On October 1, 2019, we met for lunch at the WRVC then drove over to the new Rotary House at the end of Declaration Dr. We had the opportunity to meet some of the students and see progress on the house. The house is closed in and sided, with sheet rock in place inside. Work continues on the interior while we wait for electricity to be connected at the pole.
On September 24, 2019, Gregg Dowty District 7780 Protection Officer (DPO) conducted training on the District Protection Policy. Gregg is a member of the Dover NH club, although he lives just across the border in Maine. He is a long time Rotarian who retired to Maine, transferring his membership from a club in Pennsylvania.
During his career, Gregg worked with kids who had come from troubled or abusive homes. This included time as the Executive Director of the Children’s Home of Easton, PA. When asked to become the DPO, he had the opportunity to review and re-write policy.
The current policy is based on Rotary’s 4-Way Test. The DPO covers policy and practices related to protected persons. Protected persons include children, youth and young adults under the age of 21. It also includes individuals with a disability or diminished capacity. Essentially anyone to whom Rotary has a “duty of care”.
Gregg noted the duty to report suspected behavior is different in Maine and NH. In Maine, the obligation falls only on people with certain jobs or roles. In NH, everyone has the responsibility.
If you have an idea for a speaker or program,look for a sign-up sheet and an upcoming meeting or contact Christine Johnson at cejinmaine@gmail.com or Phil Spiller at pdsflynavy@gmail.com .
We are also interested in ideas for service projects in lieu of meetings, or in-meeting service projects.
The following lunch dates are available for YOUR program. Sign up today!!
Rotary Night Out - Sebago Brewing - Tuesday Oct 29 5:30PM. 616 Main St, Gorham. Invite your friends and colleagues to join us for a social night out at Sebago Brewing's Tasting Room. Light appetizers. Cash bar.
Veterans' Appreciation Lunch - Friday November 8, 2019 - Portland Rotary will be hosting its 5th Annual Veterans' Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, November 8, 2019, 12:00 noon at the Seasons Event & Conference Center at the Ramada Plaza, 155 Riverside St, Portland, Maine. Veterans free, others $25. Registration required. For complete information, go to the Portland Rotary Club website at portlandrotary.org and on the right side, click on Veterans' Appreciation Lunch or click HERE.
Westbrook's Veterans Day Celebration - Monday November 11, 2019. Ceremonies at Riverbank Park 11AM to honor all veterans. Celebration at American Legion Post 197, 300 Conant Street following the ceremony.
New Dirigo Kids Annual Toys for Tots Fundraiser – Friday December 6, 2019. 5:30PM Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Ave, Portland. $65 per person/$500 per table. Sponsorship opportunities. Visit: https://dirigokids.com/
Annual Christmas Party - Tuesday evening December 10, 2019. 5:30PM at the home of Judith & Ed Reidman, 7 Enchanted Lane, Westbrook, ME. More details to follow.
Festival of Trees Tips for Charity Luncheon - Friday December 13, 2019 11:30 or 12:30 - We'll have our Rotary table again this year. Watch here for tickets to become available.
New - This week!!Harvest Dinner – Benefit local Veterans, Saturday October 12, 2019. 5-6:30PM. WRVC Dining Room, 125 Stroudwater St, Westbrook. Sponsored by Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 Maine - $8.
The Locker Project - TLP will be returning to Westbrook High School, 125 Stroundwater St, Westbrook, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, with some exceptions due to holidays. Arrive by 1PM for set up. Done by about 2PM after clean up. Check in and out at the front office. Upcoming dates include Oct 9, 23 and 30, Nov 13, and Dec 11. An additional date may be added in Nov and/or Dec as we get closer. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Christine Johnson.
