President Ken promptly started the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance after we played a little game of “where is the flag”.  PP Paul Deschambault led the group in God Bless America, PP Roland Gagne flawlessly headed up the 4 Way Test and Jim Audiffred provided the invocation.

 

Dear Rotarians,

 

It feels a whole lot more like spring now with the thermostat hitting the 60's.

 

This week's meeting is our essay contest winners and their families.  This is a great opportunity to see some of our best and brightest 8th graders in our area. 

 

REMINDER:  This meeting starts earlier than most, this meeting will start promptly at noon.  Please arrive 15 minutes early to make your meal selection.  We will have use of both dining rooms.  There will be reserved tables for the students and their families.  Please fill in the tables around them.  If you know that you will not stay for the reading of the essays, I would kindly ask that you sit in the room to the left as you walk in and take a table on the sides, then make your exit prior to the winners reading their essays.

 

Finally, this is LAST CALL for anyone interested in attending the District Conference on April 24 - 26.  The District Conference will be held at the Wentworth by the Sea in Portsmouth, NH.  The club will cover the cost of the daily registration fees for each Rotarian wishing to go.  Please let me know as soon as possible as the registration deadline is tomorrow.

Thanks a lot and have a great day!

 

Auction Wrap-Up meeting will be held on Friday, 04/24/15, at 7:30 a.m. at YCFCU in Biddeford.

Looking for feedback on the auction.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  If you aren’t able to attend & have some suggestions/comments, please let Lucie Kay or Ken Farley know & they will bring them to the meeting.

 

3 Postings for New Members:   Leo Menard –Transfer request

                                                        Ashley Rand sponsored by Susan Gajewski

                                                 Devon Soloniewicz sponsored by Jackson Brown

 

Their names will be posted this week and also next week.  If you have any questions/concerns please contact Karen Chasse, Ken Farley or any board member.

 

20^th Annual Essay Contest:  Reminder that this week’s meeting (04/15) will start at 12:00 p.m. in order to provide enough time for the students to present their winning essays.  This is a meeting you don’t want to miss!

 

Resignation:  President Ken regretfully announced the resignation of Brad Holt.  Brad’s time with UNE has ended and unfortunately with us as well.  Brad will sincerely be missed at the club.

 

BINGO:  Tickets for BINGO packages will be ready this week (04/15).  All Rotarians will be given 4 tickets to try to sell ($20 each ticket).  Each ticket represents a “Bingo Package” that will allow people to play up to 48 cards for 12 regular games and one card each for 2 special games.  There will be a “Winner Take All” game at the end.  Cards will be sold separately for this game.  The tickets/packages sold ahead are non-fundable.  The more tickets we sell ahead, the more profit we can make.  If it turns out to be a sunny day, some people may choose to go outside instead of come to play Bingo-although I’m not quite sure why anyone would want to do that.  If they’ve already bought their ticket, we still get the benefit of that sale.  This fundraiser typically generates $3,000 with an average of 88 players.  It has the potential of generating a lot more revenue if we can sell more tickets and spread the word.  The doors will open at 8:00 a.m. with games beginning at 10:00 a.m.  We will run a 50/50 raffle prior to the beginning of the games.  There are copies of the Bingo flyers on each table.  I can send you an electronic version of the flyer customized with your contact information if you prefer or you can leave my (Julie) contact information.  Brian and Karen have taken care of posting the flyer to FaceBook and our website.  I have forwarded it over to the Saco Bay club. We give out $1,400 in cash prizes at this event.  I am in the process of getting sponsors for each game.  We are up to $900 in sponsorships.  I’d like to THANK SMHC, YCFCU, McAllister Machines, Party Plus Tent & Event Rentals, P & C Insurance, The Blue Elephant, Neil’s Motors and Precision Screw Machine Products for your sponsorships.  If you or your business would like to sponsor a game, the sponsorship cost is $100.00.  This will get your name on the Bingo Game listing and on our website.   The MC will also announce your name throughout the event.  George Worthey at the Rochambeau Hall donates the cost of the hall so the only expense we have is for the cost of the Bingo Cards which is minimal.  Our club does its share of fundraising but I have to say this is probably the easiest and least expensive to run.  It has a lot of potential to be extremely successful if we have the support of everyone in the club.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer the day of the event, please get in touch with me at villemaire@maine.rr.com or 602-7401.

