What does family mean to you? That is the question we have asked our local 8th graders and it is the question that the top prize winners will answer at our Rotary meeting on April 13, 2016.
For those of you who have not attended one of our essay contest meetings, it is a "don't miss" meeting. For the members of the Club who have attended these meetings in the past, I think you will agree that it is one of the best meetings of the year. Sure, we will hear the requisite quotes from Webster's Dictionary along with heartfelt thanks extended to either a mother, father or perhaps a sibling, but what you will definitely hear are messages that come from the heart. For those of us who have attended a number of these meetings, we will also observe that over the time in which we have listened to these essays, the children's observations of what family is have definitely changed. While I am sure that we will hear at least one essay that discusses a mother and a father and siblings, the definition of family has evolved well beyond that "Leave It To Beaver" model.
If some of you attend meetings somewhat sparingly, this is a good meeting to make. Please remember the meeting is at Duffy's on Saco Avenue in Old Orchard Beach (the old Captain's Galley). We are not meeting at the Run of the Mill. The meeting will start at 12:15 p.m., but give yourself a little extra time because you will be traveling to Old Orchard Beach.
I also want to remind everyone that on April 20, 2016, we will be meeting at the Alfond Center at the University of New England, again, starting at 12:15 p.m. On April 27, 2016 we will be back at the Run of the Mill for our meeting, and on April 28, 2016 we will have a Fireside Chat at Duffy's starting around 5:00 p.m.
If you do have to mark your calendar for only one event, however, please make every effort to attend the Community Kickoff Event for Red Ribbon Week which will be on April 26, 2016 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Thornton Academy Garland Auditorium. The events that will be occurring throughout the week of April 25, 2016 are a culmination of the efforts of the Red Ribbon Committee and the Saco, Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach school departments associated with promoting a healthy culture and an increased awareness about drug misuse and its impact. We should all make an effort to support Jim Godbout, Andy Grief and the entire Red Ribbon Committee by showing up at the event on the 26th.
50/50 Drawing: $28.00 Winner: Josh Ellis – donated to Red Ribbon
Sargent At-Arms: Joe Moreshead & Karen Chasse
Happy Dollars: James A – for graceful entrance ; Andy – sad dollar for moving to New Mexico ; Jim – sorry dollar to Sabeen ; Matt- Birthday & trip to Vegas ; Heather – daughter accepted to Dartmouth ; Dennis – being able to bring daughter to meeting ; Jackson - $5 for auction success and being a part of the best rotary club
Fines: Lucie- selling Karen on membership seminar ; Bernice – for having her own bowling balls ; Sarah C- tack and Facebook likes ; Bill- falling banner, calling Lucie out, socks and shoes ; Paul D – sisters time to shine ; Fausto & Jackson – “gun show” ; Matt S- boring students out of classroom Monday ; Sarah N – missed Sunday ; Dennis – too serious at auction ; Jim – glossy ad and phone going off at board meeting ; Joe – superman ; Heather, Jeremy & Ken – praying pictures from auction ; Sue – ate all Roland’s cookies ; Roland – skyping in to classroom ; Chris I – not being a Sargent At-Arms
President Bill lead a discussion about future club budgets:
Interact, Christmas and Scholarships – need review
Proposed:
James A- proposed instead of scholarship given while in school which affects financial aid package – giving to students when they graduate
Christmas – reallocate $2k for “party” we don’t do anymore
Andy- strategic plan – helping kids with social skills/real life skills
Dennis- Scholarships – keep in “vocational bucket” for students (mentoring, real world skills, etc)
Bill - $3,000 for UNE – down to $1,000
Adding Red Ribbon - $5,000 level
Thank you to mentors on Monday (Sabeen, Jackson, Matt, Karen, Bill, Roland, Andy & Dennis)
Auction: $50-$51k = Success – big thanks to Jackson and Julie
Bingo: May 7th 10-1pm $20/ticket – proceeds to polio plus
April 9th – Park clean up – meeting at Heart of Biddeford at 9am
House update: kids have taken over- no Rotarian help for now but will when we do summer clean up
UNE Brain Fair 4-8 Friday 4/8
April 26th – Red Ribbon Awareness Week
New member posting- Delilah P – sponsored by Peggy Bean & Don Pilon
*Next Wednesday meeting – at Duffy’s for essay contest – following week meeting at UNE
May 18th – Meeting at COT
Update from Board Meeting- Emily Ferchette – leave of absence (6 months) ; Dave Lowe – resigned ; Done Losure – rule of 85; voted to approve $500 to create housing in Kenya
Supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters at their Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser. (l-r: Bernice Wood, Joe Moreshead, CJ Dubois, Karen Chasse, Paulette Bonneau and nice photo bomb from Saco Bay Club Rotarian Dave LePauloue)
For every $1 spent on prevention, it saves $7 in treatment. To steer our community toward healthy behaviors, the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club has formed the Red Ribbon Committee to focus efforts on preventing young people from slipping into the devastating grip of drug misuse and addiction. Working in conjunction with school educators in Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco the Rotary’s Red Ribbon Committee is hosting multiple events during Red Ribbon Awareness Week, April 25-29, with a community-wide presentation on April 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Thornton Academy’s Garland Auditorium. All members of the community are welcome. The event is free and TATV will livestream at www.livestream.com/tatvsac.
“Our goal is to serve as a catalyst to mobilize communities, educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities” stated Red Ribbon Committee Co-Chair and Rotarian Jim Godbout. “We all recognize drug misuse is at epidemic proportions in our country. It costs our country billions of dollars each year through tax dollars, so we are all affected directly or indirectly by the growing drug problem that is ruining the lives of so many individuals. I applaud the schools for working collaboratively together and with our Rotary Club, and I invite everyone to be part of this culture change.”
