Week in Review 1/20/2021

Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance: President Don

 

4-Way Test: Marty

 

Invocation: Bill P.

 

President Don welcomed everyone for this very special meeting. On this day, two Rotary Clubs will join as sister clubs. The Biddeford and Saco Rotary Club, Biddeford, Maine and The Amman Cosmopolitan Rotary Club, Amman Jordan. 

Roland Gagne who traveled to Amman, Jordan on a Rotary International outreach project, introduced Rotary royalty participating in this twinningevent:


Rotary’s 7780 District Governor Peggy Belanger welcomed the group and commended both clubs for joining together. District 7780 is comprised of 41 clubs and 15 thousand members throughout southern Maine and New Hampshire. She proudly announced that this Rotary District remained very active throughout the pandemic and was honored to see them serve their communities through this crisis. 

Lawrence Furbish, District 7780 Foundation Chair, was also present on the call. He celebrates the relationship shown here today and was honored to see these two clubs, come together to work on future projects together as well as continue to support the foundation. 

Ibrahim Kattan, President of the Amman club, stated he was optimistic about the new twinning agreement and hoped this new relationship would bring these two partners together. He also is hopeful about developing tourism projects between the two clubs. 

Also in attendance was 2452 Past District Governor, Shawkat Tadros. The Rotary Club of Amman Cosmopolitan was founded 25-year ago and is to be the only English-speaking club in Jordan. This district is more than 84 years old and bridges three continents, nine countries, and four languages. 

Bashar Haddad, 2452 Assistant District Governor, was also present for the twinning ceremony.  

Lawrence Furbish presented the Paul Harris Fellowship Award to the President of the Amman Cosmopolitan Club, Ibrahim Kattan, on behalf of the Biddeford and Saco Rotary Club. 

The Presidents of both clubs then participated in the signing of the Twin Club Program Agreement. 

Twin clubs are two clubs from different countries that have established strong ties and have agreed to team up to complete a special program, be it an international service project, Rotary Youth Exchange, or Friendship Exchange.

Goals are:

• To emphasize the International avenue of Rotary service and friendship
• To establish a long-term relationship with another club that will lead to complex ongoing projects
• To enhance understanding of another culture
• To further international understanding and foster goodwill

Sergeant At Arms: Joe M.

Happy Dollars:

• Brian – Was happy to see 40 Rotarians participating on this Zoom meeting. 
• Don - $10 for our new Rotary Friends from Aman and for the Paul Harris award recipients from our club.
• Jim L – Chamber Annual Meeting was scheduled for the following day via Zoom and invited anyone interested in participating, to please contact him for a link to the event. Also, they were to present the Kany Award and looked forward to hosting the annual event.
• Brenda – $10 to celebrate the first female Vice President of the U.S. and how this momentous occasion celebrates women. It is a historic moment that serves as an inspiration for young woman everywhere. 
• Conrad – Honored his father and was grateful for a peaceful transition of power at our nation’s capital. 
• Nadia – Guest from Jordan, Happy to be here to participate in this event and to see the US protecting democracy. The international vision is one that promotes peace and celebrates women. If the USA democracy is protected, it is so around the world.
• Roland – Happy thoughts of his trip to Jordan and is reminded of Susan G. attempting to get on and off her camel. 

 

No Fines were issued at this meeting:

Additional Comments:

• District Governor Peggy Belanger congratulated Susan Gajewski for stepping into a position on the District Finance Committee. 

Guest Speaker: Amelia Maier & Ryan Sommer – City of Saco Food Sharing Project

​Contact: ameier@sacomaine.org

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In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Saco Parks and Recreation Department offered a free meal for senior residents in the Saco community. From March 2020 to June 2020, the group raised $15k and served more than two-thousand meals. their goal was to offer a weekly to-go meal program in partnership with local restaurants to support and highlight their business.  Meals were distributed as take-home meals at the Saco Community Center. Following social distancing recommendations, individuals were able to easily pick-up meals curbside in our parking lot.

They are also focused on seniors and homebound citizens regarding isolation. They are working on a new program that will offer home deliveries in addition to the drive through service available at the community center. They are currently seeking sponsorship. For more information or to volunteer, contact Amelia.