 

 

 

 

We have some leftover items that need to be auctioned off.  These are items that were not picked up by the winning bidders and we weren’t able to connect with them (or 2^nd highest bidder) afterwards.  PE Bill Kany agreed to be our auctioneer.  He auctioned off a few of the smaller priced items.  The remaining items will be auctioned off on Wednesday, April 22^nd at our regular meeting.  Please bring your checkbook – there will be some great deals. The following items will be up for grabs:

 

 

½ Page ad in the Courier – Add must be used by 09/30/15 & can’t be used for other ad sizes or to use as credit towards an existing balance with Mainely Media, LLC.  *****Value $566!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Buy all three packages to this incredible show (Franki Valli) and bring the whole family!

 

 

PP & SAA Steve Morin was up next to collect happy dollars and to impose fines to help the budget.  I’m not sure if there weren’t any happy campers in the room today or if I just spaced it when Steve asked for happy dollars because I don’t have any written down in my notes.  I do, however, have some fines to list. It all started with SAA Steve requesting a dollar from PP Paul Deschambault as an apology dollar to the Run of the Mill for the quality of our singing.  Just found a happy dollar…from Paul Deschambault…something about General Lee surrendering 150 years ago.  Back to the fines…PP Karen Chasse was fined for a FaceBook post and a very early morning at the YMCA.  Joe Moreshead was fined once again for the “salmon pants” and also for harassing Sarah Neault.  Brian Dallaire was fined for his involvement at a Governor LePage event where his wife ended up commenting to a channel 13 news reporter while he tried to hide in the back.  All board members who bet that PP & SAA Steve wouldn’t make it to today’s meeting had to cough up a buck.  Whoever gave the $2 bill back to the SAA last week instead of back to the Foundations had to also fork over a dollar.  Leon Tranchemontagne was fined for asking if the patriotic fine was optional.  President Ken was fined for his organized chaos and Roland Eon got hit for lying about “never” winning the 50/50.

Today’s speaker was Rachel Harris from Harris Farm.  Her presentation today was focused on Harris Farm and also the Saco Farmers Market.

 

The Saco Farmers Market was established in 1975 as a revitalization project.  It was modeled after the Portland Farmers Market.  It will be celebrating its 40^th year this year!  It is held in the back corner of the Saco Valley Shopping Plaza near the pediatric office.

 

Rachel mentioned that Harris Farm has had 4 generations running the farm.  They typically sell out of the items that they bring to the market each Saturday.  They have a crew of 6 people that pick on Tuesday & Fridays to prepare for the market-rain or shine.

 

Rachel was very passionate about she does.  Her favorite part is selling their products directly to the customers. She mentioned that they usually have an entire pick-up truck filled with corn on the cob.  It is not unheard of to sell 300 ears of corn on a Saturday.

 

They do take glass milk bottles back at the market. 

 

There is a $75 booth rental fee.  This minimal cost helps to cover expenses for the market. They do not accept credit or debit cards.  The cost of offering that service only drives up the cost of doing business.

 

There are two new farmers that have signed up.  One is a cheese and veggie farmer. The other an organic veggie flower farmer.

 

The Saco Farmers Market’s main focus is on the fresh food.  They don’t provide face painting or entertainment.  The challenge is get people to continue to come and shop at the market.  They came up with the idea of “Farm Fam”.  This is a program that offers texting alerts, reminders and/or notices. To become a Saco Farmers Market Farm Fan you can go to  sacofarmersmarket.com or harrisfarm.com.  You can also text 54459, code sac214.

 

 

There are 140 farmers markets in the state of Maine.

 

My offer still stands, if you would like me (Julie) to take your turn as the TACK reporter this Rotary year, it will only cost you a $100 BINGO sponsorship J  We are up to $400 so far J