Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club

Mon, 08/21/2017 - 10:30am

This week, Aug. 24, will feature our club’s visioning meeting. It is an important meeting for our club, and we ask all of our club members to join us as we envision our club’s future.

Join us on Thursday, Aug. 31, as Marcus Packard will be presenting to the room information about a resource based economy. Then, the week after on Sept. 7, Marty Helman and Amanda Lawson will speak on Rotary International Peace Programs.

Presentation & club business

A relatively small group of roughly 33 Rotarians gathered on Aug. 17, some absent Rotarians enjoying Jim Stormont’s Breakers Jazz Band at our Opera House and other Rotarians suffering auction fatigue after the incredibly successful Rotary Auction and its aftermath. Local chiropractors are enjoying more Rotarians once again. The auction appears to have reaped record rewards, and we are already preparing for next year’s auction.

Tom Churchill played the ivories, to rousing applause and many of us way off key but having fun singing with gusto. Our Boothbay Harbor Rotary for over 60 years has been the “singingest” club in Maine.

Kathleen Arabasz asked for individuals to consider helping BRCRC’s Food For Thought, which needs volunteers on Friday afternoons to deliver food to many hungry families in our Boothbay region. Kathleen asked us to look for volunteers for Friday to Monday meal deliveries on Friday afternoons to contact either her or Nancy Van Dyk, and even before the meeting was over, Kathleen was surprised with two volunteers. Additional volunteers in our community interested in helping should contact Kathleen or Nancy.

President Jonathan Tindal reminded us to come to our next Rotary meeting on Thursday, Aug. 24 between 4:30 and 4:45 for a quick dinner and then re-visioning (strategic planning for Rotary) from 5-9 p.m. Experience has shown that these few hours pay rich rewards later in the directions and success of Rotary in our community and worldwide.

Jonathan added that World Polio Day is Oct. 24 in Seattle, WA. Rotarians contributing $25 or more can qualify for a lottery toward a free trip to Seattle. Jonathan also promoted Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI), which every Rotarian should experience, for one of three levels, and our club pays for those attending Level 1.

Vice president Rick Elder gave us the good news -- the calendar has been updated and is on our website, with duties and other info available.

Ann Demeranville handled the 50/50, but seemed dismayed to give the big share to Steve Demeranville, until Steve donated it back to the club in gratitude. Even tighter-than-a-tick Bob Pike scored a record, with $2 donated, and he almost cracked a smile at the curmudgeon table.

We enjoyed the spirit, camaraderie, compassion, and information from our popular District Governor, David Underhill, and his wife, Linda Underhill. Governor Dave addressed us with a focus on values-based and service-oriented concepts that leave us feeling good about accomplishing tasks for others. He reviewed the Pyramid of Peace with its foundational six areas of focus, with peace being built from the foundational areas of health, clean water, and stable families, leading to growth opportunities and finally peace. He advocated giving the opportunity of joining Rotary to others, such as friends, friends of younger Rotarians, and asking others to help out on a specific project. Most join to make connections, but most stay to help others. Our next District Conference in 2018 will be comprised of five districts in the U.S. and Quebec. Most potential Rotarians who consider joining must overcome their initial objections of time, costs, and too often the reality that nobody asked. Governor Dave also noted Rotary grants as great incubators, with money invested at Rotary International for three years and then they split all the initial funds, half to our district and half to Rotary worldwide. Boothbay Harbor Rotary has given way above the club average in our district. He called on more to consider adding a provision for Rotary in your will.

President Jonathan informed us that our next Rotary board meeting is set for Monday, August 21 at 4:30 p.m. and all Rotarians are welcome to attend at the Rotary Building. Remember to arrive early, between 4:30 and 5:00 for the re-visioning event this coming Thursday, August 24.