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Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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2019-2020 Rotary Year Theme
Speakers
Aug 20, 2019 11:30 AM
Rotary Connects the World
Aug 27, 2019 11:30 AM
Sep 03, 2019
Exciting Times for University of Maine Engineering
Sep 10, 2019 11:30 AM
Portland Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Project
Sep 17, 2019 12:00 PM
See you at the Golf Tournament
Sep 24, 2019 11:30 AM
Protection Pollicy Training
Oct 01, 2019
Tour current house project
Oct 08, 2019 11:30 AM
Oct 15, 2019 11:30 AM
Oct 29, 2019 5:30 PM
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Westbrook-Gorham Annual Rotary Golf Classic
Gorham Country Club
Sep 17, 2019
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Board Meeting
WRVC Board Room
Oct 08, 2019
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
 
5th Annual Southern Maine Cornhole Invitational
Gorham Sports Center
Oct 26, 2019
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
 
Rotary Night Out
Sebago Brewing Tasting Room
Oct 29, 2019
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
 
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
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Next Board Meeting
 
October 8, 2019 10:00AM
WRVC Conference Room
 
All members are welcome at Board Meetings
Past Board Meeting Minutes available at:
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Save these dates!
This week! 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.  It's time to recruit teams and sponsors!!  Check out our new website set up just for this event: https://westbrookgorhamrotarygolf.com/  You can sign up a team, become a sponsor or make a donation. All hands are needed to make this signature fundraiser a success and meet our stretch goal for amount raised this year.
 
Update 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. Registration is now open at: https://rotary7780.org/event/rotary-rocks/  Register by August 31 for best rate: $20 includes event, parking, breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
 
Update 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. To register: https://www.gorhambusiness.org/cornhole-tournament-2019  Information about cornhole board purchases will be available shortly.  
 
New 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.
 
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.
Current & Upcoming Opportunities
The Locker Project Summer Food Distribution - Every Wednesday during the summer.  Remaining dates: August 28 at FBC 733 Main St Westbrook 4:00-5:30PM.  Aug 21 at Avesta 2 Walker St, Bldg #3, 4:00-5:30PM;  .  If you can help on any of these dates, please contact Christine Johnson. 
 
 
New This Week! Westbrook Community Fest - Wednesday August 21, 2019, 5-8PM, At Westbrook Community Center, 426 Bridge St. Free Family Event with Live Music and a variety of food trucks. Building tours, dance demonstrations, pickle ball, yard games, etc.   Also Food Drive for Falcon's Nest, the food pantry at the Middle School.  If you didn't get a chance to donate to our August 17 food drive, here is another chance to help while enjoying some time at the Westbrook Community Center with your family.
 
Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program - Benefit WHS Food Pantry - All of August and September -  7 Hannaford Dr, Westbrook.  Stop by the Hannford in Westbrook  during August or September and purchase Hannford Helps reusable bags.  $1 from each bag will go to the Food Pantry at Westbrook High School.
 
School Supply Request - The Community Policing Center at 192 Brown St has put out a call for school supplies. Requested items include: 2-pocket folders, single-subject notebooks, #2 pencils, hand-held pencil sharpeners, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, markers, kid's scissors, 10-digit calculators, pens, rulers, and kid-sized backpacks. If you can help, please bring items to our meetings on August 20 or 27,  or drop them at the Community Policing Center during their normal business hours. There are lot's of great deals during Back to School Sales at several retailers!!
3rd Annual Food Drive
Saturday August 17, 2019 was the 3rd Annual Food Drive to support the Falcon's Nest at Westbrook Middle School, the Westbrook High School Pantry and the Westbrook Community Pantry.  The sky was overcast with a few sprinkles, but the weather did not dampen the spirits of those who came out to help!
 
This annual partnership between Westbrook-Gorham Rotary and Westbrook Kiwanis, with support from Evergreen Credit Union, Saco Biddeford Savings Institution, and Discover Downtown Westbrook, continues to be a great community project.  It helps stock the school pantries before the start of school and helps replenish the Community Pantry after a long summer. 
 
Thanks to Sarah Hutchins, Michael Foley, Kathi Perkins and Christine Johnson from Rotary, and Amie Boucher, Roy Leighton, and John Bernier from Kiwanis.  Also a special thanks to Madison Boucher, daughter of Amie.  Madison is working on her Girl Scout Silver Community Service Award that requires 50 hours of service associated with her chosen project the Falcon's Nest.  She is also a member of Builders Club, the Kiwanis Middle School organization.   Madison still has a few hours of community service required to complete this project so she'll be at the Westbrook Community Fest at the Westbrook Community Center this Wednesday from 5-8PM collecting more non-perishables. 
Trainsform Your Travel
The mission of Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is “To develop and manage a quality passenger rail system that meets the transportation needs of our customers, delivers value and enhances economic development within the region we serve”.  On August 1, 2019, Marketing & Sales Coordinator Jenn Crosby shared with us how NNEPRA is working to fulfill this mission in Maine.
 
With a team of eight, including a project manager, data analyst, grants manager, and sales & marketing, NNEPRA is actively involved in the operation and promotion of the Amtrak Downeaster. They manage contracts and projects and work hard to establish strong collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and local communities to sustain and continue to grow the Downeaster.  Jenn is often out in the community attending events, trade shows, Rotary meetings, etc.
 
The Downeaster makes 5 daily round trips from Brunswick to Boston along a 143-mile corridor with 12 stations in three states.  This includes six stations in Maine – Brunswick, Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard, Saco and Wells. The tracks are owned by Maine DOT, Pan AM Railways and MBTA, so they must work closely with these organizations on scheduling.  The Downeaster has many passenger amenities such as free Wi-Fi, Downeaster Café, spacious seating and volunteer train hosts.  They are also pet friendly for a nominal fee.
 
The Downeaster started in December 2011. Since then they have carried over 7.6M passengers with $117M in passenger revenue.  They also receive state support. People ride the train for many reasons – 40% of passengers travel for leisure, and event or shopping; 26% visit friends or relatives; 24% ride for business; and the remainder travel for medical appoints, education or other reasons.
 
There are many travel packages and discounts for individuals and groups to encourage people to use the train.  For example, people 65+, people on disability/Medicare, and children receive 50% off the fare.  There are also Cancer Care reduced fares and multi-ride passes available for frequent travelers.  In addition, there are travel packages for family-friendly day trips, culinary adventures, and theater tickets, among others.
 
Several development projects in progress or recently completed in areas near Downeaster stations are creating jobs, revitalizing downtowns and generating increased revenues for local businesses.  These include the build-out at Thompson’s Point in Portland, Brunswick Station Apartments and the Saco Island complex. In time, they hope to extend the line to Rockland.
 
Jenn brought along a lovely children's books called The Train to Maine  by Jamie Spencer which we have donated to the Walker Memorial Library.  She also raffled off two round trip tickets on the Downeaster won by Henry Saunders.  Congratulations Henry and Karen!!
 
To learn more about the Downeaster, explore their package options or purchase tickets, visit: https://amtrakdowneaster.com/
Read more...
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 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/
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 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!!
 
* 10/8/2019 * 2/25/2020* 5/5/2020
* 10/22/2019* 1/7/2020* 3/10/2020* 5/12/2020
 * 1/14/2020* 3/24/2020* 5/26/2020
 * 1/28/2020* 4/7/2020* 6/2/2020
 * 2/4/2020* 4/14/2020* 6/9/2020
 * 2/11/2020* 4/28/2020* 6/23/2020