NewWestbrook Women’s Club Scholarship Fund Annual Fundraiser - Lobster Rolls with chips and cookies – $12 - Order by Monday October 21, 2019. Pick up Wednesday November 6, 2019 after 10AM at Westbrook-Warren Church, 810 Main St, Westbrook. Free delivery for orders of 5 or more. Order for yourself or for your business. To order, call Roberta Morrill at 893-8313 or email rjdutton36@aol.com
5th Annual Southern Maine Cornhole Invitational sponsored by Gorham Business Exchange in partnership with Westbrook-Gorham Rotary - Saturday October 26, 2019. $50 per team (2 people) through Oct 22, $60 thereafter, starting at 1PM. Gorham Sports Center, 215 Narragansett St, Gorham. Custom cornhole boards for your family or business $275. Leader Board Sponsorship $100 (see below). To register or purchase a board or sponsorship go to : https://www.gorhambusiness.org/cornhole-tournament-2019
Cornhole Tournament “Leader Board Sponsor” – This is an opportunity similar to a “hole sponsor” at our golf tournament - $100. We will have screens at the tournament running a page with “Leader Board Sponsors”. Please consider becoming a sponsor and asking others to help. We are also looking for a signature “Tournament Sponsor” - $1,000. This would be a great opportunity for a business in our area to put their stamp on this event. If you have ideas for either Leader Board or Tournament Sponsor, please contact Ethan Johnson or Aaron Paiton.
Socktober Sock Drive for Westbrook Schools - It is that time of year again. Cooler/cold weather is coming and the Westbrook Community Board is sponsoring a sock drive for the Westbrook Schools. If you’d like to help, please bring items to one of these upcoming Rotary meetings: Tuesdays Oct 1, 8, 15 and 23. Socks needed for Pre-K through age 18 (children’s sizes 6-7.5 or XS up to adult sizes). Underwear for elementary through middle school age sizes also appreciated (extra small to medium, boys and girls).
Winter Gear Drive for Westbrook Schools – During the month of November, we’ll be collecting winter gear for kids. Hats, mittens, boots and coats for all ages. Scarves for older kids. Collected at meetings: Nov 5, 12 and 19.
Reading Friends - Read weekly with 1st or 2nd graders at Gorham's Village School, 12 Robie St, Gorham. From about 9-10AM on a weekday morning of your choice. This program will likely start up again by mid-October. Watch here for more details. Even if you can only commit to a few weeks in the fall, winter or spring, consider joining this important work for literacy. If interested, contact Christine Johnson. Registration and a basic background check are required. Go to this link to register: Reading Friends Volunteer Form Village School Gorham for "child's name" enter Rotary Volunteer, under Teacher select "other" and enter "Reading Volunteer".
Children's Books for Pantries - We continue to supply new and gently used children's books to food pantries about every two weeks. We have been fortunate to obtain a regular supply of used books from Goodwill Buy the Pound. We also periodically obtain new books from a couple of sources at little cost. However, the need is always greater than the supply. If you, a family member, friend or colleague have children or grandchildren who have outgrown their books, we'd love to have them to share with children who will love them. All ages from babies to young teens. We can also always use large print books for older readers. Bring to any club meeting or contact Christine Johnson for pick up.
Can Tabs for Ronald McDonald House - Thank you for continuing to collect can tabs.It's and easy way to help a wonderful organization! Just keep a small plastic bag or small jar in your kitchen, on the counter or in a drawer. As you go to toss your returnable can into your CLYNK bag, simply twist off the tab first.
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.
Volunteer at Preble St – Register as a volunteer then select as few or as many volunteer shifts as you want. These can be working in the Receiving Center accepting, sorting and stocking donations; helping prepare and/or serve breakfast, lunch or dinner; sorting or distributing food pantry items; or other activities listed on the volunteer page. For more information and to learn how to register as a volunteer: https://www.preblestreet.org/you-can-help/volunteer/
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On October 1, 2019, we met for lunch at the WRVC then drove over to the new Rotary House at the end of Declaration Dr. We had the opportunity to meet some of the students and see progress on the house. The house is closed in and sided, with sheet rock in place inside. Work continues on the interior while we wait for electricity to be connected at the pole.
On September 24, 2019, Gregg Dowty District 7780 Protection Officer (DPO) conducted training on the District Protection Policy. Gregg is a member of the Dover NH club, although he lives just across the border in Maine. He is a long time Rotarian who retired to Maine, transferring his membership from a club in Pennsylvania.
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