Caren-Marie Michel, Treasurer and Past President of Westbrook Arts and Culture, was our speaker on November 8.  WAC was formed in 2006 as an arts and culture committee under Mayor Bruce Chaluda. By September 2008, the group had evolved into an independent organization with development of their mission statement which states in part: “Westbrook Arts and Culture vitalizes Westbrook by supporting the City’s cultural assets, integrating art and culture into community life and showcasing Westbrook as a great place to live and visit.”

 

Westbrook Arts and Culture gained support from the Maine Arts commission in 2007 and secured Cornelia Warren Community Association grants.  In 2008, they established the Fourth Friday Art Walk.  The group become largely inactive for a few years, but was revitalized in 2014 when it became a 501(c)3 charity. In May 2014, they sponsored Paper City Pop-up during which various businesses hung the work of local artists.  In 2015, they sponsored the first Paint Westbrook event with 20 artists painting in several locations around the City. The 2016 Paint Westbrook event attracted about 30 artists. They also sponsored another Pop-Up display in 2016.  

 

One of the most visible and popular projects of 2016 has been the Greetings from Westbrook sign recently painted over the course of about two weeks by Portland graffiti artist Mike Rich. The mural at 821 Main St was sponsored by WAC, the Warren Memorial Foundation, Ethos/Vont Marketing and six other downtown businesses: HVAC Service, Frog & Turtle, Swanson Group, Westbrook House of Pizza, Peoples United Bank and Fajita Grill. Each letter of Westbrook has been spray painted and includes iconic figures from the City’s history.

 

 

Westbrook Arts and Culture has many plans for the future.  These include: commission of a new sculpture for Riverwalk, development of their website to include artists and musicians working in Westbrook, and installation of a graffiti art wall near Warren Field. This proposed permanent art wall will be for use by graffiti artists in hopes of sparing other buildings in the City.

 

Jason Beever (L) thanks Caren-Marie Michel

as she holds the book she signed for donation

to Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham

 

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.

 

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 

 

The speaker assignment list for the new year will be published in the next Scribbler.

 

Here is the list of upcoming dates: