District Governor Official Club Visit - Tuesday August 20, 2019, 11:30AM. We encourage all members to come hear from our 2019-2020 District Governor Andrew Glazier of the Kittery Rotary Club.
25th Annual Golf Classic - Tuesday September 17, 2019. Noon. Gorham Country Club. 93 McLellan Rd, Gorham. Check out our new website set up just for this event: https://westbrookgorhamrotarygolf.com/ You can sign up a team and/or become a sponsor.
Rotary Rocks! - Saturday October 5, 2019, 9AM-4PM. Abromson Community Center at USM, 88 Bedford St, Portland. A one day Rotary experience featuring projects of the Rotary clubs of our District. Open to the public, all current and future Rotarians. This event will serve as the 2019-2020 District Conference. For updates go to: www.rotaryrocks.info
The Locker Project Summer Food Distribution - Every Wednesday during the summer from June 19 through August 21. Starting on June 19 at FBC 733 Main St Westbrook 4:00-5:30PM. FBC will alternate weeks with other locations: July 10 & Aug 21 at Avesta 2 Walker St, 4:00-5:30PM; July 24 River St River Event, 5:00-6:30PM; August 7, Community Policing Center, 192 Brown St, time 4:00-5:30PM. If you can help on any of these dates, please contact Christine Johnson.
This Week!! FBC Westbrook Yard Sale - Benefit Guatemala 2020 - Saturday August 3, 2019, 8AM-1PM, 733 Main St. Drop donations at the church before Saturday or come on down and browse! For more info: Scott Linscott linscottphoto@gmail.com
3rd Annual Rotary-Kiwanis Food Drive – Saturday August 17, 2019, 10AM-2PM. Hannford Dr at Saco Biddeford Savings. Food drive to restock High School and Middle School pantries for the new school year. To volunteer to help that day, contact Sarah Hutchins <shutchins@egcu.org>
Westbrook-Gorham Night at the Seadogs - Monday August 19, 2019, 5:30-10PM. Game time 7PM. The Portland Sea Dogs, AA Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will host Westbrook/Gorham Community Night at the ballpark as they take on the Reading Fightin' Phils, AA Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket purchased through this link will be donated to Rotary to benefit "Just Love" and "The Westbrook Recovery Liaison Program: Westbrook-Gorham Night at the Seadogs - W-G Rotary Fundraising Link
Feast at the Falls: Fundraiser for Discover Downtown Westbrook - Thursday August 22, 2019 - $75. Celebrate local food and drink on Westbrook's amazing riverfront. You'll be treated to a 5-course farm-to-table meal by the chefs at Frog & Turtle, 33 Elmwood, Casa Novello, Lenny's, and Black Dinah Chocolatiers, perfectly paired with local beers. Only 72 seats available and all proceeds support Discover Downtown Westbrook's mission to make the downtown a walkable, livable, thriving destination. Sign up at: Feast-at-the-falls-tickets on Eventbrite
Vocational Service Chair Judith Reidman reports that the City Council voted on July 15 to authorize conveyance of City Property to the Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club, at no cost, for use by the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center. The property is located on West Pleasant Ave near the intersection with Quimby Ave.
In 2016, the city considered this lot for the program, but another lot located on Declaration Drive was selected instead. That project is nearing completion and the West Pleasant Street lot was proposed for the next house. This new lot is conveniently located within reasonable proximity to the Vocational Center.
Don’t Forget: On Tuesday October 1, 2019, we’ll hold our regular 11:30AM meeting at the current house at the end of Declaration Dr. It will be an opportunity for club members to see the property as it approaches completion.
Thanks to all who have been filling and returning CLYNK bags this year with returnable bottles and cans. The payout for second quarter 2019 was $134.90, one of our highest quarters ever!
Proceeds from CLYNK are used to defray the cost of purchasing new children's books for the Baxter and Walker Libraries which we ask our speakers to sign. The children's librarians at both libraries continue to express their appreciation for these donations.
Marty Grohman, Executive Director of E2Tech (Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine) was our guest and speaker on Tuesday July 23, 2019. Marty is Vice President of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club and is a former State Representative from Biddeford. When he was in the legislature, he was on the energy committee.
E2Tech was originally an off-shoot of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and still has ties to that organization. They are known for conducting forums to educate attendees on issues like land-based aquaculture and energy developments. They do not take policy positions. They are a network of 75 start-ups, 100 support organizations, and 5000 companies in the public, private, non-profit and education sectors.
Marty reported on the result of the last legislative session in which the legislature tended to push policy towards “clean energy”. Defining “clean energy” is where disagreements arise. There were a few “wins" for solar including elimination of gross meeting and creating a statewide property tax exemption for residential and commercial solar property.
Efficiency and electricity also made gains in the last session. This included RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) funding flexibility to incentivize lower emissions from the power sector. There was also an aggressive push toward heat pumps with a goal of 100,000 units by 2025. The latter presents a challenge for low income Mainers due to up-front costs.
Several issues were deferred by ordering studies. These include an energy independence plan, transmission to enable renewable energy in Maine, and electric storage. Also under study is the concept of creating a Maine Power Authority. In addition, Marty noted that much “shouting and yelling” on social media was NOT a high point of the legislative year.
If you are interested in a real-time view of energy use in New England, Marty mentioned an ISO New England Application that can be downloaded to your smart phone. Data for each state can be viewed individually. The app shows usage of natural gas, nuclear, renewables, coals, oil and other. It also shows the current market rate per MWH (megawatt hour).
Historically, Maine energy usage has peaked in winter months. More recently, with proliferation of air conditioning, Maine's energy usage peak comes in summer. Marty noted that Maine uses oil to heat at a higher rate than any other state. One of the most effective steps to energy efficiency is conducting an energy audit and following recommendations to reduce heat loss.
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/
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: