Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race – Our own Mike Foley is running to raise funds for Let’s Go, a program of The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Read more about Let’s Go at letsgo.org . Show your support for Mike by donating at his page: Mike Foley Lets Go Beach to Beacon . Race is August 5.
FBC Guatemala Mission Fundraiser August 5 – Scott & Robin Linscott, along with others from FBC, are returning to the Noah’s Ark School, Oratorio Guatemala in April 2018. FBC needs yard sale items for the upcoming fundraiser. If you were putting off de-cluttering your attic or garage, here is an excuse to just get it done for a good cause! You can drop off your items this Monday-Friday 7/31 to 8/4 from 9 am – 2 pm. Or drop by the church to shop on Saturday morning August 5. If you prefer, you can make a direct donation on line at: https://app.easytithe.com/g3/ No need to create an account or login when you select Quick Give.
The Locker Project at Westbrook Community Center – 4-5:30PM Wednesday August 9 and 23. Two volunteers needed. Volunteers help arrange produce and groceries on tables, then assist students and parents with bagging the food to take home. You will be a welcoming presence, making sure people know they are invited to take food. Everyone is invited to bring food home with them. Contact Christine Johnson
Summer Concerts in the Park - Once again, legionnaires will be selling grilled and other food items at every Wednesday night concert in the park through August 21st. Please come enjoy the free music and support your local veterans at the same time.
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.
CLYNK for Literacy – Ongoing - Keep those cans and bottles coming! Drop off your filled CLYNK bag at any Hannaford (drop off locations can be found at: https://www.clynk.com/locations/maine/ . Thanks to those who have contributed bottles so far to help purchase books that we donate for each speaker. If you need more CLYNK bags, they are available at each meeting.
Several members of Gorham High School Interact attended our meeting on July 25. The provided a report on activities from the 2016-2017 year and shared plans for the 2017-2018 year. We also heard from three students who attended RYLA in June.
Look for more detailed information in our next newsletter.
Top Row (left to right)
Dave Rolfe (Rotarian), Aaron Farr (President) - Sean Pocock (Director) - Jon Scriber (Treasurer) - Sarah Stevens (RYLA Attendee) - Abbie vanLuling (Secretary) - Neile Nelson (Faculty Advisor), Ethan Johnson (Rotarian)
Bottom Row (left to right)
Garrett Higgins (Vice President) - Ben Nelson (Director) - Michelle Rowe (Director) - Sarah Walker (RYLA Attendee) - Hailey Morrill (RYLA Attendee)
Employee Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) began in 1972 when use of the draft ended and it was realized that the Guard and Reserve could be deployed more often and for longer periods. ESGR primarily addresses the needs of part-time military service members and their employers. Their mission is to encourage and promote a positive, supportive relationship between members of the Guard and Reserve and their civilian employers.
Matthew Collins, a volunteer with ESGR was our speaker on July 18. He served for 32 years between active and reserve duties. He started volunteering with ESGR in 2001, just before 9/11. He is now the Employee Outreach Director. He thanked all employers who share their employees with our armed services: National Guard, Air National Guard, and the Reserve of the five serves - Army, Navy, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard.
ESGR provides resources to help both employers and guard/reserve members. They are funded by the Dept of defense with just a few paid staff, but are largely a volunteer force. There are 4500 employees across all states and territories, with about two dozen volunteers in Maine. There is only one paid technician in Maine.
ESGR has a saying – “we all serve”. Guard/Reserve members serve by reporting and performing their duties or training, whether for weekend drill or over a prolonged deployment. Employers serve by allowing their employees leave for duty and keeping their job open, which is no small thing, especially for smaller businesses. Family members serve by taking care of things at home while the service member is deployed. Co-workers serve by taking on extra work to cover for the service member until they return.
Nearly half of all of our current military personnel are in the Guards and Reserves. They perform critical roles both in homeland defense and around the world. Having a robust and trained reserve is more cost effective than having a larger full-time military force. At this time, there are approximately 24,000 Guard/Reserve members mobilized in the war against terror and in other missions.
Today, the need for employer cooperation concerning military service of Guard/Reserve members is greater than ever. The Uniform Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) requires employers to grant leave for Guard/Reserve members. Service members must provide notice as far in advance a possible. Employers may not discriminate against services members for being absent to perform military duties. However, some employers follow the letter of the law, but do so begrudgingly. Fortunately, Matt’s experience in Maine has been excellent with full support of employers. ESGR is grateful to employers for willing compliance with the law and creating a culture that values, respects and honors military service.
ESGR can use more volunteers. Matt has found his volunteer work very rewarding and an opportunity to thank military members for their service. If you are interested, you can contact Matt Collins at digwit1953@roadrunner.com or visit the ESGR website for more information: http://www.esgr.mil/About-ESGR/Contact/Local-State-Pages/Maine
We have been receiving many requests to provide programs recently so have not assigned members to specific weeks as we have done in the past. If you have an idea for a program, please contact Christine Johnson. We are currently seeking programs for August and beyond.
Here is the list of upcoming dates with speakers and their sponsors:
8/1 - Club Assembly
8/8 - Karla Wheaton - Events Manager Maine ALS Assoc of NNE - Kate Wight
8/15 - Shannon Cilento - Summer Intern Downtown Wsbk Coalition - Phil Spiller
8/22 - TBD - Your speaker here?
8/29 - Chief Bob MacKenzie - Kennebunk ME - District Recovery Initiative
9/5 - TBD - Your speaker here?
9/12 - District Governor Dave Underhill - Bill Chadwick
Portland - Fridays 12:15PM at Holiday Inn by the Bay or Clarion
check website for current week's venue
Portland Sunrise - Thursdays 7:15AM
Cumberland Club 116 High St Portland
Falmouth - Mondays 4:30PM
American Legion Post 65 Depot Rd Falmouth
Scarborough - Tuesdays 5:45PM
Cabela's 100 Cabela's Blvd Scarborough
Sebago Lake Rotary Club - Thursdays 12:15PM
NEW LOCATION
Pat's Pizza 844 Roosevelt Trail, Windham, ME 04062
OR you can always claim a make up by attending Rotary-sponsored events of our club or other clubs like fundraisers, selling Christmas Trees, by volunteering at our Golf Tournament or our Road Race, or by attending District events or training. Just let our Secretary Mike Foley know when you have participated in any of these activities at mfoley@me.com
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