Jackson Brown introduced visiting rotarian Suzanne Iksley, and visiting guests Mayor Alan Casavant, Joanne Roy, Chuck Gajewski, John McCurry, Keyarrah McCurry, Bill Paterson, Lucinda Clark, and Erika Penrod.
Announcements: This week’s meeting was our Annual Awards day.
Lucie is making plans for an annual Fellowship Meeting in Hills Beach this summer; Date, time, and details to be determined.
A reminder that on June 29th, Funtown will be donating $1 of every admission to our club, all are encouraged to spread the word and attend for a fun day of amusement park activities.
Jim Godbout had a few announcements as well:
-He is in the process of arranging a Red Ribbon event at Kinney Shores, on July 29th; more information to follow.
-Advised all of us not to enter the new rotary house, at 518 Main St, due to a mold issue.
-Showings on the completed house are taking place. Appliances are going to be delivered within the week.
50/50 Drawing: Mark Nahorney won the 50/50 this week in the amount of $34.00, and he donated the winnings back to our club.
Sergeant At-Arms (SAA):
Happy dollars: Randy is happy to announce the birth of his new baby, Nora Grace! Karen is happy that her son is coming back home. Joe Boyle is happy that he visited Mahoney Jr. High School and supported the 8th graders. Tammy is happy to have completed her longest bike ride, 60 miles! Conrad is now retired from the Maine Turnpike Authority, (Congratulations!) Dana was happy that he had a nice vacation in the British Isles, and Susan was happy for her daughter, who is getting married! Jeremy was also happy this week, announcing that the Biddeford city council approved a transfer of bond money to fund a new track!
Fines: Fausto was fined for a special meal, Bill Kany was charged “Just because”, Joe Moreshead for 11 years in rotary, and Jackson was fined for forgetting to announce the Mayor as a visiting guest.
This week was our Annual Awards presentation and therefore, we had no guest speaker.
Jackson Brown introduced our visiting guests. This week we had Nicole Schmidt, and
Ed & Carol Lincoln join us. Welcome guests!
Announcements: This week was a special meeting, as we celebrated our past presidents of the club. We enjoyed an outdoor lunch on the deck.
Congratulations to Paul Deschambault, Jim McAllister, and Dennis Ely who are recipients of the Paul Harris Award.
Keith Jacques, (Past president 2001-2002) spoke to the club members about how wonderful it is to have the past presidents join us for fellowship as well as to find out the progress of the club. All past presidents of our club were invited along with their spouses, and while some were not able to attend, it was a great time had by all. Keith introduced each one and an applause appropriately followed. It is because of their commitment and dedication that the Club has been so successful over the years.
Jim Godbout will be hosting a Red Ribbon fundraising event on July 29, 2017 at the beach, more information to follow.
Please be in attendance for our next meeting on June 21st; this is our annual awards meeting.
50/50 Drawing: Matt Simmons won the 50/50 again this week (two weeks in a row!) His winnings were $36, and he made a donation to the Red Ribbon.
Sergeant At-Arms (SAA): Matt, Fausto, & Sarah
Happy dollars:
Ken Farley was happy his son graduated from high school, Bill Kany was happy he got a free lunch, Joe Boyle was happy that the Letters for Literature program chose someone from Maine as the winner, and he had a nice trip to Eastport; Joe Bassett happy to have his visitors here from NY where they are also Rotary members. Bronwyn was happy for a great weekend and a nice trip. Julie was happy that a lot of people had already signed up for the new Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital license plates and encouraged more of us to do so. They were hoping for 100 more to reach their goal. Lucy is happy that Nicole Schmidt was her guest today.
Fines- Jackson was fined for chewing gum during the guest introductions, Lucie for backtalk, Josh Ellis for finally attending a meeting, Fausto for his dance moves and missing a meeting, Elaine for laughing at Peggy, which is not fair to all concerned..! Many others were fined for not
placing their food orders in a timely manner. Sue, Jim M, Sabine, and Bernice for matching outfits, Bill for his Rotary house comment “It’s in Biddeford!” and Carl for being late for the meeting.
