Minutes of December 7
Minutes of December 7
President Bill Brillant rang the bell calling us to order promptly at 07:15 and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He then called upon Pastor Ron McLaughlin for the Invocation. After welcoming Guest Speaker April Caron, Executive Director of the Central and Mid-coast Region of the American Red Cross to the meeting he called upon Bill Gillespie for Happy / Dad dollars. Lot’s of sad dollars following the Patriots poor performance on Sunday.
Bill Gillespie started with a sad dollar in remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Bill Brillant had a happy dollar for having April with us. Bob Guerette had a happy dollar for the nearly spring like weather. Ron McLaughlin had a sad dollar for, in his words, watching Tom Brady grow old in the course of Sundays embarrassing loss. Fred Burgess had a happy dollar for being tapped to be the incoming treasurer of the Districts Foundation / Grant fund. Cliff had happy dollars for the good will that accompanies the Holiday season in Maine and for his family returning to join him at home after an extended visit to South Carolina. Gordon had a happy dollar for attending the Interdenominational festival of holiday music on Sunday at Saint John’s church.
Prez. Bill then called upon Fred to read the Rotary Four Way Test and remind us to follow it’s precepts. Good to be reminded of them. Thanks Bill and Fred.
Ron McLaughlin reminded all of our commitment to help the Salvation Army on Saturday by ringing the bell and manning the kettles at both entrances to Wal-Mart on Saturday morning, December 12. He also passed around the sign up sheet for donations / gifts for the needy family we are supporting this Christmas.
Prez. Bill announced the mid-year District dinner meeting to be held at the Fireside Inn, off Exit 48 on I-95, on Monday, February 1.
Bill then formally introduced our speaker, April Caron, Executive Director of the Central and Mid-Coast Region of the American Red Cross. She gave a very informative talk, addressing first the governance changes and then some of the changed emphasis on services provided. Under the revised National structure, approved by an act of congress the American Red Cross now manages all the local chapters, still using local Boards of Directors, rather than each chapter being totally independent as had been the case. Within Maine the Lewiston and Mid-Coast chapters have merged into one, operating principally from the Topsham office.
April stressed some of the traditional responsibilities of the Red Cross including blood collection and distribution as well as supporting the US Military through official notice of death and illness to military units of family members. Even in this age of instant communication the US Military relies on the Red Cross official notification system in evaluating issuing emergency leave orders to service members.
Our local chapter now works very closely with individual town fire departments on fire prevention, providing smoke detectors, and with Serve-Pro on disaster assistance and preparation.
A very informative and interesting presentation.
Submitted:
Tom
Minutes of December 7
President Bill Brillant rang the bell calling us to order promptly at 07:15 and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He then called upon Pastor Ron McLaughlin for the Invocation. After welcoming Guest Speaker April Caron, Executive Director of the Central and Mid-coast Region of the American Red Cross to the meeting he called upon Bill Gillespie for Happy / Dad dollars. Lot’s of sad dollars following the Patriots poor performance on Sunday.
Bill Gillespie started with a sad dollar in remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Bill Brillant had a happy dollar for having April with us. Bob Guerette had a happy dollar for the nearly spring like weather. Ron McLaughlin had a sad dollar for, in his words, watching Tom Brady grow old in the course of Sundays embarrassing loss. Fred Burgess had a happy dollar for being tapped to be the incoming treasurer of the Districts Foundation / Grant fund. Cliff had happy dollars for the good will that accompanies the Holiday season in Maine and for his family returning to join him at home after an extended visit to South Carolina. Gordon had a happy dollar for attending the Interdenominational festival of holiday music on Sunday at Saint John’s church.
Prez. Bill then called upon Fred to read the Rotary Four Way Test and remind us to follow it’s precepts. Good to be reminded of them. Thanks Bill and Fred.
Ron McLaughlin reminded all of our commitment to help the Salvation Army on Saturday by ringing the bell and manning the kettles at both entrances to Wal-Mart on Saturday morning, December 12. He also passed around the sign up sheet for donations / gifts for the needy family we are supporting this Christmas.
Prez. Bill announced the mid-year District dinner meeting to be held at the Fireside Inn, off Exit 48 on I-95, on Monday, February 1.
Bill then formally introduced our speaker, April Caron, Executive Director of the Central and Mid-Coast Region of the American Red Cross. She gave a very informative talk, addressing first the governance changes and then some of the changed emphasis on services provided. Under the revised National structure, approved by an act of congress the American Red Cross now manages all the local chapters, still using local Boards of Directors, rather than each chapter being totally independent as had been the case. Within Maine the Lewiston and Mid-Coast chapters have merged into one, operating principally from the Topsham office.
April stressed some of the traditional responsibilities of the Red Cross including blood collection and distribution as well as supporting the US Military through official notice of death and illness to military units of family members. Even in this age of instant communication the US Military relies on the Red Cross official notification system in evaluating issuing emergency leave orders to service members.
Our local chapter now works very closely with individual town fire departments on fire prevention, providing smoke detectors, and with Serve-Pro on disaster assistance and preparation.
A very informative and interesting presentation.
Submitted:
Tom