05/22/15 BITS & PIECES

President Kris called the meeting to order and a touching invocation was given by Paul Tully, honoring all veterans, but particularly those who died on D-Day. We sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee," paying particular attention to the lyrics, as we were instructed to do by President Kris. We were accompanied in singing by Kathy Grammer on piano and Steve Ditmer on trumpet. The slow, mournful sound of the trumpet seemed to hold echoes of "Taps."

Our District Governor Lawrence Furbish told us how proud he was of the Club Presidents in this District and how he had come up with the idea of giving each one a momento of their tenure: a Past President's Baseball Cap appropriately labeled.He then presented President Kris with such his cap, but told him he couldn't wear it until his term ended on June 30, 2015. He also said that beginning June 12, the District would be hosting 5 Bulgarians and he was open to suggestions as to what to see and where to go.

Amy Chipman then led us in a rousing medley of military songs honoring the Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines.

Paul Tully returned to the podium, this time to give his wife, Barbara, a Paul Harris Fellow. He prefaced it with a loving biography of his wife who has both overcome and accomplished much. The twist came when Amy then presented Paul with his own Paul Harris Fellow, in which she borrowed the same one he had just given to his wife.

Erik Greven conducted the weekly raffle for a pot of $1136, having our guest speaker pull the name. It was Dave Putnam​, but alas, poor Dave...missed the Queen.

There were three quick announcements: Bowen Depke reminded us that Loretta has sent reminder e-mails about both the 100th Anniversary celebration and the July 9th Jewell Island cruise...you need to reserve your space with her for both events. Contact Loretta at: lrowe@maine.rr.com;
Ellen Niewoehner gave us the results of the Spring auction.....netting $2520; and Christine Force said the Centennial Committee was looking for more sponsors and volunteers.

2nd VP Laura Young spoke on behalf of the Youth Services Committee, telling us that our fund raisers were essential to the work of that Committee. She then listed those grants that had been made possible by either the Maine Outdoor Challenge or the Allagash Brewery event. That list deserves repeating:

• Four students....3 from Portland High School, 1 from Catherine McAuley High School.....
  attended Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camp in June, 2014;
• Provided enrichment programs (dance, artists and music) for the Portland Summer Food Service program at Sagamore Village, Munjoy South Playground and Parkside Community Center;
• Provided a grant to the Portland Public School's Multi-lingual and Multi-cultural Center to build a World Language Fund and to support District diversity in culture and language;
• Support of an English class of 16 students just learning how to read English at Deering High School and a special grant to help them buy a cow through "Heifer International" for a deserving person in a third-world country;
• Sent 7 sixth graders from Lyman Moore Elementary School and 5 sixth graders from Reiche Elementary School to the finals of 'Odyssey of the Mind' at Michigan State; and
• Helping the Friends of Long Creek Youth Center pay for the rehab of musical instruments donated for a new music program.     

Great Work, Youth Service Committee!