These are my version of the minutes for our meeting on October 17, 2018 which took place at Run of the Mill, a fine example of a rustic brew pub in an old mill with lots of new white PVC piping protruding through the ceilings.  As Jim Godbout said, wait until they start flushing!  We’ll have the ambiance of a sewerage treatment plant.

 

Greeters:  We were greeted by Heather Gendron and Keith Jacques who is practicing for his retirement job as a Walmart greeter.  It will take him awhile to learn the job so thank goodness he has a little time.

 

Four Way Test:  Karen Chasse did an impeccable job leading us in the 4-way test.  I should note that I believe I have become a Pavlovian Rotarian.  As long as the leaders of the 4-way test say First, Second, etc. I recite the 4 way test just fine but when a leader goes rogue and says one, two, three, etc. I screw it all up and I have notices the Paul Deschambault starts to drool.  So let’s stick with First, Second, etc.  Thanks.

 

District Governor In the House:  District Governor, John Lobosco was in attendance to give our club and Jackson the RI Presidential Award for the 2017-2018 year or what I like to call the: “If your club can fog a mirror you get one of these award”.  Congrats Jackson, we’re still breathing.

 

 

 

Up Tempo Meeting:  Joe Bassett did his prayer with musical accompaniment from the restaurants PA system. I felt like I was in a Southern Baptist Church and I was waiting for Joe to break into a dance and to ask for several AMENS.  It didn’t happen ………… yet.

 

Lucie Kay:  Joe announced that Lucie Kay was having root canal to save her remaining tooth.  Apparently if you give Lucie enough valium she’ll go anywhere.

 

Stuff the Bus:  In Lucie’s valium aided absence, Joe announced that we will be doing a food drive at the Biddeford Hannaford and at Market Basket on October 27^th from 9:00 to 2:00.  Sing up sheets were circulated and I am sure they will make their rounds again next week.  We are doing this in conjunction with Saco Bay,  Saco Bay will be in Saco and perhaps OOB on the same day collecting food and donations.  This is our opportunity to help out the local food pantries at a time of year when demand goes up substantially.  If you have not have a chance to sign up please do so and dress warmly on the 27^th (Heather M) because it can get a little chilly out there.  This is a great chance to help the community, enjoy some fellowship and increase the visibility of Rotary.

 

Bucking Xmas Tradition:  For years we have donated gifts to families in need at Christmas and we have delivered them in the traditional black garbage bags.  Nothing says Merry Christmas like a fully stuffed Glad bag.  Sabine feels that our Christmas garbage bag tradition has to go so she displayed a white cloth draw string bag that said “Property of S. Claus, North Pole”.  I am not sure, but I think she stole it from you know who.  The Democrats are asking that the FBI investigate the matter.  In the meantime, Sabine has suggested that we use the white cloth bags for delivering our Christmas packages.  Another tradition thrown in the dumpster.

 

50/50:  Keith Jacques sold the 50/50 tickets and miraculously he won the $30.00 and donated the money to the Red Ribbon Committee.

 

Sergeant at Arms:  Matt claimed to be jet lagged from his trip to Ireland where he apparently contributed to the delinquency of a minor by letting his 11 year old son drink in the local pubs until all hours.  What could possibly go wrong?  Being jet lagged, Matt claimed he was not prepared so he relied heavily on happy dollars.  I can just imagine Matt in school. He clearly did not rely on the old standards like “my dog ate my homework.”  He used things like: I was jamming with Springsteen all night last night and just didn’t get my geography homework done.”  “I stopped and pulled a man from a burning car so my senior year coloring book is not quite done yet.”  “How can you expect me to finish my senior year fun with phonics when I was campaigning for Dukakis?”  He has all the excuses and he has used them for a while.

 

In any event here are some of the happy dollars he collected.

 

 

Dr. Joe Boyle introduced our speakers, Tom and Catherine Wilbur who I believe are from the Freeport Club.  They are friends of Joe’ he met while chairing the Rotary Youth Exchange for the District back when the district included parts of Quebec and the glaciers were still receding.

 

            Tom and Catherine came in to tell us about the efforts of the Freeport and Bethel Rotary Clubs to support the Kakamego Child Care Center and associated programs in Kakamego, Kenya located in the western part of Kenya.  They described Kakamego as having about 500,000 people but it is very rural, kind of like Banger but it has 25,000 people.  They were also impressed with the modernization efforts in Kenya thanks to Chinese investments.  They went from 15% paved roads to 65% paved road in just 10 years which is a higher percentage of paved roads than Aroostook County.  They also have high speed rail in Kenya.

 

            The Kakamega Child Care Center originated as an orphanage for children of AIDS victims.  The Freeport Rotary Club began supporting the facility in 2002 and by 2005 they had built a building that houses 48 children.  The program supports about 400 kids.

 

            The program is also promoting self-sufficiency through home based programs that provide families with seeds, fertilizer, and agricultural training.  I can only imagine how much fertilizer our club could supply them.  The children in the sponsored homes get school uniforms and books along with a mattress, blanket and a solar lamp (many areas of Kenya still do not have electricity). It costs $450.00 to sponsor a home for a year.  All of this is done in coordination with the Kakamega Rotary Club.

 

            The Bethel and Freeport Rotary Clubs have sponsored what they refer to as 26 Strong Young Women, apparently the weak ones are not worthy.   These young women receive agricultural training, along with health and entrepreneurial education.  They receive seeds and fertilizer to grow crops for their families and to sell.  Some have been successful enough to purchase pigs, chickens and even cows which traditionally are only owned by men in Kenya (so much to say, but I will hold my pen).

 

            Some of the young women were widowed and some were married but their husbands worked elsewhere to help support their families.  The program seems very successful in promoting self-sufficiency and a sense of pride and accomplishment while promoting their self-image.    The program is also providing materials to help families build homes. 

 

            The Freeport and Bethel Clubs will be pursuing a Global Grant and they are letting us know about their efforts,  The Wilbur’s were a fun and interesting couple.  I thought they were going to come to blows over who was going to do what part of the presentation, but they got the message out in the end.  The bigger message was the Rotary is clearly international, helping individuals, one person and one small farm at a time.