Patriots’ Day Road Race – Monday April 16, Riverbank Park Westbrook. Volunteers please arrive by 9AM. This will allow time to set up signage and to help with last minute registrations. Bibs with chips will be used this year to determine finish time and placement. Photographer needed so if you have a friend or relative who is handy with a camera, please bring them along!
Westbrook Community Clean Up Day – Saturday May 5, 9AM-1PM (come at any time during this window and stay as long as you can). Start at Riverbank Park or 192 Brown St (Community Policing Center). City provides gloves, bags, safety vests, and other tools. Wear closed toed shoes. Bring water and some friends! For more information or to register 591-8135 or email recycling@westbrook.me.us
The Locker Project - Note change of time for rest of School Year due to elimination of early release. Fresh food and baked goods distribution at Westbrook High School in the cafeteria. Two or three volunteer needed for each of these upcoming dates. Approx 1:45-3PM each time. Sign in at front office and go to cafeteria. Wednesdays April 25, May 2, 16, 30 and June 13. First event at Westbrook Community Center will be June 27. Help lay out food on tables and interact with the kids to encourage them to take items. You will be a welcoming presence, making sure people know they are invited to take food. Everyone is invited to bring food home with them. This a great way to de-stigmatize free food distributions, particularly in the case of fresh food that would otherwise be wasted. If you can help on any of these dates, please contact Christine Johnson. For more information, or to donate, visit their website: mainelockerproject.org
CLYNK for Literacy - Ongoing - Don't forget to keep filling those bags to help fund the children's books we ask our speakers to sign for the Baxter and Walker Libraries. Extra bags are always available at our meetings. If you have been working on filling a bag for a very long time (6 months or more), please consider returning it and starting a new one. Thank you for your ongoing support of this fundraiser!
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.
Can Tabs for Ronald MacDonald House – Ongoing - Let’s keep collecting those can tabs over the winter months so we'll have a big donation in the spring. Watch here for a date to bring in your collection!
Gorham Community Night at the Ball Park - Thursday, July 12, 2018. The Portland Sea Dogs, AA Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, take on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, AA Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:00 PM. Ticket $9 Gorham Night at Sea Dogs
Westbrook Community Night at the Ball Park – Wednesday, August 15, 2018. The Portland Sea Dogs take on the Trenton Thunder, AA Affiliate of the New York Yankees at 7:00 PM. Ticket $9 Westbrook Night at Sea Dogs
Community Food Drive - Hannaford Drive- Saturday August 18, 10AM-2PM. Contact Sarah Hutchins to volunteer.
There are lots of upcoming opportunities for networking, sharing, and learning with Rotarians from across our District. Also featured are some fun fundraisers being held by nearby clubs.
District Vision and Planning - Thursday, April 12, 2018, 6-8PM. 11th in the series of “Vision to Plan” Workshops. So. Portland Housing Authority, 100 Waterman Dr. South Portland, ME. If your club is struggling with creating a plan, struggling with SMART goals or is somehow “roadblocked” with planning or implementation, THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR YOU! Registration fee of $10.00 covers a light meal and supplies. The fee can be paid at the door or in advance. Make checks payable to District 7780 and mail to: Bob Reed, 131 Oak St. Bath, ME 04530. Please RSVP by April 15 via email: reedart@sover.net
Party with a Purpose 2018 - Fundraiser of Portland Sunrise Rotary - Wednesday May 16, 5:30PM at Dimillo’s - $30 - Raising funds for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. Live and silent auction. Tickets are available at the door as well as on line at https://fundraising.mmc.org/mccp/rotarysocial
Mid-Coast Maine’s Got Talent – Friday May 18, 7PM Crooker Theater, 116 Maquoit Rd, Brunswick, Adults $12, Seniors & Students $10, Families $30. Benefit Brunswick Rotary Club Charities
5th Annual Touch a Truck – Fundraiser and Family Fun Event of Scarborough Rotary – Saturday June 2, 10AM-2PM, Scarborough Downs - 90 Payne Road - Scarborough, ME $5 person/$20 family. Get up close and personal with Fire Trucks, Police Vehicles, Bucket Trucks, Tractors, Heavy Equipment, Delivery Trucks, School Bus, Book Mobile and so much more. Concessions available and other vendors - Pony Rides, Music, Face Painting and more.
Maine Outdoor Challenge – Join the Portland Rotary Club during June 4th - 6th and try your hand at some of Maine’s outdoor sporting events. Put together a team of 5 to compete in archery, clay shooting, fly fishing and more. To learn more visit Maine Outdoor Challenge and help us raise money for the Boys & Girls Club of Maine. All sporting events take place at the LLBean Outdoor Discovery School.
