Gorham Interact Project – Last chance! GHS Interact is currently collecting latex free pediatric band aids (with characters, etc.), stickers, packages of crayons, and coloring books to support the new child life services section being implemented in the Emergency Department at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Donations can be brought to our meeting on 11/22.
Christmas Tree Sales Lot Set Up - Don't forget. We will be setting up the sales lot right after our meeting on November 22. Any time you can offer to help is appreciated.
Toys For Tots and Teens - Don't forget to bring a donation to our meeting on November 29 (see story below).
Bundles of Love - $20 buys a bundle of needed items for a Guatemala child or family (see story below).
Tips for Charity Luncheon - Just 7 tickets left! Tickets are still available for Friday December 9. See Christine Johnson to reserve your spot at 11:30 or 12:20.
CLYNK for Literacy – 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. Keep them coming!! If you need more CLYNK bags, be sure to see Christine Johnson at the next meeting or find the pre-stickered bags in our closet at WRVC.
District Literacy Project – We continue to need new or gently used children’s books (young readers and up to age 12, also books for older/elderly readers) to fill our distribution boxes at Westbrook Community Center, Stroudwater Food Pantry and Gorham Rec Center.
We are pleased to announce that Scott Linscott has submitted an application for member in Westbrook-Gorham Rotary. Scott is a professional photographer and he has been in ministry in Maine since 1985, working with teenagers for 25 years and in a church revitalization the last few years.
His interests include leadership, living missionally, Photography, baseball, graphics, computers, technology, writing, and cycling. He holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Maine and a MA in Theology from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
In 1984, he married his college sweetheart, Robin. They have three children – Josh, Shara and Jake and two grandchildren. He and Robin, also a photographer, live in Westbrook. To learn more about Scott, you can visit his website: http://www.linscottphoto.com/
On Saturday November 19, dozens of District 7780 Rotarians and Interacters converged on a warehouse in Biddeford to load the most recent container of mobility devices. Over 3000 crutches, canes, wheelchairs, boots and other items were loaded by the team and will be shipped to Uganda.
Huge thanks to Dennis Robillard, our District chair for C4A, and Israel Collins, President of Saco Bay Sunset, for all of their hours of effort organizing items leading up to this day. Thanks to Westbrook-Gorham Rotarians who participated: Jeff Malloy, Bill Gowen and Christine Johnson.
Westbrook Interact adviser, Bruce Dyer, and Interact/RYLA students Kallie Cyr, Kelly Maguire, Kara Fortier and Sydney Cole (RYLA), were our guests on November 15. Kallie, Kelly and Kara went to Rotary UN Day, a two-day District-sponsored trip November 11-12. Sydney attended RYLA in June.
The Rotary UN Day trip included a visit to Time Square, dinner at Bubba Gump’s, attendance at the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera, and a visit to the 9/11 Memorial, in addition to the UN activities. The students were at the UN for several hours. They attended an information fair where they learned about service projects that they might be interested in. They picked up lots of brochures, including information on sustainability projects that they are hoping to integrate into one of their classes this year. They heard from several high-powered speakers, including the Ambassador from South Korea and Rotary International President John Germ who provided insight on current topics affecting the global community. They also heard from several youth leaders. Finally, they learned about the fight against polio and the current status. They came away believing that even young people can create and work on projects that can make a difference.
Sydney spoke about her RYLA experience. She told us that RYLA stretched her comfort zone with positive risk taking. She came out of the experience more confident and outgoing.
The Westbrook Interact Club has several projects in the works for this year. They are seeking older citizens for whom they can rake leaves. They will be baking pies for the holidays and bell ringing for Salvation Army kettles. They are also hoping to volunteer at Barbra Bush Children’s Hospital and with local nursing homes, as they have in past years.
Scott Linscott, our newest recruit, will be in Guatemala December 3-10. He will be doing photography work to help AMG International better communicate its programs and the need there.
For every $20 gift, AMG provides a bundle to meet the greatest need in a child or family's life. It might include rice, beans, a toy, nutritious treats or even a school uniform (children must have a uniform to attend public school). The bundle supplies are purchased locally which bolsters the local economy and saves on shipping. Scott will spend two of his days in Guatemala with a team distributing bundles.
Scott had set a goal to fund 100 bundles. Right now he has funded 102, 10 of those from our Rotary Club! However, since bundles are purchased in-country, he can always accept more funds to purchase more.
There is still time to help. You can bring cash or check to one of our next two meetings (11/22 or 11/29). If paying by check, please make payable to AMG International. For more information about AMG: http://en.amgg.org/
The Toys For Tots Foundation is a Top-Rated Charity. Over 97% of donations go to their mission of providing toys, books, and other gifts to less fortunate children. Less than 3% is spent on fundraising and overhead.
On November 29, 2016, our speaker will be Staff Sgt Andrew Roberson, Central Maine Marine Toys For Tots Coordinator. He will be telling us about local efforts in Maine around this signature program that helps make Christmas special for many children in need. The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
We encourage members to bring toys, children's books and/or cash donations for Toys for Tots to our meeting on November 29. If you choose to write a check, please make it payable to Westbrook Gorham Rotary Club Charities and the club will write a single check to Toys for Tots. Thank you for your support. Let's help provide a Merry Christmas to some local kids who might otherwise go without.
District Visioning Sessions - The final sessions will be held in Brunswick on January 17. Sign up at the District website.
Mid-Year Dinner - January 30, 2017 - Fireside Inn and Suites - A midyear "must" for our club Presidents, Presidents-elect, Vice Presidents, district officers, committee heads, and other interested Rotarians. Reception at 5:30 PM, program and dinner begin at 6:15, followed by breakout sessions with the DG-team.
World Peace Day - also known as Rotary's Birthday - February 23, 2017 - Rotary turns 112 this year.
2017 District Conference - May 19-21, 2017- Samoset Resort, Rockport ME. Prior to the Conference there will be a 5K walk/run to benefit Polio Plus.
2017 International Convention - June 10-17, 2017 - Atlanta GA - Georgia World Congress Center - http://www.rotaryconvention2017.org
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
You can also claim a make up by attending Rotary-sponsored events of other clubs like fundraisers, by volunteering at MPTC during the assigned Rotary Friday, or by attending District events or training. Just let our Secretary Mike Foley know when you have participated in any of these activities.
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