Adam Parent, Linda Verville, and Sarah Brouillard were fined for having birthdays.
Speaker Presentation: Due to the past president event, there was no guest speaker this week.
Biddeford Saco Rotary Club Recognizes Community Members for their Outstanding Work
BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club recognized eighteen outstanding community members for their commitment to serve the community. The awards included: Rotarian of the Year, Private Sector, Public Sector, Humanitarian, Vocational Service, 11th Annual Goodwin Outstanding Service, Paul Harris Fellowships, Presidential, Service Above Self, and special club recognition awards.
Karen Chasse, of Biddeford School Department, was named Rotarian of the Year in sincere appreciation and recognition of distinguished service, loyalty and devotion to the ideals of Rotary. President Lucie Kay states, “Karen truly exemplifies what it means to be a Rotarian with her hard work, dedication and kindness. She was my Rotary ‘go to’ always willing to help and working on every Rotary event and fundraiser. She is instrumental to our Club, and I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done.”
The Esther Residence was presented with the Private Sector award for breaking the cycle of recidivism by providing a safe and structured place to live while women get back on their feet and work to become productive members of society. The Private Sector award is awarded to a citizen whose good works have been performed independently of their employment in the private sector. Recipients work for the public good, while being privately employed or not employed by a government or community entity.
Bill Paterson was presented with the Public Sector award for sharing his extensive knowledge in an effort to lead the battole against the imposing threat of drug misuse. The Public Sector award is awarded to a citizen who, in the course of their employment or funding, serves the public with government and/or public monies. Recipients are usually employed by a government agency, hold a political office, or have their good works funded in the course of their employment.
Jim McAllister was presented with the Humanitarian award for his dedication to people in need while being a good steward of Rotary’s charitable funds. The Humanitarian award is awarded to a citizen, private or public, who has done exceptional work to further the good of humanity in the community.
Biddeford City Council was presented with the Vocational Service award for demonstrating courage and creativity to support technical education via the Rotary House Project. The Vocational Service award is awarded to a citizen, private or public, who has done exceptional work to promote vocational education and vocational programs.
Karen Chasse, of Biddeford School Department, was presented with the 11th Annual Goodwin Outstanding Service award. This award was created to acknowledge the contributions of Carl and Earl Goodwin to the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club and to the Biddeford and Saco areas. The Goodwins’ commitment to Rotary and to making the Biddeford/Saco area a better place to live has been an inspiration to a number of people and this award acknowledges the contributions of individuals in Rotary. Chasse was acknowledged for her years of continued community service and infectious enthusiasm in promoting the ideals of Rotary while helping those in need.
Paul Harris Fellowships, named for Paul Harris who founded Rotary over 100 years ago, were presented to Conrad Welzel, of Maine Turnpike Authority, Jeremy Ray, of Biddeford School Department, and Jim Godbout, of Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating, for exemplifying the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation. Welzel was recognized for consistently taking the initiative to ensure details of multiple fundraisers were successful. Ray was recognized for being a true connector who consistently brings parties together to promote better results and improve technical eduation. Godbout was recognized for his endless giving to our community above and beyond reasonable expectations and presented as the first multiple Paul Harris Fellow the Rotary Club has ever awarded on a Rotarians behalf. They were presented with a pin, certificate and $1,000 was donated by the Club to the Rotary Foundation in their honor.
Bill Kany, of Biddeford & Saco Savings Institution, was presented with the Presidential award for being “the backbone of the club” helping President Kay navigate difficult situations, juggle countless activities and being a sounding board. This award is presented to a Rotarian who went above and beyond in demonstrating immense dedication to the President during their term.