9th Annual Golf Tournament – Fundraiser of Bridgton Lakes Region Rotary – Saturday June 9, 8AM - Bridgton Highlands Golf and Tennis Club. For more info email George Klauber: georgeklauber@gmail.com
Thanks for your weekly donations through our Polio Plus cans. Together we raised $177 over the past 6 months. With the Gates Foundation match, that amount will become $531.
To date in this 2017-2018 Rotary year, we have raised $407, which will become $1221 with the Gates Foundation match. Thank you for your support!
On Saturday April 7, six members of Westbrook-Gorham Rotary attended the annual District Training Assembly at the new Pratt & Whitney Center at York County Community College in Wells. Attendees heard opening remarks in the beautiful two-story lecture hall from DG Dave Underhill, DGE John Lobosco, DGN Andy Glazier and DGND Peggy Belanger. The Roll Call of clubs conducted by District Secretary Deb Grabowski showed attendance of nearly 180.
The opening assembly was followed by three 40-minute breakout sessions covering topics including training for secretaries, treasurers, and protection officers; best practices for boards; sessions on the district opioid initiative and youth services; public image, global grants, and a tutorial on Rotary websites. Kathi Perkins conducted a session on Youth Exchange in partnership with her brother Dick Hall. AG Christine Johnson moderated a panel of AGs discussing hints and tips for successful club collaboration. Scott Linscott provided his photographic skills to document the day. Also attending were President Bill Chadwick, Protection Officer Dave Rolfe and Treasurer Bill Gowen.
L-R: Bill Gowen, Christine Johnson, Bill Chadwick
The final session included a wonderful and inspiring presentation of the winning 4-Way Test Contest speech by Oscar Hennin, a freshman at Morse High School in Bath, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bath. Oscar said his prize money of $750 will go towards his driver license and a summer course at Southern Maine Community College. The assembly concluded with an inspirational address by PDG and polio survivor Anne Lee Hussey.
Speaking to over 110 Interact students at Gorham High School on April 5, President Bill Chadwick and Interact Liaison Ethan Johnson invited Sophomores to participate in the upcoming 2018 RYLA CAMP at Camp Hinds in Raymond Maine.
Ethan laid out the dynamics of the camp and the process to apply. President Chadwick inspired the students by saying, “We came here today to ruin your lives!” “You will never settle for less than your full potential once you have experienced the Leadership Training at RYLA”!
Last year’s participants each shared how RYLA left a positive impact on their lives. Interact President Aaron Farr spoke about the camp motivating his call to leadership and being a positive part of his acceptance into YALE UNIVERSITY. After the presentation, over thirty students took applications for the camp.
Interviews will be held the first week of May with students being notified of their acceptance shortly thereafter. Nellie Nelson, a teacher at GHS and Interact Supervisor has done an incredible job in motivating and organizing this club. Together we are the proud sponsors of the largest Interact club in New England.
Gorham Interact Club in the gym lobby at the high school
On Tuesday April 3, 2018, a community event was held at the Westbrook Middle School to honor the winners of the Community Read essay contest and to show the movie on which the book was based. The Westbrook Gorham Rotary Club provided support for these awards.
Students at all grade levels read the New York Times bestseller, Wonder by R. J. Palacio (or a book with similar themes appropriate to grade level). Wonder tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
Essay winners were: Madeleine Clark, Grade 2 – Saccarappa; Sofia Kirtchev, Grade 4 – Congin; Katie Cross, Grade 6 and Olivia McCartney, Grade 7 - Westbrook Middle School; Amina Al Sadoun, Grade 10 and Jaina Pelletier, Grade 11 - Westbrook High School.
After the awards, those in attendance were treated to a showing of the movie Wonder, originally released in November 2017. Congratulations to all of the winners!
Three students from Westbrook Regional Vocational Center Culinary Arts program saw their menu prepared and served to a sold out crowd of 600 people at the 2018 Go Read Luncheon on Tuesday March 20, 2018 at Holiday Inn by the Bay. This American Heart Association event aims to educate attendees about heart disease and stroke in women while raising research funds to help educate, diagnose, and treat these diseases.
Students Domonic Maselli, Faythe Sossong and Emily Cormier won a competition held in February at WRVC enjoyed by 50 volunteers. That competition determined the menu to be served at this signature event. The meal started with Caprese Salad, followed by Balsamic Chicken with garlicky green beans and brown rice. Dessert was Mango Blueberry Compote. Also attending were WRVC students Melanie Clark, Kali Perry and Ariana Comeau.
Congratulations to all teams led by Chef Limoggio.
Rotary is about fellowship, as well as service to our community. Even if you must miss a meeting, you can remain engaged by attending Rotary-sponsored events of our club or other clubs like fundraisers, by 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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