Our program featured the combined Boothbay Region Elementary School (BRES) and Boothbay Harbor Rotary (Rotary) collaboration for a new BRES playground for younger children (four-year-olds through second graders), a huge need for many years. Bottom line: assuming the Rotary grant gets approval in July, this playground will be in place and completed for this phase by the time BRES opens this fall. 

Tricia Campbell, assistant principal at BRES and formerly 18 years at Special Ed., has two daughters, one in elementary and the other in middle school, has been the mover and shaker for this playground, excited and proud, to accomplish what Eileen King had identified as a need over 15 years ago but with no available funding. The PTO group more recently recognized this same need for a playground, and Tricia picked up the ball and ran with it with the help of many, including David Benner, parents, and many others. Rotarian Ann Demeranville met with Tricia at the right time, worked hard with Rotarian and grant-writer Marty Helman, who expedited this Rotary matching grant through her expertise in grant writing generally and Rotary particularly. Most expect this grant will be fulfilled and approved in July to help make this a reality, due to the extra efforts of Marty and Ann and due to the nature of this playground fulfilling one of the main areas of Rotary grant focus – education and literacy. Rotarians will volunteer this summer to help prepare the area for the professionals to complete and to add a map project showing our fifty U.S. states. Once this playground is accomplished, Tricia will keep working to find funds for the second phase to benefit third through eighth graders in a slightly higher elevation nearby.

President Jonathan Tindal, worn down a bit by his new baby daughter, opened the June 7 meeting, Jean Huber gave invocation, we welcomed Rotarian guest Ken Culbert, long-time summer visitor on Lakeside Drive up  here from Venice, Florida, as well as outgoing assistant district governor, Claudia Frost, a wonderful ambassador for Rotary, to be followed by Bob Reed, our friend and outgoing president of Bath Sunrise Rotary.

Bike volunteers are needed Thursdays and Saturdays from 9-11:30 a.m. Laurie Zimmerli called for Rotary Auction chairs to meet at Rotary on Thursday, June 14, at 5 p.m. Alice Mutch requested personal asks for business donors to our community Auction on Aug. 4. Alice also passed around a flyer for attending the July 5 changeover party at 6 p.m. If not already, donate to The Rotary Foundation online or by check by June 14.  Billy Dodge reminded us of Cy Seifert’s memorial service on Aug. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Congo Church. 

Many Rotarians were grateful and contributed many thankful dollars, including two hundred quilts made for Wrap a Smile, each finding places for people all around the world in need. Doug Harley announced the end of the onion sale, and we were all grateful for his successful leadership again. We recognized Henry Wyatt for his new Paul Harris Award resulting from his contributions to Rotary, in particular, the 2018 Rotary Auction.

“Prospective members, visiting Rotarians and guests are always welcome to join the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club at our weekly meetings, held Thursday nights 6-8 p.m. at the Rotary Clubhouse, 66 Montgomery Road in Boothbay Harbor. If interested contact Rick Elder at 207-557-4562. To learn more about Rotary and our Club and all the good things we do, visit our website: www.boothbayharborrotary.org, or "friend" us on Facebook.