This week is club assembly. To facilitate team and project discussion, please sit with your committee or area of interest so you can talk while you enjoy lunch. Areas include: International Service, Youth Service (includes road race, Interact, RYLA), Community & Club Service (includes PR, programs), and Vocational Service.
Rotary Night Out - Our next Rotary Night out will be May 21 starting at 5:30 PM. Mister Bagel 609 Main St, Westbrook. Members $10. Cash bar. Program TBD. Note: Week of April 15 is our annual Road Race so no meeting that week.
WRVC Awards Ceremony - Thursday May 23, 2019. 7PM Westbrook HIgh School Auditorium
Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club Changeover - Tuesday June 25, 2019. Join us at our regular meeting when we thank Deb Shangraw for her service this year and welcome Mike Foley.
Locker Project Fresh Food Distribution – In this school year, produce distributions at Westbrook High School will take place the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month with additional days as needed: Apr 10 & 24, May 8 & 22 and June 12. Any date changes will be announced in the Scribbler. Arrive around 12:45 PM depart by 2:15 PM, unless otherwise noted. Help lay out food on tables and interact with the kids to encourage them to take items. Everyone is invited to bring food home with them. If you can help on any of these dates, please contact Christine Johnson. For more information, or to donate, visit their website: mainelockerproject.org
New The Locker Project Doughraiser at UNO Pizzeria and Grill – Wednesday April 17, 2019, 11AM-11:30PM. UNO will donate up to 20% of your check all day.
Scholarship Dinner – Saturday May 4, 2019, 5-6:30PM at WRVC Dining Room. Benefit for the Chris Broderick Scholarship put on by Rolling Thunder Maine. Chris Broderick taught CDL at WRVC and was a member of Rolling Thunder. Ron Welton, CDL instructor, chooses a worthy student to receive the $500 annual scholarship.
New Relay for Life at Gorham High School - Sunday May 5, 2019, 7AM- 7PM, GHS Track. American Cancer Society fundraiser put on by GHS Interact Club. Watch for link to donate. Or come on down to support the kids that day.
Bob Marley Fundraiser for Altrusa - Wednesday May 8, 2019, 7PM at Keeley’s Banquet Center, Warren Ave, Portland. $25 General Admission. See Christine Johnson for tickets or purchase at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bob-marley-performs-to-benefit-altrusa-tickets-58293228616
New Purses with Purpose – Thursday June 6, 2019 ,11:30AM-2PM - $50 at Woodlands Club Falmouth, 39 Woods Rd Falmouth. Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Portland. To donate auction items or to purchase tickets: https://rmhcmaine.org/events/pwp/pwpportland/
New Maine Cancer Foundation Twilight 5K – Thursday June 6, 2019 – Sponsor Mike Foley as he runs for this fundraiser. To support on line: Maine Cancer Foundation Twilight 5K- Support Mike Foley Maine Cancer Foundation was started in 1976 by a group of concerned citizens eager to do more for Maine in the fight against cancer. We lead a state-wide effort to foster and grow the most promising and effective cancer-fighting efforts available to the people of Maine through a combination of grant-based financial support and coalition building.
RYLA Registration – Sunday June 23 starting at 8:30AM. Camp Hinds, Raymond. Volunteers needed to help with registration and collecting forms as students arrive. For more information contact: Phil Giordano at Philtastic7780@gmail.com
Westbrook Strong 5K and Matt's Mile Kid's Fun Run - Saturday July 13, 2019. Riverbank Park. Run, sponsor or donate. This race is in memory of Matthew Rairdon who's life was tragically taken in November 2013. Proceeds benefit nursing scholarships. For more information: https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Westbrook/2ndAnnualWestbrookStrong5KandMattsMileKidsFunRun
Rebecca Hobbs, Executive Director of Through These Doors, was our guest and speaker on March 26, 2019. This organization was started in 1977 by a group of volunteers and was formerly known as Family Crisis Services. Our own Judith Reidman is currently Chairman of their Board.
Domestic abuse was once considered to be a “family matter”. It wasn’t a crime, so police could not do much even when called. Starting in 1977, Family Crisis Center (later Services) initially provided a place for women fleeing abusive husbands to hide. In the 1980s, laws started to change. People began to admit that there was an issue. In 1994, Federal Law was passed recognizing domestic violence as a crime. This year saw re-authorization of federal law which enjoys bipartisan support.
Their new name reflects that they are much more than a service organization. Their goal is keeping people safe within their community to avoid disrupting lives. This is made easier with available technology like electronic monitoring and with intervention programs for abusers. There is also quick follow-up by police and advocates following a report.
They work with about 3500 people a year who are living better lives thanks to their programs and services. These include a 24-hour helpline (1-800-537-6066), court advocates, emergency housing, and transitional housing. They also visit businesses, churches and work with police departments to educate. One interesting program is called Guys with Pies, a group for young men who discuss over pizza how they can reduce violence in their lives.
We learned that 5-10% of their clients are men, consistent with national statistics. They also have a program targeted to college campus safety. A new program is focused on abuse later in life. In the area of elder abuse, the percentage of men rises to about 30% of cases.
The Rotary Foundation tells us that Paul Harris Society members empower Rotary clubs to change lives in their communities and around the world. There are 20,000 global members who are fulfilling Rotary’s promises with their annual donations. Several members of our club are members of the Paul Harris Society - those who contribute $1000 or more per year to The Rotary Foundation. Join today: rotary.org/paulharrissociety
One of our members, Christine Johnson, recently advanced to PHF+7, largely as a result of committing to the Society a few years ago. It’s made even easier using Rotary Direct. Rotary Direct is automatic on-line giving that can be set up for monthly, quarterly or annual donations. Sign up at: rotary.org/donate
District Training Assembly - This Week!! Saturday April 6, 2019. 8AM-1PM. York County Community College. Join your club members and form a car pool to attend this annual opportunity to learn with Rotarians from across District 7780. Club will pay the $20 registration fee. Sign up by 4/3 at: https://rotary7780.org/event/district-training-assembly/
Rotary Leadership Institute – Saturday April 20, 8Am-3:30PM, York County Community College, 112 College Dr, Wells. Parts I, II, III and Graduate available. Recommended for all Rotarians, but especially for those considering leadership positions. If you 'd like to attend, the club may pay the registration fee. Talk to club President. For more information and to register: www.rlinea.org
Rotary Fest (AKA District Conference) - Friday-Saturday June 21-22, 2019 - Fort Williams, Park Cape Elizabeth. Friday service project and cook out for volunteers. Saturday packed with fun and educational events for adults and kids, and another service project opportunity. DG John and the Planning Committee are working hard to make this a free event for all. Watch for more details.
District Changeover - Tuesday June 25, 2019, 5PM at Camp Hinds, Raymond. More details to come.
For listing of all District-wide events, visit: https://rotary7780.org/events/calendar
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.
If you have an idea for a speaker or program, please contact Christine Johnson at cejinmaine@gmail.com or Phil Spiller at pdsflynavy@gmail.com . We are also interested in ideas for periodic evening meetings, service projects in lieu of meetings, or in-meeting service projects
We are now scheduling programs for April and May.
Here is the list of upcoming speakers and programs:
* 4/2 - Club Assembly
* 4/9 - Sheila Rollins - Rotaract in Puerto Rico
* 4/16 - No lunch meeting. See you at the Road Race on 4/15
* 4/23 - TBD
* 4/30 - Eliza Kenigsberg - Community Career Coordinator GHS
* 5/7 - TBD
* 5/14 - Alicia Milne - Dev Director Ronald McDonald House
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