The tri-community presentation on April 26 encourages individuals and families to reflect upon current trends in drug use and what the community can do to promote healthy behaviors without the influences of illegal drugs or other misused substances. A series of speakers will present about trends in drug use and effects locally, including: Bill Patterson of Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition will present on what local children and their peers reported on the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey; Joe Hansen, a Juvenile Community Corrections Officer, will educate parents and community members on current drug use trends including what's new and what current lingo is being used; Biddeford Saco Rotary Club will speak about their desire to organize and sustain these events; Tidal Waves, a student group from York High School, will present about their initiative; and Sheriff Bill King will present powerful information pertaining to drugs in York County impacting our youth.
In addition to the community-wide presentation, each school has also planned health class curriculum and activities for their students throughout the week. At Biddeford High School, students will hear presentations by Skip Gates on opiates, York County Women’s Transition Program and Maine Inside Out Group, receive daily drug fact announcements, and engage in a “natural high” game of dodgeball with staff versus students. At Thornton Academy Middle and High School, students will hear presentations by Sergeant Peter Mador of the Drug Enforcement Agency on the effects of heroin, marijuana and THC, Kevin Welch of Day One on marijuana use, experience simulations of drunk driving, and a mock fatal accident thanks to police and fire departments from Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco Police Explorers and Junior Firefighters. At Old Orchard Beach High School, students will join BHS for their opiates presentation to kick-off the week and continue with a viewing of “Point of No Return”, attend a “harm reduction” presentation by an alum who lost his sister to addiction and a school-wide speed game of jeopardy put on by the Natural Helpers followed by a check presentation from the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club.
“This has been a great partnership between the Rotary Club representing the business community and the educators of Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach and Saco,” stated Biddeford High School Principal Jeremie Sirois. “Having all three school systems working together allows us to have a larger impact with substantial results on reaching our youth and changing culture. We will continue to work together planning curriculum and presentations that can be mirrored throughout all the schools.”
These events would not be possible without the many individuals and local businesses who have contributed to the Red Ribbon Committee of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club, especially the following major sponsors: Atlantic Comfort Systems, Biddeford Savings Bank, Blue Elephant Catering & Events, Carl Goodwin, Inc., Gorham Savings Bank and Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating.
• 10:15-11:30AM at Biddeford High School Tiger Gym
Students from Biddeford High School, Biddeford Middle School and Old Orchard Beach High School will gather for “The Opiate Effect” presentation by Skip Gates
• Thornton Academy
Students will gather for a presentation by Kevin Welch of Day One around marijuana. A Day One resident may be available to speak and a graduate student may share research on marijuana use.
Tuesday, April 26
• 10:30-11am and 11:45am-12:15pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
Students will have an opportunity to see firsthand how alcohol and other drugs affect reflexes and judgement while driving utilizing the Drunk and Distracted Driving Simulation with OOBHS School Resource Officer Lucas Porter.
• 6-8pm at Thornton Academy Garland Auditorium
Free tri-community presentation featuring a panel of speakers: Red Ribbon Committee of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club, Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition, Juvenile Community Corrections Officer Joe Hansen, Tidal Waves York High School Student Organization and Sheriff Bill King.
• Biddeford High School Little Theater
Freshman and Sophomores will gather for a presentation by York County Women’s Transition Program.
Wednesday, April 27
• 9-11am at Thornton Academy Gymnasium and Fields next to Junior Trojan Building
Juniors and seniors will witness “Fatal Reality” - a graphic, emotional, and realistic portrayal of a fatal car accident which will involve police and fire departments from Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco Police Explorers and Junior Firefighters, as well as a funeral home. TA Players will serve as the actors for the mock accident, with the exception of a parent who will portray the parent of the deceased.
• 1:30-2:15pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
Sophomores will watch “Point of No Return” film featuring the risks and outcomes to a group of teens who obtain alcohol, have a house party and then drive.
Thursday, April 28
• 9:15-10:25am and 12:20-1:30pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
Seniors will attend a program on “harm reduction” for life after high school to help students think ahead about their own values and personal decisions. A former student who lost a sibling to addiction will speak on his experience and the lessons he has learned.
• 9:15am and 10:15am at Biddeford High School Little Theater
Students will gather for a performance by Maine Inside Out, a group of formerly incarcerated individuals who create original theater as a catalyst for social change.
• Biddeford High School Tiger Gym
“Natural High” game of dodgeball with staff versus students.
• All Day at Thornton Academy
Students will participate in distracted driving simulator activities. Students with driver’s licenses will drive a golf cart on a course while wearing goggles to simulate impaired driving. Students without driver’s licenses can experience a simulation on a computer console.
Friday, April 29
• 1:30-2:15pm at Old Orchard Beach High School
All school assembly hosted by Natural Helpers in which a check will be presented by the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club to support the Day One Natural Helper program and students will participate in a game of speed jeopardy around myths and facts of marijuana.
• All Day at Thornton Academy
Students will participate in distracted driving simulator activities. Students with driver’s licenses will drive a golf cart on a course while wearing goggles to simulate impaired driving. Students without driver’s licenses can experience a simulation on a computer console.
The below list of nominations were read. No nominations were heard from the floor. Paul Dechambault made a motion to accept the slate of nominations, Jeremy Ray seconded the motion and the club voted unanimous.
Peggy Bean 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 Brian Dallaire, PROGRAM CHAIR or a member of the Program Committee. Remember it is the responsibility of every member to help get Programs for our meetings.
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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