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Speakers
Apr 25, 2017
Last Assembly of 2016-2017
May 02, 2017
Gorham Village School Reading Volunteer Program
May 09, 2017
Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
May 16, 2017
WHS Interact
May 23, 2017
Westbrook Schools Nutrition Program - Summer Program 2017
Jun 06, 2017
The value of seniors to Maine's economy & our community
Jun 13, 2017
Update on Sister City Exchange Program
Jun 20, 2017
Elder Abuse Prevention
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Board Meeting
WRVC Board Room
May 02, 2017
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
 
Board Meeting
WRVC Board Room
May 30, 2017
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
 
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     The Four Way Test
      Of the things we think, say, or do:
            1. Is it the truth?
            2. Is it fair to all concerned?
            3. Will it build goodwill & better friendships?   
            4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
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THIS WEEK
Next Board Meeting of 2016-2017
4/11 10:30AM at WRVC
All members are welcome at Board Meetings
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Milestones
  • Cliff Plummer - Birthday 4/14
Stories
Opportunities This Week
Oratorio Childcare Center, Guatemala. NEW A school supported by FBC Westbrook. This is at $32 per month commitment to a child ($384 per year). At this time, four children remain unsponsored. Children under the care of AMG receive a hot, nutritious meal and a snack each day. Their health condition is monitored carefully and vitamins are given to provide additional nutrients. They are provided educational opportunities, are tutored if necessary, and are given new outfits of clothing and shoes once or twice a year. For more information: http://www.amginternational.org/main/fs/index.cfm?do=clist&ministry=child%20care&centers=2000011&code=child
 
The Locker Project - NEW On Thursday April 13, one volunteer is needed to help at the produce and baked goods table at Westbrook High School from 1:30-3 PM. Activities include helping bring produce boxes (light and heavy) in from a vehicle, setting up the food on tables for students to take home with them, and interacting with students.  If interested, please contact Christine Johnson who will also be volunteering that day. We will meet other volunteers at the rear of the school by the cafeteria door by 1:30 PM.
 
Donate Life - April is National Donate Life Month - Celebrated in April each year, NDLM features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. Visit www.donatelife.net for more information.
 
Donate to our Club's Charity through Amazon Smile – 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. 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. 
GHS Interact - Highest Earning Team at Relay for Life
On Saturday, April 8th at the University of New England, 28 members of the Gorham High School Interact Club participated from 6:00pm until 6:00am in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
 
“Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Relay is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in more than 5,200 communities and 27 countries. Volunteers give of their time and effort because they believe it's time to take action against cancer. “
 
28 members of Gorham Interact Club at Relay for Life
with Adviser Neile Nelson (L)
 

The Gorham Interact Club chose to get involved in the Relay for life to remember loved ones lost, honor survivors of all cancers, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society make a global impact on cancer.

Together, as a group, the Gorham Interact Club raised $3,125 to aid in this worthwhile cause.  This amount earned the team the “Highest Earning Team Award” that night.  The Gorham group was also, by far, the largest and most energetic team at the event, also earning the “Most Engaged Team” award.  At the event itself, the premise is that at least one of the 28 participating Interact members was walking or running the track at all times throughout the entire 12 hour event.  In between the walking and running, much eating, singing, dancing, card playing and telling stories took place so that all students and adults enjoyed a great time together for a great cause.

 

Our club, school and town are very proud of its members and this event they chose to participate in.  It was truly a memorable and rewarding experience. One that these students will not soon forget!  Thanks to Westbrook-Gorham Rotary members for individual sponsorships and for providing funds for the school bus needed to transport this large group safely too and and from UNE!

GHS Interact President Aaron Farr (3rd from left)

Story and photos by: Neile Nelsen - GHS Interact Adviser

Read more...
Welcome Spring Dinner
On Tuesday evening April 4, 2017,  32 Rotarians, friends, and guests joined us for our Welcome Spring dinner. As usual, Chef Limoggio and the culinary students of the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center did an outstanding job of meal preparation and service.  
 
To start the evening the Westbrook High School Jazz sextet played several selections.  As the meal progressed, we conducted our program which included an award, new member inductions, a surprise, and an update on Guatemala.
 
        
 
Christine Johnson welcomed those gathered, including Aaron Farr and Abbie vanLuling from Gorham High School Interact, Morgan Kendall and Rhiannon Doiron from Westbrook High School Interact, Deanna Kelly a local young philanthropist, AG Tony Wagner, and PDG Sheila Rollins. Each table in turn introduced their guests.  
 
 
   
 
  
 
Later in the program, PDG Sheila Rollins presented an award to our club and President Jason Beever inducted two new members (see separate stories). With dessert came a little surprise for Woody Beach.  It was his 88th birthday that day, so we sang Happy Birthday and we had a second dessert - a luscious lemon birthday cake presented by the students.  Finally, Bill Chadwick provided an update on our District Grant in Guatemala and introduced a Global Grant proposal that he has been diligently laying the groundwork for.
 
 
The trauma bag project got started when a young boy in Cuatros Cayos tragically lost his life.  Bill received an email from a contact in Guatemala who had not been able to save a child at the scene of an accident.  Having portable equipment and training could have saved his life.  A district grant, spearheaded by Bill, was created to fill this void.  With the help of Westbrook's Fire Chief Andy Turcotte, the grant money to buy one bag was leveraged to purchase three. Within hours of delivery and training, equipment was put to use! 
 
 
While in Guatemala delivering the trauma bags, a group that included Rotarians from the Los Amates Guatemala Rotary Club, completed another project - construction of 12 eco-stoves.  Half of the stoves were funded by our club, the other half by the Los Amates club.  These stoves replace open pit stoves that create unhealthy levels of heat and smoke in homes. While some recipients were unsure at first, once they saw the stoves in action, they were very happy with the results. These stoves will help reduce the incidence of lung cancer and respiratory illnesses.
 
 
Finally, Bill touched upon a new project he hopes will be funded by a global grant next year.  While in Guatemala, he made several contacts with well drillers and other resources as he works to create an application for a global grant that will provide clean water to Cuatros Cayos and other nearby communities. He has already engaged several clubs in our District, in Florida, and in Guatemala who are interested in partnering with us on this project.  His goal is to raise $20,000 from up to 20 clubs to attract global grant funding that will allow the project to drill 4 wells. He has even developed a great logo for soliciting the needed funds from partner clubs:
 
 
Bill's presentation concluded a wonderful evening of music, food, and fellowship.
 
Photo credit:  Scott Linscott of Linscott Photo; Christine Johnson; Bill Chadwick
Read more...
Welcome New Members!
During our Welcome Spring Dinner, it was fitting that we officially welcomed our two newest members - Rebecca Albert (Becky) and Donald Linscott (Scott).   Becky is Librarian of Walker Library and Scott is a professional photographer and owner of Linscott Photo. 
 
President Jason Beever (L) presented both with their membership packets.  These packets include their name badges, their Rotary lapel pin, certificate of membership, 4-way test coin, and Objects of Rotary. 
 
We are very pleased to have both of them in the club!
 
Photo by: Robin Linscott
Membership Development Award
During our Welcome Spring dinner on April 4, Past District Governor Sheila Rollins presented the Rotary Club of Westbrook-Gorham with a Membership Development Award.  This award recognizes our club as having the highest retention rate over the past three years in District 7780.
 
We are one of only three clubs in our 40-club District to achieve this high retention rate. Presidents during these three years were Patty Kenney 2013-2014, Steve Rand 2014-2015, and Christine Johnson 2015-2016.  Congratulations to our club and a huge thank you to our loyal members!
 
PDG Sheila Rollins; Past Presidents
Christine Johnson and Steve Rand
 
Photo by: Scott Linscott
Upcoming District & Rotary International Dates
 
2017 District Conference - May 19-21, 2017- Samoset Resort, Rockport ME. For more information and to sign up: http://rotary7780.org/event/copy-of-district-training-assembly--usm/
 
2017 International Convention - June 10-17, 2017 - Atlanta GA - Georgia World Congress Center - http://www.rotaryconvention2017.org 
 
District Changeover Ceremony - Camp Hinds in Raymond - 5-10PM - The changeover ceremony will be followed by supper and the RYLA graduation ceremony.
 
Speaker Assignment List
We have been receiving many requests to provide programs this year 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 two dates in May and are also looking out into July. 
 
Here is the list of upcoming dates with speakers and their sponsors:
  • 4/11 - Karen Collins & Rev Mutima Peter - Intercultural Community Center
  • 4/18 - See you at the Road Race on 4/17 - No Meeting
  • 4/25 - Club Assembly
  • 5/2   - Kate Wight - Jacquie Lortie - Gorham Village School
  • 5/9   - Jason Beever - Meris Bickford Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
  • 5/16 - WHS Interact - Dr Bruce Dyer & Students
  • 5/23 - TBD
  • 5/30 - TBD
  • 6/6   - David S. Nealley- Publisher MAINE SENIORS Magazine
  • 6/13 - Andrew Turcotte - Russian Sister City Updates
  • 6/20 - Betty Balderston - Elder Abuse Prevention
  • 6/27 - Changeover Ceremony - Welcome Dr Bill Chadwick as our new President
  • 7/4 - No Meeting - Happy Independence Day
  • 7/11 - No Lunch Meeting - See you at the Lobster Boil
  • 7/18 - TBD
  • 7/25 - TBD
 
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Missed a Meeting?   Make up online at Rotary E-Club One
 
Or at one of these other local clubs in our area:
 
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 
Dena's Lobster House & Tavern 765 Roosevelt Trail Windham
 
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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