At the outset I want to thank Julie Villemaire for filling in so admirably in preparing the Tack for March 20. I would love to have one or two more volunteers write the Tack for a few weeks each. It can be as brief or as long as you want it to be.
Have you ever put bread in the toaster and let it sit in there so long it almost sets off the smoke alarm and then when you take it out, burning your fingers in the process, you realize you have no butter so you eat it plain? That is how dry this Tack will be. Bonneville Salt Flats dry.
Our March 27th meeting was a bit of an intimate affair with light attendance. President Joe again apologized for the parking. I walked down so I did not contribute to the parking lot gridlock but I know people struggled to find spaces. It is not really going to get better with improved weather coming and more and more people going out to lunch. Carpooling may become necessary.
Karen Chasse led us in the 4 way test and Joe Bassett led us in a prayer. Surprisingly both seemed to have done it before.
Our recently clean shaven President Joe introduced visiting Rotarians and guests. Fausto is apparently saving himself for his Presidential year and Don Pilon was among the missing as well. Former club member, Guy Gagnon, and Dr. Joe Boyle were introduced as a guest and visiting Rotarian, respectively.
Joe reminded us that our essay contest meeting with be on April 10 at PeoplesChoice Credit Union on the Industrial Park Road in Saco. If you can carpool to that meeting please do so as there is limited parking. It is always a great meeting when we get to hear the essays of the various middle school winning writers who will share their views on what family means to them.
Joe also mentioned the May 11 (that’s a Saturday) hands on event during which we will help to put together 10,000 meals in 2-3 hours. Bring your aprons.
President Joe also announced the creation of an ad hoc committee to review major asks for club donations and to perhaps work on a larger gift policy. The members of the committee so far are Paul Deschambault, Don Pilon, Karen Chasse, Jackson Brown (maybe) and me. The committee has been invited to next week’s Board meeting on April 3 at 7:45 at P&C Insurance.
Heather Gendron announced that the Scholarship Committee is reaching out to our area high schools and the COT to solicit applicants for our $1,000 post-secondary scholarships. The Committee will meet on April 30 at Bangor Savings from 3:00 to 5:00 to review applications and narrow the pool of applicants to the students who will then be interviewed by the Committee. If you have any interest in helping to screed the scholarship applications please plan on attending the meeting on April 30.
Ron Drouin asked if we were planning anything for our Club’s 100th anniversary next year. Jackson indicated that he invited our sister club in Bideford, England to come over for the celebration though no celebration as yet is planned. It was suggested that we combine a gala with a fundraiser to be held in March to raise money and celebration our 100 years in existence. Marty Grohman learned that he would be chairing any such event as our vice president. Good luck Marty.
Jim Godbout announced that we are getting close to clearing the title on the next Rotary House to work on located on Main Street across from the COT. Jim thought that we may have a judgment as early as next week, but the emails I have seen from Keith Jacques would indicate that we may incur a bit of a delay. Don’t start swinging the wrecking ball just yet. Stay tuned.
Matt Simmons failed to appear and I suspect he is still circling the parking lot looking for a space. President Joe solicited happy dollars which seems to be most of the Matt Simmons show anyway. The happy dollars included:
- Jeremy Ray announcing that the Biddeford School Department and Dayton School Department have established a new entity that will be doing the bus transportation for the Town of Acton. Jeremy will look good behind the wheel of an Acton bus.
- Denis Elie completed the Mary’s Walk 5K run defeating his aunt whose Jazzy Scooter battery died. Ken Farley, however, did beat Denis.
- Dr. Joe was named the Foundation Chair for his new club.
- Reegan announced that the United Way is doing a fundraiser at Arundel Ford for the United Ways’ Tools4Schools backpack project that our club has supported in the past. If you test drive a Ford at Arundel Ford on April 5 in the afternoon Arundel Ford will donate $20.00. It is a great cause and nice of Arundel Ford to do that but I think I would rather donate the cash or have a dentist donate $20.00 for my next root canal as opposed to dealing with a car dealership.
- Sue Gajewski is back and thanked Jackson for filling in so admirably in her absence.
- Conrad Welzel was happy he recited the 4 way test correctly last week.
- Marty Grohman was happy to be on the radio for Veterans Count and that he and Jeremy will be art critics selecting art to stay in the high school.
Jackson won the 50/50 for the second week in a row.
