and healthy lives. He credited MMC for their support of his work.  He also thanked his staff and the many other medical professionals in this area for their support.  Lori Hafner RN, was specifically recognized in the testimonials and was in attendance to accept our appreciation.
 
Dr Quinn’s final comment about his work was “One life. One child at a time.”
 
L-R: Elvira Perez, Pete Provencher, Pat Emery,
Christine Johnson, John Curran,
Ted Shaughnessy, Dr Quinn
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Thank You!
Our Polio Plus cans were emptied after our meeting on June 20.  We are pleased to report that $123 was collected and forwarded to the Rotary Foundation, earmarked for the polio eradication initiative.
 
Thank you for giving generously during the past quarter and throughout the year. Polio cases in 2017 to date are the lowest in history. With your support, double matching funds from the Gates Foundation, and support from a variety of governments, health organizations and other NGOs, we will lick this disease.
No Excuse for Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is very likely to be happening in our community. The National Center on Elder Abuse reports that only 1 in 14 cases are reported to authorities and that most perpetrators are known to their victims.  Elder abuse is a community problem with community solutions so now is the time for all of us to become educated and get involved in this issue. This message was made clear by our speaker on June 20, Betty Balderston- Elder Abuse Prevention Advocate with Legal Services for the Elderly (www.mainelseorg).
 
Elder abuse can take many forms – physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, neglect, abandonment and financial exploitation. Betty focused on financial abuse during her talk.
 
Financial exploitation is defined at the illegal taking, misuse or concealment of funds property or assets of a vulnerable older adult.  Approximately 90% of abusers are a member of the victim’s family. Other abusers can be a friend, neighbor or a service provider. Studies have shown that 1 in 9 people over the age of 60 experience some form of abuse or neglect each year. This means tens of thousands of older adults in Maine are abused each year. With Maine’s rapidly aging population, more and more Mainers will be impacted.
 
 
Victims of elder abuse are three times more likely to die within the next decade compared to their contemporaries.  Victims often experience shame, pain, physical anguish, institutionalization and generally poor quality of life. They also may find it difficult or impossible to obtain house and needed support services.
 
What are some red flags? There are many changes that may indicate abuse is occurring. Sudden changes in appearance like poor hygiene, loss of weight, dressed improperly for the weather.  Sudden changes in personality like fearfulness, depression, or unreasonable levels of anxiety. They become uncommunicative or have a visible injury that has not been properly cared for.  Social isolation or a sudden unexplained change in routine. Sudden loss in ability to meet financial obligations.
 
What can you do? If you sense immediate danger, call 911. If the threat is not immediate, you can encourage them to seek help and offer your support.  If you are not sure, you can always call Adult Protective Services to share your concerns.  Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 1-800-624-8404. You can also encourage the senior or someone with legal authority to act for the senior to call Legal Services for the Elderly.  Free and confidential help is available during regular business hours at 1-800-750-5353.
 
For a complete list of Maine agencies who can help elder abuse victims, please visit: www.elderabuseprevention.info
 
Read more...
Speaker Assignment List
We have been receiving many requests to provide programs recently so have not assigned members to specific weeks as we have done in the past.  If you have an idea for a program, please contact Christine Johnson.  We are currently seeking programs for August and beyond. 
 
Here is the list of upcoming dates with speakers and their sponsors:
  • 6/27 - Changeover Ceremony - Welcome Dr Bill Chadwick as our new President
  • 7/4 -   No Meeting - Happy Independence Day
  • 7/11 - No Lunch Meeting - See you at the Lobster Boil
  • 7/18 - Matt Collins - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)
  • 7/25 - Aaron Farr - President GHS Interact Club - Ethan Johnson
  • 8/1 -  Club Assembly
  • 8/8 -  TBD
  • 8/15 - Shannon Cilento - Summer Intern Downtown Wsbk Coalition - Phil Spiller
  • 8/22 - TBD 
  • 8/29 - Chief Bob MacKenzie - Kennebunk ME - District Recovery Initiative
  • 9/5   - TBD
  • 9/12 - District Governor Dave Underhill - Bill Chadwick
  • 9/19 - Golf Tournament - No Meeting
  • 9/26 - Marty Helman - District Foundation Chair
  • 10/3 - Club Assembly
 
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Missed a Meeting?   Make up online at Rotary E-Club One
 
Or at one of these other local clubs in our area:
 
Portland - Fridays 12:15PM at Holiday Inn by the Bay or Clarion
check website for current week's venue
 
Portland Sunrise - Thursdays 7:15AM
Cumberland Club 116 High St Portland
 
Falmouth - Mondays 4:30PM
American Legion Post  65 Depot Rd Falmouth
 
Scarborough - Tuesdays 5:45PM
Cabela's 100 Cabela's Blvd Scarborough
 
Sebago Lake Rotary Club - Thursdays 12:15PM 
Dena's Lobster House & Tavern 765 Roosevelt Trail Windham
 
OR you can always claim a make up by attending Rotary-sponsored events of our club or other clubs like fundraisers, 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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