Service Above Self Awards were presented to Susan Gajewski; Laurie Jo Ready of Goodwill Industries; Fausto Pifferrer of Blue Elephants Catering; and Roland Gagne of Pension Professionals. This award is presented to Rotarians who have displayed exemplary humanitarian service to the ideals of Rotary with a focus on active involvement in putting others needs before their own. Gajewski, Ready and Pifferrer were recognized for being engaged, involved, and consistently providing support for Rotary events and club activities. Gagne was recognized for leading the Club’s efforts in the Rotary International community securing funds to help those less fortunate in other countries.
Other special club recognition awards related to club duties were also presented to the following individuals for their outstanding efforts: Elaine Palmitessa of Goodwill Industries; Joe Moreshead of Precision Screw Manufacturing Products; Jackson Brown of Harbor View Lending; Ken Farley of MEMIC; and Bernice Wood of Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution.
There are institutions throughout our communities that do great work and we are familiar with most of them. Last year, we learned of an organization that has been quietly serving a segment of our population long overlooked. How many times have we heard of people going to jail and getting stuck in a vicious cycle of getting out, committing crimes and going back to jail. One group is helping to break that cycle by giving women leaving incarceration a safe and structured place to live while they get back on their feet and work to become productive members of society. Through the promotion of faith, discipline, hard work and interactions, this organization has succeeded in saving women from inevitable repeated incarceration which is not only good for those individuals but great for society in general.
As Rotarians, we should embrace and recognize such quiet examples of success. We do so by giving this year's Biddeford Saco Rotary Club Private Sector Award to The Esther Residence.
PUBLIC SECTOR AWARD
There are people with the knowledge and tools needed to help solve problems who for whatever reason choose not to use their expertise to address the issues which confront us. There are others who use their skills to run headlong into a crisis in an effort to improve the world.
Our Club knows all too well that drug misuse and addiction are at epidemic levels. While organizations like our Red Ribbon Committee can work to raise awareness and promote healthy alternatives, our Red Ribbon Committee is much more effective when armed with information.
This year's Public Sector Award winner is a person who has been more than willing to share his extensive knowledge in an effort to lead the battle against the imposing threat of drug misuse. His career has focused on addiction, but he has volunteered an incredible amount of his time to lead efforts locally and at the state level related to the dangers of drug use. He has been an incredible resource to our Red Ribbon Committee in its efforts to raise drug awareness.
We should all be grateful that we have this person on our side of this incredibly important fight.
This year's deserving recipient of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club's Public Sector Award is
Bill Paterson
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Over the last several years, this Club has had the privilege of donating 10s of thousands of dollars to individuals and other charities from our Charitable Fund and the Company B Fund. It is essential that we insure that the funds we work so hard to raise are responsibly distributed to those who most need it. It is important that we are good stewards of all of our charitable funds so that they get into the hands of those who really need them. While it is wonderful to give away large sums of money it has to be done in a systematic and caring way. Those efforts require a compassionate person who thoughtfully reviews requests in an objective manner.
We are really lucky to have someone so dedicated to the Club and to the effort of giving.
For doing such a tremendous job for so long while truly caring about all who approach our Club for money, this year's Humanitarian Award goes to
Jim McAllister
VOCATIONAL SERVICE AWARD
In order to improve anything, frequently we must think outside the box. After decades of building modular-style homes as part of the COT's building trade curriculum, some felt that a change was needed to bring the building trade education to the next level. When asked if the City of Biddeford would think outside the box and create what Jeremy Roy called a win, win, win situation, this group said yes. Yes, let's promote technical education by letting students work on a real house, yes, let's get an abandoned property fixed up and back on the tax rolls and yes, let's help Rotary raise money to continue to support young people entering the trades.
It would have been easy to do the same old thing and just try to sell the tax acquired property at auction but this group took the bold step of entering into an agreement with our Club to let us develop 471 Main Street which has clearly been such a huge success that we have another house coming our way.
For demonstrating the courage and creativity to support technical education, this year's Biddeford Saco Rotary Club's Vocational Service Award goes to the Biddeford City Council.
