Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club Changeover - Tuesday June 25, 2019. Join us at our regular lunch meeting when we thank Deb Shangraw for her service this year and welcome Mike Foley.
FBC Yard Sale – Benefit Guatemala 2020, Saturday August 3, 2019. Donations accepted. Contact 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>
25th Annual Golf Classic - Tuesday September 17, 2019. Noon. Gorham Country Club. 93 McLellan Rd, Gorham.
This week!! Locker Project Fresh Food Distribution – June 12 is the last distribution at the High School this school year. Arrive around 12:45 PM depart by 2:15 PM. 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, please contact Christine Johnson. For more information, or to donate, visit their website: mainelockerproject.org
RYLA Registration Volunteers – 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
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: June 26 at St Anthony's Parish Hall, Brown St, 6-7PM; 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.
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
RotaryFest is a FREE end-of-year event for Rotarians, family and friends. Saturday June 22, 2019 9AM-5PM. Fort Williams Park, South Portland. Rain location The Point, 345 Clark's Pond Pkwy, South Portland.
If you plan on attending, please register yourself and any guests TODAY!!A count is needed by June 13 to provide enough food for attendees and supplies for kid’s activities.
As we approach the end of the current Rotary year, The Rotary Foundation has reported that there is a gap to close to reach year-end objectives for both total giving and Polio Plus. $15M more is needed to fully meet the Gates Foundation $50M match for polio eradication and $48M to reach the total giving goal of $380M.
If you have donated already, thank you for your support. If you haven’t, there is still time. Remember, our club will match up to $100 donated to any Foundation fund. Deadline to receive that match is June 11, 2019. You can give on line, bring a check to the June 11 meeting or drop your check at the office of Steve Rand at 55 Stroudwater St.
Part of the money donated to the Annual Fund each year is returned to the District to fund District Grants in three years - something our club has taken advantage of in the past and has applied for again this year. Money may also be donated to a specific Global Grants or one of the six areas of focus, in addition to the Polio Plus Fund.
Congratulations and a huge thank you to Pat Plummer for her ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation. With her elevation to Paul Harris +2, she has cumulative lifetime giving of at least $3000.
Pat is a Rotary Direct participant which allows automatic donation from credit or debit card. Pat told us “they make it so easy”.
The annual Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club lobster bake will be held on Tuesday evening July 16 at 15 Long Point Rd, Standish, ME. 5-6PM Social, 6-7PM Dinner, 7PM sing-along with pianist Eric Peppe. Family and friends are welcome and encouraged.
Price is $25 per person includes lobster or steak, boiled potatoes, corn on the cob, coleslaw and water. Feel free to bring an appetizer, dessert, beverage or other dish to share. Sign up with Nelson either at an upcoming meeting or email him attnelsonharmon@gmail.com
Thanks to Henry Saunders for hosting us again this year. Also, thanks to Nelson Harmon, Dan Willett and everyone else who make this a successful event each year.
On May 28, 2019, Stu Simon Director of Fund Development at Port Resources spoke to us about his organization. With headquarters on Gannett Dr in South Portland and a service area of Cumberland and York counties, over 400 individuals receive services annually. Port Resources empowers individuals with developmental, cognitive and behavioral health challenges to live meaningful and fulfilled lives in their communities.
The history of people with disabilities in Maine is filled with words that we no longer used today. In the early part of the 20th Century, the State of Maine purchased six farms in New Gloucester that become Pineland Farms. The purpose was to build the Maine School for the Feeble Minded on part of the land and farm the rest. The institution opened in 1908 to house people who were labeled “mentally deficient” or “retarded”. Over time, the name was changed to Pineland Center, and by the 1970s it was being emptied as people were placed in what was then a new residential model – group homes. By 1996 it was officially closed.
Port Resources opened with one group home in Portland in 1979. Today, they manage 20 group homes. They have expanded their mission to include an array of services including outpatient counseling, adult home and community-based services, foster care for people with developmental disabilities, a day program, elder care, and talk therapy for residents of nursing homes experiencing cognitive decline (dementia).
Their residential group homes are now being augmented by foster care where individuals are placed with families to create a home environment. In addition, some individuals are placed in their AIM program which provides an independent living situation with ongoing support.
Samantha Piro, a member of Port Resources’ Board of Directors spoke about why she volunteers. She has a younger sister with Asperger’s. Sam has seen first-hand the challenges families face to find services that can help their loved one live as independently as possible.
Funding comes from a variety of sources like Maine Care, grants, and fundraisers like their fall auction. Thanks to generous donors, Port Resources is able to provide activities like arts programs and group trips to ball games to enrich lives. Fundraising also provides funds needed to maintain their properties.
This week!! Chartering Event & Service Project - Saturday June 15, 2019 at Camp Hinds 146 Plains Rd, Raymond, ME - John Messer/Rotary Training Center. Charter Event for District 7780's newest club New Voices 9-10:30AM, Service Project 10:30AM to 3:30PM. Service project is to help get Camp Hinds ready for RYLA 2019. Come for one or both events. RSVP NewVoices7780@gmail.com
Register by June 13!! Rotary Fest (AKA District Conference) - Friday-Saturday June 21-22, 2019 - Fort Williams, Park Cape Elizabeth. Free!! Friday service project and cook out for volunteers. Saturday packed with fun and educational events for adults and kids, and another service project opportunity. Rain location The Point, 345 Clark's Pond Pkwy, South Portland. Register at https://rotary7780.org/event/district-conference-1/
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,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:
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RotaryFest is a FREE end-of-year event for Rotarians, family and friends. Saturday June 22, 2019 9AM-5PM. Fort Williams Park, South Portland. Rain location The Point, 345 Clark's Pond Pkwy, South Portland.
Congratulations and a huge thank you to Pat Plummer for her ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation. With her elevation to Paul Harris +2, she has cumulative lifetime giving of at least $3000..jpg)
farms in New Gloucester that become Pineland Farms. The purpose was to build the Maine School for the Feeble Minded on part of the land and farm the rest. The institution opened in 1908 to house people who were labeled “mentally deficient” or “retarded”. Over time, the name was changed to Pineland Center, and by the 1970s it was being emptied as people were placed in what was then a new residential model – group homes. By 1996 it was officially closed.
Samantha Piro, a member of Port Resources’ Board of Directors spoke about why she volunteers. She has a younger sister with Asperger’s. Sam has seen first-hand the challenges families face to find services that can help their loved one live as independently as possible. .png?_=636958237386487915)
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