Celebration of the Club’s accomplishments was preempted by the many sweet memories of late Rotarian Bill Kautzmann who joined Rotary in 1986 who manifested the spirit of Rotary by serving in many ways. We shared happy memories and pledged dollars for Rotary service to others in Bill’s name. We all agreed that Bob Pike will now assume the prestigious role of Boothbay Harbor Rotary’s “official” charming curmudgeon.

Rotary is invested in the future of persons throughout the world and in our local region. We learned that our local club has contributed over $38,000 in direct support of projects in the region and beyond to address the many needs identified by leaders in the community.

To continue the club’s success, in the near future we will be participating in a significant Visioning process as 1,500 of our Rotary Clubs across the globe and 27 clubs in our local area have already done. Without Visioning, clubs run the risk of dealing with today’s issues and tactics without planning for the future of our community’s needs. Past presidents Vic Taylor, Chip Griffin and Marty Helman are experienced trainers and will lead the way for this important effort.

Rotary’s focus this night was on local community service. Here are a few of the local projects:

Set For Success

Fifty percent of our students reportedly are challenged to survive at or below the poverty level. Linda Foster, chair of Rotary’s Set For Success Committee, congratulated Rotarians on their collaboration with the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council (BRCRC) led by Sue Burge, which sponsors “Set For Success,” the annual one day event which creatively addresses the needs of these students. Rotary furnished hygiene materials necessary for daily life.

Rotary transportation

This Rotary project began in 2004. We are now participating in an exploratory project to help seniors to stay mobile known as ITN Everywhere. Its mission is to support sustainable, community-based transportation services for seniors throughout the world by building a senior transportation network through research, policy analysis and education, and by promoting lifelong safety and mobility. We are participating in focus groups for bringing transportation solutions to one of just a handful of communities in Maine and some more across the country, thanks to some recent grant funding. We are looking at UBER and LYFT models and automated technologies also to help persons who cannot leave their homes.

High School Debate Committee

Our high school has an incredible educator in Mark Gorey who has taught his English students about the “Filter Bubble,” a book by Eli Pariser. It’s one of many examples of how our volunteering can lead to not only serving and helping others but also our own fulfillment our own broadening through service above self.  Bill Bailey has led the Rotarian effort on debate coaching at the high school which is held twice a year. More Rotarians are welcomed to participate.

Elder Outreach Committee

This committee monitors activities in the community and region which might merit the involvement of Rotary. Such entities are the Elder Forum such as a “Share the Care” caregiving program, Full Circle America and the potential impact of telemedicine, the Hospice Volunteer Training Program, The Survivors of Suicide support group, the need for durable medical equipment on the peninsula, and palliative care. TRIAD is a collaborative effort involving law enforcement, community services and seniors whose goal it is to address the safety needs of our elders on the peninsula.

Lifetime Service Award

Robin Reed and Chip Griffin report on this important project which annually recognizes a non-Rotarian who has resided in the area for 20 years or more and who accomplishments exemplify the Rotarian service above self motto . Since 1960 the Club has honored 45 citizens and the award has been considered a major honor throughout the local community. The Committee has recently added active Rotarians to the Committee and welcomes additional members of Rotary upon request.

Bikes for international workers

Seth reported on the outstanding work of his co-chair, Doug Roberts and others who have together continued the 11-year-old tradition of distributing an increasing number of loaner bikes to international workers here for the summer season. A generous donation of $28,000 has resulted in Rotary’s ability to loan 107 quality bikes. Thanks to a collaboration with the Congregational Church, which has donated $1,600, Rotary will this year be able to furnish lights and locks to all bike loaners. Bike loans begin next Saturday from 10-12 noon and continue each Saturday thereafter until mid-June. Thanks to Patty for the outreach article in the Register. All Rotarians are asked to volunteer to loan out the bikes. The older loaner bikes will be put out of service. After Tom Churchill and Seth prep the older bikes. Rotary will sell them for $30-$50 each.

Veterans Recognition Night

Frank and Marty Helman initiated the Veterans Recognition Night a few years ago when Rotary believed that servicemen and women needed recognition by our community. This important night started with 10 veterans and this year has grown to 100 veterans who appreciate this recognition by our local Rotary. This evening brings veterans to our doors as our guests and the evening features a great military speaker and is topped off with each veteran telling us how and when he or she served. The most recent event recognized Adria Horn, director of Maine’s Veterans Services Program. Adria Horn is a graduate of West Point and is a U.S. Army Reservist with the U.S. Pacific Command. During her tenure, she has been deployed overseas five times in her 15-year career. She also has been a member Senator Collins’ state office staff.

Polio Plus

Dwight Swisher made a plea to continue the Club’s commitment to weekly contribute pocket change to Polio Plus. Rotary, along with partners like Bill Gates, has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. We are close to eradicating polio, but we need your help. Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. For as little as $0.60, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. Your gift to the PolioPlus Fund is eligible for a Paul Harris Society recognition.

Club news

Our People Power leader, John Welsh, asks for your help, both as Steward for July and future months. Contact John. Our PR Committee asks for you to volunteer to scribe the meetings for the upcoming weeks or months: contact Patty Seybold. Rotary polo shirts can purchased. Contact Marty Helman. Foster has redesigned job descriptions for the Club by adding new tasks that will fall under Club management. They include procurement and cleaning of supplies and drinks, ice, linens, trash. More ideas: Contact Foster Stroup. We are grateful to have Ham Meserve care for us as Steward for this month and to be served this last week by Ham, Bob Jacobson, and Patty Seybold with a powerful invocation and greetings by Frank Helman. The 50/50 was won by Jonathan and Linda. There were many happy and sad dollars recognizing Bill Kautzmann and others.

Upcoming

June 8: Jim Donovan, president/CEO, Lincoln County Healthcare – Update on the state of the health care system in this region

June 15: Louis Sell, 28-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service speaking on various aspects of US-Soviet relations

June 22: Nick Ullo, Boothbay Region Land Trust executive director and Jonathan Tindal – What the Land Trust is doing to ensure Quality of Life in the Boothbay region

All persons interested in Rotary are invited. The Clubhouse is located on Montgomery Road off of Route 96 enroute to East Boothbay.