GOODWIN OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
I am going to make this perfectly simple. If I was starting a Rotary Club, I would do two things:
1) Pick a name;
2) Recruit this person to be the first member of the Club.
No more needs to be said. This year's Goodwin Outstanding Service Award winner is
Karen Chasse
Paul Harris Recipients
Paul Harris Awards are arguably the highest distinctions that can be given to Rotarians. Our Club has had a practice of recognizing worthy members of the Club and non-members for their work in and outside the Club. Each past Paul Harris recipient has been very worthy and this year we have three more equally worthy winners of the award.
In no particular order:
In order for a club of our size and level of accomplishment to do all of the things that it does, it takes the dedication and commitment of club members to get things done. They not only need to take the tasks on but they have to do them well and they have to take the initiative to make sure that all of the details are addressed. Our first Paul Harris recipient is a person who has taken on projects with enthusiasm and seen them through to successful conclusions. From the Wine Tasting event to the Rotary house thank you celebration and many other events in between this person is truly a go to person in the Club who works to make our Club so successful. Furthermore, this member does all this with a smile and a “can do” attitude which is infectious.
Our first 2017 Paul Harris Award goes to Conrad Welzel.
In Malcolm Gladwell’s Book, The Tipping Point in which he discussed how little things can make a big difference, he talked about people who are connectors. Connectors are people who can bring parties together to get things done. Our next Paul Harris recipient is a true connector in that this person has consistently demonstrated a willingness to bring parties together to promote better results. Through this person’s leadership and willingness to be creative our club has been able to vastly improve technical education by giving students new opportunities to learn skills. This member has gone to bat many times in an effort to have the students learning a trade work on a real house. At the same time this person has demonstrated a willingness to roll up his sleeves and get the job done when needed. The person’s efforts have benefitted our communities while extending the influence of our club.
Our next Paul Harris Award goes to Jeremy Ray.
Last and certainly not least, it is simply a fact that our club has very infrequently, if ever, given more than one Paul Harris Award to a member. Being a multiple Paul Harris recipient is clearly a high honor and most of this Club’s multiple Paul Harris recipients have achieved the distinction through their giving to the Foundation. There is a member of our Club who just keeps on giving to our communities way above and beyond anyone’s reasonable expectations. Whether it is with this person’s hands, back, wallet or heart, this person’s tireless efforts help so many in so many ways.
Another plaque seemed inadequate and I am guessing there is no room on this person’s walls for another plaque. Making this person a multiple Paul Harris winner from our club, however, is a distinction worthy of all that he does.
Our last Paul Harris winner for the second time from our club, with our sincere thanks and extreme gratitude for all that he does for our club and for Biddeford and Saco goes to Jim Godbout.
Saco PD request for donations. If this is possible we will take money (of course), prizes or food donations. Monetary donations will give us more options, but we will take whatever people are able to provide. If this could be done it would be appreciated.
Julie Villemaire needs more volunteers!Please remember it is up to the TACK coordinator to ensure that someone is taking the minutes each week during your assigned month. If you aren’t able to take the minutes yourself, please reach out to fellow members for volunteers. Please forward the minutes to Julie Villemaire and Brian Dallaire so they can get them posted for the rest of the members.
Invocation: Joe Bassett
PROGRAM IDEA???? PLEASE CONTACT Bill Kany, PROGRAM CHAIR or a member of the Program Committee. Remember it is the responsibility of every member to help get Programs for our meetings.
Energy: Saved enough energy to light 44.8 lightbulbs—24 hours a day—for a year.
Emissions: Saved the emissions equivalent of driving a car 8,484 miles.
Volume: Diverted enough containers to fill 322.5 lobster traps.
Fill up those green bags. If you need more bags and/or labels, just let Julie Villemaire know and she can hook you up…no charge!
Simple fill with returnables and drop off at any Hannaford.
Alternately, if you already have a CLYNK account of your own, you can designate you funds as a donation. Hit the Donate button and search for Rotary and you'll find our account.
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