With schools closed until at least April 27, we will not meet at the WRVC until at least April 28. The exact return date is to be determined. Watch here for updates.
In the meantime, we will be trying an on-line option to keep in touch using a service called Zoom. We won’t be doing this every week. But if successful, we hope to do this at last a couple of times while we are "social distancing".
A Zoom meeting is an online or “virtual meeting” that allows you to both see and hear other meeting attendees. To attend a meeting, click the link to that meeting under Speakers in the left-hand column of this newsletter. This will open the calendar entry for that meeting on our website. On the meeting information page you will see the link to join that specific meeting.
For those without a computer or laptop equipped with camera, speakers and/or microphone, there are call-in phone numbers listed for audio-only participation. For first time users, follow the directions provided in a recent email. Or go to this information page on our website to find the directions: https://westbrookgorhamrotary.org/page/zoom-meeting-instructions/
If you have questions, please contact Christine Johnson at cejinmaine@gmail.com.
Eight students from Gorham High School were interviewed by Bill Chadwick and Ethan Johnson (thanks to both!) and accepted for this year’s RYLA. Four students from Westbrook were due to be interviewed by Kathi Perkins, David Rolfe, and Hal Thomas on March 17. However, with school cancelled, the in-person interviews could not take place. Instead, Hal, Dave, and Kathi reviewed their applications and Kathi interviewed three of them by phone. They were all also accepted into RYLA. Hopefully, the fourth will complete the application process shortly.
While it is unknown whether or not RYLA will happen at the end of June or be postponed, congratulations to these students who will have an amazing experience – whenever it happens!
On March 3, 2020, the 9-member NEASC Visiting Team joined us for lunch. Kathy Fink, Chair of the Visiting Team for CTE Accreditation, spoke to us about the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and their work. NEASC is the oldest of six regional accrediting agencies. Accreditation is a 3-fold process: a school completes a self-study, the visiting team completes an on-site evaluation, then there is follow-up to review findings. Members of this team came from Career and Technical Education programs all over New England and across disciplines.
The team reviews seven areas: core values & expectations, curriculum, instruction, assessment, culture & leadership, student success & support, and school finance & community relations. Student representatives met with the team, as did members of advisory committees. The advisory committees engage community members to discuss community and business needs from the various programs and their core programming. This includes the Building Trades Committee.
We learned that programs in other states and schools have their students all day for both core high school and CTE classes. This can make projects similar to our house project move along faster. The challenges we face with multiple “sending schools” is coordinating schedules across the schools to provide more time for vocational training while still providing the time needed to meet core graduation criteria.
One interesting concept comes from Massachusetts technical high schools. They alternate academic weeks with vocational/trade weeks. Freshman and Juniors are on one schedule. Sophomores and Seniors are on the alternate schedule. During the alternate weeks, the students still have homework for both components of their education.
On March 3, 2020 we celebrated Dr Seuss’s birthday. The Chef and students provided a wonderful and extensive meal inspired by seven children’s books. The menu ranged from baked Haddock inspired by the Seuss classic One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish to Apple Crisp inspired by The Giving Tree. A copy of each of the seven inspiration books was donated to both the Walker Library in Westbrook and the Baxter Library in Gorham.
This was the fifth year we celebrated the Dr Seuss Birthday/Read Across America Week with a great meal and donation of books. Thank you Chef Limoggio and students for a wonderful meal again this year.
Top: Rosemary Bebris, Library Director of Walker Library
Bottom: Jeff Knox Children's Librarian Baxter Library accepts books from Christine Johnson
Please Note: All dates are now tentative pending the outcome of the current situation with the novel Coronavirus.
Relay for Life at GHSTrack – Sunday May 3, 2020 – 7AM-7PM - Gorham High School Interact Club will be holding a Relay for Life satellite event to benefit the American Cancer Society again this year with a stretch goal of raising $10,000. Please consider a donation to this worthwhile cause: Gorham Interact Club Donation page for Relay for Life Every gift — large and small — makes a difference. Rotarians are welcome at any time throughout the day to walk the track for a bit or just cheer the kids on. Survivor and luminary lap at 6PM.
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.
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
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:
The Locker Project - With no school and social distancing, there are no volunteer opportunities right now. However, TLP staff is continuing to provide food through pre-packed bags distributed at schools in the area, including Westbrook, during school meal pick-up times. Fresh food is continuing to be donated by Hannaford, Shaw's, Rosemont Market, Standard Baking, and many others. Staples are being purchased from Good Shepherd Foodbank to fill out the bags. You can help support this work to keep kids fed with your cash donation at: http://mainelockerproject.org/ OR mail a check made out to Locker Project to P.O. Box 3134, Portland, ME 04104
Donate Blood - If you are healthy and able, please consider donating blood. Supplies are very tight right now. To schedule an appointment go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/ or call 1-800-RED-CROSS
Meals On Wheels - Many current volunteers are older and self-quarantining. If you are healthy and interested in this low contact option, please email volunteer@smaa.org or leave a message at 207-396-6595. A background check may be required before starting. Or consider making a donation to this program https://www.smaaa.org/wellness/meals.html
Preble Street Resource Center - During this time, people experiencing homelessness and others struggling to feed themselves and their families are still being fed three meals a day at Preble St. Understandably, many groups who previously volunteered a few days a month have cancelled. There are strict protocols in place maintain a clean environment and to provide distance between clients, volunteers and staff, while still feeding people. To learn more go to https://www.preblestreet.org/ or email volunteer@preblestreet.org. Donations are also gratefully accepted. See website for details
Donate Life - 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 for 100% registered organ donors in each and every club. District 7780 will then be having some fun recognizing top-achieving clubs at the district-wide training event in April. It's quick and easy it is to register at https://registerme.org
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 donate $100 to the charity, you will receive a check for $50 to cover our half. 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 a receipt or copy of your check. If you are asking us to match $50 to the organization directly (rather than reimburse you), please include their mailing address. Special Note: why not take advantage of this opportunity today and donate to one of the organizations noted above or another organization supporting folks in need during this crisis?
Children's Books for Pantries - During this time, we will still continue to collect books for our food pantries. Since the need is always greater than the supply, we will distribute them now, when the opportunity arises and will return to regular distribution when we can. 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. 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. While we are not meeting, Christine is willing to drop a bag on your doorstep. These bags were rolled and stickered prior to the outbreak, so minimal handling is required. 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.
multiple “sending schools” is coordinating schedules across the schools to provide more time for vocational training while still providing the time needed to meet core graduation criteria.
On March 3, 2020 we celebrated Dr Seuss’s birthday. The Chef and students provided a wonderful and extensive meal inspired by seven children’s books. The menu ranged from baked Haddock inspired by the Seuss classic One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish to Apple Crisp inspired by The Giving Tree. A copy of each of the seven inspiration books was donated to both the Walker Library in Westbrook and the Baxter Library in Gorham. 
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