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Russell Hampton
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Speakers
Jan 28, 2020 11:30 AM
Assistant Superindentent of the Year
Feb 04, 2020 11:30 AM
Fighting the Emerald Ash Borer
Feb 11, 2020 11:30 AM
Konbit Sante - Cap Haitien Health Cooperative
Feb 18, 2020
Mar 03, 2020 11:30 AM
Mar 10, 2020 11:30 AM
Maine Audubon Conservation
Mar 17, 2020 11:30 AM
Mar 24, 2020 11:30 AM
Donate Life - Organ Donation
Mar 31, 2020 5:30 PM
Apr 21, 2020
See you at the Road Race April 20
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Rotary Night Out
WRVC Dining Room
Mar 31, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
 
Patriot's Day Road Race 2020
Riverbank Park
Apr 20, 2020
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
 
View entire list
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The Four Way Test
 
Of the things we think, say, or do:
  First, Is it the truth?
  Second, Is it fair to all concerned?
  Third, Will it build goodwill & better friendships?   
  Fourth, Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
 
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Rotary Links
Rotary International
RI President Home
Rotary Global Rewards
Joining Rotary
Rotary History
Rotary Foundation
For New Members
 
Milestones for February 2020
 
    Birthdays
      * Ted Angel - 2/16
      * Al Juniewicz - 2/21
      * Dan Willett - 2/22
   
    Anniversaries
      * Henry Saunders & Karen Marie Reilly 2/14 - 4 yrs
 
    Happy Birthday Rotary 2/23 - 115 years!!
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New Member Application
Second Publication
Michael Fandell, Owner of North American Safety Services, has submitted his membership application. Mike holds a BS in Occupational Safety & Health from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. He holds a Board Certified Professional in Comprehensive Practice certification by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He is also a member of several professional societies in the areas of industrial and fire safety and is a member of the Associated General Contractors of Maine.  He has traveled the world helping keep employees and companies free of occupational injury and illness in the workplace, from field to corporate level, prior to striking out on his own as a health and safety consultant in 2018.
 
Mike has managed private on-site industrial occupational medical facilities with physician and nursing staff, is a former EMT and Industrial Firefighter, and a former Haz-Mat and heavy rescue technician. Mike also owns and operates two commercial rental properties in Michigan.
 
Mike is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Gorham-Westbrook Chambers of Commerce and a Member of the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce. He is a former President of his Hometown Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and has served as the Brazoria County Texas Amateur Radio Emergency Services and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services Coordinator. Mike has served as a trained weather spotter with the NOAA Sky-Warn program and is a member of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine and the American Radio Relay League.
 
Mike lives in Westbrook with his wife Ann.  His grandfather was a Rotarian in Alma, Michigan.
Available Program Dates
 
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  
 
We are also interested in ideas for service projects in lieu of meetings, or in-meeting service projects.
 
The following lunch dates are available in the 2019-2020 Rotary year for YOUR program.   Sign up today!!
 
    
 * 2/25/2020* 4/28/2020* 6/2/2020
 * 4/7/2020* 5/19/2020* 6/9/2020
 * 4/14/2020* 5/26/2020* 6/23/2020
    
    
Donate Life in District 7780
Scott Linscott has been on the road visiting other Rotary Clubs in our district inviting them to join in on our District Governor's 100% Challenge. Our goal is to aim for 100% registered organ donors in each and every club.
 
Scott is telling his story of receiving a liver in 2012 while educating Rotarians of the crucial need for organ donors especially in our region. His presentation dispels common myths and shows members how quick and easy it is to register at Registerme.org in addition to registering at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
 
Scott will be making his presentation at our club at an upcoming meeting as well as contacting each of our members to see if we can attain 100% registered donors. 
 
District 7780 will then be having some fun recognizing top-achieving clubs at the district-wide training event in April.
Community Reads Gorham
Last fall, Westbrook-Gorham Rotary made a $250 donation to help support the annual Great Falls Elementary School program in Gorham called One School, One Book project.  This is our third year participating in this wonderful literacy event.
 
The One School, One Book program provides a book to every child, teacher and staff member which they read together during January.  Older students, teachers and staff receive one book.  Younger readers and their teachers receive an age-appropriate book with similar themes.
 
Roughly 550 students and 60 staff members in grades K-5 are participating this year. The books titles were announced just before Christmas break and students received a copy of their book the day they returned in January.  The books are read aloud in the classroom during the designated class period.  It usually takes the month of January to complete the reading and discussion for the chapter book.
 
 
The books being read in 2020 are both by author Kate DiCamillo.  Students are reading either Leroy Ninker Saddles up or The Tale of Despereaux!   
Bits & Pieces from Club Assembly
Tree Sale Update – Final results from our annual tree & wreath sale are pending receipt of a couple of payments and confirmation that all outstanding bills have been paid. 
 
District Grant: Guatemala Water Filters– SCC/Rotary Guatemala Trip February 14-21, 2020. Bill Chadwick will be leading this trip. He will be accompanied by several members of his church, as well as Fellow Rotarians Carlo Giraulo, Tony Wagner, and Steve & Tyler Rand. There are four areas of focus for this drip: Dental, eco stoves, concrete floors, and water filters.  The water filters are being funded by a district grant sponsored by our club in partnership with other clubs in District 7780.
 
Other International Work – FBC Mission Trip April 16-23, 2020 to Oratorio School in eastern Guatemala. Scott Linscott told us that his team will be finishing a $12,000 roof project that installed a metal roof over the play area of the school which is also a full-size basketball court. It provides a play space during the rainy season and shade during the heat of the sun during the dry season. They hope to install 10 high efficiency LED lights in the play area. They are also installing fans in each classroom as temps can hit 110. Bob Radley, who recently retired from WRVC, is coordinating the electrical work. They will also be bringing donated glasses – old prescription glasses and “readers”.   See below for list of construction items to be purchased in-country and the amount needed for each.   If you would like to make a donation, please bring glasses or a donation check made our to FBC Westbrook to any meeting through mid-March.
 
 
Ed Hall Outstanding Rotarian
On January 14, 2020, PE Kathi Perkins spoke to us about her late father Ed Hall, PDG of District 7910.  In 2017, District 7910 established an award called the Ed Hall Outstanding Foundation Achievement Award and Ed was its first recipient in June 2017. This award is given to a District 7910 Rotarian who has shared unselfishly of his or her time, talent and treasure, through the Rotary Foundation, to make the world a better place for humanity.
 
Rotary was a very important part of Ed’s life and the lives of his whole family. He joined the Rotary Club of Worcester MA in 1963 and immediately became interested in world service. He had a broad range of interests in solar power, livestock, medical issues, education, housing and water, across a broad range of countries. However, he had a particular affinity for Haiti.
 
His first project was collecting and shipping used medical equipment from local hospitals, doctors and dentists. For years, his kids could go into the basement of his business warehouse and see the room full of donated equipment. He next worked on a school project to improve nutrition and the Foundation also provided funds for materials for school desks that were made on site.  
 
Both Ed and his wife worked on collecting eye glasses, conducting vision tests and dispensing eyeglasses.   He worked with eye doctors to create a simple test to match people with available eyewear. Kathi recalled accompanying him on one trip during which she tested people and provided eye glasses giving them with the means to read.
 
However, it was solar water pumping that really captured Ed’s imagination.  Lots of planning with Rotarians in the US and Haiti both before and during each project made every trip successful. He worked with local contractors and laborers to install and test the equipment, then trained them to maintain the pumps.  Ed was also able to obtain “expired” seeds from US producers.  These were packets leftover from a previous growing season in the US, but still good.  With plenty of clean water, communities worked hard at tending gardens and growing produce for themselves and their communities. At one point, Ed tried to determine how many people in one community were being fed from their gardens.  The answer was that they didn’t know.  Once a family had more than they could use, the gave the extra to neighbors, to schools for noon meals, and regularly provided fresh vegetables to housing for the elderly. In the end, over 30 solar powered water systems were installed across Haiti using Foundation and district 7910 funds.
 
Ed traveled to Haiti 20 times with 7 different family members and 13 different Rotarians serving 51 communities across the island. With his help, Foundation projects were completed in several other countries including Guatemala, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Peru and Sri Lanka. He was a Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation, received the Foundations Meritorious Service award and the Service Above Self Award.
 
Kathi expressed how proud she and her family are of this legacy. It should be noted that his son, Dick Hall, is our current District Governor Elect of District 7780.
 
Edward C Hall
1922 - 2019
Read more...
Save these dates!
New Gorham Business Exchange Marketplace – Saturday March 21, 2020, USM Field House, 10AM-2PM
 
Rotary Night Out - Special Dinner at WRVC - Tuesday March 31, 2020 6PM.  Join us for our annual dinner planned, prepared and served by the culinary students under the guidance of Chef Charlie Limoggio.  More details soon.
 
Patriots Day Road Race - For area high school runners - Monday April 20. 2020 at Riverbank Park Westbrook.  Volunteers arrive to set up by 9AM. Race at 10AM with awards to follow.
 
Lunch with the Trades - Tuesday May 5, 2020 11:30AM.  An opportunity to meet and recognize the students who work on the Rotary house project.
 
Relay for Life at GHS – Sunday May 3, 2020 (tentative) – Gorham High School Interact Club will be holding a Relay for Life satellite event at GHS to benefit the American Cancer Society again this year.  Watch for more details on how you can help.
 
7th Annual Westbrook Strong 5K – Saturday July 18, 2020.  This race is in memory of Matthew Rairdon, a Westbrook HS Graduate and son of Councilor Gary Rairdon. Proceeds to nursing scholarships.  There is also a kids Fun Run and a Virtual Run for those who would like to make a donation. To sign up or donate go to: 7th Annual 5K Sign Up or Donate  You may also send a donation to: WS5K, PO Box 414, Westbrook ME, 04098
 
New Run the Ridge Trail Race – Saturday October 10, 2020 9-11AM at Sunset Ridge 771 Cumberland Ave, Westbrook. $25 until summer. $30 after. To register: https://racewire.com/register.php?id=11231
 
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Upcoming District Events
 
To register for any of these events, visit the Calendar on the District Website:
 
World Peace and Understanding Dinner – Thursday February 20 - 5:30PM Sheraton Sable Oaks
 
Grow Rotary Workshop – Saturday February 29 - 8:30AM-Noon Freeport Community Center.  If interested, contact Marty Helman at martyrotary@gmail.com and provide info on topics you’d like to be addressed.
 
Interact New Generations Conference - Saturday Mar 21 - 8AM-2PM Dover High School Dover NH. Students $10, Rotarians $15. 
 
District Training Assembly – Saturday April 4 – 8:30AM-1PM
 
Rotary Leadership Institute – Saturday April 25 – 8AM-3:30PM York County Community College, Wells.
 
District Changeover – Tuesday June 30 - 5PM Camp Hinds, Raymond
 
Current & Upcoming Opportunities
The Locker Project - TLP will be at Westbrook High School, 125 Stroundwater St, Westbrook, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, with some exceptions due to holidays or school schedule.  Arrive by 1PM for set up. Done by about 2PM after clean up. Check in and out at the front office.  Upcoming dates include Jan 29 , Feb 12 & 26, March 11 & 25, April 8 & 22, May 13 & 27 .  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Christine Johnson.  
 
New WHS Chamber Singers Cabaret Night – Friday January 31, 2020 6-8PM at Westbrook Middle School. Westbrook's Chamber Singers are going to Chicago! To help raise funds for their April trip, the students are putting on a show! Join them for an evening of entertainment & a spaghetti dinner.  Advance tickets $10 adults, $5 children 12 & under. For tickets call/text Kim at 207-831-1236. Tickets also available at door $12 adults, $8 children.
 
New Junior Achievement – In Westbrook, every student in grades K-8 will have a “JA Experience” this year. Gorham is planning for the same with every student in grades 2-7.  Since this is all done by volunteers, lots of people are needed to make this happen. To learn more about JA Maine or to become a volunteer, go to: www.jamaine.org/getinvolved
 
Westbrook High School Food Pantry – Leading up to the Christmas break, the pantry was depleted and we expect the same prior to the winter break.  We will collect donations at four meetings January 21 through February 11. If you’d like to help, please bring a donation of non-perishable goods or cash. Popular items include: canned soups & stews, peanut butter & jams, canned foods with pop top lids, tuna or canned chicken in water, mac & cheese, cereal (individual boxes), healthy snacks and personal hygiene products.
 
2020 Guatemala Mission of FBC -  If you'd like to support FBC Westbrook's work in Guatemala, go to http://www.fbcwestbrook.com/, Click on  button CLICK HERE TO GIVE Online, then select Fund from drop down options 2020 Guatemala Mission   Deadline to donate is March 15, 2020. 
 
Matching Gift Rotary Year 2019-2020 - Don't forget the matching gift opportunity to secure a match for $50 donated to your favorite charity in this Rotary year.   If you recently made a donation to a charity that you would like to have matched, and have not already taken advantage of the matching opportunity, please send a note to our Treasurer Michael Foley.  Please include the name of your charity with mailing address and the date of your donation of at least $50.
Ongoing Opportunities
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 new 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.