Finance
- Charities Budget - Our charities budget, previously approved by the board, was approved by the club. We hope to raise $25K this year through our various fundraisers and we hope to give most of that away! As usual, outside of the house project, our budget is heavy on youth services areas, including support of Interact, RYLA, and various scholarships. Members may request a copy of this budget from PE Christine.
- Club Budget - Our club budget, previously approved by the board, was approved by the club. This is the budget that drives our semi-annual dues which will remain at $110 per half. However, we will revisit this before the end of November to be sure we are on track. Club items include District and RI dues, website, insurance, and Rotary magazine. Members may request a copy of this budget, and/or more information, from Treasurer Karen Arnold.
Fundraising
- Golf - We are three months away from our biggest fundraiser of the year. We need all member engaged in finding hole sponsors, raffle prizes and golfers. With our new course, Val Halla in Cumberland, we have the ability to grow this tournament to 20+ teams
- Trees - We continue to work to confirm that we can obtain trees under the umbrella of the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth club. Steve Rand is point person for this and has a high level of confidence that we will secure some trees for this year.
Foundation
- Year End Donations - As we approach the end of the Rotary year, we hope you will consider making a donation to The Rotary Foundation. Donations to the Annual Fund are managed by RI for 3 years, then about half of those proceeds are returned to our District to fund District Grants and match Global Grant fundraising. However, you can also choose to support any fund or area of focus.
- Matching funds - Don't miss out on our club's match. Your first $100 to TRF will be matched by our club, in your name. This helps with progress towards your first/next Paul Harris Fellow. Our Foundation Chair, Steve Rand, will be pulling reports from RI and may be giving you a call if you normally donate around this time each year.
Youth Services
- Scholarships & Awards - Karen Arnold presented the Most Improved Student scholarship at GHS for $500, Carol Chadwick presented the William Chadwick Memorial Interact Scholarship at GHS for $1000. Phil Spiller presented the Most Improved Student scholarship at WHS for $500. There were no WHS Interact Seniors this year. We provided 43 Interact pins for Seniors to wear on their graduation gowns. Kathi presented the WMS Service Awards to two students. Their names are placed on a plaque kept in the WMS office and donations of $50 each were given to their charities - WMS Student Council and 4H.
- RYLA - 7 students from Gorham and 2 from Westbrook are set to attend RYLA this year beginning Sunday June 26. Volunteers are still needed to help with check-in on that Sunday morning at Camp Hinds. If interested, please contact Kathi Perkins.
- Ukrainian Exchange Student: A student name and folder have been provided to the District. This is a student who is currently a refugee in Poland. GHS has agreed to take the student, pending review of the folder. A host family has been identified and two other families are in process to be approved.
Vocational Service
- Scholarships - 14 scholarships for $500 and 4 toolships for $300 were presented by Christine Johnson & Judith Rand at WRVC Awards night.
- House Project - The next house is at 13 West Pleasant St, an unimproved lot. Permits have been obtained, but site work is needed before the foundation can be poured. The current labor shortage has created trouble locking in resources. We hope to have the lot cleared this summer and foundation poured in September. Walls for this single level duplex have already been built at WRVC.
District Grants
- 2021-2022 - Elementary school library in rural Romania. The work is done and money has been spent for books & furniture. Final paperwork was submitted to District.
- 2022-2023 - Clean Energy Sustainability Grant application is submitted. It is for installation of a solar charging station for devices. We should now by mid-July if the grant is approved.
Community Service
- Summer Locker Project - Locker Project will be in Westbrook three times each week during the summer. Volunteers can sign up to help. Contact Christine Johnson for more details.
- Summer Reading - Rotary Reading Friends volunteers are needed at Great Falls Elementary school in Gorham during summer school. As little as one hour per week for five weeks beginning the week of July 5. Contact Karen Arnold for more details.
- Food Drive - Food Drive at Hannaford/SBS in late August/early September to stock school snack and food pantries. Contact Sarah Boone.
Club Service
- Strengthen and Grow club - Our goal is to engage our current members and attract new members - through projects, through great programs, and through at least periodic meeting attendance.
- Membership Types - As part of attracting and retaining members, we'd like to look at offering new membership types - corporate, spousal, etc. A committee is being formed to investigate what other clubs are doing and develop options for our club. If you are interested in being part of this exciting opportunity to grow our club, please contact Christine Johnson.
- Raffle revamp - As we saw from the club budget noted above, the raffle helps to keep our membership fee more manageable. We need to try something different and hopefully more engaging to grow that revenue stream. Ideas welcome!