By: Dick Hall
District Governor 2021-2022
District Governor 2021-2022
December is Disease Prevention and Treatment month on the Rotary International Calendar, and what better time to thank all the Rotarians in the district who are helping with the vaccination efforts in Maine and New Hampshire. Many Rotarians with medical training are giving shots and many others are volunteering at vaccination location. It addition, many are involved in spreading the message about the importance of vaccinations. As I write this, I just learned about the new Omicron variant, which may cause us to slow our return to “normal,” whatever that means any more. Thanks to all who have continued to provide service to your community and to the world, even while facing the challenges of Covid.
Hopefully all clubs are well on their way to nominating and electing leaders for the future. It is critically important that we have our leaders in place so there can be continuity from year to year. Thanks to all who have served and thanks to those who have agreed to serve in the future.
Looking around the District, I am so impressed that we have so many club activities are planned for the month of December. A sampling of the ones that know are occurring are:
- Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army again this year.
- Food Drives are planned by several clubs
- Clubs are bagging, wrapping, and delivering hundreds of gifts for needy and homeless children, seniors and others. Clubs are doing this alone or working with others like the Salvation Army
- Packing backpacks and food boxes for several Hunger Prevention Programs
- Selling fruit (oranges & grapefruits) as a fundraiser.
- Assembling packages of Holiday cookies for handing out with hot cocoa at Christmas Tree lightings. In the past, Yarmouth has cooked its own cookies.
- Community Kettle Dinner
- Narcan training
- Dictionary deliveries
- Bountiful Harvest Auction Charity
- Christmas Parades with Cocoa and Cookie Handout
- Several clubs are holding a Festival of trees fundraiser
- Home decoration contest.
- Ringing Holiday Bells: Lions Club
- Luminaries Project- Hundreds of candles lighted along Main Street on Christmas Eve
I am sorry that I am sure I missed many, and hope to hear about them through the month, as I am attending and working on as many as I can fit in.
We should all be proud of Rotary’s contribution to make every community a better place to live.
Thanks to you all and Happy Holidays.